The main negative talking point of the Minnesota Timberwolves' 127-125 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was Rudy Gobert's subpar offensive showing. And rightfully so, as the Wolves' big man was 0-for-9 from the field. On a positive note, though, Joan Beringer had the best game of his season. The second-year big man recorded 12 points and seven rebounds, netting all six of his field goals.
Beringer still has some work to do, and he hasn't been perfect this season. Regardless, he's flashed his upside on both sides of the ball, and this game was a nice reminder of what Beringer can offer the Wolves on offense, especially in contrast to Gobert's limitations.
If Beringer can continue to grow on offense and parlay these flashes into consistent production, the Wolves will have some real offensive juice from their center position—even if it's from someone other than Gobert.
Joan Beringer is looking like the offensive threat the Timberwolves' frontcourt needs
The Timberwolves have a ton of offensive threats, but to reach their ultimate ceiling, they'll need their center to be a consistent threat. It's vital to have all five of your players be a threat in some capacity. One weak link can cause issues for your entire offense. Moreover, LaMelo Ball thrives alongside a rim runner, and this needs to be a consistent part of the Wolves' offense.
While Gobert can provide some scoring on nights against bad rim-protection teams, he has routinely struggled against good defenses. Frankly, I don't think that'll change. As such, the need for solid offensive production from the center room is clear. Thankfully, Beringer can provide the Wolves exactly that, and he's showing this.
Gobert is still miles ahead of Beringer on defense. Still, Beringer is already more comfortable on offense, and with more reps, he could become a truly fantastic rim runner. This season, Beringer is averaging 6.8 points while shooting 63.2 percent from the field in 14.6 minutes, while Gobert is averaging 8 points while shooting 43.5 percent in 32.4 minutes.
Beringer has sturdy hands and is a great vertical athlete. He also has solid touch around the rim, something that will continue to develop as the season goes on. Additionally, Beringer crashes the offensive glass at an elite rate and converts on putbacks.
Simply put, Beringer is already proving that he has the goods to be an impactful offensive center. He's providing more juice than Gobert, who has struggled to catch passes and finish around the rim.
Again, to be the high-end offensive center that the Timberwolves need, Beringer must keep proving himself and show that he is consistent enough. Monday marks the second really strong showing, with his nine-point-nine-rebound outing against the Orlando Magic being the other.
Still, he's had road bumps, including a subpar season opener against the Miami Heat. Beringer has shown growth in positioning and touch around the rim since this game, but he'll still need to prove this is sustainable.
The skill set and upside are there for Beringer, and with more reps, it's easy to believe he can consistently provide a massive boost to the Timberwolves' offense, which is an element they clearly need. By all accounts, Beringer's offensive ascension is starting to happen, and that's great news for the Timberwolves amid Gobert's struggles.
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