Reggie Miller used the Game 5 broadcast to suggest the Minnesota Timberwolves should start Naz Reid over Rudy Gobert, a blunt swing at a lineup that has leaned on Gobert all series. The recommendation came after Gobert struggled offensively again in Game 5, following another rough scoring night in Game 4.
Anthony Edwards also appeared frustrated with Gobert when passes to the center were not finished cleanly, a sign of how quickly the conversation around Minnesota’s front line has turned from balance to urgency. Reid, who has arguably been the Timberwolves’ second-best player in the series, has shot well from outside and would give Minnesota five capable shooters if he moved into the starting five.
The idea has real appeal because it would change the floor of the series. With Reid on the court, Minnesota could stretch Victor Wembanyama away from the paint, and that matters against the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. But the fix comes with its own risk. Gobert is still crucial to Minnesota defensively, and he has been tasked with stopping Wembanyama, who has already put together several strong games against him this season, including in the regular season.
That is why the debate around Gobert is sharper than a simple scoring slump. Minnesota can use Reid’s shooting to improve spacing and make life harder on Wembanyama at one end, but removing Gobert could weaken the defense at the other. After two straight games in which Gobert’s offense has been an issue, the Timberwolves are left weighing whether a lineup change would unlock the series or take away the one matchup job they still trust him to handle.
