Should the Timberwolves Bench Rudy Gobert for Joan Beringer in the Nuggets Series?
With a third playoff meeting between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets imminent, should Minnesota try to catch Denver off guard by starting rookie Joan Beringer in place of Rudy Gobert ? Gobert has had an up-and-down season. In contrast, Beringer has looked like the Wolves’ center of the future when given ample playing time.
While this is a complex argument, allow me to lay out the pros and cons for you. In the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Nuggets beat Minnesota in five games. In 2024, the Timberwolves exacted revenge in the Western Conference Semifinals, eliminating Denver in seven games.
This season , Denver (54-28) won three of the four meetings against Minnesota (49-33), including an overtime classic on Christmas Day in which Nikola Jokić recorded a triple-double of 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, and Anthony Edwards scored 44 points. In 2026, something has to give. The Argument for Joan First, Rudy has been turnover-prone throughout the 2025-26 regular season.
In 76 games this year, he committed 106 turnovers. As many fans and pundits have noted, his hands and ball security are major issues. This alone does not bode well in the postseason, where possessions are at a premium.
Turnovers could swing this series. Denver takes care of the ball, averaging just 12. 9 TOs per game (3rd best).
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