The Rob Dillingham Thread

[winforlose]

Great game from Dilly. Yes his defense is awful but he can shoot, pass the ball. Give him one more year and he can be a good surprise.

1 or 2, but I agree his shooting is encouraging.

[minimus]

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The biggest takeaway for me is that Rob can NATURALLY pass the ball, unlike Edwards. He has already improved his chemistry with MIN bigs: he throws perfect alleyoops to Gobert and he finds Reid for perfect pick-n-pop threes.

[Guidus88]

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The biggest takeaway for me is that Rob can NATURALLY pass the ball, unlike Edwards. He has already improved his chemistry with MIN bigs: he throws perfect alleyoops to Gobert and he finds Reid for perfect pick-n-pop threes.

agree! he looks lost in defense but I think that this is something that he can overcome with more playing time. I love his speed too!

[winforlose]

Read on Twitter

The biggest takeaway for me is that Rob can NATURALLY pass the ball, unlike Edwards. He has already improved his chemistry with MIN bigs: he throws perfect alleyoops to Gobert and he finds Reid for perfect pick-n-pop threes.

agree! he looks lost in defense but I think that this is something that he can overcome with more playing time. I love his speed too!

Some of this is garbage time and should be adjusted. But, it is still encouraging from a potential standpoint. Finch’s rigid rotations and poor decision making took Dilly out of a game where he was playing very well and essential down the stretch. Mike was ineffective in his stead and we ended up losing. When Dilly is the hot hand we MUST feed the hot hand.

[minimus]

agree! he looks lost in defense but I think that this is something that he can overcome with more playing time. I love his speed too!

I also like that he brings completely different dynamic in offense: he moves the ball, he moves without the ball, he runs in transition, he involves bigs in like 2-3 DHOs in one possession.

[minimus]

Watch on YouTube

Watch that quick DHO with Randle that created an open layup. Imagine Rob playing next to passing big like Sabonis, Hartenstein or Adebayo. They will be unstoppable. Run DHO, screen, re-screen, cut, pass, shoot.

P.S. I am not saying that TC must find Sabonis, but maybe Tim can find another Hartenstein? I mean someone who constantly battles on boards, set screens, finishes around the rim and pass?

Watch on YouTube

Day'Ron Sharpe as FA 2025 target? Offer him a part of MLE?

[shrink]

I really enjoyed watching Dillingham yesterday. Despite his size and lack of experience, he doesn’t play with fear on the offensive side of the ball. And I loved seeing how fast he was on the full court breakaway when Gobert got back and disrupted MEM’s fast break!

I did see him try to throw a quick chest pass to a cutting Gobert. Rudy was open and that would be a good pass to most players, but Rudy needs the lob. To me though, that’s not really a Dillingham problem - just that he needs to remember to adjust his game if he wants to take advantage of Rudy’s strengths, and avoid his weaknesses.

[TimberKat]

15 pts, 3rb, 2ast. I think that is the best one game performance from all of TC's drafts.

[Klomp]

I did see him try to throw a quick chest pass to a cutting Gobert. Rudy was open and that would be a good pass to most players, but Rudy needs the lob. To me though, that’s not really a Dillingham problem - just that he needs to remember to adjust his game if he wants to take advantage of Rudy’s strengths, and avoid his weaknesses.

That's where it's important to remind ourselves that he is 19 and probably playing with a big like Gobert for the first time. Look at the most natural Gobert facilitators over the years here....before Mike Conley played with Gobert, he was teammates with Greg Oden. Joe Ingles teamed with Andrew Bogut on the Australian NT. Karl-Anthony Towns teamed up with Willie Cauley-Stein at Kentucky. These guys all had head starts of varying degrees.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Rob is learning fast. Working with Mike will help him a lot and his BBIQ seems already higher than many other’s players. And when he is hot he should be on the court end of game or not. Finch is so stubborn sometimes..

[moss_is_1]

Rob is learning fast. Working with Mike will help him a lot and his BBIQ seems already higher than many other’s players. And when he is hot he should be on the court end of game or not. Finch is so stubborn sometimes..

