The matchup between Cleveland and Minnesota represents the clashing of two defensive powerhouses. Here’s a Cavaliers and Timberwolves defensive comparison.
Cavaliers
Currently tied for second best defensive rating in the league (with the Celtics) at 111.3, the Cavs are an elite defensive unit. Averaging 34.3 defensive rebounds a game, and grabbing defensive boards at a rate of 72.3 percent, the combination of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley makes rebounding very difficult for opponents. Not limited to just the big men, the team averages 7.5 steals and 4.9 blocks per game.
The Cavs best defensive players are Donovan Mitchell (defensive rating of 110.1), Isaac Okoro (113.3), and of course Mobley (106.7) and Allen (108.7). Allen currently ranks fourth in the league for defensive rating with more than 2000 minutes played. Mobley was on the all defensive first team last season, and Okoro can lock down essentially anybody. Although these guys are the best individual defenders on the team, the team as a whole works like a well oiled machine. With Mobley and Allen working the post and Mitchell manning the wing with either Max Strus or Okoro, running pick and rolls or trying to force switches is almost nullified by Cleveland’s defensive adaptations.
Cleveland’s opponents this season are averaging 46.5 points in the paint, and 12.8 second chance points. Their opponents are also averaging 17.1 points off of turnovers. Although these points are more indicative of a turnover problem than a defensive problem, it’s points being scored against them nonetheless.
Timberwolves
Leading the league with the lowest defensive rating, the Timberwolves are holding opponents to an average of 108.6 points per game. Grabbing 34.9 defensive rebounds a game with a 72.8 percent defensive rebound percentage, the Timberwolves are comparable to, if not slightly better than, Cleveland in all defensive categories. Minnesota is also averaging 7.5 steals and 6 blocks a game.
Their best defensive players are Rudy Gobert (defensive rating of 104.1), Karl Anthony Towns (108.0), Naz Reid (107.6) and Anthony Edwards (109.2). Gobert leads the league in defensive rating (with at least 2000 minutes played), is a three time defensive player of the year and six time all defensive team. Behind him in second is Towns and although Edwards isn’t quite as high on the list as his teammates, he had a game winning block last night in which his head hit the rim. He is a more than capable defender that any player with the ball needs to approach with attention.
Whereas the Cavaliers are reminiscent of a well-oiled machine on defense, the Timberwolves are more akin to a dam. With Gobert typically able to run the paint using his size, agility and reflexes, it allows Towns to counter opponents stretching the floor. Minnesota also has solid defenders across their team, meaning switches are rarely effective. As are pick and rolls, as Gobert plays arguably the best drop coverage in the league. With a wall of strong defenders anchored by a defensive juggernaut in Gobert, bursting open the floodgates against the T-Wolves is virtually impossible. They consistently keep opponents from scoring outbursts, evidenced by their defensive ranking.
Against Minnesota, opponents are averaging 46.2 points in the paint, 13.1 second chance points and 16 points off turnovers.
Matching up
Although each duo’s dynamic is different, the pairs of Allen/Mobley and Towns/Gobert are two of the best in the league on the defensive end. Each, also, are down a piece in their matchup tonight. The Cavaliers are missing Mobley and the Timberwolves are missing Towns.
Without Mobley, Cleveland’s defensive rating jumps up to 111.2. Minnesota, on the other hand, has a defensive rating of 106.1 without Towns on the floor. Somehow, opponents score less when Towns is absent. The major difference between the duos, however, is that both Allen and Mobley have effective offensive games, while only Towns can be considered the well-rounded scorer in Minnesota. Towns is actually the most well rounded scorer of these four big men. Thus, while the Timberwolves will be down a prominent scorer, the Cavs will be suffering more on the defensive end. Not to say Towns’s absence won’t be missed on the defensive front, but Gobert is the defensive anchor of the team and is more than qualified to lead the frontcourt.
It should be a low scoring, and grinding game between the two best defensive teams in the league.
After the Timberwolves, the Cavs play the Nets this Sunday (March 10) at 7:00 PM in Cleveland.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/sports/cavaliers-and-timberwolves-defensive-comparison/2024/03/10/
