Donte DiVincenzo explains that defensive resilience distinguishes championship-caliber teams in the NBA, even though scoring is often the main focus. A strong defensive unit can provide a steady foundation for success, even when offensive struggles occur. According to DiVincenzo’s perspective, the defensive efficiency of the past three champions has consistently ranked within the top eight in recent NBA history. A fascinating contrast is the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, a team that ranked just 22nd in points allowed per game but dominated the league in scoring.
However, the fundamental principle persists: elite defense teams are typically NBA champions. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ defensive identity is already taking shape. The Timberwolves’ defense can be dominated on that side of the ball thanks to Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and Jaden McDaniels, named All-Defensive Second Team. Their defensive tenacity has played a crucial role in their ascension this season.
“When the shots aren’t falling, you can get out and transition,” says DiVincenzo. “You can get easy layups and you can stay in a game, and at some point, it’s going to turn. When it turns, that’s when you win the games that, you know, from the outside, you may not be supposed to win. Those are the games that you squeak out in the end and you change the series—it’s going to be 3-to-1 versus 2-2.”
Anthony Edwards: The X-Factor
Anthony Edwards is a crucial component of Minnesota’s championship aspirations. Shooting an impressive 40% from beyond the arc, the 22-year-old star has elevated his game to new heights and averaged 27.6 points per game. The league’s top 15 scorers have only Nikola Joki and Kevin Durant with a higher three-point shooting percentage.
Edwards is the top NBA player with 270 made three-pointers and a fourth-place scoring average. He recently earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors after a dominant stretch in which he averaged 32.7 points per game on 47.4% shooting, including 38.2% from deep, while leading the Timberwolves to a perfect 3-0 record.
When DiVincenzo was asked to compare Edwards to other players, he gave a strong response:
“He is in a conversation of his own.”
“He’s so dynamic, and I think the thing with him is, he’s adding something to his game every single year. Everybody knows him for getting up, dunking on people, getting downhill. Then he came in this year with a mindset of working on his three-ball, and next thing you know, he is setting records within the franchise in one year.”
The Timberwolves’ strong defensive presence and Edwards’ continued growth have made Minnesota a legitimate contender. As history has shown us, elite defense and a dynamic offensive leader are the winning formula for championship success.
