Barkley wanted the Wolves to approach things differently.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think Minnesota shoots too many threes,\u201d he said<\/a> during ESPN\u2019s halftime coverage. His concern extended beyond the number of attempts. Barkley questioned Minnesota\u2019s willingness to fire early in possessions and pointed to its limited trips to the foul line.<\/p>\n The Wolves ultimately won 131-106, finishing with 21 made threes. Their performance offered an encouraging first look at the possibilities of the Edwards-Ball partnership.<\/p>\n It also raised a question about Barkley\u2019s criticism: Was Minnesota settling, or was it taking the opportunities its new offense is designed to produce?<\/p>\n Charles Barkley wanted more pressure on the rim<\/p>\n Barkley\u2019s underlying concern was reasonable enough. A team that consistently launches contested jumpers while passing up better opportunities can make life unnecessarily difficult for itself. When those shots stop falling, an offense needs other ways to score.<\/p>\n At halftime, Minnesota had attempted only four free throws. Barkley wanted Ball to use the team\u2019s pace to create more chances near the basket, rather than repeatedly choosing perimeter attempts with time remaining on the shot clock.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they don\u2019t go in, you gotta get to the free-throw line, Ernie,\u201d Barkley told Ernie Johnson.<\/p>\n There will be nights when that warning applies. Edwards and Ball cannot expect every game to feature the same shooting success Minnesota enjoyed in Miami.<\/p>\n But a low free-throw total over two quarters does not establish that an offense is generating poor opportunities. Neither does taking a shot early in the clock. The more useful question is what kind of attempt the possession creates.<\/p>\n Finch\u2019s assessment was that Minnesota was generally getting the looks it wanted.<\/p>\n Chris Finch saw the shooting as a product of the offense<\/p>\n Asked afterward about the Wolves\u2019 three-point volume, Finch described attempts that came naturally from the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought most of them came in a good flow,\u201d he said in his postgame press conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n Finch pointed to Edwards creating shots while in rhythm and Ball using Rudy Gobert\u2019s screens. He also explained that increasing the number of threes had not been the team\u2019s central instruction.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve not intentionally talked about upping our three-point volume,\u201d Finch said. \u201cWe figured it would be a benefit of how we could play.\u201d<\/p>\n Those comments were about Minnesota\u2019s offense, rather than a direct response to Barkley. They nevertheless help explain why the coach could be comfortable with an approach that bothered the television analyst.<\/p>\n Ball gives Minnesota another player who can handle the ball, threaten a defense from well beyond the arc and deliver passes when defenders commit. Gobert\u2019s screens create separation. Edwards can attack with the ball or receive it after someone else has already disturbed the defense.<\/p>\n The resulting opportunity may arrive quickly. Continuing a possession simply because the clock still shows 17 seconds does not necessarily produce a better one.<\/p>\n Miami\u2019s defense helped determine Minnesota\u2019s choices<\/p>\n![\"NBA:](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/NBA-Minnesota-Timberwolves-at-Miami-Heat-tagreuters-com2026newsml_mt1usatoday30150917657671000-edite.jpeg\")
3<\/a>Oct 21, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"NBA:](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/NBA-Preseason-Minnesota-Timberwolves-at-New-York-Knicks-tagreuters-com2026newsml_mt1usatoday30068845.jpeg\")
3<\/a>Oct 12, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after making a shot during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
![\"NBA:](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/NBA-Minnesota-Timberwolves-at-Miami-Heat-tagreuters-com2026newsml_mt1usatoday301494821411168568.jpg\")
3<\/a>Oct 21, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jonathan Kuminga (24) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n