Timberwolves’ Game 7 could be able to do for Anthony Edwards what Game 7 20 years ago was able to do for Kevin Garnett
The entire Timberwolves playoff history prior to this season was a single playoff game. It’s only fitting that the second best team in the history of the franchise will play the opportunity to play Game 7 to commemorate the date of the team’s iconic win.
By Michael Rand Star Tribune
MAY 17, 2024 — 11:32AM
The story is easy to lose when Kevin Garnett long-retired from the NBA and being enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame, however, the story from the beginning in his life was shaped partly by disappointment in the playoffs and a story of how was absent in the most dramatic moments.
Garnett’s Wolves lost seven consecutive first-round matches between 1997 between 1997 and 2003. They were usually overmatched as an inferior seed, but Garnett received the brunt of criticism -some fair, others not. Some fair others not.
The trajectory of his career took a sharp turn however, in his 2003-04 campaign. He had an MVP season and was paired together with Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell to guide his team of Wolves to the no. 1 place at the West. Then the team won two series wins, and capped the second one with a rousing performance in a Game 7 win against Sacramento at the Western Conference semifinals.
KG’s game was a total of 32 points 21, 21 rebounds, five blocks, and four steals in 46 minutes of a 83-80 win which wasn’t settled until the moment a Chris Webber three-pointer rimmed out in the last second — became a part of his history, something I discussed during the Friday’s Daily Delivery podcast.
It was the final and only team to be a great one that ever existed in Wolves history — up until this season. It’s a nifty twist on the schedule that is in sync with our love of round number anniversary celebrations, the sole other Game 7 in franchise history is scheduled for this Sunday, in Denver precisely 20 years following that Wolves triumph against the Kings on the 19th of May 2004.
It is also the birthday of KG. He performed the masterpiece on the day that he turned 28.
Anthony Edwards is more than five years older than Garnett and will not turn 23 until the end of August. Edwards isn’t carrying the same amount of playing experience as KG did and it’s not reasonable to expect the same from a rising 22-year-old like from an MVP in mid-career.
However, don’t be fooled: this is a chance for Ant to make a mark, much like the opportunity was available to KG. Edwards is already enjoying a name as a player who can make a difference in the playoffs unlike Garnett’s earlier career however, this is an opportunity to build an identity.
If Edwards is able to replicate a KG-like game 7 appearance and the Wolves beat the Warriors on Sunday in Denver the result is a game that Minnesota fans will be talking about 20 years later, when Ant has retired and maybe even enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
Everything we have learned about Edwards suggests that he’s ready for whatever comes his way.
Here are four more points to be aware of this day:
On Friday’s podcast Kent Youngblood joined me to announce for the Lynx home opening in Target Center and to talk about the rapid growth in the WNBA.
*The specifics really raised Patrick Reusse’s piece on the Twins in their offensive futility during a three-game sweep against the Yankees.
The Scottie Scheffler tale is not real.
If you’re using Apple TV+, you can see the Twins against. Guardians on Friday night.
