Did the Timberwolves find some magic in their win over Orlando Wednesday night?
“I think we took a big leap, as far as the confidence and camaraderie with the first group. I think we took a pretty good leap,” said Anthony Edwards, who lit up the Magic with 35 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
That’s two straight wins, both on the road, having beaten the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Sunday. But here in lies the hesitation for buying into the internal belief that they’re growing as a team: the Cavs didn’t have All-Stars Donovan Mitchell or Jarrett Allen, and the Magic were without rookie sensation Paulo Banchero and starting point guard Cole Anthony.
That’s two wins against depleted teams immediately following a loss in Memphis in which The Ringer’s Chris Vernon, who was at the game, called seeing the Wolves in person “jarring” and that they “hardly speak to one another, and when [they] do [it’s] usually met [with] an eye-roll.”
the grizzlies just played terribly in 3rd but still extended lead. Seeing Wolves in person is jarring. That spirit they had when last saw em in playoffs is gone. They hardly speak to one another, and when do its usually met w/ an eye-roll.
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) November 12, 2022
Vernon made it sound like there’s a chemistry issue with the Wolves. Asked about the team’s chemistry off the court, Edwards said they’re always having a good time.
“Everybody pretty good, man. We got a good camaraderie within the guys. We be on the plane cracking jokes, having fun. We get off the plane, in the room with each other we be having fun. Go get some dinner, we always setting up dinner. We’re getting to know each other more and more each trip and it’s helping us on the court,” he said.
Signs of chemistry improving on the court are there. Chris Finch has liked how the offense has gelled in the past six to eight games. Maybe all it took was being humbled with a 5-8 start.
“Realizing we’re not that good to not have the best business approach we could possibly have. We’re not that good yet. Until we get there, we’ve got to keep embracing the process, keep doing the little things that are going to get us over the hump,” D’Angelo Russell said this week.
But no one has ever questioned the Wolves’ ability to say the right things. Now they have to back it up. Two games against depleted teams is a solid start, but now they need to do it in Philly against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers. James Harden remains out for another couple of weeks with an injury.
“I think we gonna win in Philly. I think we gonna go on a little roll here. I know it’s two games, but the confidence is there. I think we’re ready to take the next step as far as starting to win games,” said Edwards.
Of course, Embiid playing Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back is no guarantee. Philadelphia faces the Bucks is a big Eastern Conference showdown Friday night. If he doens’t play, it’ll be another gift for the Wolves, who are looking to prove to the world they can live up to the preseason hype.
