The Minnesota Timberwolves have been able to stay afloat this season with Anthony Edwards sidelined, but they recently took a tough loss against the Chicago Bulls. One of the reasons for the loss is the lack of an interior presence, and that falls on Rudy Gobert, as he finished the game with 0 points, shooting 0-for-7 from the field.
It's been a rough season for Gobert finishing around the rim, and he had some bad moments against the Bulls.
After the game, head coach Chris Finch was asked why Gobert has been ineffective around the rim, and he didn't hold back on the center.
“Because he hasn't been able to finish. He's getting stripped, he's missing layups, he's not finishing strong. He's gotta get on balance, collect and finish strong. Sometimes it's gonna be through contact. We need him to get his finishing back around the paint,” Finch said.
A few weeks ago, Finch mentioned Gobert not being able to get anything going when he finished their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, shooting 0-for-9.
“We've got to find him a little more cleanly. We've not been able to do that. He's got to catch and finish better, he had 16 chances in and around the paint in the Cleveland game, didn't finish well. I think he's got to get back and play with a little bit more force down there and we have to find him a little cleaner at times,” Finch said.
Gobert is usually the biggest person on the floor, and he has to do a better job of making his presence felt in the interior. If he can set the tone there, then that can open everything else up for the Timberwolves on the floor.