Minnesota Sports Forum

Q12543 wrote:Random thoughts:

- Mitchell should coach a college program, especially a mid-tier program with guys that stick around 3 or 4 years. I could see him molding a group of guys into a pretty damn good team.

You think he would enjoy that though? He seemed to be frustrated with guys who "don't know how to play" because they came up through the AAU system, so he had to teach them things they should have learned in college. He's been away from that stuff for nearly 30 years.

Do you think he has the patience to go back to that? To text unproven recruits 75 times per day with sweet nothings just because everybody else is? I don't see that happening. Mitchell has proven to be a second-tier NBA head coach... doing what seems to be his preferred job. I expect he'll get another run as a head coach.

If not, is going back to the college game better than making a few hundred thousand sitting next to the head coach as his top assistant for the next 15 years... doing what you love in the league you love?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Random thoughts:

- Mitchell should coach a college program, especially a mid-tier program with guys that stick around 3 or 4 years. I could see him molding a group of guys into a pretty damn good team.

You think he would enjoy that though? He seemed to be frustrated with guys who "don't know how to play" because they came up through the AAU system, so he had to teach them things they should have learned in college. He's been away from that stuff for nearly 30 years.

Do you think he has the patience to go back to that? To text unproven recruits 75 times per day with sweet nothings just because everybody else is? I don't see that happening. Mitchell has proven to be a second-tier NBA head coach... doing what seems to be his preferred job. I expect he'll get another run as a head coach.

If not, is going back to the college game better than making a few hundred thousand sitting next to the head coach as his top assistant for the next 15 years... doing what you love in the league you love?

I guess my point is that if he laments so much about the AAU system and the lack of fundamentals taught, going to a Marquette, Creighton, Virginia Tech, or some other 2nd or 3rd tier D-1 program would be a place he could really mold guys and change their bad habits.....And perhaps even produce some NBA success stories.

TheSP wrote:A RealGM article on the Wolves coaching search:

http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/241644/The-Wolves-Next-Most-Consequential-Decision

Thx for that, sp. I don't know who this Colin McGowan is, but it seems like he knows basketball and is a very entertaining writer. I enjoyed that article.

Someone on KFAN's early show this morning said Thibs is coming back for a 2nd interview. Just the next step in the process towards the inevitable outcome...

http://www.canishoopus.com/2016/4/20/11465058/wolves-should-wait-on-dave-joerger-before-making-coaching-decision

Interesting article with lots of good points

Q12543 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Random thoughts:

- Mitchell should coach a college program, especially a mid-tier program with guys that stick around 3 or 4 years. I could see him molding a group of guys into a pretty damn good team.

You think he would enjoy that though? He seemed to be frustrated with guys who "don't know how to play" because they came up through the AAU system, so he had to teach them things they should have learned in college. He's been away from that stuff for nearly 30 years.

Do you think he has the patience to go back to that? To text unproven recruits 75 times per day with sweet nothings just because everybody else is? I don't see that happening. Mitchell has proven to be a second-tier NBA head coach... doing what seems to be his preferred job. I expect he'll get another run as a head coach.

If not, is going back to the college game better than making a few hundred thousand sitting next to the head coach as his top assistant for the next 15 years... doing what you love in the league you love?

I guess my point is that if he laments so much about the AAU system and the lack of fundamentals taught, going to a Marquette, Creighton, Virginia Tech, or some other 2nd or 3rd tier D-1 program would be a place he could really mold guys and change their bad habits.....And perhaps even produce some NBA success stories.

To answer some of this conversation about Sam coaching college he actually brought that up when talking with Wolfson. He has some old coach that tells him all the time he should be a college coach and he has thought about it from time to time. Wolfson immediately asked Sam if he would want to do all that recruiting etc. Sam said something like NBA guys want to be recruited too so how much difference is there? I think he was sorta joking but it seemed like he was somewhat open to the idea of college coaching but he seemed more interested in working in the NBA as an assistant. From what I got from him the last few years he didn't have as strong of a desire to coach maybe was relatively enjoying his work on the media side but after the last 2 years he really wants to coach again and realizes how much he would miss it.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:http://www.canishoopus.com/2016/4/20/11465058/wolves-should-wait-on-dave-joerger-before-making-coaching-decision

Interesting article with lots of good points

I think Joerger would be right there among the other top candidates if he wasn't still coaching. The rub is... do you risk losing other guys if you wait too long.

If Joerger is THE guy all along, it's fine. But if Taylor has any reservations, it's a risky move to wait for something that might not even happen.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:http://www.canishoopus.com/2016/4/20/11465058/wolves-should-wait-on-dave-joerger-before-making-coaching-decision

Interesting article with lots of good points

I think some of us were a little hesitant about Joerger to some extent about whether or not he could coach at a high enough level but man what he was able to do this year was damn impressive. After what happened last time when it looked like we were going to get him I don't really want to get my hopes up. He would be sort of the best of both world young and experienced head coach plus his MN and Flip connections are there too. What I do not understand is why the Grizzlies are possibly willing to let him go. It's completely bizarre.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:http://www.canishoopus.com/2016/4/20/11465058/wolves-should-wait-on-dave-joerger-before-making-coaching-decision

Interesting article with lots of good points

While I like the author's premise that we should consider Joerger if he becomes available, I think he (like so many others) misses a key point about Thibs. When discussing Thibs' reputation of wearing out his players, most authors/posters focus on minutes per game. While Thibs usually does rank higher than average in MPG for his stars, I don't think playing 38 minutes per game versus 34 minutes has anything to do with wearing players out or causing injury. Further, I have never heard any player complain about getting too many minutes...it's usually the opposite. My understanding is that Thibs' players complained about how he treated then between games...that is, grueling workouts when the smart move might have been to let their sore bodies heal. Brutal full-speed practices during the season wear players out and lead to locker room grumbling. I'm hoping that Glen and KF are asking Thibs about his philosophy about in-season practices. I would like to know that he has changed his mindset in this area before we decide to commit to him. In addition to having a very talented core of young players, we also seem to have a very un-Bulls-like happy locker room. I don't want to risk that by bringing in a coach who might change locker room chemistry. In fairness to Thibs, though, he's a smart guy. There's a good chance he has listened to the anonymous complaints from his players about wearing them out, and has used his year off to rethink his practice philosophy.

As for Joerger, we don't know that the Griz are going to let him go after they get eliminated. But if they do, we should consider him. Again though, the search team needs to understand the reasons for his firing, and see if they think the reasons are valid and might not make him a good choice.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:http://www.canishoopus.com/2016/4/20/11465058/wolves-should-wait-on-dave-joerger-before-making-coaching-decision

Interesting article with lots of good points

Yea it's too bad Joerger didn't grab the job last time. I'm fine waiting for him to interview if there are good indications that he will be let go. Of course Grizz management might give him more time considering the injuries. I don't necessarily think Thibs would go out and grab another opening if this went on another week but if he did there is still Van Gundy to fall back on because I doubt he considers any team but Minnesota, as his brother recently alluded to. As long as Glen picks one of these 3, I am happy.