Rudy Gobert continues to make his presence known in the racket. During the Wolves’ big victory against Miami, the French pivot once again delivered a solid performance with 13 points, 16 rebounds and 2 blocks. A performance that did not go unnoticed by Erik Spoelstra, the Heat coach.
Praises from a respected coach
The Heat’s young pivot, Kel’el Ware, had a complicated evening against the Wolves with only 7 points and 11 rebounds on 3/10 shooting. Erik Spoelstra didn’t look far to explain his player’s difficulties: “Kel’el Ware crossed paths with a proud veteran, a winner”said the Heat coach.
“Rudy Gobert remains one of the most underrated players in this League. He knows what type of player he is, he knows how to impact a match. He’s not necessarily going to score 35 points, but he takes rebounds, especially offensive ones, he brings physical impact, all those things that help his team.”added Spoelstra.
Coming from one of the best coaches in the NBA, these compliments mean a lot. The 33-year-old Frenchman dominated the interiors of the Heat, with Bam Adebayo limited to only 7 points. The two Miami pivots shot a low 6/21 in total, without obtaining a single free throw.
The shock that woke up Minnesota
This performance is part of a positive series for Gobert and the Wolves, undefeated for three matches. An awakening which follows the resounding declarations of the pivot after the defeat in Atlanta: “Something has to happen”he said, believing that without change, it would make a difference “between a team that is playing for a title and a team full of talent but which achieves nothing”.
“This match in Atlanta was an electric shock”confirms Gobert. “We asked ourselves if we wanted to be that team or the one we want to be, that is to say a team that aims for the title. The answer is quite obvious. »
Since then, the Frenchman has posted impressive statistics: 14.7 points at 82% shooting success, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks on average in these three victories. Sometimes mocked on social networks, Gobert is having another very solid season with 11 points, 11 rebounds and almost 2 blocks on average. When he’s on the court, the Wolves have the second-best NBA defense with 108.8 points conceded per 100 possessions. A performance which once again places him in the race for a fifth Defender of the Year title, which would constitute an NBA record.
Worth a look
