In the fierce competition in the NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as a dark horse this season with their offensive and defensive attitude. The success of this team this season is of course inseparable from the outstanding performance of its two stars-Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.
One is the top second player, with stable output on the offensive end, and a change of lazy attitude on the defensive end; the other is a leader of the new generation, astonishing with his astonishing No. 1 talent, and his desire to win is in line with the current league. Many superstars have opened up more than one level. This combination of two No. 1 picks gives the Timberwolves the confidence to hit the championship, and it may also be the best structure for a new dynasty.
As the team's inside pillar, Towns' performance this season has been as stable as ever, averaging more than 20 points per game in the regular season and playoffs; his shooting percentage in the playoffs was as high as 54.8%, and his three-point shooting percentage was even higher. It reached an astonishing 52.4%, both of which are better than the regular season. After completing his transformation and evolution, Towns not only made great contributions on the offensive end, but his performance on the defensive end was equally impressive. His personal defensive efficiency ranked 32nd in the league.
You may ask, in the past, Towns was criticized for his soft playing style. Why has there been such a huge change now? In fact, it is very simple, that is, Towns is positioned as the second boss of the team, so he does not have such a big psychological burden; just like Irving who is currently playing for the Mavericks, he can do what he is good at without any worries if he is not the boss. matter.
Edwards, a 22-year-old young player, has proven in the playoffs that he is a new generation of Wolf King. He averaged 33.4 points per game in the playoffs this season, ranking second in the league. At the same time, he can also contribute 7.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks, shooting 53.2% from the field, 43.6% from the three-point range, and 86.5% from the free throw line. Edwards' offense is efficient, his passing organization skills are constantly improving, and his defensive performance has reached the league's top level.
He has become a super star with both offense and defense. With such mature playing style and statistics at such a young age, he is considered the leader among the new generation of superstars.
In the first game of the series between the Timberwolves and the Nuggets , the combination of Edwards and Towns played a huge role:
Edwards scored 43 points, Towns also scored 20 points, and the two jointly contributed 63 points, helping the team defeat the defending champion Nuggets. In this game, the outstanding performances of Edwards and Towns helped the team achieve their first victory in the series, and they used practical actions to slap in the face those experts and reporters who were not optimistic about them.
The Timberwolves' rise again is not only due to their excellent offense, but also due to their strong overall defense. This season, the team has seven players whose defensive efficiency ranks in the top 50 in the league, making them the strongest defensive team in the NBA. In the game against the Nuggets, the Timberwolves' defense greatly reduced the shooting percentages of their two stars, Jokic and Murray, while also forcing them into multiple turnovers. It can be said that the Timberwolves' configuration can match the Nuggets at any position, which is something that the Lakers cannot do.
The double No. 1 pick combination of Towns and Edwards complements each other very well in terms of skills and talents, and also resonates in spirit and will. As the playoffs progress, once the Timberwolves can eliminate the Nuggets, the probability of reaching the finals will be greatly increased. Will
continue to be the defending champion, or will the upstart Timberwolves become the new king? Time will give us the answer!
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