Anthony Edwards' 'see y'all ... for Game 7' proclamation comes true (2024)

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There is not a more genuine sports personality than Anthony Edwards.

Ant & Co. Save Season

No Wolves squad has ever done this

During the Wolves’ destructionof the defending champion Nuggets yesterday, I wondered, “Is it possible the Wolves will win bysomany points that it fuels Nuggets revenge in Game 7?”

Trust me, I know it’s a stupid question and reaction to Minnesota winning 115-70 in Game 6 at home. Denver will host Game 7. The Nuggets are the best team in the world. They’re still the favorites to win the title. They also havebyfarthe best playerin the world.

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Butthe Wolves’ Game 6 mutilationof a team that’d seemingly figured them out was so bewildering that all logic went out the window. I started wondering if the Wolves should allow their lead to get under 40– maybe even a 35-point cushion would be safer in order to not further poke the bear.(Again: I’mfullyaware of how completely asinine this is.) After the 45-point loss, Nikola Jokić said it was a good loss for Denver.When asked why, he simply answered, “They beat our ass.”The Nuggets couldn’t possibly get too down on such a defeat, and why would they?

They’re the defending champs and have a 3-1 record in Game 7s with this core, having beaten the DeMar DeRozan-led Spurs in 2019 before losing a Game 7 to Damian Lillard’s Trail Blazers in the following round. In the next postseason, Denver overcame two 3-1 series deficits in the 2020 bubble by beating the Jazz and Clippers, respectively. These current Nuggets have a different understanding of the moment. Their championship experience matters, and so does being at home for a Game 7. The Wolves have one Game 7 in their entire history, andit happened 20 years ago.(And Idomean 20 years ago. Minnesota’s Game 7 against Denver is on Sunday, May 19, which is 20 years to the day of the Wolves beating the Kings thanks to an infamous performance by Kevin Garnett.)

There is no reason to assume the Wolves win this Game 7, but that was also the case when it came to themtaking a 2-0 series lead without homecourt advantage. The same could be said about their shocking response in Game 6. We saw howDenver retaliatedin Games 3 through 5, especially with thatlegendary Jokić performance. Maybe the Wolves’ defensive adjustments carry over to Denver as they load up on Jamal Murray and Jokić, dare others to score and try not to switch any Jokić-involved actions.

No matter what happens, nobody can laugh at Anthony Edwards for his bold proclamation to the Ball Arena locker room attendants after getting smacked in Game 5. He was asked to validate the story about what he said to them following Minnesota’s Game 5 loss in Denver.His response:

“Hell yeah. They know.Y’all was in there. I told them, ‘I’ll see y’all motherf****** for Game 7.”

Guess what? We’ll see y’all motherf****** for Game 7.

The Weekend Ahead

Do-or-die hoops all around us

We have at least two more Game 6 matchups this weekend, and wemightget another Game 7. What do you need to know about this weekend’s hoops? I’m so glad I asked that question for you!

Tonight, 8:30 p.m. ET – Knicks at Pacers, Game 6

- What’s at stake?The Knicks can reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000. That’s right. Y2K!This series’ winner faces Bostonfor a chance to represent the East in the Finals.
- Who needs to perform for the Knicks?The NOVA Three with Jalen Brunson scoring 35 or more.This is the formulathat works.
- Who needs to perform for the Pacers?They have to get abig, aggressive game from Tyrese Haliburtonto set the table. No more single-digit shot totals.
- Any noteworthy absences?The Knicks are withoutOG Anunoby, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanović. The Pacers won’t have Bennedict Mathurin.
- What’s your gut telling you?I think we’re getting a Game 7.

