The Minnesota Timberwolves are one defeat away from being swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. During a recent episode of Undisputed, NBA star-turned-analyst Paul Pierce has an interesting proposition for the Chris Finch-coached team.
According to the one-time NBA champion, the Minnesota Timberwolves might need to consider removing Rudy Gobert from the starting lineup and bringing him off the bench because he has been a “defensive liability.”
“(The Minnesota Timberwolves) gotta make a tough adjustment. I gotta remove somebody from the starting lineup. I think Gobert’s that guy. The Defensive Player of the Year is a defensive liability. I wouldn’t say that about Kevin Garnett or Ben Wallace,” Pierce said.
“He does his best work in the paint, so you gotta develop defensive schemes where he doesn’t come out on the perimeter and switch on pick-and-rolls. The coaching disparity is greater than initially thought,” he added.
Rudy Gobert is criticized for his perimeter defense in this series, especially after Luka Doncic yelled that the four-time Defensive Player of the Year couldn’t guard him after hitting the game-winning stepback three-pointer in Game 2.
Minnesota Timberwolves need to play Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid more, per Draymond Green
During his appearance on NBA on TNT, Draymond Green also called on Chris Finch to play smaller lineups involving Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid to combat the Dallas Mavericks’ elite perimeter offense.
“We can’t worry about Karl-Anthony Towns’ feelings or Rudy Gobert’s feelings. They need Naz Reid out there. They need Kyle Anderson out there. You’ve gotta figure that out,” Green said.
Naz Reid has been solid for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, averaging 17.0 points and 3.3 rebounds on 56.3 shooting from the field and 55 percent from three-point range in 28.3 minutes per contest.
Kyle Anderson, meanwhile is averaging 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 63.2 percent shooting in 18.0 minutes per contest.