Minnesota Timberwolves space and pace with Rudy Gobert

The Minnesota Timberwolves were a surprise team a season ago; shocking teams with their league-leading pace (pace is an estimate of the number of possessions per 48 minutes) and a barrage of three-point shots (led the league with 15 threes made per game). The Timberwolves led the NBA in points per game as well.

The Timberwolves had a very scary offense when they were flowing a season ago. With the addition of center Rudy Gobert, how will their space and pace look with the all-world defender and lob-catcher? Let’s take a look:

Rudy Gobert’s presence theoretically allows arguably the greatest shooting big man of all time, Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) to shoot more three-point attempts (3PA). KAT’s season high in the 3PA department was 7.9 during the Covid-ridden 2019-20 season. FWIW, that is a mark no center has ever reached. According to basketball reference, KAT played 100 percent of those minutes at the center spot. More often than not, he was playing in the paint but was forced to pop out to the three-point line.

Expect to see the Timberwolves double down on their league-leading 41.3 3PA per game. With their best pure shooter, KAT, primed to play on the perimeter more frequently, the bombs from deep will likely increase. Gobert doesn’t hurt their spacing whatsoever as he allows KAT to shoot more deep shots and he provides value with his “roll gravity”.

With Gobert handling the paint, KAT will have more possessions starting off on the perimeter; expect to see KAT in more guard-like actions. Minnesota can even get creative and have KAT come off Gobert pin-downs or with direct Gobert and KAT pick-and-rolls with KAT as the ball-handler.

Gobert is one of the best screeners in the league averaging a league-leading 15.3 points per game via screen assists in 2021-22.  With his strength and perfect spatial awareness, he knows the angles to take when setting screens.