Minnesota's defense has been elite (#1 ranked; -11.9 rDRTG)

[Im Still Ballin]

Six games in, Minnesota has been dominant on defense. Rudy looks rejuvenated and playing like his Utah self. McDaniels has picked up where he left off last season. Ant is bringing intensity and effort. Even KAT is playing his part.

They just locked down two of the top offenses in the league. They look like a problem!

Minnesota Timberwolves 2024: 100.5 DRTG
League average offensive rating: 112.4

[Xiao Yao You]

Where's Greg Monroe and Hassan Whiteside when you need them?

[Real Men Wear Green]

That was Holiday's first bad game as a Celtic. Aside from Towns that's a very focused team defensively.

[FireDavidKahn]

This defense is special, I'm telling you guys.

Top 5 perimeter defender in Jaden (who is arguably the best perimeter defender)
Top 5 post defender who is playing like the DPOY right now.

Edwards is an elite point of attack defender.
Kyle Anderson is a very good defensive role player.
Conley is also a very smart defender.
NAW is a very good defender.

We might have the best defensive team in years right now

For the first time since 03-04 it isn't hyperbole to say that if our defensive dominance can translate to the play offs that we can be a contender. Play off Ant with the best defense in the league backing him up? Scary

Clown Karl has to go though

[Im Still Ballin]

This defense is special, I'm telling you guys.

Top 5 perimeter defender in Jaden (who is arguably the best perimeter defender)
Top 5 post defender who is playing like the DPOY right now.

Edwards is an elite point of attack defender.
Kyle Anderson is a very good defensive role player.
Conley is also a very smart defender.
NAW is a very good defender.

We might have the best defensive team in years right now

For the first time since 03-04 it isn't hyperbole to say that if our defensive dominance can translate to the play offs that we can be a contender. Play off Ant with the best defense in the league backing him up? Scary

Clown Karl has to go though

I agree. Minnesota's defensive rating relative to the league-average offense (rDRtg) will obviously come down from -11.9 as the league settles, but I can see them doing at least -5, which hasn't been done by a championship team since 2008.

1964 Celtics -8.7 rDRtg
2008 Celtics -8.6 rDRtg
2004 Pistons -7.5 rDRtg
2005 Spurs -7.3 rDRtg
1999 Spurs -7.2 rDRtg
1965 Celtics -7.2 rDRtg
2007 Spurs -6.5 rDRtg
1963 Celtics -6.3 rDRtg
1962 Celtics -6.1 rDRtg
1970 Knicks -6.0 rDRtg
2000 Lakers -5.9 rDRtg
1996 Bulls -5.9 rDRtg
1961 Celtics -5.5 rDRtg
1998 Bulls -5.3 rDRtg
1994 Rockets -4.9 rDRtg
2022 Warriors -4.9 rDRtg
2017 Warriors -4.8 rDRtg
1986 Celtics -4.6 rDRtg
1990 Pistons -4.6 rDRtg
1969 Celtics -4.6 rDRtg
1966 Celtics -4.5 rDRtg
2012 Heat -4.4 rDRtg
1972 Lakers -4.4 rDRtg
2020 Lakers -4.3 rDRtg
1997 Bulls -4.3 rDRtg
2015 Warriors -4.2 rDRtg
2014 Spurs -4.2 rDRtg
1973 Knicks -4.2 rDRtg
2003 Spurs -3.9 rDRtg
2010 Lakers -3.9 rDRtg
1983 Sixers -3.8 rDRtg
1992 Bulls -3.7 rDRtg
1979 Sonics -3.7 rDRtg
1960 Celtics -3.7 rDRtg
2009 Lakers -3.6 rDRtg
1971 Bucks -3.6 rDRtg
1959 Celtics -3.5 rDRtg
2019 Raptors -3.3 rDRtg
1984 Celtics -3.2 rDRtg
1989 Pistons -3.1 rDRtg
2002 Lakers -2.8 rDRtg
1968 Celtics -2.8 rDRtg
1967 Sixers -2.8 rDRtg
1991 Bulls -2.7 rDRtg
1981 Celtics -2.7 rDRtg
1955 Nationals -2.7 rDRtg
1974 Celtics -2.6 rDRtg
1957 Celtics -2.5 rDRtg
2011 Mavericks -2.2 rDRtg
2013 Heat -2.1 rDRtg
2016 Cavaliers -1.9 rDRtg
1993 Bulls -1.9 rDRtg
1987 Lakers -1.8 rDRtg
2006 Heat -1.7 rDRtg
1976 Celtics -1.6 rDRtg
1977 Blazers -1.5 rDRtg
1980 Lakers -1.4 rDRtg
1982 Lakers -1.4 rDRtg
2018 Warriors -1.0 rDRtg
1985 Lakers -0.9 rDRtg
1995 Rockets -0.8 rDRtg
1988 Lakers -0.8 rDRtg
2021 Bucks -0.8 rDRtg
1958 Hawks -0.8 rDRtg
2023 Nuggets -0.6 rDRtg
1978 Wizards -0.4 rDRtg
1975 Warriors -0.3 rDRtg
1956 Warriors +0.1 rDRtg
2001 Lakers +1.8 rDRtg

