Rudy Goberts Production, which proves to be a great indicator of the success of Timberwolves

The 2022-23 season of the Timberwolves was largely a disaster.

Sure, there were lights, but 42 victories and only five playoff games did not meet the expectations of anyone after Minnesota won 46 games before the season and put many chips into the middle of the table to Rudy Gobert in the 2022 Offseason to acquire.

The 2023-24 campaign, now it was more. The Timberwolves won 56 games and reached the final of the Western Conference for the second time in the Franchise story.

This season looks like something between the two. Minnesota (25-21) is four games over 0.500 for the first time after defeating Atlanta in Minneapolis on Monday.

Nevertheless, the wolves do not move the fragrance of a championship scandal. At least not on many nights.

Why the fluctuation?

Well, in Minnesota’s best season of the three, Gobert acquired his fourth trophy of the defensive player of the year and had the effects of the maximum player for whom he paid for. In the other two years? Often not so much.

This year and the two worst seasons from 2022-23 season brand, in which he hardly played-in the advanced statistics such as Box Plus-Minus and Value Over substitute players. His profit share per 48 minutes from the two campaigns in the shadows only put the numbers in this rookie season and in the 2015-16 season. As a reference only in the season when Utah with Gobert as a pillar of his defense made the playoffs.

This season he is currently getting fewer rebounds and blocks fewer shots per 36 minutes, which he has done at any other point of his career. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said last week that the “activity level of the center is no longer”.

“His aggressiveness to challenge shots to pursue rebounds offensive and defensively was simply not consistent where it was a year ago,” said Finch. “I don’t know if it is a persistent effect, maybe from a long summer or a few years. But we talked to him about it. He recognizes it. “

The latest performances indicate that Gobert may be in the upswing. He blocked three shots in victory over Dallas. Perhaps he played his best game of the season in a dominant victory against Denver on Saturday and achieved another double double against the Hawks.

“But we need it every night,” said Finch.

Gobert noticed some games that he doesn’t have so much energy. But he must have the way of thinking regardless of it – the wolves need him. Minnesota went over the .500 mark all the season, but produced as Gobert, the wolves are difficult to surpass.

The Timberwolves are 22-10 when Gobert at least nine rebounds, 22-11, get 2 when he blocks three or more shots.

These are the numbers required to be a team for championship.

“We know what Rudy is deep inside and what kind of player he is for our team and how important he is for our success,” said Wolves Guard Mike Conley. “We will do everything in our power to make the game easier for him to get the best out of him at both ends of the floor. He said it publicly and to us that he will do what he can do to be better in different things that he has to improve, and the team has the feeling that he has to improve. And we have the greatest confidence that he will return to it, and we will simply always deal with him positively and push him further forward. “

The latest games indicate that the Gobert can be aggressively involved the more active it is in general. It is no coincidence that his back and defense figures rise as Conley and Anthony Edwards get the big man the ball.

Sometimes it should be scored, and sometimes it is in the middle of the floor in a short time where it can step on teammates. And Gobert has transformed these options into good looks for Minnesota. The more he can, the more he will find the ball in his hands.

“He worked, man. He tells me every day, every game: “Trust me, trust me, trust me.” I start to trust him much more. It is all that is about gaining trust and putting it in these positions again and again, ”said Edwards. “He made great pieces. I have no reason not to throw it now, because every time he catches it, he turns around. If the corner is not there, it steps into the wing. When he cuts, he made bullying and made the layperson.

“He already knows how I’m doing. If you do the right thing with it the first time, I’ll throw it the second time. He knows. He knows that I love him. “

“It became clear to me when I am determined and confident,” said Gobert, “(my teammates) have more confidence in me.”