The best strategy to protect Anthony Edwards is becoming painfully clear

Anthony Edwards is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league. But even big players have shortcomings and ways to manage them. For the Minnesota Timberwolves star, this means being physical and forcing Ant to be a playmaker. In last year’s playoffs, Edwards struggled somewhat with physicality.

Targeting Edwards and forcing him to become a playmaker seems to be the blueprint for containing him for now. This is exactly what we saw against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. In all likelihood, more teams will guard Edwards this way in the future.

It’s worth noting that he was already the blitziest player in pick-and-rolls last season. Additionally, Cleaning the Glass ranks Edwards in the 10th percentile for assist-to-use. Now things could change as Edwards develops as a playmaker or increases his skills when he gets the ball. Regardless, for now there appears to be a clear blueprint to contain the 24-year-old superstar.

It has been successful for opponents to use Edwards and force him to be a playmaker

When looking at some of the defenders who most effectively contained Edwards, physicality and size are a clear common thread. Lu Dort held him to a combined shooting rate of 28.5 percent from the field, Andrew Nembhard (9.1 percent), Dorian Finney-Smith (22.2 percent in the playoffs) and Amen Thompson (30 percent).

Being guarded by elite on-ball stoppers like this group is a challenge, and it only becomes more difficult when you consider how often Edwards is double-teamed. Against the Thunder, this was especially challenging, and Edwards recorded 23 assists and 18 turnovers. Forcing Edwards to be a playmaker works partly because of his current limitations as a passer, but also because of the lack of three-point shooting around him.

Outside of Ant, Mike Conley is the only consistent 3-point shooter in the Wolves’ starting lineup. They do have Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo off the bench. Either way, if it’s the Wolves’ traditional starting lineup, the Wolves don’t have enough shooting options to make opponents pay for this strategy.

In terms of dealing with physicality, especially around the rim, Edwards struggled in the playoffs. He shot just 56.1 percent within five feet of the basket in the playoffs, down from his season average of 62.1 percent. As noted, teams often loaded Edwards and challenged him with contact.

While there appears to be a blueprint to contain Edwards for now, he’s spent the offseason working to address his shortcomings, and he’s still only 24. As a result, it’s possible Edwards can flip the script on how teams are holding him back.