Julius Randle has been navigating a rocky stretch post-All-Star break, struggling to find his usual scoring rhythm. But just when it seemed like he was finding his groove again, the Timberwolves' recent matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers highlighted a different concern: rebounding.
Randle's performance in the fourth quarter showed flashes of his potential, yet his overall rebounding effort left much to be desired. Head coach Chris Finch didn't hold back, pointing out the team's rebounding woes.
He noted, "We knew our guards needed to rebound. Ayo did a good job on the defensive glass, Rudy did a good job, but after that...
Julius has 3 defensive rebounds. That's not good enough."
Finch, who has a well-known connection with Randle from their time with the New Orleans Pelicans, rarely criticizes him publicly. This makes his recent comments all the more significant, signaling a shift towards holding Randle accountable in the same way as his teammates.
The Timberwolves have been giving up too many second chances, as evidenced by Portland's 18 offensive rebounds in their recent clash. In a critical moment, trailing by one, Minnesota allowed the Blazers to snag two offensive rebounds, leading to a decisive three-pointer from Jerami Grant.
Rudy Gobert and Ayo Dosunmu carried the load with 17 of the team's 29 defensive rebounds, while Randle managed just three in nearly 37 minutes. His rebounding numbers have dipped to a career-low 6.8 per game this season, partly due to sharing the court with Gobert, who naturally dominates the boards.
This isn't just a Randle issue-it's a team-wide concern. Over the last five games, opponents have averaged 16.2 offensive rebounds against the Timberwolves.
It's a glaring statistic that the team needs to address, with Randle playing a pivotal role in turning the tide. The Wolves must tighten up their rebounding efforts to prevent opponents from capitalizing on second chances, a task that starts with Randle stepping up his game on the glass.