Edwards broke out in the playoffs with the Timberwolves leading the Suns 3-0
In the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Phoenix Suns 126-109 at home to take a 3-0 lead. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards performed well in this game, scoring 36 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in the game, completely breaking up the Suns' Big Three.
As soon as the opening game started, the two teams went back and forth, and the field was full of firepower. In the first quarter of the game, Edwards seized the opportunity to hit three three-pointers in a row to help the team ride the dust. His three-point shot was very hot, and he kept shooting from the outside, putting a lot of pressure on the Suns' defense. Entering the first half, Edwards began to change direction and break inside, and his speed and power kept the Suns' interior defense behind.
The Suns' Big Three in this game was really bad. Devin Booker scored just 18 points in the game, but shot a whopping 22 shots and shot just 27 percent from the field; Kevin Durant scored 24 points, but was still beaten back by Edwards' offense; Deandre Nurkic contributed only 15 points, and was suppressed by Edwards throughout the game.
Edwards had the best performance of his career. He shot 12-of-23, 1-of-5 from three-point range and 11-of-11 from the free-throw line, averaging a 61 percent scoring efficiency per game. In addition to his shooting percentage, his nine rebounds and five assists also showed all-round dominance. In this game, Edwards completely blew up the Suns' inside and outside line and became the biggest contributor to the team's victory.
Edwards' playoff form sublimated, Paul's ability was questioned
Edwards had the best performance of his career in the playoffs this season. He averaged 25.9 points per game in the regular season and 28 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in the playoffs. He seems to have found his rhythm on the playoff stage, reaching new heights in both offensive touch and form.
It's no accident, Edwards himself admits that the playoffs are his favorite time. "The regular season is long and sometimes a little sloppy. But every game in the playoffs is crucial and I'm going to give it my all. "I love this kind of high-intensity matchup, it puts me in a special state. ＂
On the other side, Suns point guard Chris Paul was blown up by the Timberwolves in three straight games, and his ability began to be questioned. Paul only scored 5 points and 5 assists in G3, and has averaged only 10.7 points and 6 assists per game in the entire series so far, shooting only 33.3% from the field.
Paul is 37 years old and has repeatedly hit a wall in the playoffs over the past few years. Some people pointed out that his defensive ability and on-field influence are declining significantly. "Paul can't stop the young attackers right now, and it's hard to create chances for the team. "If the Suns want to win a championship, they have to rely less on him." ＂
The Suns began to gradually reduce Paul's playing time and decision-making power in the second half of the regular season, and instead let Booker and Durant dominate the offense. But after suffering three straight losses in the playoffs, Paul's situation is even tougher. If he is suppressed by the Timberwolves again in the next game, the Suns are likely to be swept and be eliminated early.
The Timberwolves are expected to sweep the promotion and the Suns face rebuilding pressure
Judging from the current situation, the Timberwolves are expected to sweep the Suns in the next game and advance to the next round. Edwards has been in the prime of his game and is in the prime of his game, while the Suns have lost their interior and exterior defense. Unless the Suns can make drastic adjustments, it will be difficult to avoid being swept away.
For the Suns, being swept out of the game is not a bad thing. The average age of the team's core is over 30 years old, and Paul, Durant and others are late in their careers. If they don't win the championship for two seasons, management will likely be forced to launch a rebuilding plan to completely overhaul the roster.
The rebuilding is undoubtedly a long and painful process that will require the Suns to come to terms with losing games for years to come. But in the long run, this may be the only way out for them. The existing veteran combination has gradually lost the ability to challenge for the championship, and will only be surpassed by young players more and more in the future.
The future of the Timberwolves is much clearer. Edwards is only 27 years old and has just entered the prime of his career. The rest of the team's leading players, such as Downs and McDaniels, are also young. If this team can make it to the Finals this season, they will be the dominant presence in the league for years to come.
Even if the Timberwolves don't make it to a championship, their future is still bright. As long as the squad is stable, it will be the favorite team to challenge for the championship every year. If the Suns miss this window, they will probably have to go through a long rebuilding process.
This match is not only a high-profile match, but could have far-reaching consequences for both sides. It will determine whether the Timberwolves can take advantage of the win and whether the Suns will start a rebuild early. Regardless of the outcome, it will be a landmark matchup.