The scene seemed all too familiar after the Minnesota Timberwolves started the season 4-9. Many were bracing for another year filled with disappointment and more questions than answers. But the Wolves have won seven of their last eight, are above .500 and are buying into what is being preached. Most importantly, they’re holding each other accountable and responding in ways that they haven’t in the past.
Everyone knows the tired narrative about the Wolves only making the postseason once since 2004. Their lone appearance after that came in the 2017-18 season when they had Jimmy Butler. The current Miami Heat star is the king of holding teammates accountable, lighting a fire underneath the guys who need it while also leading by example. Although his tenure with Minnesota came to an ugly end, he helped keep guys in check during the one year he was with the Wolves.
Minnesota has been lacking that for some time. But Patrick Beverley and Anthony Edwards aren’t afraid to call a spade a spade this year. They throw feelings to the side in speaking out on what needs adjusting, and it’s set in motion others to speak up as well when required.
The only loss for the Wolves during this current stretch came against the Charlotte Hornets. Minnesota lost that game by 18 points, and Charlotte outscored them in every quarter.
Back at Target Center on Monday night, they started lethargically against the Indiana Pacers, in a similar fashion to how they did in Charlotte. D’Angelo Russell took notice and let his guys know, per Dane Moore.
It seems small. It feels like a bullet point on a full presentation. But it’s what has been lacking for Minnesota.
In past seasons, this was a team that would sulk when teams stonewalled them. They’d shell up and call it a day. This year it’s been different. DLo giving a brief reminder of the Hornets game and asking how they will respond is the kick in the backside this team has needed. This year they have been receiving it. Unlike previous instances, though, they are now responding.
There’s a long way to go in the 82-game marathon of a regular season for the Wolves. But at 11-10, they have to feel good about their positioning in the Western Conference. It’s a conference that gets spotlighted by what the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns are doing and the constant attention towards LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Then, sandwiched right between all the headliners, sit the Wolves at the moment. Many reasons can be attributed to Minnesota’s abrupt turnaround. But none may be more important than that they aren’t letting one another weasel by making the same old excuses.
After an early-season loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Edwards was none too pleased with the performance from himself or his teammates. As a dude who’s only in his second year, it can be tricky to tightrope the line of when or when not to speak up. It’s never been an issue for Edwards. He’s already climbed the ladder of becoming one of the vocal leaders of this team, something that was desperately needed. He let it be known after the first loss of the year.
“Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in. Everybody coming in here thinking it’s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back’s on the wall again. We got to wake up.”
How many second-year guys in the NBA are holding teammates responsible like that? More so, how many teams have players that respect the words and opinions of a second-year player? Edwards has been a viral sensation for his awe-inspiring dunks, but he offers far more than that. He’s on track to be a superstar for the next decade-plus, but along with that, he’s become a strong vocal presence. It likely makes Patrick Beverley smile.
The Wolves signed Beverley in the offseason for his defensive presence and veteran leadership, which were missing on their young roster. Beverley is currently dealing with a left adductor strain that will sideline him for weeks. His presence is still being felt and heard from the sidelines. He’s long been known as someone who will tell it how it is, or at least how he views things from his perspective. Minnesota has responded accordingly each time Beverley has gotten up close to a teammate to instruct and direct.
It’s not the only reason Minnesota has flipped the script upside down during this recent surge. But things become a hell of a lot easier when you get a collective group to buy in and be able to take criticism and learn from it instead of running from it. These traits, these moments like Russell referencing the Hornets game, don’t show up on a box score. But they prove to be immensely important for a team like Minnesota that is trying to dig out of irrelevance in the NBA. This team is holding one another accountable, and it’s exactly what was needed.
