Timberwolves’ Unique Strategy to Enhance Anthony Edwards’ Game
The Minnesota Timberwolves are embarking on a new mission this season: increasing Anthony Edwards’ trips to the free-throw line. In a surprising twist, the coaching staff is drawing inspiration from one of the league’s most prolific scorers—James Harden during his prime years.
Inspiration from a Scoring Giant
Mark Jones, the Kings’ television play-by-play announcer, recently revealed insights from a conversation with Chris Hines, the Timberwolves’ director of player development. Hines shared that the team has been scrutinizing game footage of Harden from the 2018-2019 season. The focus is on analyzing Harden’s pace, his ability to change direction, and most importantly, his knack for drawing fouls.
Jones highlighted this strategy, stating, “They feel that if he can get to the line a few more times, maybe to the amount of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, then that raises the ceiling for not only him but the entire team.” This approach underscores the Timberwolves’ belief that increased free-throw attempts could significantly elevate both Edwards’ performance and the team’s overall success.
Harden’s Dominance at the Line
Harden’s track record during his peak years is hard to ignore. From 2012-13 to 2019-20, he led the NBA in free-throw makes and attempts in seven out of eight seasons. Throughout this period, he was consistently recognized as a top MVP candidate, finishing in the top five six times and winning the award in 2018.
The 2018-19 season stands out in particular, as Harden averaged an impressive 36.1 points per game while shooting a career-high 13.2 three-pointers per game. Remarkably, he also managed to get to the free-throw line an average of 11.0 times per game, while logging 36.8 minutes on the court each night.
Comparing Edwards to a Superstar
As the Timberwolves analyze Harden’s success, it’s essential to look at how Edwards stacks up. Currently averaging 28.4 minutes per game, Edwards typically plays around 35-36 minutes. His per-36 statistics from this season, albeit from a small sample of seven games, show promise:
Points Per Game: 34.4
Rebounds: 5.2
Assists: 4.2
Free Throws Made: 6.0
Free Throws Attempted: 7.1
Three-Point Attempts: 10.5
While these numbers are impressive, they still fall short of Harden’s 2018-19 averages. The difference can partly be attributed to their playing styles; Harden, as a true point guard, orchestrates the offense, while Edwards often plays off the ball.
Learning from the Best
The Timberwolves are looking to boost Edwards’ scoring potential by getting him to the free-throw line more frequently, similar to the habits of stars like Harden and Gilgeous-Alexander. The latter is currently averaging 9.5 free-throw attempts per game, while Edwards is yet to reach six attempts per game this season. Both players are adept at changing pace and direction, skillfully baiting defenders into fouls.
Head coach Chris Finch has emphasized the need for Edwards to improve in this area, acknowledging the current trends in the league. “You see what gets rewarded, and you need to kind of lean into that a little bit,” Finch remarked. “Even though it’s not necessarily how he likes to play, it seems to be effective.”
As the Timberwolves continue their season, all eyes will be on Edwards to see if he incorporates elements of Harden’s game into his own. The team’s innovative strategy could unlock new levels of performance for the young star, shaping the future of Minnesota basketball.
