Kendrick Perkins praised Anthony Edwards' unique attributes, silencing Luka Doncic of the Lakers with his "built differently" assessment.
In a bold move, former basketball analyst Kendrick Perkins recently declared that Anthony Edwards will lift an NBA championship before Luka Doncic even gets a crack at it. Perkins made these shocking comments amidst the Minnesota Timberwolves' impressive 3-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Edwards has been a standout performer this series, especially in the clutch, racking up 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists in fourth quarters alone. His late-game execution has been exceptional, shooting 43.5% from the floor and 41.7% from three in these critical moments.
In contrast, Doncic, despite posting solid numbers of 20 points and 7 rebounds in fourth quarters, has struggled, hitting just 29.4% of his shots and 16.7% of his three-point attempts in those same periods. The Timberwolves have taken advantage of this disparity, outscoring the Lakers 105-69 in fourth quarters throughout the series, a significant factor in their current advantage.
Perkins' opinion of Edwards as a "better all-around basketball player" stems from his defensive versatility and playoff poise, contrasting Doncic's more offensive-focused playstyle. While the idea of Edwards winning a championship before Doncic is still up for debate, his current playoff performance certainly bolsters Perkins' argument.
With the Lakers now facing a potentially insurmountable 3-1 deficit, Perkins also pointed fingers at coach JJ Redick for playing LeBron James excessively at 40 years old, arguing that Doncic should have been able to handle the minutes himself. The Lakers will look to turn things around in Game 5 on Wednesday night, playing on their home floor.
[1] https://www.basketballnews.com/anthonyminnessota-timberwolvesanthony-edwardsnba-championship-luka-doncic/[2] https://www.nba.com/news/kendrick-perkins-anthony-edwards-better-than-luka-doncic-nba-championship[3] https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/dallas/anthony-edwards-human-highlight-reel[4] https://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/4th-quarter/sort/pts/min/max
- Sports analyst Kendrick Perkins has rightfully asserted that Anthony Edwards, based on his impressive playoff performance, may lift an NBA championship before Luka Doncic.
- The odds of Edwards winning the championship before Doncic have increased, given Edwards' outstanding late-game execution and the significant deficit the Lakers now face.
- In the ongoing playoffs, Edwards has showcased his all-around basketball skills, outperforming Doncic in crucial moments with impressive stats such as 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists in fourth quarters alone.
- Perkins' argument for Edwards as a better all-round player stems from his defensive versatility and playoff poise, contrasting Doncic's more offensive-focused playstyle.
- Despite Doncic's solid numbers, his shooting percentages in fourth quarters have been lower than Edwards, a factor that has contributed to the Timberwolves' advantage in the playoffs.
