Ryan Saunders is the Problem Poll

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I agree with Wolvesfan directionally, but probably not to the same extreme. I still think the coach is important. The reason is that a superstar needs a co-leader (in the form of a head coach) so that they can do each other's bidding at times. We all hear about how valuable a "coach on the floor" is to head coaches that have elite players, but I think it also works the other way for the superstar. The star doesn't ALWAYS want to be the ones enforcing things and coming down hard on guys.

[TheFuture]

I voted 9-10. He had not proven enough to get hired. It was a cheap promotion as Glen Taylor still had to pay off Thibs contract. As well as a sentimental one.

Now he follows what the GM wants to implement, rather than telling him what he can implement effectively. He was and is too raw.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Let's not mince words here. There are a lot of people who believe Saunders is not qualified to be the Wolves head coach. There are two lines of thinking to this point of view. One is that Ryan, the son of the late, legendary Wolves coach and front office executive Flip Saunders, is the beneficiary of nepotism, a final vestige of the "country club mentality" that resulted in a long string of provincial hires for the franchise. Another view is that Rosas independently hired Saunders without input from owner Glen Taylor because he wanted someone who would faithfully implement his vision without opposition. A "yes man."

Saunders can do nothing about the suspicion of nepotism -- which, by the way, is hardly novel in the NBA coaching turnstile. But thus far, he has done nothing to dissuade those who believe he will answer "how high?" should Rosas ask him to jump.

The above is an excerpt from Britt Robson's latest piece in The Athletic. I feel like it not only explains how I feel about Ryan Saunders, but how many here feel about him and the position he holds.

Also, if there are prominent journalists asking these questions, typically that head coach would be considered on the hot seat. Meanwhile, most of us could envision being stuck with Saunders for the next decade or however long Glen Taylor remains the owner. Oof.

[Monster]

Coaches don't matter much. I could be the coach of the Lakers and they'd still be the favorites to win it all. Not that I am a good coach, I have zero experience and I'd suck. I'd just let LeBron takeover and call the plays. Easy.

I think coaching matters much more for young players or when teams are not tanking for a top pick. lol

The Warriors don't become the Warriors if they don't ditch Jackson for Kerr. Who knows where the Heat would be if Lebron could have successfully got Spoelstra fired after 2011. How was Milwaukee doing before Bud? How's Atlanta done since Bud left? Why was Blatt fired for Lue if Lebron's coach could be pulled off the street? Why was Walton fired and replaced with Vogel? And on and on. Coaches make a difference at the end of the day. You can't just put anybody on the bench even with the top players and be fine.

I think a lot of the firings especially related to LeBron is the coaches disagreeing or having power issues with him. You could place a monkey on the sidelines and let LeBron go to work. Players matter 99% when you already have elite players. But I do think, as I said coaching matters much more with young players or teams that may be struggling to co-exist. It's still 90% on the players to do the work. Coaches can only do so much.

I also think Vogel and his staff did a nice job with that group. Coaching does still matter. With a LeBron coached team I think it's both easy and hard at the same time. I don't think Luke Walton was the right guy for that group even if he is a solid or maybe even pretty good coach. Fit matters when it comes to some coaching hires.

[TheFuture]

The question to ask is: Has Saunders elevated our team in any way?

[Wolvesfan21]

Coach of the year?

[BloopOracle]

Ryan is trending as an average NBA head coach, that's pretty impressive in all seriousness

[60WinTim]

I do believe I was the sole "1-2" vote. Not so much because I think Ryan is some sort of genious, but because #1) it's a players league, coaches don't make as big an impact as some suggest, and #2) our assistant coaching staff is very strong, and clearly has a ton of input on what the Wolves are trying to do on the court.

I suggest the improvement we have seen on both sides of the court from the first pre-season game to tonight's game is pretty strong endorsement for our coaching staff and our front office.

[Wolvesfan21]

I do believe I was the sole "1-2" vote. Not so much because I think Ryan is some sort of genious, but because #1) it's a players league, coaches don't make as big an impact as some suggest, and #2) our assistant coaching staff is very strong, and clearly has a ton of input on what the Wolves are trying to do on the court.

I suggest the improvement we have seen on both sides of the court from the first pre-season game to tonight's game is pretty strong endorsement for our coaching staff and our front office.

You are, I went 3-4. I'm just not ready to make conclusions on a tanked season like last year. I don't think anyone can argue right now that he's not doing a fine job. Edwards is playing great, so is Culver. The team is gelling and playing defense. Great start to the season.

[FNG]

I do believe I was the sole "1-2" vote. Not so much because I think Ryan is some sort of genious, but because #1) it's a players league, coaches don't make as big an impact as some suggest, and #2) our assistant coaching staff is very strong, and clearly has a ton of input on what the Wolves are trying to do on the court.

I suggest the improvement we have seen on both sides of the court from the first pre-season game to tonight's game is pretty strong endorsement for our coaching staff and our front office.

This take is spot on, and why I was one of the 3-4 votes. I didn't go 1-2 like Tim because Ryan is still young and unproven, and I don't like the lineup he uses to begin games. But it seems like we have a very cohesive coaching group, and the head coach deserves some credit for that. I also continue to think Ryan connects with this young team and they dig playing for him, and there's no question that he has them playing harder than any Wolves team in recent history.

Ryan was clearly a country club choice at the time and fans should rightly be skeptical, but that doesn't mean he won't prove to be the right coach. He's young, so there's a chance he may be coaching our favorite team for decades.