GDT: We Need This One

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Good conversation about a reasonably satisfying win...I say "reasonably" because you can make a case for saying the absent Howard has been the Hawks' most important player this year, but still we played well and did what we needed to do to beat a good team on the road. My thoughts in two categories:

Thibs: I got some information Monday night that ownership is displeased with aspects of Thibs' performance and certainly the results, and I'm fairly certain there have been some stern conversations recently...and some evidence they have been taken to heart. I know some here smile wryly when others of us talk about the importance of the "soft" side of coaching, but like Lipoli, I also see signs that Thibs has heard the message and is responding favorably...and the results in the past 4 games speak for themselves. I have also seen what Lip has seen...much better balance from Thibs between bellowing criticism and positive reinforcement...these are kids after all, and I think they need both. And maybe it was just because the mic was positioned differently in Atlanta, but I didn't hear nearly as much Thibs-bark as usual. Wishful thinking perhaps. Finally, mikkeman documents the improvement in the defense the past 4 games, and I think Thibs deserves credit for this turnaround (just as I think he deserves blame for our poor start).

Minutes: I side more with Cool on this...it can't be considered a good thing that Zach leads the league in MPG and Wig and KAT are in the top 14. This may have negative implications later in the season if we indeed threaten for a playoff spot (yes, I went there), just as it did several years in Chicago. It also could have implications late in games if the opponent is fresher. Plus, I don't think the enormous minutes for our starters are necessary. The gritty defense our reserves play continues to leave them with good plus/minus numbers...better than our starters in some instances. Thibs needs to trust his reserves more. It's not often pretty when they are out there, but overall this is not the disastrous second team of Wolves teams past.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Right, we're winning games because Thibs is giving his players a pat on the ass during timeouts. And here I was thinking it was because the players have been executing much better on offense and defense. All we needed was more hugs... Who knew!?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Good conversation about a reasonably satisfying win...I say "reasonably" because you can make a case for saying the absent Howard has been the Hawks' most important player this year, but still we played well and did what we needed to do to beat a good team on the road. My thoughts in two categories:

Thibs: I got some information Monday night that ownership is displeased with aspects of Thibs' performance and certainly the results, and I'm fairly certain there have been some stern conversations recently...and some evidence they have been taken to heart. I know some here smile wryly when others of us talk about the importance of the "soft" side of coaching, but like Lipoli, I also see signs that Thibs has heard the message and is responding favorably...and the results in the past 4 games speak for themselves. I have also seen what Lip has seen...much better balance from Thibs between bellowing criticism and positive reinforcement...these are kids after all, and I think they need both. And maybe it was just because the mic was positioned differently in Atlanta, but I didn't hear nearly as much Thibs-bark as usual. Wishful thinking perhaps. Finally, mikkeman documents the improvement in the defense the past 4 games, and I think Thibs deserves credit for this turnaround (just as I think he deserves blame for our poor start).

Minutes: I side more with Cool on this...it can't be considered a good thing that Zach leads the league in MPG and Wig and KAT are in the top 14. This may have negative implications later in the season if we indeed threaten for a playoff spot (yes, I went there), just as it did several years in Chicago. It also could have implications late in games if the opponent is fresher. Plus, I don't think the enormous minutes for our starters are necessary. The gritty defense our reserves play continues to leave them with good plus/minus numbers...better than our starters in some instances. Thibs needs to trust his reserves more. It's not often pretty when they are out there, but overall this is not the disastrous second team of Wolves teams past.

LST, One of the things the Wolves do is start their 5 best players, which means these guys are all playing together for at least the first 7 or 8 minutes of each half. We've talked before about moving Bjelica to start at SF and have LaVine come off the bench. I think that would help tremendously if we were only concerned about minutes.

However....I could see where this would be really tough to do. LaVine is still on his rookie deal and probably would not see kindly to coming off the bench, even if he was still playing 30+ MPG. Also, it seems to me Thibs is trying to establish a really stable rotation. He has absolutely settled in on his main 8 to 9 guys and hasn't veered from that formula for a few weeks now.

We could really use a blowout win where we could sit our starters all or most of the 4th! How about Friday?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Right, we're winning games because Thibs is giving his players a pat on the ass during timeouts. And here I was thinking it was because the players have been executing much better on offense and defense. All we needed was more hugs... Who knew!?

