Edwards and the Timberwolves Are Done Coasting: Playoff Time Changes Everything

Anthony Edwards watched Kevin Garnett get his standing ovation at Target Center last week, and he knew exactly what that moment meant. The Hall of Famer's first visit in eight years wasn't just nostalgia. It was a wake-up call. After a season that felt like treading water, the Timberwolves are ready to flip the switch, and Edwards is leading the charge into the playoffs starting Saturday at Denver.

When the Greatest Timberwolf Ever Shows Up, You Take Notice

Edwards didn't hesitate to acknowledge what Garnett's presence meant to the locker room. "He's the greatest Timberwolf of all time," Edwards said after Wednesday's practice. "That was big for us, getting him back in the building, and hopefully we can get him back for the playoffs to give us some energy." Just like Garnett drove Minnesota's best teams, including their 2004 Western Conference Finals run, Edwards knows the current squad has that same potential. The difference? They have to actually show up for four more months.

The Regular Season Was a Slog. The Playoffs Are the Real Thing.

Coach Chris Finch wasn't going to sugarcoat it. "You don't ever really want to be a flip-the-switch team, but we do have a switch to flip, and we have to flip it now. When we do that, everybody kind of becomes the best version of themselves and that brings out that continuity and connection that we need." Minnesota reached the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two years. They have the experience. They have the talent. What they didn't have this season was consistency.

Edwards was brutally honest about the vibe. "It felt like that at times, like we were just trying to get through the season to get to the playoffs, but we're here now, and all the other excuses are out the window." That's a four-time All-Star who averaged 28.8 points per game in 2025-26, shot 48.9% from the field, and knocked down 39.9% of his 3-pointers. All career highs. So the talent was there. The focus wasn't always.

Defense Is Where the Real Problem Lies

Minnesota's biggest issue this season came on the defensive end. The Timberwolves finished eighth in the league in defensive rating after placing sixth last year and first the year before that. When a team that's supposed to lock you down starts giving up buckets, it shows something else is wrong. That uneven focus and spirit? It starts there.

Saturday at Denver. Playoffs. Everything the Timberwolves have been building toward arrives. Edwards knows it. Finch knows it. And now, with Garnett's energy in the building, everyone in Minnesota knows it too.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.