Exploring the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defensive rebounding problem
By Ben Beecken
The Minnesota Timberwolves non-bigs are not helping on the glass
D’Angelo Russell and Ricky Rubio are not about to solve the rebounding problem. But the least they could do is not contribute to the attrition.
Both Russell and Rubio have been average to above-average rebounders at the point guard spot throughout their careers. At the very least, they’re upgrades over predecessors Jeff Teague and Shabazz Napier.
That is, they’re supposed to be upgrades. Through the first dozen games of the season, both Russell and Rubio are tracking at career-lows in rebound rate.
Rubio’s 6.1 percent is down from 8.4 percent last year and a 7.8 percent rebound rate for his career. Russell’s 5.4 percent rebound rate is down from 6.6 from last year and 6.8 percent for his career.
Malik Beasley is the one outlier, with a clear improvement and renewed commitment to hitting the glass this year, seeing his rebound rate tick upwards. Jarrett Culver has been good on the glass in shrinking minutes, but rookie Anthony Edwards‘ 6.5 percent rebound rate is far too low for his size and athleticism.
It goes without saying that the Wolves simply need more from the entire roster when it comes to clearing the glass. And it isn’t like the Wolves are sacrificing a player or two on either end of the floor in the name of transition defense and offense — or, at least not to any level of success.
Yes, the idea of contesting and releasing down court to get in transition is great if you have Towns and another strong rebounder in your frontcourt. But if you have Naz Reid and Josh Okogie holding it down in the paint, those fastbreaks are going to be few and far between.