The 5 biggest keys to the Nuggets Timberwolves 2nd round playoff matchup

1. Guarding Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is the engine for the Wolves offense and he’s the player that gives this team a chance to be special. When Ant gets it going he looks like one of the most unstoppable players in the world and he’s growing up in the playoffs right before our eyes. The Suns had no answers for Edwards as he torched everyone they tried on him.

But if the Wolves had a weakness this season it was their offense, which was just 17th in the league. But Ant can bring their entire offense up a level just by himself. His shotmaking, playmaking, and decision-making have all taken a leap and seem to have gotten even better in the playoffs.

If teams can find a way to limit Ant and keep him in check, they can usually keep the Minnesota offense at bay, but when Ant gets going this team looks scary. The Nuggets will have a few different options but there’s no perfect answer. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is their best perimeter defender, but Edwards may just be too big, strong, and fast for KCP at this point in his career.

Aaron Gordon may be the best overall defender on the Nuggets and he’s done a great job on wing players like LeBron and Kawhi Leonard. But Edwards will have a speed and quickness advantage over Gordon and may be able to get to his spots more easily.

It’s a bit of a pick-your-poison, as Ant has proven that when he’s on fire it doesn’t matter who’s guarding him. But if the Nuggets can contain him and keep him from taking over games, they should be able to limit the Wolves' offense and win this series.