Minnesota Sports Forum

Yeah, this pretty much is the final nail in the Playoff coffin. We were gasping for air anyway and had zero room for error. By the time he comes back, my guess is that we will be out of it.

Okogie has been getting some decent run lately with the Teague/Rose injuries, but it hasn't been pretty. Can we for once see one of our rookies actually improve throughout the season!? Pretty please?

While we can all agree that Tom Thibodeau teams have had more than their share of injuries over the years, you have to be a Thibs-hater to put any blame on his rotations for these injuries. My uncle's neighbor's friend was a doctor, and he would always say that athletes needed to be properly warmed up to play at their peak. It then stands to reason that playing a player 43 minutes in a game is going to lead to fewer injuries rather than more. Thibs seems to be the only coach in the league that understand this, and we are lucky to have him at the helm. The significant injuries his players have experienced over the years is merely due to bad luck, not bad coaching.

longstrangetrip wrote:While we can all agree that Tom Thibodeau teams have had more than their share of injuries over the years, you have to be a Thibs-hater to put any blame on his rotations for these injuries. My uncle's neighbor's friend was a doctor, and he would always say that athletes needed to be properly warmed up to play at their peak. It then stands to reason that playing a player 43 minutes in a game is going to lead to fewer injuries rather than more. Thibs seems to be the only coach in the league that understand this, and we are lucky to have him at the helm. The significant injuries his players have experienced over the years is merely due to bad luck, not bad coaching.

Last season, Timberwolves starters combined to miss 35 games. Three of them played 82 minutes. Three starters also played all 82 games the prior season as the starters combined to miss 42 games. Last year's NBA champions, Warriors, missed at least 66 games collectively to injuries.

But it is very fair to say that playing those starters so much the last two seasons directly led to Robert Covington's injury.



[Note: All facetiousness aside, injuries happen. It's part of the game. Having an injury take down Covington at the very end of a close game happens... it sucks. And literally every NBA team has to go through it. Most of those types of injuries are unavoidable. Was this one? Looks like it... or... it's because of Thibs playing Covington too much at some other time or something similar. Rinse. Repeat.

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT FOR TOM THIBODEAU AS HEAD COACH

I guess there can be a debate about whether a player is more likely to incur an injury if he has just finished a stretch of games averaging close to 40MPG. I know I would be firmly in the "it's not likely to be a good thing" camp, especially when you combine high game minutes with a reputation for grueling in-season practices. Maybe it's a coincidence that players that Thibs has most run into the ground, like Noah and Rose, suffered injuries playing for him that severely altered their careers. Maybe it's coincidence that the only season Jimmy Butler has ever exceeded 70 games played is the one season he played for a coach other than Thibs. Maybe Thibs' often-discussed reputation for excessive practices and minutes is just whining. I don't know. But I have my suspicions.

I think that video tells us two things. One, it was clearly KAT's fault, and Two, it could have been a lot worse. I am surprised he only has a bone bruise.

Of course Thibs is ultimately responsible because he traded for Roco.

Don't panic everyone. Thibs has a plan to bring in more Bulls if necessary.

BizarroJerry wrote:Don't panic everyone. Thibs has a plan to bring in more Bulls if necessary.

Better be this guy. Those mutton-chops would look great in HD.

The Big A Train

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

BizarroJerry wrote:Don't panic everyone. Thibs has a plan to bring in more Bulls if necessary.

Better be this guy. Those mutton-chops would look great in HD.

*nodding head in approval

Chicago should bring those unis back. They're sweet.