Unfortunately, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their second straight loss on Sunday at Boston. They have now lost 18 games in a row at TD Garden dating back to March 2005. However, it wasn’t all bad, there were a lot of positive takeaways in a game that saw the Celtics narrowly escape with a win after leading by 19 in the second half. The defense was much better, holding the defending champs to just 107 points. Also, they only committed eight turnovers after having 17 giveaways in Toronto a few days prior.
One of the most encouraging takeaways was the play of Rob Dillingham for Minnesota, which should make Chris Finch feel a lot more comfortable including him in the rotation.
Timberwolves Rookie Rob Dillingham Makes Strong Case for More Playing Time
When the Wolves acquired Dillingham in a draft night trade with the San Antonio Spurs, the media’s general reaction was cautiously optimistic. The move posed a high risk but could yield a massive reward. With Mike Conley getting older, Minnesota saw their point guard of the future. As a result, they pulled the trigger on a trade that could be historic in a couple of decades.
Dillingham has seen very little playing time so far this season. That being said, he got a chance to prove himself in Sunday’s matchup with Boston.
Rob Dillingham Looked Sharp on Sunday
In 16 minutes, Dillingham scored 14 points on 6/10 shooting and 2/4 from three-point range. He added one assist and did not have a single turnover, something he’s struggled with in the few minutes before this game. His defensive movement and communication was significantly better than it has been against weaker teams. He was put in some difficult situations on defense and was talking to the veterans and learning how to be a better off-ball defender. The on-ball defense will improve as he gets more opportunities, but overall, his performance was a good sign of things to come. Rob’s average plus/minus in his previous four games was a 8.5. Against the Celtics, it was +2 in the most crucial minutes of his young career.
What This Means for the Timberwolves
Dillingham was acquired by the Timberwolves because of his ability to put up points in a hurry. We saw the need for another elite scorer after the series against Dallas in last year’s playoffs. Anthony Edwards carried most of the offensive load and had basically no help from his teammates. The addition of Julius Randle helped, but Karl-Anthony Towns was sent to New York.
Rob’s sensational offensive talent was on display at TD Garden. He provided a boost to a team that desperately needed help, and they nearly came back from a 19-point deficit. If he can play like that in every game, then Chris Finch would have every reason to give him upward of 20 minutes per game. That would excite the players; seeing a young guy succeed early in his career makes everyone happy. The Timberwolves need to be more of a closely-knit group. Rallying around a rookie would do a lot for their chemistry. Cruically he gives Minnesota a scoring boost that they really need.
The Last Word on Rob Dillingham
Fans have been adamant in their pleas for the Timberwolves to give Dillingham more consistent playing time. They have been running an eight-man rotation for most of the season, but they could easily play nine guys every night to include him in the rotation. He was central to their improved performance against Boston, and he could be a pivotal piece moving forward.
