(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Timberwolves managed to live for another day.
The Denver Nuggets dominated them on both ends of the floor in the first half of the game, with even Jamal Murray bodying Rudy Gobert up, boxing him out, and exposing him on the defensive end.
That has been a worrisome trend for Gobert for his entire career.
He’s been exposed, and his defensive impact isn’t nearly as big as it was during the regular season, up to the point where he’s had to be taken out of the game.
That’s why, during halftime, Charles Barkley urged coach Chris Finch to bench the French big man and play small ball, as the Nuggets weren’t worried about him on offense, so they were pretty much playing 4 against 5.
Finch didn’t listen to his advice and continued to roll with his starting five, and Gobert picked up the defensive intensity to secure a huge comeback win.
That’s why, following the win, Gobert simply claimed that he doesn’t listen to what Barkley or those guys have to say, adding that he was just glad coach Finch didn’t listen to his advice either (via Ben Golliver).
Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert on TNT’s Charles Barkley suggesting he should be benched in Game 7 win over Nuggets: “I don’t watch these guys. … I’m glad coach didn’t listen to his advice.” pic.twitter.com/RLjW0RYn9y
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 20, 2024
Gobert has shown time and time again that he has the potential to be the biggest defensive factor in the game.
Still, he has also been a liability on that end of the floor over and over, and it seems like it’s a mental thing with him.
When he’s at his best, he can lockdown one through five, even making huge strides as a perimeter defender.
Hopefully, that’ll be the case in the Western Conference Finals, as he’ll go against two very physical bigs in Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford.
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