Well Cam...you're going to have your (typically condescending) opinion and others are going to have theirs...and rather than engaging in productive conversation, you'll resort to your preferred mocking dismissive style. Fine, we're all accustomed to it.

I assume your theory about the improved play in the past 4 games is that the light bulb suddenly came on for everyone. I'm not going to dismiss that as preposterous, but it seems unlikely to me...I need a little more causation than that. I also understand that your knowledge of the team is from watching on TV only, so you're not as privy to Thibs' sideline behavior and interaction with the team as the season ticket holders are. But take our word on this one...his interaction with his players is decidedly different in the past week, and much more positive. Whether the psychological side of coaching has an impact on players' behavior is an interesting discussion...some of us believe that it does and cite the recent performance improvement as evidence, but you're more comfortable with ridiculing it rather than processing it and trying to understand it.

Your opinions are always welcome here, as everyone's are. But I sometimes wonder about the psychological profile of someone who interprets a different opinion as an offensive, personal attack, rather than an invitation for engaging dialogue.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Oh, LST, don't flatter yourself. I don't feel attacked or threatened by your opinions. I merely find some of your takes about Thibodeau to be amusing, that's all.

You'd rather attribute the improved play to a softer side of coaching from the sideline. That's fine. I think that's a little silly, yes, but that's certainly okay. Here's a thought. Perhaps Thibs has been more positive, as you and Lip say, this past week because there's been more for him to be positive about. The team hasn't made nearly as many mental mistakes over the last handful of games. The entire starting five has been playing much better than they were earlier in the season.

Also, might the improved play have anything to do with the back-to-back practices Thibs held last week? I doubt you'd like to think about that being part of the improvement, though, since you seem to think Thibs practices result only in negative, fatigued play in the following games. Maybe, just maybe, practice is a good thing.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It's a worthy debate, but I don't think any of us - even the season ticket holders - are close enough to really know what is happening. As Cam alluded to, this seems like a chicken and egg thing.

One thing we do know is that the Wolves have been incredibly blessed with good health this season. The fact we couldn't take better advantage of that earlier on against a fairly soft schedule is a travesty in my opinion. There is plenty of people to blame for this, including Thibs.

But, onward and upward (hopefully)....

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

12/23: vs. SAC
12/25: at OKC
12/26: vs. ATL
12/28: at DEN
12/30: vs. MIL
1/1: vs. POR
1/3: at PHI
1/6: at WAS

Those are the next eight games for the Wolves (9-19). Worst case scenario, I see 4-4 with wins over SAC, DEN, POR, and PHI. I don't see a game there that I think the Wolves can't win, however. If we were to go 6-2, though, that would certainly go a long way in our pursuit of that last playoff spot. We'd be 15-21 with the schedule getting a little tougher, but still manageable.

Basically, we need to take care of business these next two weeks.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I've noticed the minutes thing. And I'm ok with it.

LaVine is leading the league... but not by a ridiculous amount. And he's 21.
Wiggins is 5th. And he's 21.

The guys between those two are Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry and LeBron James.

That being said, not everybody is built to handle heavy minutes, so we'll see what comes of this. And what it does for guys like G. Dieng who is seeing more minutes, too.

[BloopOracle]

Thibs was still screaming and storming the sidelines the Chicago and Houston game, I think it's just the team is learning how to finish now, Thibs berating players certainly had hasn't hurt us from amassing double digit leads in the majority of our games unless you think his screaming only counts in crunch time when we used to wilt in the final minutes.

[Coolbreeze44]

I've noticed the minutes thing. And I'm ok with it.

LaVine is leading the league... but not by a ridiculous amount. And he's 21.
Wiggins is 5th. And he's 21.

The guys between those two are Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry and LeBron James.

That being said, not everybody is built to handle heavy minutes, so we'll see what comes of this. And what it does for guys like G. Dieng who is seeing more minutes, too.

To be fair, Lebron has sat out games for no other reason then to rest. Davis has never played more than 68 games in a year. I get the 21 years old bit and I'm not saying I hate the minutes these guys are getting. I just wonder about the long term effects.