[Carbine]

They are not winning a title. They're too dumb as a team when it matters and Rudy will be exposed as per usual in the playoffs.

[Akeem34TheDream]

They have some serious talent. I expect them to win 55+ games. They will need KAT to get his shit together in playoffs though.

[dankok8]

The Wolves aren't gonna contend. They are also #21 on offense.

Pump the brakes!

[Xiao Yao You]

This defense is special, I'm telling you guys.

Top 5 perimeter defender in Jaden (who is arguably the best perimeter defender)
Top 5 post defender who is playing like the DPOY right now.

Edwards is an elite point of attack defender.
Kyle Anderson is a very good defensive role player.
Conley is also a very smart defender.
NAW is a very good defender.

We might have the best defensive team in years right now

For the first time since 03-04 it isn't hyperbole to say that if our defensive dominance can translate to the play offs that we can be a contender. Play off Ant with the best defense in the league backing him up? Scary

Clown Karl has to go though

Conley called it before the season started. Gobert with actual help for once at both ends is scary!

[Xiao Yao You]

They are not winning a title. They're too dumb as a team when it matters and Rudy will be exposed as per usual in the playoffs.

He was exposed because he couldn't guard 5 players by himself. Not exactly the same thing when everyone is defending and 2 inefficient players aren't dominating the ball on offense

[Im Still Ballin]

I wouldn't be surprised if we got a Thinking Basketball video on Minnesota's defense. Maybe if they continue to play well for another 6 games.

[Xiao Yao You]

Anthony Edwards when asked about accepting the challenge of guarding Jayson Tatum: “He got the stop on me at the end of the game. And he was talkin smack at the jump ball at overtime. And I told him, ‘I’m comin again’. Luckily, he called me up for an iso and tried to iso me, and I’m like, ‘I play defense, I just got five fouls’. So I had to show him I could play defense. But he’s a great player, one of the best players in the league, for sure.” Here’s that possession, Ant v. Tatum… pic.twitter.com/lWUeR41HDm

Imagine if Gobert had had that from his teams leading scorer in Utah. Instead he had Mitchell

[FireDavidKahn]

Opponents are shooting 35.4% from the field vs Rudy Gobert this season, per @nbastats

Nikola Jokic: 1-7 FG
Trae Young: 3-7 FG
*Kristaps Porzingis: 2-6 FG
*Jaylen Brown: 1-5 FG
*Jrue Holiday: 2-5 FG
Tyler Herro: 0-4 FG
Clint Capela: 0-3 FG
Jamal Murray: 0-3 FG
*Jayson Tatum: 0-2 FG

*Last night

Rudy is on a MISSION this year to prove everyone wrong after he played most of last year with a bad back.

Revenge Rudy

[Carbine]

None of that matters. The playoffs will prove everything we need to know. He can't do anything in the regular season to remove the stain from his reputation.

[Xiao Yao You]

Opponents are shooting 35.4% from the field vs Rudy Gobert this season, per @nbastats

Nikola Jokic: 1-7 FG
Trae Young: 3-7 FG
*Kristaps Porzingis: 2-6 FG
*Jaylen Brown: 1-5 FG
*Jrue Holiday: 2-5 FG
Tyler Herro: 0-4 FG
Clint Capela: 0-3 FG
Jamal Murray: 0-3 FG
*Jayson Tatum: 0-2 FG

*Last night

Rudy is on a MISSION this year to prove everyone wrong after he played most of last year with a bad back.

Revenge Rudy

I'm guessing Trae didn't get 42 on his 3-7 like Simmons did?