Timberwolves

Gobert Can Turn Two Of Minnesota's Weaknesses Into Strengths

Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves have one more dress rehearsal against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday to figure things out. Then the big show begins next Wednesday against an Oklahoma City Thunder squad that is already tanking. The Wolves have looked good in the preseason, going 4-0, even with Karl-Anthony Towns coming back slowly from a severe illness and taking time to integrate Rudy Gobert into the rotation.

The two have yet to share the court and are expected to make their Twin Towers debut on Friday. Wolves fans can’t wait to see how the two coexist in the frontcourt. Gobert will change the way the Timberwolves play on both sides of the court, but his ability to turn two of Minnesota’s biggest weaknesses from last season into strengths this year will have the most impact.

For all the goodwill built up with the fans and the most success the franchise has seen in years, the 2021-22 Minnesota Timberwolves were still a pretty flawed team. Yeah, they had the league’s best offense after Jan. 1, Anthony Edwards is awesome, and last year’s City Edition jerseys were top-notch. Still, for all the good vibes, there’s a lot to clean up. The Wolves turned the ball over too much. Even though they hoisted the most bombs in the league, they were a meh three-point shooting team. They’re also (allegedly) going to hawk these abominations that apparently have something to do with Bob Dylan.

Gobert probably won’t help improve the three-point shooting or jersey design. But adding the Stifle Tower should immediately turn two of Minnesota’s biggest weaknesses into strengths this season.

The first and most obvious is that he will help with the rebounding issue. Minnesota was 28th in defensive rebounding rate last season. KAT’s rebounding rate has steadily declined as he’s been pulled increasingly more out of the paint and out to the perimeter. Undersized bigs and string bean wings surround him, which doesn’t exactly scream bully ball. But that won’t be a problem with Gobert patrolling the paint. Gobert led the league in rebounding last season, and the Utah Jazz hadn’t been worse than 8th in the league in rebound rate since Gobert took over as the full-time center in the 2015-16 season.

The 7’1″ behemoth, who is a year away from getting hit with a too-small gesture from his 18-year-old countryman Victor Wembanyama, pushes everyone down a position and singlehandedly turns a small team into a big team. Last season, everyone had to slide up a spot to fill in as best they could. But with Gobert at the 5, Towns can slide down to the 4 and play more on the perimeter. That leaves Jaden McDaniels free range to gobble up ballhandlers at the point of attack and Ant to sit off the ball and scoop up errant passes.

Gone are the days when Towns has to try to shed his little brother persona. He no longer has to fight with the big boys only to get elbowed in the chest by Jonas Valančiūnas or get the worst of a tussle with Joel Embiid. Nor will he get dominated by, well, Gobert. Now he has Rudy to pick the fights and bully the other kids for a change. No more watching in horror as 6’8″ Brandon Clarke averages 13 rebounds in games five and six of a playoff series to send the Timberwolves packing. Gobert’s presence alone will beef up the frontline and should turn the Wolves into one of the best rebounding teams in the league from the jump.

The other pet peeve of the team that Gobert can help eradicate this season is that pesky fouling problem. We all remember what happened in the playoffs. Towns ran around, forgot where his giant body was, picked up two dumb fouls, and the Wolves were behind the 8-ball in almost every game. Towns committed the third-most personal fouls last season. That was followed closely by McDaniels, who tied for ninth in fouls while playing almost 800 fewer minutes than 8th-place finisher Pascal Siakam. The Wolves were 29th in the NBA in fouls and opponent free throw attempt rate as a team. 

Even though he’s one of the premier shot blockers in the game, Gobert does it without committing excess fouls. He was called for 176 fouls last year, 54th in the NBA and 91 fewer than Towns. He’s only finished in the top 20 in fouls committed three times during his nine-year career. His ability to protect the rim without fouling should be contagious with the Wolves and allow the rest of the defenders to play aggressively, knowing Gobert is back there to clear up their messes instead of Towns, who would try to block into the 93rd row.

Towns also has a major problem with offensive fouls, particularly on screens. Gobert is one of the best screeners in the league and should be taking over responsibilities as the primary screener. Hopefully, he will teach Towns how to set a legal screen during practice. McDaniels’ issues are more feel of the game fouls and should calm down as he matures. But having a defensive anchor like Gobert makes it easier for perimeter defenders to cut out the extra reaching and grabbing.

Gobert is set to impact the Wolves franchise on levels no one has seen since Kevin Garnett. But it’s his rebounding prowess and defending without fouling that should have some of the biggest impacts on this ascending team. The Wolves will still have their flaws, but with Gobert in the middle, some of their biggest weaknesses may now be their best strengths.

Timberwolves
Jordan McLaughlin’s Adaptability Remains Invaluable For the Wolves
By Jonah Maves - Mar 28, 2024
Timberwolves
Draymond Green’s Antics Are Beneath the Wolves
By Andrew Dukowitz - Mar 27, 2024
Timberwolves

The Wolves Unlocked Something By Starting Naz Reid

Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Naz Reid. Those two words were the only thing you could see or hear inside Target Center on Friday after in-arena host Jon Berry instructed the sold-out […]

Continue Reading