All Things 2025-2026 Minnesota Timberwolves In-Season Thread

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Held them to 137

Only gave up 21 offensive rebounds and about 30 wide open threes

They drove by anyone on the perimeter at all will, also.
 
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@DaneMooreNBA

The Wolves have a defensive rating of 142.2 when Rudy Gobert has been off the floor this season.107.2 when Gobert has been on the floor.


8:18 PM · Nov 5, 2025
 






Slim Tubby said:
@DaneMooreNBA

The Wolves have a defensive rating of 142.2 when Rudy Gobert has been off the floor this season.107.2 when Gobert has been on the floor.


8:18 PM · Nov 5, 2025
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That is true, but a 107 rating is still below average.

This team is in a world of hurt and I don't see a way out.
 






The general opinion is that we have 3 top notch defenders, Rudy, Jayden, and Ant. But we are giving up massive amount of points, in most games. 83 points last night, in the 2nd half alone.

Please explain this to me, because I can't figure it out.
 

LakevilleBro said:
The general opinion is that we have 3 top notch defenders, Rudy, Jayden, and Ant. But we are giving up massive amount of points, in most games. 83 points last night, in the 2nd half alone.

Please explain this to me, because I can't figure it out.
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Rudy is the only one playing defense right now.

Until that changes, this is a .500 at best team.
 

kg21 said:
Naz Reid enters the game when Rudy goes off the floor.
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You just nailed it right here.

Playing Naz and Randle next to each other is a defensive nightmare. I can't possibly imagine that playing Beringer a few minutes could be any worse. At least he can protect the rim a little and give the other team some pause about driving the lane.
 

kg21 said:
That is true, but a 107 rating is still below average.
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Gobert is declining a bit as well.
kg21 said:
This team is in a world of hurt and I don't see a way out.
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With our black hole at PG, Cap restrictions and not having 3 of our next 5 FRP's to use as trade capital, I'm not seeing a realistic fix, either.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Gobert is declining a bit as well.

With our black hole at PG, Cap restrictions and not having 3 of our next 5 FRP's to use as trade capital, I'm not seeing a realistic fix, either.
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They set a pick out front and then Rudy is one on one with a scorer. His lateral movement is dealing fast.

If he's at the rim, he can still cause harm, but he is being abused off the pick and roll.
 



Meanwhile, our bench sucks as Minnott goes for 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals last night

LMAO
 

LakevilleBro said:
The general opinion is that we have 3 top notch defenders, Rudy, Jayden, and Ant. But we are giving up massive amount of points, in most games. 83 points last night, in the 2nd half alone.

Please explain this to me, because I can't figure it out.
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Ant has never been a good defender. He showed glimpses of it two years ago against Phoenix/Denver, but he is mostly average. He has a long way to go (imo) to become one of the best in the game. He's a scorer who can turn it on defensively at times. I wish he took defense more seriously.
 

tikited said:
Ant has never been a good defender. He showed glimpses of it two years ago against Phoenix/Denver, but he is mostly average. He has a long way to go (imo) to become one of the best in the game. He's a scorer who can turn it on defensively at times. I wish he took defense more seriously.
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I'm sticking to my theory that by asking Ant to be a primary ball handler and instigator on offense, it significantly takes away from his energy on defense.

The talent for Ant to be an All NBA defender is certainly there. This is just another auxillary result from our roster being devoid of a starting caliber PG.
 

Slim Tubby said:
I'm sticking to my theory that by asking Ant to be a primary ball handler and instigator on offense, it significantly takes away from his energy on defense.

The talent for Ant to be an All NBA defender is certainly there. This is just another auxillary result from our roster being devoid of a starting caliber PG.
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The mental gymnastics you guys continue to do to put all of our problems on not having a PG is insane. That has virtually nothing to do with this team not playing D, especially when Ant has only played 3 games.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
The mental gymnastics you guys continue to do to put all of our problems on not having a PG is insane. That has virtually nothing to do with this team not playing D, especially when Ant has only played 3 games.
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So...not having Ant negatively affects our defensive rotations, but not having a legitimate NBA caliber PG doesn't. Understood.

I'm not going to argue with you about what my own eyes are telling me.
 

Slim Tubby said:
So...not having Ant negatively affects our defensive rotations, but not having a legitimate NBA caliber PG doesn't. Understood.

I'm not going to argue with you about what my own eyes are telling me.
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What you said earlier about the Naz/Randle combo is the issue. They are the worst frontcourt duo defensively in years right now. That's the #1 problem.

There are many combo guards/shooting guards playing lead guard across the NBA right now. That's today's NBA. Needing a classic PG is not how it works anymore and there are very few of those that even exist. It's not the issue with why this team isn't playing defense right now.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
What you said earlier about the Naz/Randle combo is the issue. They are the worst frontcourt duo defensively in years right now. That's the #1 problem.

There are many combo guards/shooting guards playing lead guard across the NBA right now. That's today's NBA. Needing a classic PG is not how it works anymore and there are very few of those that even exist. It's not the issue with why this team isn't playing defense right now.
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I would definitely agree that our biggest defensive weakness is playing Naz and Randle next to one another.

If we trade either of those guys for an upgrade at PG, we both win. 😉
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
The mental gymnastics you guys continue to do to put all of our problems on not having a PG is insane. That has virtually nothing to do with this team not playing D, especially when Ant has only played 3 games.
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I don't think one person has claimed that is the reason for all of our problems let alone defensively. It's a big reason though for the team having issues. To not see that is insane.
 

Twolves may win an award for ugliest Emirates Cup floor. Even the TV cameras are struggling to adjust.
 

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