Rob Dillingham sends a message that Chris Finch can't ignore

The Minnesota Timberwolves were widely expected to take care of business against an undermanned Los Angeles Lakers squad on Wednesday night. Sure, they didn't have Anthony Edwards, but the Lakers were missing Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Gabe Vincent, and Marcus Smart. The Wolves ended up losing 116-115 off an Austin Reaves buzzer-beater.

Whether it was sloppy defense, an inability to generate rim pressure, or lethargic overall offense, there was a lot to nitpick with this game. However, second-year point guard Rob Dillingham played a season-high 16 minutes. Dillingham wasn't perfect, but he showed plenty of positive signs, especially as a decision-maker. He posted eight points (4-8 shooting), five assists, and just one turnover.

Dillingham played the exact role that Chris Finch wants him to

Before the season, head coach Chris Finch said the ideal role for Dillingham is to get to the paint and make plays for your teammates. During Wednesday's game, Dillingham played that role to perfection. He was looking to create for his teammates while scoring within the flow of the offense.

Dillingham used his elite downhill speed and ball-handling abilities to create open shots for his teammates. He thrived making both lob and kick-out passes. Here are two examples of his sharp passing.

It's always been clear to me that Dillingham is a gifted passer. However, it's always been about being able to organize the offense and limit turnovers. More often than not, Dillingham made the right reads as a passer on Wednesday. Plus, Dillingham took high-percentage shots, all of which came from within the arc.

The main concern with Dillingham is defense, and the Lakers started to target him in the third quarter, leading to him getting four fouls. Nevertheless, these are natural growing pains for a smaller guard, and Dillingham's all-around game was encouraging.

In fact, for how poorly this point guard room has played overall, Wednesday was a positive showing. Bones Hyland gave the Wolves a nice spark at the end of the third quarter, scoring or assisting on eight straight points. Mike Conley scored eight points (3-6 shooting) and dished out six assists. Perhaps more impressively, though, he recorded five stocks.

Regardless, Dillingham's performance is perhaps the most notable and sustainable as fans await the lottery pick finding a spot in the rotation.

The time is now to play Dillingham

Up until Wednesday's game, Dillingham had played just 13 minutes for the season. With Edwards sidelined for the next two weeks, Dillingham playing 15 to 20 minutes should be the new norm, and perhaps that can remain the case when Ant returns. This stretch should be used to help Dillingham develop, and he could ultimately carve out a role in the rotation.

Dillingham needs time to grow, and some matchups will be more challenging for him given his size. Nevertheless, Minnesota needs some extra perimeter shot creation and playmaking, which is exactly what Dillingham brings to the table.

Overall, Dillingham's performance should be a sign for Finch to work him into the rotation more; giving him some real minutes is the only way that he'll improve.