Jaden McDaniels stood out for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their dominant 117-95. The 24-year-old forward scored 25 points on elite efficiency, as he shot 11-of-13 from the field and 3-of-3 from the beyond the arc.
He was tremendous in Game 1 because Anthony Edwards kept encouraging him to shoot the ball. On Saturday, Jaden was confident because he saw plenty of opportunities to attack the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers defenders, or lack thereof.
Most people expected Ant to be the star for the Timberwolves in the postseason. The three-time NBA All-Star was superb with his 22 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, but McDaniels was phenomenal beyond his usual excellent defense.
Jaden took advantage of the Lakers' lackluster paint defense because he was always driving and finishing at the hoop. He only missed two shots because he always had a fast track to the hoop with his drives.
McDaniels Has The Potential To Become An Offensive Weapon
The Timberwolves often rely on Edwards or Julius Randle to step up and become the offensive focal points. They can create for themselves, but they could also be playmakers for the team with the gravity they provide.
Due to LA's defense being focused on them, Jaden was given the opportunity to attack. Los Angeles' head coach JJ Redick was adamant about using a small-ball lineup, which meant the Lakers had limited rim protection. An athletic 6'8" forward like McDaniels would feast on that kind of defense, which he did on Saturday night.
"I just noticed at certain times when they had no rim protector in the game, when Jaxson Hayes wasn't on the court," McDaniels said in his post-game press conference. "I mean if he's not on the court I'm basically the tallest person out there. No one can really rim protect against me, just picking my spots at the right time."
McDaniels Could Be The Third Option The Timberwolves Need
It is fair for the Timberwolves to stick to their system of maximizing Edwards and Randle as the stars. However, they need help from other players, and McDaniels could be the viable option in the long run.
He was the fourth-best scorer in the regular season, averaging 12.2 points per game. McDaniels could improve on that because he has the physical tools to be an elite two-way wing, he needs more shot attempts.
Ant has been on his case because he knows Jaden has so much potential, which was apparent against the Lakers. If he becomes more confident in his shot, McDaniels and Edwards could become a fearsome partnership on both ends.
The Lakers will adjust to this, as they will have a stronger defense on Tuesday night in Game 2. However, expect the Timberwolves to devise some plans to counter-act Redick. It will be another fantastic chess match between Chris Finch and Redick, which should make the series even more exciting because the Timberwolves have proven they are more than just the underdogs.
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