NBA Stars Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle Sound Alarm on Timberwolves’ Slow Start Issues
The Minnesota Timberwolves, fresh off a remarkable season, find themselves struggling early on in the current campaign, landing at the 11th spot in the Western Conference with a losing record. Following a heartbreaking overtime defeat against the Houston Rockets, both Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle have brought attention to a critical problem affecting their performance: slow starts.
Sloppy Beginnings for the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have been facing significant challenges in the opening stages of games. In their recent loss to the Rockets, they fell behind by six points in the first quarter, a recurring theme seen in their previous matchup against the Toronto Raptors where they were down by five after the opening period. Julius Randle acknowledged this issue, emphasizing the need for a stronger start, stating, “We gotta start games better. Quarters, halves, all those different types of things better.”
Rudy Gobert echoed Randle’s sentiments, pointing out a lack of urgency at the beginning of games. He expressed, “From what it feels, it feels like when we start the game, the other team is a little more alert, a little more physical. We always take one quarter or one half to get going.”
The Toll of Playing Catch-Up
Struggling to recover from early deficits has taken a toll on the Timberwolves’ energy levels, making it challenging for them to maintain leads and close out games. Randle highlighted the draining nature of this situation, mentioning, “It just takes a lot of energy.” This exhaustion was evident in their overtime loss to the Rockets, where Houston’s Alperen Sengun dominated the interior against Gobert. Adding insult to injury, Sengun taunted Gobert as “too small” after scoring over the four-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Acknowledging the Issue, But Seeking Solutions
While the team is aware of their slow-start problem and has addressed it internally, the issue continues to persist, resulting in frustrating defeats like the one against the Rockets. Gobert revealed, “We know it. We have talked about it a few games ago about starting the games better.”
What Lies Ahead for the Timberwolves?
Looking ahead, head coach Chris Finch must confront these recurring early-game struggles and instill a sense of urgency in the team right from the tip-off. With Julius Randle still adjusting in the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves face an uphill battle to replicate last season’s success.
Failure to resolve their energy deficiencies could potentially derail their season, but if they manage to reverse this trend, Minnesota possesses the talent to compete in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. Stay tuned for more updates on the Timberwolves’ journey throughout the season.