It’s Friday and the Knicks play tonight 💪 pic.twitter.com/zgbMTeqZQI
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 17, 2024

GAME DAY 🔋 pic.twitter.com/ucNsy9Uk8W
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 17, 2024

must win. pic.twitter.com/sFrLiEO76I
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 17, 2024

Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET – Thunder at Mavs, Game 6

- What’s at stake?The No. 1 seed Thunder’s season is on the line, and the Mavericks are hoping to make their second Western Conference finals in the Luka Dončić era.
- Who needs to perform for the Thunder?We know Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderwill get 30 or more points,but they also need big gamesfrom Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
- Who needs to perform for the Mavs?They need another big Dončić performancelike in Game 5. P.J. Washington adding some 3s wouldn’t hurt.
- Any noteworthy absences?The Thunder are healthy enough. Dallas is missing Maxi Kleber.
- What’s your gut telling you?It feels like the Mavericks close this out at home, but I want a Game 7.

Winning as a team 🤞@Chime // #OneForDallas #MFFL pic.twitter.com/Py6KmCepCy
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 16, 2024

❝We are going to live and die trusting each other.❞ pic.twitter.com/K0XWhE3AjI
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 16, 2024

SGA on the team’s mentality heading into Game 6 pic.twitter.com/1peDVx6lBw
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 16, 2024

Sunday, time TBD – Wolves at Nuggets, Game 7

What’s at stake?Minnesota has the opportunity to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the last decade. Denver is fighting for its life to extend its title defense.
Who needs to perform for the Wolves?Everybody.Anthony Edwards must be great, but nearlyeveryrole player must perform.
Who needs to perform for the Nuggets?That old cheat code of the Jokić-Murray two-man game.
Any noteworthy absences?Both teams will be healthy enough, so there are no excuses.
What’s your gut telling you?It’s just fun to say the Wolves will win, so let’s say it — even if it’s not going to happen.

It’s also worth noting, if Indiana extends its series, the Pacers-Knicks Game 7 at Madison Square Garden would also happen on Sunday.

Budding in the Desert

What will Mike Budenholzer bring to Suns?

While Mike Budenholzer absolutely has his faults when it comes to playoff adjustments and overall malleability as a coach, there’s no denying he changed the fortunes of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018. Prior to the Coach Bud era in Cream City, Milwaukee was a hopeful team with a budding superstar who needed structure to elevate his collective game. The results were stunning in just the first year Budenholzer was there.

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The year before he took over, the Bucks were 10th in offense (109 offensive rating) and 18th in defense (109.1). That’s not bad for a 44-win team with a 23-year old superstar-in-the-making. In Milwaukee’s first season under Budenholzer, the offense improved to fourth (113.5 points per 100 possessions) as its defense led the league (104.9 defensive rating). The addition of Brook Lopez – who flawlessly embraced his role on both ends of the floor – helped the Bucks jump to a 60-win team.

How? Milwaukee’s defense focused on taking away the paint, and its offense efficiently operated from five different spots on the floor. The Bucks stuck to that and suddenly became a championship contender … as long as Budenholzer eventually made necessary playoff adjustments with Giannis Antetokounmpo having grown into a two-time MVP.

So,how doesanyof this applyto the next era of Suns basketball?

That’s a good question because we’re not comparing one-to-one situations here. The Suns have established veterans in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker with very deep playoff runs on their resumes, and they also have Bradley Beal. Phoenix’s offense was 10th this season, and its defense ranked 13th. But the Suns’ offense was entirely uninspired in the postseason. Budenholzer has to convince these veterans his way of offense will open things up. Convincing Durant will most likely be the toughest sell, as the Warriors can slightly attest to. And the Suns won’t have the defensive personnel to make a Milwaukee-esque jump on that end of the floor. But Phoenix’s star talent should be able to help.

Maybe it will all work, or maybe it won’t. Thankfully, we’ll at least getsome great memesfrom the sidelines again.

Returning home with one goal. pic.twitter.com/pK4ot5Nbda
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 11, 2024

Bounce Passes

Is there asensible place for Zach Edeyat the NBA level?

(Top photo: Brad Rempel / USA Today)

Zach Harper is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the NBA. Zach joined The Athletic after covering the NBA for ESPN.com, CBS Sports and FRS Sports since 2009. He also hosts radio for SiriusXM NBA and SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio. Follow Zach on Twitter @talkhoops