After an inconsistent finish to the regular season, Anthony Edwards made it clear the time for excuses is over as the Minnesota Timberwolves prepares for its playoff opener.
“It felt like that at times, like we were just trying to get through the season to get to the playoffs, but we’re here now, and all the other excuses are out the window,” Edwards said after practice.
That sense of urgency has been echoed throughout the locker room, particularly by head coach Chris Finch, who believes his team still has another level to reach, but it has to happen immediately.
“We know the team we can be and who we have been. It’s about whether we can maintain that,” Finch said. “You don’t ever really want to be a flip-the-switch team, but we do have a switch to flip, and we have to flip it now. When we do that, everybody kind of becomes the best version of themselves and that brings out that continuity and connection that we need.”
Despite back-to-back Western Conference finals appearances in recent years, the Timberwolves struggled to find consistency over the past three months, particularly on the defensive end. Once the foundation of their identity, their defensive focus slipped this season, something the team knows must change quickly.
“When our group doesn’t have a choice, usually it shows up, and so once again it’s all in our hands. It’s all in our power,” Rudy Gobert said. “We’re facing a great opponent, and we know that if we don’t come out hungry, we don’t have a chance.”
There was also a reminder of the franchise standard last week, when Kevin Garnett returned to Target Center for the first time in years. The moment wasn’t lost on Edwards.
“He’s the greatest Timberwolf of all time,” Edwards said. “That was big for us, getting him back in the building, and hopefully we can get him back for the playoffs to give us some energy.”
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