The new-look Minnesota Timberwolves are facing a spell without Anthony Edwards. It will not be easy.
The Minnesota Timberwolves opened the season with an incredible 131-106 win at the Miami Heat, with Anthony Edwards dropping 45 points. Edwards had been averaging 33.3 points per game before being ruled out of action with a knee injury.
Edwards has undergone surgery on his knee and will miss around two months of action.
Last night the Timberwolves played their first game without Edwards, and it was a disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors.
LaMelo Ball scored only eight points for Minnesota as they lost 119-114.
He was called out by former NBA star Joe Johnson, who suggests Ball must take care of the ball better and learn to use his teammates more effectively.
Johnson told Nightcap: “Melo, you got to slow down, my boy. You got to be lead dog, lead guard, and you got to take care of the rock, bro.
“You got a lot of weapons alongside you. He’s got to take advantage of that. But him coming down, playing out of control, getting up in the air, jump pass… man, we learned that when we was in junior high school. You ain’t supposed to jump up and have nowhere to pass, now you shooting off the backboard.
“I just think LaMelo has got to take his game to another level.”
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Spotlight on LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball was the big offseason addition for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he has settled in quite well as a sidekick to Anthony Edwards.
However, with Edwards now out, there will be an added spotlight on LaMelo Ball’s scoring and his overall play.
This eight-point performance was Ball’s lowest output in any of his opening five games for the Timberwolves, and he chose the worst time to deliver it.
He is averaging 13.4 points per game, which is a big dip on his 20.1 with the Charlotte Hornets last season.
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