The Timberwolves lost their fourth straight game to Sacramento on Wednesday after taking a 12-point lead with more than seven minutes left. They have now lost seven of their last nine games and are currently 8-10 after finishing 56-26 last season and reaching the Western Conference Finals for the second time ever.
All-Star guard Anthony Edwards was outraged by the Wolves' behavior during the game, calling them “Frontrunner” for cheering when they were ahead and remaining silent when they were not. While the former No. 1 overall pick took responsibility for his part in the recent defeat, he said he was frustrated with the team's immaturity Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
“Internally we are a damn soft teamEdwards said. “Not towards the other team, but internally we avoid them. We can't talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids. Just like we play with a few small children. Everyone, the whole team. We just can't talk to each other. And we have to find out, because we can't go that way.”
According to Krawczysnki, it also bothered Edwards that he was booed by the home crowd during periods of poor play. Minnesota suffered from “poor body language and lack of energy” for most of the 2024-25 season.
“No matter how many of us there are, all 15 of us, we crawl into our own shells and simply distance ourselves from each otherEdwards said. “It's obvious. We can see it. I can see it, the team can see it, the coaches can see it. The fans boo us. This is crazy, man. We get booed in our home arena. This is so fucking disrespectful, it's crazy.”
While some of his responses might make it appear that Edwards was angry and undoubtedly frustrated, he appeared calm and thoughtful, he writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. But that doesn't mean he's any closer to the answers he's looking for.
“We're just so negative right now. The last few years have been like this for usEdwards said, gesturing to indicate the team was close. “And I just feel like we've gradually grown apart, which is the craziest thing because most of us have been together before. We have two new players, that's all. Everyone else was together.”
Experienced point guard Mike ConleyReturning to action after a three-game absence due to a sprained toe, said he started a halftime conversation Wednesday after seeing players not communicating well or listening to each other.
“Believe me, we have overcome the last three defeats as a team and as players” Conley said, according to Hine. “And at the end of the day, man, what matters is that we believe, believe again, believe in what we do. The big game is not about you. It's not about whether you make shots, whether you miss shots, or whether you turn it over. We have to live with each other's shortcomings. We have to live with each other's mistakes and encourage each other. And that's the message right now: You can't be immature about this.”
There was one at the start of the four-game skid threatening argument between Rudy Gobert And Julius Randle. While the team was confident of moving forward together at the time, the opposite appears to be the case at the moment.
“I'm trying to get better at this and figure out what the hell to say to get everyone on the same agenda, because right now everyone has a different agendaEdwards said, according to Krawczynski. “I think that's one of the main reasons we lose because everyone out there has their own goals. I guess their idea of what's supposed to be going on and what's happening.”