Deep Dive: Communication Is Key For D'Angelo Russell's Defense
Minnesota's point guard put on a communication clinic in Portland.
D’Angelo Russell didn’t get any taller. He didn’t get stronger. He didn’t get faster and he can’t jump any higher. D’Angelo Russell got louder. He became more willing to talk and more willing to lead and direct. That’s why his defense has improved. From sieve to savant, Russell’s leap on the defensive end has quickly become the most noticeable and impactful part of Minnesota’s season. It’s a trend that has evolved from an early-season fling to a staple of Timberwolves basketball.
It’s no secret, though, those following the team have been shouting about these improvements from the rooftops. For a season that has plowed through every peak and sunk deep into every valley, Russell’s defensive mutation has remained one of the few constants. Even after a fistful of underwhelming defensive performances without their point guard in tow, the Wolves still rank 11th in overall defensive rating and sixth in halfcourt defensive rating, per Cleaning The Glass. When Russell is on the floor, The Wolves allow 18.9 fewer points per 100 possessions, good for a 99th percentile on/off split.
Russell has joined forces with backcourt partner Patrick Beverley and do-it-all energizer Jarred Vanderbilt to become a fearsome defensive trio, all bringing different aspects of defensive acumen and melding them together to form a potent concoction. Beverley hounds the ball and barks at the point-of-attack, Vanderbilt oscillates between low-man helper, rim-protector, and passing lane thief, and Russell stalks and talks. He governs the defense with his mouth and his brain, doing what he has to when he has to and making sure everyone else follows suit. That trio is giving up 91.4 points per 100 possessions when they share the floor together. A three-headed hellhound. Russell doesn’t have the résumé like his left and right-hand men, but he means just as much to this Wolves defense — if not more.
The numbers aren’t always a blank face to be taken without context, they can twist and frown and scowl like any other face, but they’re a face nonetheless. They can be misleading, they can look you in the eye and lie, but every number feels like it is matching the eye test with the 25-year-old point guard. When he returned to the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, the amalgamation of calm and chaos that Minnesota’s ideal defense exudes returned with him. Unlike much of the league — who have often had a point until this season — Russell’s teammates respect him on the defensive side of the ball. They listen and they learn and they follow.
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