Rate Finch

[Wolvesfan21]

Scale of 1-10, how would you rate his overall coaching job as a Wolves HC (his entire time here).

[Wolvesfan21]

I think this is an interesting question, beyond firing him or not, or really when.

For me I think he's done a very good job, specifically I'd say 88/100 so B+. There is room for a potential upgrade at coach, while a downgrade could happen as well. I also don't really see things getting majorly worse, guys are up and down i the regular season. I don't think he went from doing a great job to poor for instance. I think he's still in that strong B range.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I think this is an interesting question, beyond firing him or not, or really when.

For me I think he's done a very good job, specifically I'd say 88/100 so B+. There is room for a potential upgrade at coach, while a downgrade could happen as well. I also don't really see things getting majorly worse, guys are up and down i the regular season. I don't think he went from doing a great job to poor for instance. I think he's still in that strong B range.

Sure. B+ seems legit. Especially in a vacuum.

But I've been a devoted fan (ditching the Celtics) since 1989. I've seen more bad basketball and bad coaching than anyone should have to see in their lifetime. Obviously, I'm not alone. There are others here who've been along for the entire ride, too.

We've seen arguably (sorta objectively, too) some of the WORST coaches in NBA history. Heck, Sidney Lowe failed miserably at the NBA level with multiple teams (79 - 228)... and yet his college resume at NC State is probably even more damning. We witnessed the Rambis clownshow. The R. Saunders nepotism express. The silver foxes, Blair and Rodgers. The McHale bobos, Wittman. And so much more. So much pain.

Before Finch, I think Flip Saunders would be the unanimous best coach in team history. And yet, he got the Timberwolves out of the 1st round of the playoffs only once... despite having a HOFer and top 3 player for nearly a decade on the roster.

I find it ironic that the franchise started off firing its first coach for winning too much. FIRED FOR WINNING!!!

It's taken decades for this organization to gain sustained success. It's been a good enough run that the Minnesota Timberwolves might not be the clearcut WORST franchise of all time like it was pre-Finch.

That doesn't mean Finch should never be fired. Or, even that there aren't reasons to fire him if the team flames out in the playoffs. Only, that it probably skews my grade for him just a bit. I think he should also get a bit of credit for the staff he's developed around him. Today's NBA includes MANY coaches. And each of them is critical to the team's success in different ways. As such, we sorta need to judge a coach based on the company he keeps on the sidelines.

All that being said...

... I'm willing to give Finch an A- for his tenure here. In part, because he's presided over the most significant and sustained success in team history. And in part because if our best coach in history is only worth a B... why have I wasted nearly 40 years of my time following such losers. I don't want to deal with that deep, dark despair...

[DNatagal]

I went with 80%, mostly because he has been the most successful coach for the Wolves...Ever.

His rotations can be iffy, but mostly right.
His offense design depends on High BB IQ players, which is not the strength of this team. I wish he would develop actual offensive plays that could get a bucket without having to let Ant or Randle cook 1 on 5 against a set defense.
His lack of player development is a huge negative, but this is shared with the GM that drafts new players that cannot get on the court, and the best bunch of trainers in the league that keep the top 8 on the court so much.

[Wolvesfan21]

I think this is an interesting question, beyond firing him or not, or really when.

For me I think he's done a very good job, specifically I'd say 88/100 so B+. There is room for a potential upgrade at coach, while a downgrade could happen as well. I also don't really see things getting majorly worse, guys are up and down i the regular season. I don't think he went from doing a great job to poor for instance. I think he's still in that strong B range.

Sure. B+ seems legit. Especially in a vacuum.

But I've been a devoted fan (ditching the Celtics) since 1989. I've seen more bad basketball and bad coaching than anyone should have to see in their lifetime. Obviously, I'm not alone. There are others here who've been along for the entire ride, too.

We've seen arguably (sorta objectively, too) some of the WORST coaches in NBA history. Heck, Sidney Lowe failed miserably at the NBA level with multiple teams (79 - 228)... and yet his college resume at NC State is probably even more damning. We witnessed the Rambis clownshow. The R. Saunders nepotism express. The silver foxes, Blair and Rodgers. The McHale bobos, Wittman. And so much more. So much pain.

Before Finch, I think Flip Saunders would be the unanimous best coach in team history. And yet, he got the Timberwolves out of the 1st round of the playoffs only once... despite having a HOFer and top 3 player for nearly a decade on the roster.

