The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday in a marquee matchup in the Western Conference.
The Timberwolves are trying to break a two-game skid, while the Clippers have been on a roll recently, winning five of their last six games, with Kawhi Leonard playing at an MVP level.
Stopping Leonard will require a collective effort from Minnesota, with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels being the primary on-ball stoppers. But clearly, Rudy Gobert remains their defensive anchor.
The Athletic's Law Miller points to significant decline in Timberwolves defensive efficiency When Gobert is off the field this season. When asked about it, Minnesota coach Chris Finch emphasized Gobert's importance and acknowledged his shortcomings.
"When he's off the floor, we need to protect the rim differently. Better on the ball, better around the ball and earlier at the rim. Obviously, we've been inconsistent at times with things like that this year," Finch said.
"He's huge for us. It takes some nuances to play with a guy like Rudy. When he's off the field, you have to transition to a different mentality defensively."
The Timberwolves' defensive efficiency with Rudy Gobert this season: 107.7
The Timberwolves' defensive efficiency with Rudy Gobert this season: 116.7
asked Chris Finch about this pic.twitter.com/nWVDpE6B75
- Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) 12 March 2026
Many have mocked the 33-year-old Gobert for his lack of offensive skills and awkward antics. But there's no denying that he can be a game-changer on the defensive end.
He's not a four-time Defensive Player of the Year for nothing.
Edwards has often talked about his defensive identity and how important it is for him and Gobert to set the tone.
Entering their game against the Clippers, the Timberwolves are allowing 114.5 points per game. But as Finch said, there is still room for improvement overall.
At the time of writing, there is a close game between Minnesota and Los Angeles in the first half.
