The Minnesota Timberwolves are currently one of the top defenses in the league. They hold teams to 44.7% on 87.1 attempts per game, the best in the league. The low field goal percentage has helped the Minnesota Timberwolves to lead the league in points allowed. Opponents are averaging 106.8 points per game in 56 outings.

Minnesota’s defensive success has led media members to give Rudy Gobert most of the credit for the performance. Jon Krawczynski of the Athletic stated on November 9th, 2023, that he had returned to form.

“It all starts with Gobert. This is the center they thought they were getting last season, a destructive presence in the paint able to wreck games almost by himself. The version that wore a Timberwolves jersey in the first two months of last season just wasn’t that guy. He barely participated in training camp because he was banged up after a run to the EuroBasket finals with France. When he finally hit the court, he was slower to react while learning a completely new team that was not built around his unique abilities”.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has not changed           

At first glance, the praise for Rudy Gobert is deserved, as the team has been highly effective with him on the court. They hold opponents to 71.8 points on 43.8% shooting in 33.4 minutes per game. However, if we look beneath the surface, his impact has been overstated.

Rudy spent most defensive possessions in drop coverage last season. For example, he was guarding Bismack Biyombo during a road game vs the Phoenix Suns on November 1st, 2022. Biyombo went to set an off-the-ball screen for Cam Johnson to give him separation from Karl Anthony-Towns.

Gobert didn’t follow Biyombo as he chose to stay below the free-throw line to protect the basket. As a result, Anthony-Towns was left alone to clear the screen and defend Johnson. Karl was unsuccessful as Johnson made a three-pointer.

Rudy’s approach helped opponents shoot 46.3% on 56.9 attempts in 30.7 minutes per game. Teams went on average 70.9 points per game with him on the court. Although Gobert’s statistics have improved this season, he still spends most of his defensive possessions in drop coverage.

For example, he was assigned to guard Dwight Powell during a road game against the Dallas Mavericks. During the game’s first play, Powell set a screen for Kyrie Irving on the left wing. Unfortunately, Gobert didn’t follow Powell because he wanted to stay closer to the basket.

Consequently, the team had to depend on Anthony Edwards to clear the screen successfully to stop Irving from scoring. However, Edwards was unsuccessful, leading Irving to make an open mid-range jumper.

The Mike Conley Factor

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ defensive success is due to the presence of Mike Conley Jr. He has done a great job of clearing screens and rotating, which reduces open shots for perimeter players. Mike was guarding Malik Beasley early in the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Beasley tried to get separation from Conley by going over a Giannis Antetokounmpo screen on the left wing. However, Mike cleared the screen with minimal contact, forcing Beasley to reset. As a result, opponents have been averaging 19.6 wide-open shots per game since Conley’s acquisition.

Conley’s presence has decreased wide-open shots by 4.9 % compared to before the trade. Therefore, teams have been pushed to drive towards the basket more since the trade. Opponents are averaging 52.8 drives per game, an 8.2% increase since the trade.

The forced change in approach led to increased shots in mid-range jumpers. Teams are averaging 12.1 shots per game, a 24.7% increase. Teams are electing to take more mid-range jumpers because Rudy Gobert is one of the best rim protectors in the league.

He has held opponents to 60.3% in the restricted area since 2015 on 16.2 attempts per game. Gobert’s statistical success is related to his time on the court with Conley. He has shared the court with Conley for 76% of his minutes, averaging 25.4 per game this season.

The duo is holding opponents to a team-best 43.6% shooting on 46.4 attempts per game.