Rudy Gobert has been an impact player for the Minnesota Timberwolves for quite some time now. Unfortunately, Gobert's skill set could be Minnesota's downfall in their first-round matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Specifically, Gobert's offense will be their biggest playoff liability.
Gobert doesn't make the big bucks because of his offense. Anybody who follows basketball knows that to be true. He is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best shot blockers in league history, though. Gobert is a nightmare matchup for most centers around the league. However, that just isn't quite the case against Nikola Jokic.
The three-time MVP has his way against everyone in the league, but he particularly tends to have big games against Gobert. In the past, the Timberwolves have employed a strategy in which they let Jokic go off, and they try to slow everyone else down. Chris Finch might utilize that idea again, which could lead to plenty of Julius Randle minutes guarding Jokic.
So, if Gobert isn't on the floor to do what he is best at, which is defend opposing centers and deter shots at the rim, he can be a liability for Minnesota.
Rudy Gobert's offense will come back to bite the Timberwolves
The career 12.5 point-per-game scorer is limited to play-finishing on the offensive end. He can secure putbacks and catch the occasional alley-oop pass. Nevertheless, his offensive creation ability is close to nonexistent.
Teams should be putting constant pressure on Jokic and his mediocre defense in order to try and gas the Serbian big man out or put him into foul trouble, but Gobert simply doesn't have the offensive prowess to attack Jokic. Gobert had just a 12.9 percent usage rate this season.
The Timberwolves don't feed him the ball very often (in part because he drops easy passes), and when he does have the ball in his hand, he isn't expected to create off the bounce or go to work in the post.
Anthony Edwards will potentially need some time to get his feet under him in order to perform at his normal offensive level because he struggled offensively after returning from a knee injury.
The team is so reliant on Edwards' offense that if their star starts off slow, Minnesota really won't have much breathing room for nonsense from Gobert on offense.
Of course, the big man knows his role, and he plays it well, but the Timberwolves might need another A+ performance from the Stifle Tower if they are to accomplish the upset over Denver.
Add us as a preferred source on Google