Wolves Hire Thibs

[Monster]

http://bit.ly/1rdasWI

Wolfson talks to Thibs. IMO Wolfson asks some good questions and Thibs gives some pretty good stuff.

One of the things I found most interesting was Wolfson got Thibs talking about his life away from basketball. It really dispelled some of the theory he is only a basketball guy. He clearly enjoys more than just basketball and actually sounds fairly likeable. Thibs also has some pretty good connections.

He mentioned some similar themes as the previous interview with Barreiro:

- His five factors to success of 1. Defense, 2. Rebounding, 3. Not turning the ball over, 4. Playing inside-out, and 5. Sharing the ball.

- Said shooting and defense are the biggest areas of weakness right now. That's not news to any of us!

- Defensively, he'll start with the fundamentals and then work his way up. This sounds exactly like how Sam Mitchell started, except they never really worked their way up......

- He had a chance to watch a lot more college ball than ever before this past season, so I suspect there were a couple of players that caught his eye. Of course, he can't just make a pick based on watching a few games on ESPN, but he's likely already fairly familiar, in broad strokes, with the top college prospects.

- Said he and Layden will be a partnership without shedding light on what happens if they can't reach a consensus. As Glen mentioned, how those stalemates get resolved, if they even occur, is written into their contracts. But Doogie didn't push this much.

- In talking about Layden, he cited his work with Utah more than what he did with New York or San Antonio. He said that Utah was the "original" San Antonio and found it ironic that he ended up there eventually. If you think about Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, and Karl Malone - and the sheer consistency and longevity of that trio - there is a lot to be said about that comparison. Layden had a hand - I'm not sure how big of a hand - in creating it.

One thing I've noticed so far is that he doesn't really gush about any of our players. Obviously he's excited about the roster, but I think he was very unimpressed by the defense he saw these guys play. That can't all be blamed on Mitchell and Co.

I'll add here that Thibs mentioned he actually was at some college games he wasn't just "watching a few games on ESPN".

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

http://bit.ly/1rdasWI

Wolfson talks to Thibs. IMO Wolfson asks some good questions and Thibs gives some pretty good stuff.

One of the things I found most interesting was Wolfson got Thibs talking about his life away from basketball. It really dispelled some of the theory he is only a basketball guy. He clearly enjoys more than just basketball and actually sounds fairly likeable. Thibs also has some pretty good connections.

He mentioned some similar themes as the previous interview with Barreiro:

- His five factors to success of 1. Defense, 2. Rebounding, 3. Not turning the ball over, 4. Playing inside-out, and 5. Sharing the ball.

- Said shooting and defense are the biggest areas of weakness right now. That's not news to any of us!

- Defensively, he'll start with the fundamentals and then work his way up. This sounds exactly like how Sam Mitchell started, except they never really worked their way up......

- He had a chance to watch a lot more college ball than ever before this past season, so I suspect there were a couple of players that caught his eye. Of course, he can't just make a pick based on watching a few games on ESPN, but he's likely already fairly familiar, in broad strokes, with the top college prospects.

- Said he and Layden will be a partnership without shedding light on what happens if they can't reach a consensus. As Glen mentioned, how those stalemates get resolved, if they even occur, is written into their contracts. But Doogie didn't push this much.

- In talking about Layden, he cited his work with Utah more than what he did with New York or San Antonio. He said that Utah was the "original" San Antonio and found it ironic that he ended up there eventually. If you think about Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, and Karl Malone - and the sheer consistency and longevity of that trio - there is a lot to be said about that comparison. Layden had a hand - I'm not sure how big of a hand - in creating it.

One thing I've noticed so far is that he doesn't really gush about any of our players. Obviously he's excited about the roster, but I think he was very unimpressed by the defense he saw these guys play. That can't all be blamed on Mitchell and Co.

My biggest fear with the duo of Layden and Thibs as well as Taylor is their age and how that might affect their personnel decisions. Hopefully Layden's game plan is more in line with his San Antonio or Utah stints rather than his New York stint. Keeping our core players in place and adding a top pick in this year's draft could set us up for a run of 12 or more years. If they attempt to win now, by trading away our pick or young guys, then I'll be disappointed.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

It's funny that most of us think we already have the young stars we need moving forward, but a lot of people on the board seem focused on getting more young talent and waiting to spend big (even though this is the most opportune time to) instead of looking to surround our young stars with competent, productive veterans that fill needs and holes in the roster. At some point you have to stop building for the future, guys. We have the future already on our roster. Surround them, support them, give them help. Start winning more -- a lot more. Make the playoffs and actually look to win in them, not just be happy we made it there. Too busy trying to build for four years out with another young player or potential cap implications and not busy enough trying to win next season and getting this team on the right path. All we have right now is potential -- loads of it. Add some "right now" effect to it with players that know how to win and let's go already.

