With Anthony Edwards sidelined by surgery and set to miss multiple months, the Timberwolves have had to reshuffle more than just their rotation. Chris Finch said the adjustment started with a direct message to LaMelo Ball: it was time for him to turn up the aggression.
“When Anthony went down, one of the first things - we went to Melo, and we said, ‘you got to be more aggressive for yourself right now,’” Finch said. “You know, he was doing such a great job of kind of deferring, getting everyone involved, trying to build chemistry across the board with everyone. But we needed him to be, you know, be more aggressive for himself.”
Ball has answered with a stronger scoring punch in the six games since Edwards’ injury, averaging 19.7 points per game on 61% true shooting, per Stathead. Finch said that production fits the way Ball’s game is evolving in Minnesota.
“He's got the ability to generate his own shots,” said Finch, who is in his seventh year at the helm for Minnesota. “So that's, you know, part of his role morphing right in front of our eyes.”
The Chino Hills, California native has spent much of the early part of the season figuring out where he fits with his new team, and Finch pointed to the fourth quarter as a key area where that role is taking shape. The Timberwolves want him not just setting up teammates, but taking control when the game tightens.
“He loves the clutch moments,” said Finch. “You can see that.
He has, you know, all the skill to create offense for himself and for others. … You just feel like when you put the ball in his hands, time and time again, you know, you're gonna get the right play, or you're gonna get a really good look of some sort.”
Minnesota has managed to stay afloat without Edwards, going 4-2 so far during his absence. That stretch comes ahead of a franchise-record eight-game homestand that begins Sunday night against the Utah Jazz.
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