Anthony Edwards Responds To Chris Finch’s Criticism

Chris Finch didn’t mince words after the Minnesota Timberwolves fell short in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal. Despite Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry leaving the game early with a hamstring injury, the Wolves failed to capitalize. The 99-88 loss left fans and analysts stunned, especially considering the early exit of Curry. Chris Finch turned his attention directly to Anthony Edwards.

Anthony Edwards Responds To Chris Finch’s Criticism 

“It starts with Ant,” Finch said. “I thought he struggled, and the light just went out a bit.” The Chris Finch-Anthony Edwards relationship came into focus as the head coach called on his star to raise his level.

Edwards Starts Slow, Tries to Recover

Edwards ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 27.6 points per game. But in Game 1, he looked lost. Edwards scored only one point in the first half, missing his first 10 shots. He finally saw a bucket drop late in the game, ending with 23 points on 9-for-23 shooting. The Timberwolves went into halftime trailing 44-31, a hole they never climbed out of.

Even as the Warriors built a 23-point lead, Minnesota never cut the deficit to fewer than nine in the second half. The lack of urgency troubled Finch. “You’re the leader,” he said. “You’ve got to set the tone.” The coach made it clear that he expects more from the face of the franchise.

Accountability and Leadership

Edwards didn’t run from the criticism. “They can blame me,” he said after the game. “We just didn’t play good enough.” He pointed to his defensive effort—two steals and pressure that held Golden State to 37.2% shooting in the first half—as proof he still impacted the game. But Finch didn’t want to coach effort at this point in the postseason.

Finch expects leadership, especially when things go sideways. Even if shots don’t fall, energy must remain high. “If I have to talk to guys about bringing energy for a playoff game, we’re not on the same page,” he said bluntly.