60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 8:25 am
I don't think it is fair to simply fault the regular season performance on Finch. There was a lot more "transition" going on throughout the season that contributed to the performance than simply coaching. We had the unfortunate injury to Shannon that made him a non-factor, at least until now. There was the failure of Dilly to develop in a timely manner. There was Mike Conley falling off a cliff mid-season (we are damn lucky he saved his juice for the playoffs!). There was ANT missing 25% of the season after only missing 3 games per season in the prior 3 years.
Yeah, the Wolves were remarkably healthy, sans ANT, for the regular season. But there was a lot of transitional stuff going on throughout the season that prevented the team from meeting our expectations. Even now, with Donte out and ANT less than 100%, I would say the Wolves are exceeding our adjusted expectations in the playoffs. Finch deserves some credit for that!
I kept hearing we had the healthiest starting 5 for most of the season, so IDK.
Yeah, I appreciate what Tim is saying, but c'mon, every team is dealing with transitional stuff, injuries, new players, etc. It's only a factor if somehow we were going through MORE transitional stuff than other teams and I just don't see it.
That being said, having now watched seven Wolves playoff games is that the less-than-inspiring regular season performance was 100% on the players. So I guess I agree with Tim it's not Finch's fault.
By the same token, I give those same players credit for what they've done so far in the playoffs. The switch can indeed be flipped. But it would have been nice to not always start on the road in these playoff series!
I do blame the players for sure, however could a different coach get them to play better, more consistent and up to their potential? That is the question worth asking.
I think in the end, yes Finch is most likely safe assuming we keep this series at least close. I think the overall MN nice feeling is that we will settle for good.
BeenLurkin wrote: ↑Tue May 05, 2026 6:39 pm
You’re right, my apologies. I THINK the opinion of let’s give another coaching staff a chance with this roster to see what happens is insane and dumb and people that have that opinion are less than and not worth listening to. As far as incurious….not sure I follow.
Coaching changes are often a thing that helps create championship teams. Phil with the Bulls and Lakers, Brown with Pistons, Riley with Heat, Kerr with GSW and I'm sure there are many, many more. Those teams didn't settle for good.
You named 4 coaches not 5 like you stated twice now. So you’re already stretching your thin evidence to look more impressive. It worked with Stevekerr and oh Jackson…that’s your overwhelming evidence? Pat Riley coached tha team for nearly a decade and then retired before Dwayne wades rookie season before thinking to himself wait a minute I bet u could do it now! And Larry brown!?!? Larry brown!?!? What are his coaching accolades except one trip to the title and falling short the next year before finally retiring? What was the obvious shit we missed when overlooking Larry browns one time success with the historic defense he was gifted?
Let's look at Mike Budenholzers coaching career up to this point. He had a really good run as the Hawks coach for a franchise that had struggled for a while. He was from the Spurs organization. They decided he wasn't the right guy so they moved on to a younger guy in Lloyd pierce who was not promoted from within. That did not go well and eventually Nate McMillan ended up as the coach but he either wasn't good enough or wasn't really all in on the job and they moved on to Quin Snyder.
In his 3rd year with the Bucks Bud won a championship. A couple years later the Bucks moved on from him for Adrian Griffen who didn't even last the first season despite a 30-13 record. They hired Doc Rivers and that didn't exactly go well although there were injuries etc. Now they have Taylor Jenkins. That might be a better fit but we will see.
The Suns hired Bud and they literally got worse that season and there was various head scratching things he did there. The Suns fired him after a season, traded away a HOFer and hired a coach I might not be able to pick out of a lineup and they got better.
What does this history tell us? Idk other than I don't think I would want to hire coach Bud (or Rivers) at this point.
To me Finch seems like a guy that still can coach in the modern game both in terms of strategy and relating to players. I don't think his ego is such that it's a problem. I think he and Connelly seem like they probably work well together although I don't imagine they see eye to eye on everything. That isn't all bad but I think they have plenty of similar philosophies etc.
BeenLurkin wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 10:53 am
You said 4 not 5. And some there are not more unless you find them no matter how sure you are. Evidence or stop talking. Larry brown!?!? Get the fuck outta here with Larry brown.
Phil twice, once he was promoted from the Bulls then hired by LA. The Bulls were good when they hired Phil, not yet great. So that is 5 teams and lots of rings. Never mind the dozen others I didn't mention.
Phil Jackson is one person you can’t use him for two different fucking examples. And we’re all waiting for you to name one of these other dozens like you are not short of time here go ahead pull out another one.
BeenLurkin wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 11:10 am
Phil Jackson is one person you can’t use him for two different fucking examples. And we’re all waiting for you to name one of these other dozens like you are not short of time here go ahead pull out another one.
Phil was used twice because he was hired from within once, then hired by LA second. Go look em up, I already named the 5 teams with lots o rings, plus a few more with LBJ teams and Mazzulla. You want to find em, go ahead.
ALSO guess how long Phil Jackson was either Assitant coach of the Bulls or their head coach before winning a title? Looks like 3 as an assistant and 1 as head coach. Jordon won rookie of the year and then MVP / DPOY in his 4th year…then three years later finally a title….and Phil was there in Jordan’s 4th year on. So the idea that he came in and magically flipped a switch is to be Frank completely ludicrous. Your entire argument is only held up at this point by Steve Kerr. And while Kerr could be a a great candidate to displace Finch…he is currently likely to be somewhere else next year.
I already looked the up. LeBron coaches don’t mean shit, and neither dos his bubble Vogel title really imo. LeBron picks his own coach’s and has never won a title organically. And Mazulla was an Assistant for 3 years and a head coach for two before his title in Beantown. What’s your point there?
Your debate style of espousing that 12 other examples exist and challenging me to find them? That’s your job Broseph. You wanna debate with facts or foggy notions? Feel free to defend your terrible take.
AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 8:12 am
I think by beating Denver (and if they can stay competitive with the Spurs)... Finch now gets TWO bad seasons before he's canned.
This is going to make Wolves forums a tough place to be for a large chunk of those two seasons, but I'd guess Finch has that much built-up goodwill at this point.
I think this is the reality of the situation, and seems the most Minnesota of the potential outcomes. Our whole roster is at a complicated space, they made another push and showed a lot of heart. Finch gets loyalty for that, and good on him. The players do really seem to love him too.
