Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and KAT’s ‘PRIDE’ blamed for losing to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving

The Wolves' tendency to rely on individual defensive skills rather than teamwork and help defense leads to their downfall. 

Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and KAT’s ‘PRIDE’ blamed for losing to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving

Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic and Timberwolves' Karl-Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert

The Minnesota Timberwolves boast the number one defensive rating in the regular season and have struggled to contain top-tier opponents like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. According to Gilbert Arenas, their pride in their defense is actually the root of the problem. 

On his podcast “Gil’s Arena,” Agent Zero emphasized that the Wolves’ defensive prowess can sometimes work against them. When facing elite players like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Wolves’ tendency to rely on individual defensive skills rather than teamwork and help defense leads to their downfall. 

The Wolves are the number one (defensive rated team)… They (Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic) don’t want to play against bad defenders because the bad defenders are going to require them to help them. The reason these two are killing you is because you respect your defense too much. You respect your defense, and you think you're going to be able to play these two gifted dudes one-on-one. There's nobody on your team who's good enough to stop them…Cut your pride out, got damn it!
Gilbert Arenas said on Gil’s Arena

Gilbert Arenas advised the Wolves to “cut their pride out” and adapt their defensive strategy to counter the likes of Doncic and Irving. This means more teamwork, rotation, and trust in each other’s abilities and by doing so, they can unlock their full defensive potential and become a more formidable opponent for top teams.

FS Video

The Wolves’ struggles against elite opponents serve as a reminder that even the best defenses can be improved. By acknowledging their weaknesses and making adjustments, they can continue to grow and succeed in the competitive NBA landscape. 

Gilbert Arenas on Mavericks Luka Doncic’s complaining tendencies

Luka Doncic is a dominant force on the court, with the ability to torch opponents with his impressive skills. However, his tendency to complain and whine can be a distraction and affect his team’s performance. According to Gilbert Arenas, this is the only element against Doncic, who is otherwise a mismatch problem for opposing teams.

When he's not complaining, he's dominating. The only knock against him is he whines a little bit. He's a mismatch problem across the board. No matter what you're trying to do with him, he's torching whoever. He's proven that you can put the best guards, power forwards, you can double him—I’m still torching them.
Gilbert Arenas said

Doncic’s ability to score, rebound, and create opportunities for his teammates has made him a nightmare to defend. He has proven that he can dominate even when faced with the best guards and power forwards, and can still produce even when double-teamed. 

To cement his status as one of the all-time greats, Doncic needs to find a balance between standing up for himself and avoiding unnecessary disputes with officials. By doing so, he can continue to dominate on the court and lead his team to success without letting his complaints become a distraction.

In case you missed it: