Wolves HC: Anthony Edwards Works Through Mavs’ ‘Illegal Screens’ Set for Luka Dončić
May 30, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch had quite the reasoning for why he believes Anthony Edwards can do a solid job as the primary defender on Luka Dončić in the Western Conference Finals.
“He does a good job of getting through all those **illegal screens** they set for Luka,” Finch told reporters ahead of Thursday’s Game 5.
Illegal screens or not, Minnesota did a much better job with Edwards defending Dončić in Game 4 than it did in the first three contests with different defensive matchups.
Jaden McDaniels largely guarded the Mavericks star during the first three games, which were all Dallas victories. Edwards matched up against Kyrie Irving, but Finch decided to switch those pairings for Game 4.
As Tim MacMahon of ESPN noted, Edwards defended Dončić for extended stretches while McDaniels dealt with Irving. It certainly worked, as Dončić was just 5-of-15 from the field when Edwards defended him.
It was also the first game in the entire postseason that both Mavericks guards shot below 35 percent from the field.
Unlike many guards in the NBA, much of Dončić’s offensive approach isn’t based on athleticism and speed. He instead reads angles, shields defenders as he attacks the basket, uses his physicality and finishes with soft touch.
However, the 6’4″ Edwards is quick enough to cut off some of those angles and long enough to challenge perimeter shots. Completely shutting down Dončić is an impossible task, but the two-time All-Star can at least make life more difficult on the primary playmaker as the series progresses.
Minnesota still has a long way to go if it is going to make history and become the first NBA team to overcome a 3-0 series deficit.
But it finally has some momentum in this series following a Game 4 win and now has a defensive approach that made a significant difference. Look for more of the same in Game 5, even if Edwards does have to work through some questionable screens.