At his introductory press conference Friday – a day after being dealt to Minnesota – new Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu was asked to best describe his game.
“I would say someone that competes on both ends of the court, get out in transition, use my speed, push the pace, get guys involved, very efficient,” Dosunmu said. “I take pride in being an efficient basketball player, getting to the line, making my open shots, being aggressive. Always being aggressive at every mark of the game and try to leave my imprints on the game.”
When can you start?
That’s exactly what a currently flat Wolves team needs, as proven again in Friday’s 119-115 loss to the lowly Pelicans – Minnesota’s third straight defensive dud that left center Rudy Gobert calling for extreme measures of accountability.
If guys aren’t going to hold themselves to certain competitive standards, Gobert suggested Wolves coach Chris Finch take matters into his own hands via benchings.
“(Accountability) should start with ourselves, but it seems like we don’t have that,” Gobert said. “It’s not an easy position for a coach to take guys out of the game. It’s not something that you want to do, but I think if the players don’t show any effort, at some point, no matter how talented we are as a team, if you don’t have that, you just can’t be a winning team.
“Our best players, leaders, if we don’t show any effort, it doesn’t matter if you score 50, we’re not going to win. At some point, if we’re not mature enough to have that accountability ourselves, that might be a solution. And I guarantee you that when we come back onto the court, we’ll show effort.”
Friday was a rare night in which Gobert wasn’t much of a defensive solution for Minnesota. Zion Williamson dominated the game for the Pelicans – as he often seems to do at Target Center. The athletic phenom finished with 29 points on 11 for 13 shooting, with every single attempt coming in the paint. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch noted he wasn’t impressed with the team’s rim protection from Gobert or anyone else.
The general on-ball compete level wasn’t where it needed to be, nor was the game-plan discipline. New Orleans sharpshooter Trey Murphy made three triples in a 67 second span late in the third to pull the Pelicans back into the contest as Minnesota failed to take away his air space.
The Wolves are now 12-11 since Christmas. They’re surrendering 113.6 points per 100 possessions in that span, 15th in the NBA. What should be an elite trait for Minnesota is currently very average. In turn, that’s what the Wolves are as a collective.
“This is who we are as a team. We have to start understanding that,” Gobert said. “Our offense, of course it matters, but the barometer for success is our defense and our effort. And when we have that, we win almost every night. It’s insane how much like, when we just do that we win every night. So it’s crazy that we’re not able to just focus on that.
“The difference it’s straight effort, and it’s gonna be everybody. No one should get a pass for not playing defense.”
Even amid this milquetoast stretch of basketball, Timberwolves basketball boss Tim Connelly noted Minnesota still views itself as a team with a “puncher’s chance” of winning a championship. There is no runaway favorite in this year’s NBA, particularly given the league-wide swath of injuries.
So he pushed to make a move to improve the team at the trade deadline. Minnesota feels it got the perfect player in Dosunmu who can slide in as a bench scorer and, more importantly at the moment, an energetic defensive presence.
What the Wolves may need above all else at the moment is a shot in the arm. They’ll receive that Sunday when Dosunmu slides into the rotation against the Clippers.
“I’m really excited to have someone like that for us that just plays with energy, that just brings physicality,” Gobert said.
Opponents are shooting just 41.4% against Dosunmu this season – a mark that would lead the Wolves. Yet he feels he can be an “even better defender” in Minnesota.
“I think I showcased it some in Chicago, but I don’t think I showcased my full potential,” Dosunmu said. “I think I have definitely a lot more potential to be there and really becoming an elite two-way player, two-way guard in this league. That’s my goal.”
Wolves star Anthony Edwards knows Dosunmu’s defensive capabilities well. He’s been defended by the guard on numerous occasions.
“He’s super long,” Edwards said. “He don’t really jump at moves or pump fakes and stuff. He stay down and make you make tough shots over him. He’s super fundamental on that end.”
And he’s got an edge, something that can only help a Wolves team that currently lacks much bite.
“He’s from Chi-town, so he got some toughness to him,” Edwards said.
“We like that. We like competitive,” Finch said. “I don’t mind edginess. We definitely could use that. That’s what we want.”
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