“In a league that tends towards the “small ball”, we start on the big ones”. It is with these words that Wolves manager Chris Finchsummed up the mini-revolution his team is regarding to experience with the arrival of Rudy Gobert in its ranks.
Beyond the new status that Minnesota will have to defend from the resumption, it is in the adaptation of Rudy Gobert to the Russell-Edwards-Towns trio that will reside the main challenge for Chris Finch’s men this season.
Ready to cohabit in the snowshoe
For Rudy Gobert, it’s also a big change since he will have to coexist in the racket with Karl-Anthony Towns, who remains the team’s “franchise player” and will now only be used in position 4.
“During my career, I haven’t played with another great. We played more with four wing-backs, which allowed us to space out the field., said Rudy Gobert during Wolves Media Day. “It was a style of basketball that we had a lot of success with over the years. Now, I’ve always liked playing with another dominant inside, because I’ve always thought that I might also pass, and be able to play short-roll (action where the pivot receives the ball at the head of racket on the pick-and-roll, to provoke the assist and serve the unmarked teammate), or be in situations in which I have not necessarily been seen in recent years, but I can make my teammates better”.
For Anthony Edwards, his contribution will also be invaluable in the installation of screens, just like for a player like D’Angelo Russell.
“I think that trade was super important for D’Lo because he has a great pick-and-roll partner there and because he likes the mid-range game. I’m not even worried regarding where I stand offensively when D’Lo has the ball. As long as Rudy is on the pitch with him, I think we are in good hands.”, slipped Anthony Edwards.
No problems, only solutions
Putting down screens for the creators of the game, and switching to post 5 rebounder when KAT deviates away from the paint, this is what his register will also look like, in addition to always being a defensive anchor.
“These are the things we talked regarding, whether it’s head-of-the-racquet play, hand-to-hand, my way of attacking, finding my teammates, open shooters. These are things that we will see I think. Of course, I’m still going to set screens and stuff, because I think that’s what will make us even better offensively. But basically, I will do whatever the team needs me to do,” added the tricolor pivot.
This KAT-Gobert association, which at first glance might seem like a puzzle, might then turn out to be a formidable weapon. On paper anyway, Minnesota has the cards in hand to aim high.
“When you look at the roster and the talent we have in this group, it’s pretty amazing. I’m lucky to be surrounded by a group of guys who I believe can accomplish anything. Now it’s regarding getting into the right habits and continuing to learn, continuing to improve every day and this group will have no limits to set.”concluded Rudy Gobert who also recalled the main objective of his coming to Minneapolis, namely to bring back a title.
| Rudy Gobert | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2013-14 | UTH | 45 | 10 | 48.6 | 0.0 | 49.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.3 |
| 2014-15 | UTH | 82 | 26 | 60.4 | 0.0 | 62.3 | 3.2 | 6.2 | 9.5 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 8.4 |
| 2015-16 | UTH | 61 | 32 | 55.9 | 0.0 | 56.9 | 3.4 | 7.5 | 11.0 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 9.1 |
| 2016-17 | UTH | 81 | 34 | 66.1 | 0.0 | 65.3 | 3.9 | 8.9 | 12.8 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 14.0 |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 56 | 32 | 62.2 | 0.0 | 68.2 | 3.0 | 7.8 | 10.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 13.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 81 | 32 | 66.9 | 0.0 | 63.6 | 3.8 | 9.0 | 12.9 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 15.9 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 68 | 34 | 69.3 | 0.0 | 63.0 | 3.4 | 10.1 | 13.5 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 15.1 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 71 | 31 | 67.5 | 0.0 | 62.3 | 3.4 | 10.1 | 13.5 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 14.3 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 66 | 32 | 71.3 | 0.0 | 69.0 | 3.7 | 11.0 | 14.7 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 15.6 |
| Total | 611 | 30 | 65.3 | 0.0 | 63.8 | 3.3 | 8.3 | 11.7 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 12.4 | |