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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like that at times, like we were just trying to get through the season to get to the playoffs, but we\u2019re here now, and all the other excuses are out the window,\u201d Edwards said<\/a> after practice.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know the team we can be and who we have been. It\u2019s about whether we can maintain that,\u201d Finch said. \u201cYou don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen our group doesn\u2019t have a choice, usually it shows up, and so once again it\u2019s all in our hands. It\u2019s all in our power,\u201d Rudy Gobert said. \u201cWe\u2019re facing a great opponent, and we know that if we don\u2019t come out hungry, we don\u2019t have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019t lost on Edwards.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the greatest Timberwolf of all time,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cThat 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.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/basketballforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ForeverBet-BF-promotional-banner-Var3-1.jpg\")