How to use Rudy Gobert in the offense? Answers from former teammates

Rudy Gobert at the worst moment, he injured his groin… As he got stronger and more involved in the game, the Frenchman felt discomfort. He wanted to insist, and after all, he has been in the hospital for three appointments. Mid-season, the results for the summer’s most significant transfer are mixed. There have been criticisms of his influence and difficult integration into his new team, but former teammates remember being there.

“I had to change my game and a big part of that was how to give him the ball and use it as much as I could.” for example, explains Mike Conley, who discovered it when he came from Memphis. “It worked and it should have worked. It takes time and everyone has to be patient. »

Two years ago, Conley spent the summer training with former Ohio State teammate Greg Oden to find the playmaker’s reflexes that he developed with a pivot who plays at the circle level, The Athletic reports. Marc Gasol was not on the Grizzlies.

Where, how and when to give him the ball?

Another statement is that of Donovan Mitchell. The lack of a two-man game between the All-Star guard and his pivot was often criticized, and Mitchell warned Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell about the difficulties of pairing Gobert on offense. The Frenchman is primarily a defensive lineman and he cannot attack his defender with the ball in hand. Therefore, we have to find other solutions to be effective in attack.

“I told them it’s not going to happen… We have to continue to build this relationship and this unity. It will take time to build it gradually,” said Mitchell. “Look at the bottom line, last season we got a lot of criticism, but we were the best option duo in the NBA. It took time and it takes time. »

Patience, time… Today on the Bucks, Joe Ingles confirms that you’re learning to pivot with a profile of Rudy Gobert. “He’s a great screener, he’s a great rebounder, he knows how to go against the rim and he knows how to defend.” Lists Australia. “But it takes time. It probably took us two years to get comfortable. I think for Ant and D-Lo, once they get used to what he’s doing, how he comes around, what he can do and what he doesn’t know how to do, all those little things, it’s going to make things easier for them. We know how to give him passes, when not to pass, but it takes time. We spent eight years together and it gives a lot of options, a lot of experiences…”

From communication and instinct

What exactly does Gobert, who is at the center of all the debate, think about this? Overall, while the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns affected his rebounds and blocks early in the season, his stats changed little. But in the end, he remains a double-double machine, and he can still sanction near the rim.

“I think it’s just a matter of automation and understanding who you’re playing,” Gobert said. “Understanding each other’s strengths and those things come with communication as well as instinct. A lot of times when you’re on the court you play with your instincts and you develop that by trusting yourself and just trying to play for each other. Ant trying to find me lost the ball, but I really appreciated it. I think you have to go through this stage to build a relationship. For me, it’s about being in the right place for him. »

In the end, Mitchell believes the Wolves have the players to get the most out of Gobert. We know Kyle Anderson is capable of finding the French, but an item like D’Angelo Russell has proven to the Nets that he can use lob passes for his hoop.

“Look at the automation and the bond they’ve built with this group and they’re going to change everything,” the Cavaliers back concludes. “I don’t know where they are or how they play, but I know they have guys who can.”