{"id":277596,"date":"2025-05-29T05:22:53","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T05:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/29\/15-puppets-on-one-string\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:08:14","slug":"15-puppets-on-one-string","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/29\/15-puppets-on-one-string\/","title":{"rendered":"15 puppets on one string"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"4935264\" data-slug-id=\"2537115\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/anthony-edwards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Anthony Edwards<\/a> and the Minnesota Timberwolves had another rough outing against the OKC Thunder defense. Tried as they did to solve the defense, the Timberwolves could not and crumpled to a 124-94 series-ending loss. Wednesday\u2019s defeat was the third time in the Western Conference finals Minnesota lost by a blowout.<\/p>\n<p>After the game, Edwards and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/mike-conley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Mike Conley<\/a> talked to reporters about what happened in Game 5. While the point guard talked, Ant-Man interrupted him to say:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201c15 puppets on one string.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><template id=\"bets-today-poll\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"preview-card-holder bets-today-poll\">\n<p><span class=\"date\"\/> \u2022 <span class=\"time\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"march-madness-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/march-madness-logo.png\" height=\"42\" width=\"99\" alt=\"march madness logo\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>Conley could not agree more, particularly after Wednesday\u2019s lopsided loss. Minnesota led 3-0 after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/julius-randle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Julius Randle<\/a> drained a 27-footer. Slowly and steadily, the Thunder defense shackled the Timberwolves, limiting them to nine first-quarter points. After 12 minutes, the home team led 26-9 with Randle and Edwards providing the only points for Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p>The second frame followed the first quarter script. Minnesota played better, but they bled to score 23 points, while the Thunder dropped 39 on the visiting team. After two quarters, OKC held a commanding 65-32 advantage.<\/p>\n<p>Anthony Edwards, the focus of the Thunder defense throughout the series, had another rough shooting night. After a 16-point output in Game 4 two nights ago, he scored 19 points behind 7-for-18 shooting.<\/p>\n<p>Julius Randle picked up his offense on Wednesday, dropping 13 points in the third quarter, but it was too little too late. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch sent in the second stringers with still four minutes left in the fourth period.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Anthony Edwards\u2019 scoring and 3-point efficiency dropped against the OKC Thunder defense<\/h2>\n<p>Anthony Edwards was on a tear in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Against the LA Lakers, he averaged 26.8 points per game while hitting 33.3% from deep. In the semifinals against the Golden State Warriors, he put up 26.2 PPG behind a sizzling 44.2% clip from behind the arc.<\/p>\n<p>The OKC Thunder, who led the NBA in defensive rating by a wide margin in the regular season and the playoffs, shackled Edwards. In the Western Conference finals, Ant-Man averaged 23.0 PPG and shot a measly 28.2% from beyond 22 feet.<\/p>\n<p>Anthony Edwards particularly struggled in the last two games of the Western Conference finals. He averaged 17.5 PPG with 14.3% efficiency in his 3-point attempts. Edwards combined to make 2 of 14 triples in Games 4 and 5 after being hounded by Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-author-info-parent\">\n<span class=\"about-the-author\">About the author<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-pic-holder\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"author-pic\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg width=\" height=\"100\"\/><rect width=\"100\" height=\"100\" style=\"fill:rgb(128, 128, 128);\"\/>&#8221; data-lazy=&#8221;https:\/\/keedag.sportskeeda.com\/user-pic\/574869-1717241309-200.jpg?w=200&#8243;<br \/>\nalt=&#8221;Michael Macasero&#8221; height=&#8221;72&#8243; width=&#8221;72&#8243;&gt;\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-bio-detail-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p class=\"author-bio\" id=\"author-bio-text\">\nMichael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.<\/p>\n<p>Michael&#8217;s background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n<p>Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes\u00a0Popovich&#8217;s genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael&#8217;s reporting philosophy and he\u00a0believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from work, Michael&#8217;s children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.\n<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"author-know-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/author\/mikailmail051521-1\" aria-label=\"Author know more\">Know More<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Michael Macasero<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/news-15-puppets-one-string-anthony-edwards-sums-massive-reason-behind-okc-thunder-s-success\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves had another rough outing against the OKC Thunder defense. 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