The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and one of their top priorities will be to contain Anthony Edwards.

Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena.
© Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesAnthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena.

The Los Angeles Lakers finished the NBA regular season in third place in the standings. That’s why, in the opening round of the playoffs, they’ll go up against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who landed in sixth place in the Western Conference.

One of the biggest threats will be Anthony Edwards, and the Lakers are already working on a strategy to shut him down.

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“He’s a great offensive player, man,” Jarred Vanderbilt acknowledged during a press conference this week, as shared by Lakers Nation, showing the respect he has for Edwards’ skill set.

 “He’s super physical, he’s shooting it well this year, as you can see.”

When asked about how the Lakers plan to slow down Anthony and limit his impact in the upcoming series, the forward kept it straightforward. “Just continue to just make it tough for him,” he said. “He can get going quick, so just not to get anything easy for him.”

Vanderbilt also spoke about Edwards’ growth since the last time the Lakers faced the Timberwolves in the 2023 play-in tournament. “I think his playmaking has advanced since then, just being more of a leader for the team,” Jarred said.

 “I think that was one of his years when he was transcending to where he is now… his leadership has grown.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt.

The 26-year-old forward also acknowledged the challenge Minnesota poses as a team.

“They’re gonna play hard, they’re gonna play physical, they’re gonna be greedy,” he explained, before discussing the mindset the Lakers need to bring for the NBA playoffs. “For us, just going out there, being aggressive, hitting first, just being able to have that approach.”

JJ Redick also praises Anthony Edwards

Breaking down the Lakers’ NBA playoff picture, JJ Redick was also asked about Anthony Edwards. “The thing that jumps out at you is just the three-point volume,” the coach said.

“His ability to make shots at a really high level off the bounce. His pick-and-roll threes, his iso threes, dribble-up transition threes, he shoots them all at a really high clip.”

Redick continued analyzing the Minnesota guard’s game. “He’s still got his mid-range package, he’s still got the ability to get to the rim and finish, but not many guys that can shoot off the dribble at that volume from three, can also make 40% of them,” JJ explained. “That unlocks a lot.”

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Redick breaks down the Timberwolves

JJ Redick didn’t limit his analysis to just Anthony Edwards—he also highlighted what makes Minnesota a dangerous team. “They’re a really good basketball team.

The more you watch them on film, the more you respect them,” the coach said. “They’re a better team than 49 wins. The other three teams that are top-10 in offense and defense are all 60-win teams.”

As for the Lakers’ approach, Redick was candid: “It’s like any playoff series. You’re gonna prepare for Game 1, and you’re going to go try to win Game 1, and then, from there, it’s adjustment after adjustment… We’ll prepare for Game 1, and then we’ll go from there.”