![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NBA-Playoffs-Oklahoma-City-Thunder-at-Minnesota-Timberwolves-26293691-scaled-e1760124596490.jpg\")
Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to push towards the opening tip of the regular season<\/a>. They are just under two weeks from that October 22nd contest against<\/a> the Trailblazers in Portland.<\/p>\n This offseason the most significant need for the roster looked to be a point guard who can facilitate. Tim Connelly opted against finding someone for that role, and Rob Dillingham will need to be much better<\/a> in year two.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the early returns have not been heartwarming in that regard.<\/p>\n Rob Dillingham still fighting it for Minnesota Timberwolves<\/p>\n The Timberwolves jumped up to 8th overall during the 2024 NBA Draft in order to select Rob Dillingham<\/a>. They hoped the Kentucky product could be an elite player at the point guard position, but that wasn\u2019t at all evident last season. The Athletic\u2019s Jon Krawczynski<\/a> is concern about the early preseason returns as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the key for Rob is to pick a direction and go,\u201d Finch said. \u201cI think physicality gets him if he\u2019s trying to always reverse course. Then, if he has to fight it at that point in time, he should be looking to get off of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Dillingham looked his best when he was out in the open court, particularly during a sequence in the second quarter when he grabbed the ball in transition, surged up the court, hit the paint against Pacers big Jay Huff and kicked it out to Terrence Shannon Jr. for a wide-open corner 3. Finch wants Dillingham to keep things simple and to use his speed to inject pace into the game.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he puts his shoulder down and picks a direction, he can turn the corner, and it opens up a lot of passing angles and other opportunities for him,\u201d Finch said.<\/p>\n It is still early, but Hyland just seems to have a much better feel for who he is as a player and what he can do to help than Dillingham. The 2024 No. 8 pick is still just 20 years old and barely played as a rookie last year. The learning curve will be unavoidable. He needs time to play, adjust to the speed of the game and figure out who he is as a player.<\/p>\n The Athletic<\/a><\/p>\n The reality is that Dillingham is very young. As Krawczysnki points out, he is just 20 years old. That said, this is a Timberwolves team with intentions on winning now. It\u2019s almost impossible for them to do that if Dillingham doesn\u2019t take significant steps forward this season.<\/p>\n As a rookie, Dillingham played in 49 games<\/a> but averaged just 10.5 minutes per game. He shot 44.1% from the field, but only 33.8% from deep. As Finch noted to The Athletic, how well Dillingham can adjust to the speed of the game is key.<\/p>\n This is what Rob Dillingham needs to do offensively whenever he\u2019s on the court<\/p>\n Use his speed and handle to get into the paint and create havoc on the defense, creating openings for his teammates on the 3PT-line \u2014 Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) October 10, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Minnesota needs Dillingham to be able to defend and create. He doesn\u2019t have to be an offensive weapon, but he can\u2019t be a defensive liability. The Timberwolves have playmakers around him to score the rock. He needs to earn a right to stay on the court and then get them the ball.<\/p>\n Chris Finch will need someone to step into a transition process for Mike Conley. The 37-year-old<\/a> showed clear signs of decline last year, and finding the next man up may determine the ultimate outcome for the Minnesota Timberwolves.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Rob Dillingham<\/a> <\/p>\n More About: Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Rob](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NBA-Preseason-Minnesota-Timberwolves-at-New-York-Knicks-27286203-e1760124665837-788x444.jpg\")
Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
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