Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert wants Minnesota's offense to run through him "as much as we can": "by playing through me... it relieves a lot of pressure on our guards." He had 8 assists in Game 6, and says he tells LaMelo Ball to slow down and use the advantage his screens create.

Joan Beringer is playing only at center for now, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said; he'd like to try him with Rudy Gobert once other things are sorted. He said Beringer, who used to overcommit into fouls, now regulates his energy better, helped by Trey Lyles beside him.

Jonathan Kuminga says the Timberwolves haven't asked for anything new, just the best version of himself: "Rebound more, just playing defense, being more aggressive." His pairing with Rudy Gobert has gone well, he said, and their off-court bond carries onto the court.

Anthony Edwards on pairing with LaMelo Ball: his focus has shifted from scoring to winning. "Some games they gonna trap me, some games they may trap him and I may be the decoy." Ball expects "a lot of running and gunning," with lobs to Rudy Gobert a big part of it.

Anthony Edwards named his defensive core as himself, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga, with LaMelo Ball "super good off the ball." Edwards also said he slept through three or four calls from Ball before learning of the trade: "I was asleep."

Ayo Dosunmu (Minnesota media availability) is teaching LaMelo Ball to defend pick-and-rolls next to Rudy Gobert: "I promise you his defensive is going to rise." He says the roster is built for a faster pace, though close games still need half-court execution.

Ayo Dosunmu said he's told Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball to turn the defensive attention they draw into lobs and pocket passes for Rudy Gobert: "that boosts his confidence." On his new deal: "I wanna look back in 3 years and they say, oh, that was a steal of a contract."

Minnesota's Bones Hyland expects a bigger role leading the second unit with Ayo Dosunmu. He says more pick-and-roll will free Rudy Gobert at the rim, Jonathan Kuminga will be a threat on the move and in transition, and "some guys may have to" sacrifice shots to win.

Bones Hyland on the clip of Anthony Edwards trash-talking Jaylen Clark: "They had the wrong words what he said. He didn't say that." He declined to give the real ones. Hyland, Ayo Dosunmu and LaMelo Ball are the "core guys" who have hard talks with Edwards, plus Rudy Gobert.

Chris Finch says Minnesota will put the ball in LaMelo Ball's hands to play out of early offense, and lean into a Ball–Rudy Gobert pick and roll that could be "one of the hardest things in the league to guard." After years of playing slow, they'll play faster.

Chris Finch says Minnesota is adding cutting with cleaner spacing, but must "hold your spacing" for Anthony Edwards isolations and Rudy Gobert pick-and-roll. LaMelo Ball is "near top of the league at finding cutters." Finch on flopping: "We don't teach flopping here."