By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
As the Minnesota Timberwolves prepare for the upcoming 2026–27 NBA Regular Season, head coach Chris Finch is already calculating how to optimize his roster, particularly his French center duo of veteran Rudy Gobert and rising sophomore Joan Beringer.
In the first part of a wide-ranging interview with the MinnPost posted Thursday, the 56-year-old play-caller opened up about the team’s defensive identity, tactical evolution, and the challenge of balancing lineups when his primary rim protectors are off the floor.
Gobert remains the foundational anchor of Minnesota’s defense, but the arrival of new personnel means adjusting how the team operates around the four-time Defensive Player of the Year. Finch is focused on building synergy between his veteran big and newly acquired point guard LaMelo Ball, recognizing that the backcourt defense will heavily impact the 34-year-old center’s role in the paint.
“Rudy’s defensive impact, the way he has guided our defense, we’re not changing too much there,” Finch told the MinnPost. “But how quickly can he develop a chemistry with LaMelo defensively? We are going to have to build a defense around him, helping him. Rudy is going to be key to that.”
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Beringer is slated for an elevated role off the bench. While the young Frenchman excels in traditional drop coverage, Finch intends to utilize his versatility to introduce more aggressive defensive looks when Gobert rests.
“In maximizing him and our opportunities around him, I think we owe it to ourselves to do things; being more aggressive when we can be, even if it is in small doses,” he explained.
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