Minnesota Sports Forum

kekgeek wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 11:22 pm As frustrated as Rudy Gobert has been about the Wolves' effort this season. He also said the accountability is not there.

"There's just no effort. We've seen that many, many times this year, last few years since I've been here. We always know it's coming, and when it comes there's no sense of urgency. No accountability. So I think at some point, if the players don't have accountability, someone else gotta have accountability for the players. I'm just talking straight effort."

Asked Rudy Gobert what he meant by accountability and where that accountability needs to come from.

"It starts with ourselves, but it seems like we don't have that. So I think at some point, from the coaches, yeah, from the coaches. It's not an easy position for a coach to take guys out of the game. It's not something you want to do. But I think if the players don't show any effort, at some point, no matter how talented we are as a team, if you don't have that, we just can't be a winning team. It starts with me. If I'm not showing effort, take me out the game. And everybody else gotta follow. Our best players, our leaders, if you don't show any effort, don't matter if you score 50, we're just not gonna win. So at some point, we're not mature enough to have that accountability ourselves. That might be the solution. And I guarantee (if that happens), when we come back on the court, we'd show effort."


-Dane Moore

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 12:10 am Randle had no business being left in that game. His effort, body language, and defense were abysmal. And Jaden, I don't think it's fair to question his effort most nights, but as Abe said sometimes he seems to be trying to foul. Does he get frustrated and just want out of some games? His lack of availability tonight really hurt us.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 12:13 am I didn’t watch the game but it goes without saying that losing at home to the Pelicans as we’re embroiled in a battle for playoff position is totally inexcusable and galling. I saw Rudy’s comment about the game. He said what all of us already knew. Too many players, key players, on this team fail to bring the necessary effort and intensity on a consistent basis. Jaden McDaniels ending with 6 points and 1 rebound is pathetic and should get him benched. He has far too many games with paltry rebound numbers, which clearly reflects a lack of effort from a guy with his length and physical gifts at his position. I agree with what’s already been written in this thread about Ant.

Ayo might help but he’s not going to be enough to fix this fundamental problem — lack of intensity - that I’ve been repeatedly referencing for the past two months. The only answer i can come up with right now is a head coaching change. I think a change is absolutely essential at this point. I’d fire Finch and hire Malone. Malone’s intensity is often over the top and he can be an SOB, but I think that’s exactly what this team needs. I don’t think TC will do it, but that’s exactly what he should do in my view and this ridiculous loss at home to the Pelicans should be the last straw.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 12:20 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 12:13 am I didn’t watch the game but it goes without saying that losing at home to the Pelicans as we’re embroiled in a battle for playoff position is totally inexcusable and galling. I saw Rudy’s comment about the game. He said what all of us already knew. Too many players, key players, on this team fail to bring the necessary effort and intensity on a consistent basis. Jaden McDaniels ending with 6 points and 1 rebound is pathetic and should get him benched. He has far too many games with paltry rebound numbers, which clearly reflects a lack of effort from a guy with his length and physical gifts at his position. I agree with what’s already been written in this thread about Ant.

Ayo might help but he’s not going to be enough to fix this fundamental problem — lack of intensity - that I’ve been repeatedly referencing for the past two months. The only answer i can come up with right now is a head coaching change. I think a change is absolutely essential at this point. I’d fire Finch and hire Malone. Malone’s intensity is often over the top and he can be an SOB, but I think that’s exactly what this team needs. I don’t think TC will do it, but that’s exactly what he should do in my view and this ridiculous loss at home to the Pelicans should be the last straw.

I’m going to defend Jaden a bit here. Most of his game was due to foul trouble. Now he had dumb fouls and for some reason Finch had Jaden on Zion for fouls 2 and 3 in the second Q within a minute but he was still trying hard, he was just bad tonight (he seems like such a rhythm player and foul trouble killed him tonight). Julius was so bad in the effort tonight and for the last month. Getting really sick of watching him play basketball, someone on Reddit said this but it seems like Rudy and Jaden hate playing with Randle.

Ant defensive effort, Donte shot selection and Naz were really bad tonight (Zion is a terrible matchup for Naz and that happens)

Really like what Clark, Bones and Juzang brought tonight but they all have their weaknesses

kekgeek wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 12:14 am

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 12:10 am Randle had no business being left in that game. His effort, body language, and defense were abysmal. And Jaden, I don't think it's fair to question his effort most nights, but as Abe said sometimes he seems to be trying to foul. Does he get frustrated and just want out of some games? His lack of availability tonight really hurt us.

I think Rudy is calling out Ant and Randle a ton here. Like Randle has been so moppy lately and Ant has been amazing on the offensive end this year but this is by far his worst defensive year. I think for the most part Jaden and Rudy bring the effort most nights but they both have some dummy in them here and there (big Jaden dummy game tonight)

kekgeek wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 12:04 am Chris Finch on Rudy Gobert’s night against the Pelicans

“I didn’t like our rim protection tonight from him or anyone else. He had a decent stat line but the impact just not there”