I find it ironic that the franchise started off firing its first coach for winning too much. FIRED FOR WINNING!!!

It's taken decades for this organization to gain sustained success. It's been a good enough run that the Minnesota Timberwolves might not be the clearcut WORST franchise of all time like it was pre-Finch.

That doesn't mean Finch should never be fired. Or, even that there aren't reasons to fire him if the team flames out in the playoffs. Only, that it probably skews my grade for him just a bit. I think he should also get a bit of credit for the staff he's developed around him. Today's NBA includes MANY coaches. And each of them is critical to the team's success in different ways. As such, we sorta need to judge a coach based on the company he keeps on the sidelines.

All that being said...

... I'm willing to give Finch an A- for his tenure here. In part, because he's presided over the most significant and sustained success in team history. And in part because if our best coach in history is only worth a B... why have I wasted nearly 40 years of my time following such losers. I don't want to deal with that deep, dark despair...

A- is pretty fair. I can't argue too much from my own grade. But-

I looked at our NBA championship odds and we are the 9th best odds. Historically as a fan, yes that is awesome. However, we are still only the 9th best team, or 9th best chance to win it all! Do you want our peak to be 9th best odds, maybe a bit better if a trade is made next year? It's just barely above avg. It's not really what we should be shooting for imo.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I think this is an interesting question, beyond firing him or not, or really when.

For me I think he's done a very good job, specifically I'd say 88/100 so B+. There is room for a potential upgrade at coach, while a downgrade could happen as well. I also don't really see things getting majorly worse, guys are up and down i the regular season. I don't think he went from doing a great job to poor for instance. I think he's still in that strong B range.

Sure. B+ seems legit. Especially in a vacuum.

But I've been a devoted fan (ditching the Celtics) since 1989. I've seen more bad basketball and bad coaching than anyone should have to see in their lifetime. Obviously, I'm not alone. There are others here who've been along for the entire ride, too.

We've seen arguably (sorta objectively, too) some of the WORST coaches in NBA history. Heck, Sidney Lowe failed miserably at the NBA level with multiple teams (79 - 228)... and yet his college resume at NC State is probably even more damning. We witnessed the Rambis clownshow. The R. Saunders nepotism express. The silver foxes, Blair and Rodgers. The McHale bobos, Wittman. And so much more. So much pain.

Before Finch, I think Flip Saunders would be the unanimous best coach in team history. And yet, he got the Timberwolves out of the 1st round of the playoffs only once... despite having a HOFer and top 3 player for nearly a decade on the roster.

I find it ironic that the franchise started off firing its first coach for winning too much. FIRED FOR WINNING!!!

It's taken decades for this organization to gain sustained success. It's been a good enough run that the Minnesota Timberwolves might not be the clearcut WORST franchise of all time like it was pre-Finch.

That doesn't mean Finch should never be fired. Or, even that there aren't reasons to fire him if the team flames out in the playoffs. Only, that it probably skews my grade for him just a bit. I think he should also get a bit of credit for the staff he's developed around him. Today's NBA includes MANY coaches. And each of them is critical to the team's success in different ways. As such, we sorta need to judge a coach based on the company he keeps on the sidelines.

All that being said...

... I'm willing to give Finch an A- for his tenure here. In part, because he's presided over the most significant and sustained success in team history. And in part because if our best coach in history is only worth a B... why have I wasted nearly 40 years of my time following such losers. I don't want to deal with that deep, dark despair...

A- is pretty fair. I can't argue too much from my own grade. But-

I looked at our NBA championship odds and we are the 9th best odds. Historically as a fan, yes that is awesome. However, we are still only the 9th best team, or 9th best chance to win it all! Do you want our peak to be 9th best odds, maybe a bit better if a trade is made next year? It's just barely above avg. It's not really what we should be shooting for imo.

Those are the current odds, right?

Isn't that just a snapshot of one specific moment in time? Not too long ago, the Wolves were on the short list of "possible" champions which comprised 5 or maybe 6 teams.

If the Wolves finish by winning 7 of the final 9 games to go 11 - 3 down the stretch (partly without Edwards)... I think Vegas changes those odds.

That's one reason why I think we need to play this thing out before making any declarative judgements. For example, the Wolves entered the playoffs last year as a #6 seed and a 1st round underdog. They quickly disposed of the #3 seeded Lakers.



