Anthony Edwards has a message for every defense that wants to get physical with his new backcourt partner LaMelo Ball: he is inviting it. After the Detroit Pistons hounded Ball full court in a 128-106 preseason win at Target Center on Wednesday night, Edwards said the Timberwolves just have to find answers, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
“I mean I like it the physicality, I invite it,” Edwards said. He also knows what is coming: “every team we play is going to pick him up full, not let him catch the ball.”
The box score shows the problem. Ball finished with 3 points on 1-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes, though he still led Minnesota with 6 assists. Edwards scored 20 and went 9-for-9 at the line. Detroit won the paint 64-30, took the second quarter 36-20 and forced 20 Wolves turnovers, while Jalen Duren dropped 24 in just 15 minutes.
The IAHHM Take
For Carolina fans, this one still hits close to home. Charlotte sent Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in June for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round swaps and three second-rounders, per the AP. Melo left the Queen City as a 2022 All-Star who hit 272 threes last season, second in the league, but the Hornets never reached the playoffs in his six years there.
Now the test is whether he can set the table for Ant when defenses won’t even let him touch the ball. Full-court pressure is a test of handle, patience and spacing, and it is still preseason, so one rough box score is not a verdict. But if every opponent follows Detroit’s blueprint, Chris Finch has to get creative, whether that means Edwards bringing it up more or screens that spring Ball early.
Hornets fans, be honest: are you checking Wolves box scores to see how Melo is doing? And does the Ant and Melo backcourt work by spring?
More preseason storylines: Spurs rookie Tarris Reed Jr. grabbed 17 boards and still wasn’t satisfied.
Source: ClutchPoints
