Minnesota Timberwolves: Kris Dunn Starting Would Be Best

Defense

Starting Rubio undermines the Minnesota Timberwolves defensive scheme entirely because his lack of athleticism needs to be compensated for. Tim Thibodeau’s defense requires teamwork, as players are responsible for being alert to their teammates defensive positioning and communicating what the offense is doing while they’re on the court. Rubio can do that and, furthermore, his quick hands have led to him averaging 2.2 steals per game for his career.

However, Rubio doesn’t have the athletic profile that will allow him keep up with the better point guards in the league and he’ll be a defensive liability. He’s improved as a fundamental defensive player but he’s not a lockdown defender on the perimeter. He’s getting blown past by Russell Westbrook, floored by Stephen Curry crossover, or pushed past by Eric Bledsoe on the perimeter because he’s not athletic enough to guard every opponent.

On a team that has Zach Lavine, Andrew Wiggins, Karl Anthony-Towns and Gorgui Dieng in the starting lineup, Rubio is the only player who isn’t athletic enough to match up with any opponent. His teammates will have to compensate for him at the starts of games when they’re trying to have a solid defensive start. It’s counterproductive.

Kris Dunn has the athletic ability to cover any point guard in the league. He exhibits the hard-nosed defensive attitude Thibodeau likes from his players. As Anthony-Towns and Dieng anchor the paint, Dunn has the ability to be a defensive difference-maker on the perimeter. Dunn, who is 6-4 but 210 pounds, will be able to defend both guard positions. So far in the preseason, Dunn has a 90.8 defensive rating and 2.3 steals per game.