Anthony Edwards has regressed? Charles Barkley boldly claims Wolves are playing ‘4vs5’

Anthony Edwards was called out by Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA for disappointing performance this season following loss to Celtics.


Anthony Edwards has regressed? Charles Barkley boldly claims Wolves are playing ‘4vs5’

Charles Barkley called out Anthony Edwards for not living up to expectations

Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves were supposed to run the league this season after making it to the Western Conference finals in a dominant run last season. Instead, the Wolves have been among the more disappointing teams this season, and Charles Barkley believes that a part of the reason for this performance was Edwards’ regression on the offensive end of the floor.

During an episode of Inside the NBA, the Chuckster suggested that Anthony Edwards has taken a step back in his development. Barkley’s comments come amidst Edwards’ drastic shift in playstyle as he has increasingly relied on perimeter shooting. According to Chuck, this change has diminished his effectiveness, making it easier for defenders to neutralize him.

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I actually think Anthony Edwards has regressed. he’s become an outside shooter. He’s not aggressive like he was last year… He’s taking too many threes in my opinion… If you’re guarding him, you want him shooting threes…. When he shoots threes, even though he makes them… They end up losing that game.

Charles Barkley said on Inside the NBA

Charles Barkley didn’t hold back in his assessment of Edwards, stating that his over-reliance on outside shooting has neutralized his greatest threat as a slasher and applying constant rim pressure. The numbers paint a mixed picture. Edwards is averaging 24.5 points per game, while shooting a career-high 40.9% from beyond the arc.

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However, his shot selection has shifted significantly toward perimeter play, with 55.8% of his attempts being pull-up jumpers. While his three-point shooting efficiency is commendable, his reduced drives to the basket mean fewer opportunities to draw fouls and disrupt opposing defenses.

As Barkley touched upon the lack of spacing in the Timberwolves’ offense, owing to their head-scratching decision to trade the flourishing Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks and the offensive ineptitude of Rudy Gobert, has forced Anthony Edwards to become a perimeter scorer for the team.

Anthony Edwards voices frustrations with opposing team’s strategies

After the Timberwolves suffered another crushing defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Anthony Edwards opened up about his struggles with constant double teams. He admitted the defensive tactics have been frustrating and hindered his ability to showcase his skills. With the constant pressure being applied to him, staying engaged on every possession has not been easy for Edwards.

That’s a good brand of basketball, but it’s not how I want to play, of course. I’m only 23, I don’t want to just be passing the ball all night. … But the way that they’re guarding me, I think I have to… Them doubling me, definitely it’s like, ‘Bro, what is going on?’ I’m trying to figure it out … I don’t know what to do honestly, but it’s not fun.

Anthony Edwards ranted after the game

While double teams are a sign of respect for most offensive players, they also demand a player to elevate their playmaking and decision-making. Anthony Edwards has shown the capability to operate out of those situations, but given his score-first mentality, it is understandably difficult for him to surrender the ball in every possession and rely on teammates to handle the scoring load.

The Timberwolves, currently sitting at 17-16 after a strong 56-26 record last season, are struggling to replicate their success. Edwards’ inability to adjust to heightened defensive attention has coincided with a decline in his production over the past two weeks, shooting just 39.3% and averaging 18.9 points per game. While adjusting to double teams is a rite of passage for every superstar, the AntMan might not be the biggest fan of this strategy.