Open Thread: The Minnesota Timberwolves look to celebrate Kevin Garnett’s birthday by advancing to the Western Conference Finals

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

There’s nothing like a Game 7

This Denver Nuggets/Minnesota Timberwolves series has been bonkers.

First of all, you have T-Wolves head coach Chris Finch sitting on the second row while assistant Micah Nori mans the clipboard. Finch suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after a collision with his own player.

Then you have Minnesota waltzing into The Mile High City and stealing two games out from under the reigning NBA Champions. Following that, Denver made an impressive three-game sweep to put the Wolves’ backs against the wall on their home court.

How did Anthony Edwards and his merry band of canine’s respond? By tromping the Nuggets to the tune of a 45-point win.

And now they face sudden death in a Game 7 that promises to be tense and energetic.

For one, Anthony Edwards superstardom is in its infancy. He has not shown the maturity to lead a team as of yet. He certainly has the talent to take over, but advancing to the highest level requires more than a singular player. Look at LeBron James’ title runs to see that how you lead your team makes a difference.

Edwards maturity has also been mentioned — although somewhat indirectly — by his elder teammates. In his walk-and-talk interview with Stephen A. Smith, he originally pivoted from Smith’s “clearly the star attraction” but later stated “I’m the better player, 100% when asked about comparison to Shai Gilgeous- Alexander and Luka Doncic.

He also embraced Stephen A.’s referral as the next “Kobe or MJ” by saying, “I gotta fulfill what he said.” In that moment, Edwards exposed that what pundits say do define him and gave a commentor’s approval regard. The greats set their own standards on the court and leave the talking heads to the television.

When Mike Conley’s 2024 Sportsman Award was acknowledged on Inside the NBA, he mentioned that Edwards “believes more in himself…I think he thinks the best player ever to the game, walk on earth.” The tongue-in-cheek was benign, but did allude to how a elder statesman views the young, budding superstar.

Conley also compared Edwards to his children saying “there’s absolutely no difference between my 7, 5, and 3, and Anthony Edwards, they are all the same. They act the same I have to teach them the same things…” Again, some seemingly harmless jabbing, but telling of the maturity of Edwards.

Will Edwards be able to take in the moment and expose that diamond in the rough, and honor one of the team’s greatest players by leading the Timberwolves to their first Western Conference Finals in 20 years?

Or will the Denver Nuggets embrace their home court advantage, employ their championship DNA, and take the spot in the Western Conference Finals?

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