Spurs' game plan for Anthony Edwards should be glaringly simple

Based on recent reports, the Spurs will likely see Anthony Edwards opposite them on the hardwood at the Frost Bank Center when the ball tips off tonight after his miraculous recovery from a knee injury. NBA fans everywhere will be thrilled to see him back in the lineup.

He and Victor Wembanyama have already given us generational hoops when they've faced off this season. But San Antonio must put Ant-Man through the wringer.

The electric shooting guard's game is predicated on explosive plays, making the health of his knees paramount to how effective he can be. Can he move laterally? Will starting and stopping be an issue for him? How does he do when he has to navigate screens constantly? The Silver and Black's job tonight is to find out the answers to those questions with relentlessness.

The Spurs should go directly at Anthony Edwards

The rules of being a professional athlete are pretty clear across all sports when it comes to playing and not playing. As much as fans love a warrior who battles through injury, if you're truly compromised, you should sit down. Otherwise, attacking you is fair game. If you're playing, you're expected to perform, and your opponent is not going to take it easy on you, especially in the playoffs.

Timberwolves reporter Jon Krawczynski reported that Minnesota has yet to decide what Ant-Man's role will be, so we'll see what he can provide on offense when the game starts. But it's more difficult to hide someone on defense. San Antonio has several players who know how to ISO, navigate screens, and make the 24-year-old superstar work.

He's either going to rise to the challenge or he's going to cost his team during the minutes he's on the floor. If the Silver and Black can play Anthony Edwards off the floor, it complicates everything for the underdogs.

The Timberwolves are already shorthanded at the guard position due to Donte DiVincenzo's Achilles tear against Denver in the opening round. Ayo Dosunmu has also been ruled out for Game 1, as he recovers from right calf soreness. That means San Antonio will likely see a good bit of 38-year-old Mike Conley and Terrance Shannon Jr.

Shannon Jr. averaged 12.5 minutes a night in the regular season but has been playing almost 19 minutes per game in the playoffs. If their entire rotation were available, he likely wouldn't get much time at all. The Spurs have to capitalize on every advantage they have, and that means making Edwards prove he can survive the series.

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