How a bench switch helped Timberwolves address late-game issues

Rudy Gobert made a plea to the coaching staff after a Feb. 6 loss in Chicago.

After the Timberwolves blew another late lead in an overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 6 in Chicago, Rudy Gobert made a plea to the Timberwolves coaching staff.

Gobert wanted the Timberwolves bench to be on the same side as their offense during the second half for away games; the opposing team gets to choose which side of the court they want their bench to be on before the game. When Gobert was in Utah, the Jazz had their bench on the same side as their offense in the second half, and he wanted to bring that to Minnesota.

The Timberwolves were initially hesitant to make the change because they wanted the bench with their defense. But Gobert said "I got the defense." Coach Chris Finch said he wants a happy Gobert, so they recently made the switch. 

Since then, the Timberwolves are 3-0 with wins over the Bucks in Milwaukee on Feb. 8, the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday and the Trail Blazers in Portland on Tuesday.

“Last year I was already thinking about it, but this year I was looking back at the games and some of the games when we blew leads in the fourth, too, and I realized most of those games like the offense was on the other side,” Gobert told reporters after Tuesday’s game, “and I realized that when we attack on our side, it’s kinda like, the energy of the bench, especially when you’re on the road and it’s the second half, I feel like we’re a team that really feeds off that.

“Me individually, I feed off that and the guys feed off that and I feel like our offense is better in front of our bench. I don’t know the numbers about it, but I know that in the second half, it feels good.”

So far, the results have been good, too. 

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and the bench watch game action against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, 2024 :: Gary A. Vasquez / USA TODAY Sports