Does Rudy Gobert actually struggle to defend in isolation?

Timberwolves middle Rudy Gobert continues to be the topic of unwarranted criticism, most just lately being referred to as the worst participant of all time by Corridor of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.  

Gobert has been principally quiet regardless of the onslaught of hate, although he did reply to Shaq’s feedback on X, previously Twitter, saying it’s unhappy he would assault one other’s accomplishments.

A lot of the criticism of Gobert surrounds the narrative that regardless of being touted as one of many NBA’s greatest defensive gamers because the winner of 4 Defensive Participant of the 12 months Awards, Gobert can’t guard the highest large males in isolation, and he’s a legal responsibility guarding perimeter gamers on switches. 

That drew quite a lot of consideration this postseason when the Wolves used Karl-Anthony Cities as the first defender on Denver Nuggets celebrity Nikola Jokic, and when Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic hit a game-winner over Gobert in iso. The Mavs later knocked the Wolves out of the playoffs.

However do the numbers again up the prevailing narrative that Gobert can’t guard the iso? 

Not likely. 

Gobert tied for forty fifth of the 354 gamers who certified, holding opponents to 0.73 factors per possession in isolation within the common season. Opposing gamers shot simply 36% from the sector (38% true capturing share) whereas matched up towards Gobert in isolation. Removed from unhealthy protection.

(Anthony Edwards, by the way in which, ranked third within the league, holding opponents to only 0.43 factors per possession in iso whereas additionally protecting them to only 10% capturing, tied for the perfect within the league.)

But when that is not sufficient to ascertain that Gobert is way from unhealthy at defending isolation, what makes his stable numbers much more spectacular is that Gobert was the eighth-most attacked participant within the NBA with 78 photographs tried on him in isolation. Of the 50 most-attacked gamers in isolation, Gobert held opponents to the fewest factors per possession final season.

And let’s not neglect, Gobert posted the perfect defensive ranking in all the NBA final season at 104.4 factors per 100 possessions, 1.4 factors higher than the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.

Now, Gobert’s numbers defending isolation did take a dip within the playoffs; he allowed 0.92 factors per possession on 43% capturing. These numbers have been in the course of the pack of qualifying gamers.

However Gobert allowed fewer factors per possession than the Nuggets’ Jokic and Aaron Gordon, the New York Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein, who’s now with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford and 24 different gamers who certified. It isn’t like Gobert acquired beat each journey up the courtroom.

There is not any doubt there have been some performs final postseason that Gobert want to have again, however there isn’t any world through which Gobert’s play warrants the criticism he is acquired. Gobert continues to be an elite defensive participant who was the anchor of a Wolves protection that ranked No. 1 within the league final yr.