Anthony Edwards and Chris Finch are putting LaMelo Ball on notice before the Timberwolves ever tip off.
The message is simple: Minnesota can live with Ball running the offense, but it can’t afford the defensive shortcuts that have followed him at times in his NBA career. Finch has already made that clear to Edwards, and he wants his star guard to be part of the solution.
“We’ve talked about it already, he and I. If LaMelo is not up to our defensive standards, you’ve got to tell him.
And then, you’ve got to do it, too. And that’s the only way we’re going to take the steps necessary,” the Timberwolves head coach declared.
That demand makes sense given what Ball has shown defensively so far. His career defensive rating sits at 114, and it reached 118 during his 2023-24 run with the Charlotte Hornets. Even Ball’s better stretches haven’t turned him into a consistent stopper, which leaves Minnesota with a clear choice: scheme around him or get him to level up.
The Timberwolves know what they are on the other end of the floor. They finished eighth in the NBA with a 113.5 defensive rating, and that identity is a big reason they’re viewed as legitimate threats to win the Larry O’Brien trophy. If Ball misses assignments, that edge can disappear quickly.
Edwards, though, has his own plan for making the fit work. He wants to conserve more energy on offense so he can give more on defense, with Ball handling the ball and taking pressure off his shoulders. That should let Edwards stay more active on the perimeter and in Minnesota’s coverages.
“I feel like the last couple of years I couldn’t play defense as well as I wanted to because I was bringing the ball up at times. I had to score the ball all the time.
At times, I was super tired. But now I got LaMelo.
… So, I feel like this year I’m going to be grading my game a lot differently,” the Timberwolves head coach declared.
Ball has had defensive highs before, including a career-best 110 rating, but that level hasn’t shown up since his rookie season. For Finch, the ask is obvious: bring the effort, or get corrected.
There’s still plenty for Minnesota to sort out beyond Ball. With Naz Reid and Julius Randle gone, the Timberwolves also need reliable defensive backups for Jonathan Kuminga and Rudy Gobert.
Even if some dip in defensive efficiency is coming, Finch and Edwards are betting that accountability can keep the damage down. And if Ball buys in, Minnesota’s defense could stay sharp enough to carry them deep.
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