Rob Dillingham sends a message that Chris Finch can’t ignore

The Minnesota Timberwolves were widely expected to take care of business against an undermanned Los Angeles Lakers squad on Wednesday night. Sure, they didn’t have Anthony Edwards, but the Lakers were missing Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Gabe Vincent and Marcus Smart. The Wolves ultimately lost 116-115 on a buzzer-beater from Austin Reaves.

Whether it was sloppy defense, an inability to generate rim pressure, or a lethargic overall offense, there was a lot to nitpick in this game. However, sophomore point guard Rob Dillingham played a season-high 16 minutes. Dillingham wasn’t perfect, but he showed a lot of positive signs, especially as a decision maker. He scored eight points (4-8 shooting), five assists and just one turnover.

Dillingham played exactly the role Chris Finch expects him to play

Before the season, head coach Chris Finch said the following ideal role for Dillingham is to get to the paint and make plays for your teammates. During Wednesday’s game, Dillingham played that role perfectly. He wanted to create something for his teammates while scoring within the flow of the attack.

Dillingham used his elite downhill speed and ball-handling ability to create open shots for his teammates. He thrived with both lob and kickout passes. Here are two examples of his sharp demise.

It has always been clear to me that Dillingham is a gifted passer. However, it has always been about being able to organize the offense and limit turnovers. More often than not, Dillingham made the right reads as a passer on Wednesday. Additionally, Dillingham made high-percentage shots, all of which came from inside the arc.

Dillingham’s biggest concern is defense, and the Lakers started attacking him in the third quarter, which led to him getting four fouls. Still, these are natural growing pains for a smaller guard, and Dillingham’s all-around play was encouraging.

In fact, how poorly this point guard room has played overall was a positive outcome on Wednesday. Bones Hyland gave the Wolves a nice spark late in the third quarter by scoring or assisting on eight straight points. Mike Conley scored eight points (3-6 shooting) and dished out six assists. Perhaps even more impressive was that he listed five shares.

Regardless, Dillingham’s performance may be the most notable and enduring as fans wait for the lottery pick to find a spot in the rotation.

Now it’s time to play Dillingham

Until Wednesday’s game, Dillingham had played just 13 minutes for the season. With Edwards sidelined for the next two weeks, Dillingham playing 15 to 20 minutes should be the new normal, and perhaps that can remain the case when Ant returns. This piece should be used to help Dillingham develop, and he could eventually play a role in the rotation.

Dillingham needs time to grow, and some matchups will be more challenging for him given his size. Nevertheless, Minnesota needs some extra creation and playmaking, and that’s exactly what Dillingham brings to the table.

Overall, Dillingham’s performance should be a sign for Finch to include him more in the rotation; giving him some real minutes is the only way he will improve.