[Monster]

It's funny that most of us think we already have the young stars we need moving forward, but a lot of people on the board seem focused on getting more young talent and waiting to spend big (even though this is the most opportune time to) instead of looking to surround our young stars with competent, productive veterans that fill needs and holes in the roster. At some point you have to stop building for the future, guys. We have the future already on our roster. Surround them, support them, give them help. Start winning more -- a lot more. Make the playoffs and actually look to win in them, not just be happy we made it there. Too busy trying to build for four years out with another young player or potential cap implications and not busy enough trying to win next season and getting this team on the right path. All we have right now is potential -- loads of it. Add some "right now" effect to it with players that know how to win and let's go already.

Tell all that stuff to the Portland Trailblazers. :)

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

It's funny that most of us think we already have the young stars we need moving forward, but a lot of people on the board seem focused on getting more young talent and waiting to spend big (even though this is the most opportune time to) instead of looking to surround our young stars with competent, productive veterans that fill needs and holes in the roster. At some point you have to stop building for the future, guys. We have the future already on our roster. Surround them, support them, give them help. Start winning more -- a lot more. Make the playoffs and actually look to win in them, not just be happy we made it there. Too busy trying to build for four years out with another young player or potential cap implications and not busy enough trying to win next season and getting this team on the right path. All we have right now is potential -- loads of it. Add some "right now" effect to it with players that know how to win and let's go already.

I don't think anybody is saying that. I think everyone wants to win now, but you don't need to give up any of our young core to win now. We keep our starting five guys and add talent from the draft and free agency and we are set for a very good year. No need to trade Zach, Ricky, Dieng or our top 5 pick. We can be in the playoffs next year without a trade and contending for a title in 2 or 3 years. I like the path we are on.

[Monster]

It's funny that most of us think we already have the young stars we need moving forward, but a lot of people on the board seem focused on getting more young talent and waiting to spend big (even though this is the most opportune time to) instead of looking to surround our young stars with competent, productive veterans that fill needs and holes in the roster. At some point you have to stop building for the future, guys. We have the future already on our roster. Surround them, support them, give them help. Start winning more -- a lot more. Make the playoffs and actually look to win in them, not just be happy we made it there. Too busy trying to build for four years out with another young player or potential cap implications and not busy enough trying to win next season and getting this team on the right path. All we have right now is potential -- loads of it. Add some "right now" effect to it with players that know how to win and let's go already.

I don't think anybody is saying that. I think everyone wants to win now, but you don't need to give up any of our young core to win now. We keep our starting five guys and add talent from the draft and free agency and we are set for a very good year. No need to trade Zach, Ricky, Dieng or our top 5 pick. We can be in the playoffs next year without a trade and contending for a title in 2 or 3 years. I like the path we are on.

I will add that I actually don't see Layden and Thibs taking shortcuts. Why for one thing Layden is basically known as a meticulous guy and is basically well known as a guy that's out scouting all the time. Thibs made due with what he had various times in Chicago. In talking to Wolfson he actually said Bazz came on late in the year and he had some nice praise for Dieng too. I think they trust they can add a good young player in the draft maybe even make a move to get a young player in the 2nd round and then get some vets to add some experience. Thibs likely has a lot of faith in his coaching and both guys will have faith in their process.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Day of Thibs. 4:00 for the presser? Will he say anything shocking, like Towns is our only real player so far and everyone else is competing for playing time?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It's funny that most of us think we already have the young stars we need moving forward, but a lot of people on the board seem focused on getting more young talent and waiting to spend big (even though this is the most opportune time to) instead of looking to surround our young stars with competent, productive veterans that fill needs and holes in the roster. At some point you have to stop building for the future, guys. We have the future already on our roster. Surround them, support them, give them help. Start winning more -- a lot more. Make the playoffs and actually look to win in them, not just be happy we made it there. Too busy trying to build for four years out with another young player or potential cap implications and not busy enough trying to win next season and getting this team on the right path. All we have right now is potential -- loads of it. Add some "right now" effect to it with players that know how to win and let's go already.

Tell all that stuff to the Portland Trailblazers. :)

Portland is amazing to me. They have been just as unfortunate over the years as Minnesota in a lot of ways, yet they have continued to successfully remake themselves into a competitive squad. Who would have thought after losing Aldridge to free agency that they would be the #5 seed in the Western Conference? And with the injuries last night, they are now poised to win the series against the Clippers. Yet to Cam's point, we're fretting about cap space in 4 years and adding 30-year olds to the roster. Strike while the iron is hot I say!

And speaking of injuries, how freakin' lucky is Golden State. They finally get hit with a critical injury that affected every one of their opponents in last year's playoffs, yet they are either going to face a crippled and short-handed Clippers squad in the second round or a #5 seed in Portland. I really thought a full-strength Clippers squad would beat Golden State without Curry.

[Coolbreeze44]

Portland is amazing. They've dealt with just about everything that can go wrong with an organization including front office upheaval, and they just find ways to be competitive. As much as I dislike them, you have to give them their due.

[Monster]

Portland is amazing. They've dealt with just about everything that can go wrong with an organization including front office upheaval, and they just find ways to be competitive. As much as I dislike them, you have to give them their due.

There is probably plenty of credit to go around but Stotts and his staff have been terrific. I think Lilliard is a big key also. So many of the young players they acquired last summer panned out to be very useful that's credit to the players themselves coaches and the front office.