[Note: I learned from Zach Lowe years ago that a top 10 offensive rating couple with a top 10 defensive rating usually makes you a legit title contender. The Wolves did this in 2004 (#5/#6) and last year (#8/#6). A strong finish puts the Wolves there again this year for only the 3rd time. They've dipped a bit offensively lately, but have improved defensively (#12/#7). If nothing else, Finch has coached the Wolves during the most sustained success the team has had on both ends of the court.]

[TAFKASP]

My wife says he's a solid 8.

[Wolvesfan21]

Sure. B+ seems legit. Especially in a vacuum.

But I've been a devoted fan (ditching the Celtics) since 1989. I've seen more bad basketball and bad coaching than anyone should have to see in their lifetime. Obviously, I'm not alone. There are others here who've been along for the entire ride, too.

We've seen arguably (sorta objectively, too) some of the WORST coaches in NBA history. Heck, Sidney Lowe failed miserably at the NBA level with multiple teams (79 - 228)... and yet his college resume at NC State is probably even more damning. We witnessed the Rambis clownshow. The R. Saunders nepotism express. The silver foxes, Blair and Rodgers. The McHale bobos, Wittman. And so much more. So much pain.

Before Finch, I think Flip Saunders would be the unanimous best coach in team history. And yet, he got the Timberwolves out of the 1st round of the playoffs only once... despite having a HOFer and top 3 player for nearly a decade on the roster.

I find it ironic that the franchise started off firing its first coach for winning too much. FIRED FOR WINNING!!!

It's taken decades for this organization to gain sustained success. It's been a good enough run that the Minnesota Timberwolves might not be the clearcut WORST franchise of all time like it was pre-Finch.

That doesn't mean Finch should never be fired. Or, even that there aren't reasons to fire him if the team flames out in the playoffs. Only, that it probably skews my grade for him just a bit. I think he should also get a bit of credit for the staff he's developed around him. Today's NBA includes MANY coaches. And each of them is critical to the team's success in different ways. As such, we sorta need to judge a coach based on the company he keeps on the sidelines.

All that being said...

... I'm willing to give Finch an A- for his tenure here. In part, because he's presided over the most significant and sustained success in team history. And in part because if our best coach in history is only worth a B... why have I wasted nearly 40 years of my time following such losers. I don't want to deal with that deep, dark despair...

A- is pretty fair. I can't argue too much from my own grade. But-

I looked at our NBA championship odds and we are the 9th best odds. Historically as a fan, yes that is awesome. However, we are still only the 9th best team, or 9th best chance to win it all! Do you want our peak to be 9th best odds, maybe a bit better if a trade is made next year? It's just barely above avg. It's not really what we should be shooting for imo.

Those are the current odds, right?

Isn't that just a snapshot of one specific moment in time? Not too long ago, the Wolves were on the short list of "possible" champions which comprised 5 or maybe 6 teams.

If the Wolves finish by winning 7 of the final 9 games to go 11 - 3 down the stretch (partly without Edwards)... I think Vegas changes those odds.

That's one reason why I think we need to play this thing out before making any declarative judgements. For example, the Wolves entered the playoffs last year as a #6 seed and a 1st round underdog. They quickly disposed of the #3 seeded Lakers.



[Note: I learned from Zach Lowe years ago that a top 10 offensive rating couple with a top 10 defensive rating usually makes you a legit title contender. The Wolves did this in 2004 (#5/#6) and last year (#8/#6). A strong finish puts the Wolves there again this year for only the 3rd time. They've dipped a bit offensively lately, but have improved defensively (#12/#7). If nothing else, Finch has coached the Wolves during the most sustained success the team has had on both ends of the court.]

Sure those odds could improve some, but not too drastically anymore. Finish in 3rd and I'm sure a jump happens, outside of that slot, 4/5/6 I don't see too much difference. 6 might even be better then 4/5.

2% is probably fair, if you don't think so you are probably wise to make a wager. 45-1 is what I saw in one site (bet 100, win 4500), so factor some juice and 2% is where we're at.

Saying that I do think we are probably undervalued. They got the Nuggets at 10-1 so about 10%. How are we that much lower? We might be a good bet at 45-1 honestly. Still a long shot, maybe 35-1 to 40-1 seems fair to me.