His shooting, passing and ability to break down the defense are huge for us right now. He absolutely should be playing a major chunk of the PG minutes with DDV hurt and Conley struggling.

His ball handling and quickness make him extrem difficult for 1 player to stay in front of him and creates opportunities for other guys when the defense is scrambled.

[Folklore]

I really enjoyed watching Dillingham yesterday. Despite his size and lack of experience, he doesn’t play with fear on the offensive side of the ball. And I loved seeing how fast he was on the full court breakaway when Gobert got back and disrupted MEM’s fast break!

I did see him try to throw a quick chest pass to a cutting Gobert. Rudy was open and that would be a good pass to most players, but Rudy needs the lob. To me though, that’s not really a Dillingham problem - just that he needs to remember to adjust his game if he wants to take advantage of Rudy’s strengths, and avoid his weaknesses.

I noticed that Rob complained to Rudy after taht play and Rob said "wtf are you doing" after Rudy turned around. hopefully he's not a problem in the locker room. I know the young guy is hungry but he needs to control himself on the floor with his teammates.

[Klomp]

It is clear that Rob is gaining Finch's confidence. I know it's frustrating in the meantime because it seems like he hasn't, but it is clear that it is growing. And you can tell Rob's confidence is growing as a result. And his teammates are gaining confidence in him too.

I read something on Twitter today, and I think it would kinda helps recalibrate the mindset of the fan base. It feels like Rob is going to be a good player in this league. And that means that if he does, Tim Connelly just hit on a lottery pick in Ant's timeline (after he supposedly gave away every last one of our assets, mind you).

What if Edwards / DiVincenzo / Dillingham is our guard rotation going forward?

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I really enjoyed watching Dillingham yesterday. Despite his size and lack of experience, he doesn’t play with fear on the offensive side of the ball. And I loved seeing how fast he was on the full court breakaway when Gobert got back and disrupted MEM’s fast break!

I did see him try to throw a quick chest pass to a cutting Gobert. Rudy was open and that would be a good pass to most players, but Rudy needs the lob. To me though, that’s not really a Dillingham problem - just that he needs to remember to adjust his game if he wants to take advantage of Rudy’s strengths, and avoid his weaknesses.

I noticed that Rob complained to Rudy after taht play and Rob said "wtf are you doing" after Rudy turned around. hopefully he's not a problem in the locker room. I know the young guy is hungry but he needs to control himself on the floor with his teammates.

Specially if he speak each time after Rudy TO the ball. As Rudy To the ball a lot

[TimberKat]

I really enjoyed watching Dillingham yesterday. Despite his size and lack of experience, he doesn’t play with fear on the offensive side of the ball. And I loved seeing how fast he was on the full court breakaway when Gobert got back and disrupted MEM’s fast break!

I did see him try to throw a quick chest pass to a cutting Gobert. Rudy was open and that would be a good pass to most players, but Rudy needs the lob. To me though, that’s not really a Dillingham problem - just that he needs to remember to adjust his game if he wants to take advantage of Rudy’s strengths, and avoid his weaknesses.

I noticed that Rob complained to Rudy after taht play and Rob said "wtf are you doing" after Rudy turned around. hopefully he's not a problem in the locker room. I know the young guy is hungry but he needs to control himself on the floor with his teammates.

Specially if he speak each time after Rudy TO the ball. As Rudy To the ball a lot

I already baked Rudy's TO into his shooting PCT. The reality is Rudy's Ast-TO is 1.7 to 1.4; Ant is 4.2 to 3.4; Naz is 1.7 to 1.2. So, doesn't he really turn over a lot more than other players?

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I noticed that Rob complained to Rudy after taht play and Rob said "wtf are you doing" after Rudy turned around. hopefully he's not a problem in the locker room. I know the young guy is hungry but he needs to control himself on the floor with his teammates.

