Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert conundrum might be unsolvable

Feb 24, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) looks on during warmups before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images | Soobum Im-Imagn ImagesAll season long, the Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled in the non-Rudy Gobert minutes. Notably, the Wolves' defense is 13.1 points per 100 possessions better with Rudy on the court, a number that ranks in the 99th percentile per Cleaning the Glass.

The lack of rim protection from Julius Randle and Naz Reid has been a key factor in this problem. You can play around with lineup combinations to make the non-Rudy defense look more promising. However, the…