Western Conference Playoff Tour Timberwolves, runner-up in the West Finals, Edwards needs to lead the team to prove himself

In recent years, the rapid rise of the Northwest region has changed the pattern of the West, and the Nuggets and Thunder’s successive championships have put all the traditional tycoons in the Southwest and Pacific regions feeling much pressure. As a team in the small ball market, the Minnesota Timberwolves have always received little attention despite their outstanding record. In the past two seasons, the Timberwolves have entered the Western Conference Finals in the playoffs, but unfortunately they eventually lost to the Mavericks and the Thunder and missed the finals.

The Timberwolves' strength is unquestionable. Edwards, one of the top scorers in the league, has been pursuing his talent since he entered the league. He once represented the US men's basketball team in the World Cup and became the number one star. Last season, Edwards' personal data reached a new high, averaging 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He was even more ruthless in the decisive moment and became one of the famous key gentlemen in the league.

The Timberwolves' management did not have much trading moves during the offseason, but renewed the contract with two main players of Randall and Reed, retaining the team's core lineup. The Timberwolves are still the starting three-man combination of Edwards + Randall + Gobert in the new season, and Reed continues to play the role of the best sixth man.

The Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Final last season, and the Warriors were dragged into the tiebreak by the Rockets in the first round, and Curry's excessive consumption was injured and retreated early, so the Timberwolves did not encounter much resistance in this round.

The teams in the Western Conference that are determined to compete for the championship have been strengthened this summer. The Timberwolves won the runner-up in the Western Conference for two consecutive seasons. If they want to go further, they need to play at the MVP level. After all, in today's Timberwolves, the functional attributes of each main player and role player are basically established. If Edwards cannot play at the dominant offensive level, I am afraid that the Timberwolves can only be a playoff team.