Specially if he speak each time after Rudy TO the ball. As Rudy To the ball a lot

I already baked Rudy's TO into his shooting PCT. The reality is Rudy's Ast-TO is 1.7 to 1.4; Ant is 4.2 to 3.4; Naz is 1.7 to 1.2. So, doesn't he really turn over a lot more than other players?

In French we use to say '' au royaume des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois ''... literally, when you are surrounded with blind people, people having one eye looks like King ... Yes Rudy is not bad in this part of the game, considering how bad ANT, Randle and NAZ are

[Klomp]

“I’m going to try to get in the gym with him a little bit this summer because I can see the potential,” said Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Darius Garland. “I’ve been watching him since high school. I see the potential.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6072278/2025/01/23/rob-dillingham-nba-spotlight-timberwolves/

A really good deep-dive into Rob published by Jon this morning, as well as how his development track might compare to someone targeted by the previous regime.

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That Wolves front office that coveted Garland is long gone now, but president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has a similar affinity for quick, bucket-getting guards. He swapped the Wolves’ 2031 first-round pick with San Antonio to go get Dillingham, believing that the Wolves had an acute need for his scoring creativity. Connelly also sees a strikingly similar system for him in Minnesota — Gobert at the rim, Edwards as the alpha scorer, Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo as wing defenders with size around him.

Dillingham and Garland are both represented by Klutch Sports and have been in contact over the years. Dillingham has seen the success that Garland is having and believes that he can follow a similar path to him, Trae Young and Mike Conley as smaller guards who still make oversized impacts on the game.

“He definitely has a lot of things I can take and learn how to draw crowds, getting all his players involved and also scoring the ball,” Dillingham said of Garland. “Definitely can learn a bunch from him.”

[Klomp]

I think Rob is an X-factor for this team. In some ways, his insertion into the rotation and growing in his role can act like a trade deadline acquisition without throwing off the chemistry.

This is a random observation that probably doesn't mean much, but I think it's interesting. Julius and Donte have a history playing next to a smaller scoring combo guard in New York in Immanuel Quickley. You could also squint and draw a line of comparison between Dillingham and Jordan Clarkson, who Conley and Gobert played with in Utah. I'm not worried at all about his fit next to Ant, Jaden, Naz or NAW either....that's the full rotation when healthy.

[winforlose]

Specially if he speak each time after Rudy TO the ball. As Rudy To the ball a lot

I already baked Rudy's TO into his shooting PCT. The reality is Rudy's Ast-TO is 1.7 to 1.4; Ant is 4.2 to 3.4; Naz is 1.7 to 1.2. So, doesn't he really turn over a lot more than other players?

In French we use to say '' au royaume des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois ''... literally, when you are surrounded with blind people, people having one eye looks like King ... Yes Rudy is not bad in this part of the game, considering how bad ANT, Randle and NAZ are

The American English version is similar “in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.” This saying has multiple meanings. One is that limited vision (one eye,) is better than being blind. But another is be ware the one eyed man because only he has any vision and can use it to deceive. I always like these more ambiguous but interesting phrases.

To your point, Ant and Randle together usually account for 8-10 turnovers per game. They are very high usage players, and often face more than one defender, but those numbers are typically the reality for Ant and Randle in a game. Is Rudy super turnover prone relative to his usage and production, I honestly don’t know. But eye test says it is not.

[fattymcgee]

I noticed that Rob complained to Rudy after taht play and Rob said "wtf are you doing" after Rudy turned around. hopefully he's not a problem in the locker room. I know the young guy is hungry but he needs to control himself on the floor with his teammates.

Specially if he speak each time after Rudy TO the ball. As Rudy To the ball a lot

I already baked Rudy's TO into his shooting PCT. The reality is Rudy's Ast-TO is 1.7 to 1.4; Ant is 4.2 to 3.4; Naz is 1.7 to 1.2. So, doesn't he really turn over a lot more than other players?

You're comparing TO to assists, not TO to how much Rudy touches the ball. Compared to how many seconds he has the ball, he turns it over a lot.