![]() ![]() The biggest knock on the French big man has been his limited offensive game. Since trading for Gobert, Minnesota has taken a step back offensively, which - to an extent - was to be expected. ![]() One of the main goals of the Gobert deal was to improve at that end of the court. But it was also among the worst defensive teams, giving up 113.3 points a night - the seventh-most in the NBA last season. Last year, Minnesota had one of the best offenses in the NBA, leading the league in points per game, and the team also posted a top-10 offensive efficiency rating (114.3). (It also would be the first year that he didn’t finish among the top 10 in the league in the category.) ![]() If that holds up, this would be the only season since his rookie year that Gobert didn’t average at least two blocks per game. And his 1.3 blocks and 0.8 assists per game are the fewest he has posted since his rookie season. Gobert’s 13.3 points per game are the second-fewest he’s averaged since taking over as a full-time starter for the Jazz in 2014-15. But with a closer look, you’ll find that this has been one of the worst statistical seasons of the big man’s 10-year career. He’s also shooting 67.8 percent from the field, which ranks second-best in the NBA. ![]() He’s averaging a double-double in points (13.3) and rebounds (11.6) while also recording over one block (1.3) per game. But how has the trade affected his play on the court? And has his addition to the team actually made the Timberwolves any better?Īt first glance, Gobert’s performance this season appears comparable to what he did with Utah in the past. In an interview after the trade, Gobert said his goal was to compete for a championship with this team. While competing in the middle of the pack was viewed as a sign of progress for this team last season, that’s no longer the case after last season’s success and the acquisition of a player as decorated as Gobert. Just past the midpoint of the season, the team sits ninth in the Western Conference and has hovered around. While there’s still a chance that could happen, that has yet to be the case for Minnesota (24-25). The expectation was that pairing Gobert with fellow All-Star big Karl-Anthony Towns would form a dominant frontcourt duo and allow the franchise to continue its ascent. They ranked 27th in points allowed per 100 possessions before inserting Gobert into the starting lineup, pinning themselves to blatant tank jobs ( New York Knicks) and defensive disasters ( Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves).Rudy Gobert’s on-court impact with the Timberwolves has been surprisingly limited so far.Īfter making just their second playoff appearance in nearly 20 years, the Minnesota Timberwolves entered full win-now mode with a blockbuster trade during the offseason - sending five players and four first-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for superstar center Rudy Gobert. Up until now, the Jazz didn't come close to registering as a competent defensive team. His job isn't to reinvent Utah's defense. Never, at any point before now, did illusions to the contrary exist. Rookie head coach Quin Snyder is an offensive innovator, known for preaching passing and off-ball movement while milking corner three-pointers. Indeed, Gobert is most responsible for the Jazz's renaissance on the less-glamorous end. To call the young Jazz big man a shot blocker doesn't do him justice he's more like a shot vaporizer. Entering the season as a talented enigma, Gobert has blossomed into a defensive force. The reason for such a massive turnaround is an equally gigantic human being and the reason the Jazz were OK with ditching Kanter in the first place: French center Rudy Gobert. As Sports On Earth's Brett Koremenos writes: San Antonio is the only other team to accomplish the same this season.Īt the heart of this defensive rise sits Gobert, whose performances incite hyperbolic descriptions that are actually more fact than fantasy. 3, a streak that has spanned 14 games and is still alive. Opponents haven't scored more than 100 points against Utah's defense since Feb. The Jazz are 7-2 during this stretch, with victories over perceived powerhouses like the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies. Wins are starting to pile up as a result. He's been even better since permanently joining the starting five, rejecting 2.9 attempts in 33 minutes of action. He's sending back 2.3 shots in just 23.5 minutes per game. Going against the grain isn't something Gobert has to worry about here. Only three times in the last 18 seasons has the Defensive Player of the Year averaged fewer than 1.5 swats per game. Voters are inherently attracted to blocks. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |