Minnesota Sports Forum

sjm34 wrote:Lip, I find it hard to believe that it took 2.5 years for the staff to realize that Rubio had a problem with his mechanics and that they are just starting to correct it now. Some players just shoot better in practice, and can never get it to translate during the games. I would not have expected that from Rubio though. Hummel, sure, he is a borderline player so confidence may be an issue, but Rubio seems to be a gamer.

If Flip thought we needed some toughness, I am surprised he let Steimsma walk. He could have declined the option and offered him something less, like what we paid Turiaf.

I am not surprised by Flip's attitude, but I also wouldn't bet the house on it. He has been a little vague when asked the question before, and certainly didn't close the door on that option.

I don't think Rubio's flawed shooting mechanics were a brand new discovery by the Wolves staff. The point was that he's really improved his mechanics when stationary. The focus now will be on getting him to apply the proper mechanics when shooting on the move. Keep in mind that Rick's injury took away an entire summer and significant portions of two seasons when he couldn't do the sorts of motion shooting drills (running, cutting, quick stop, elevating) he needs to do. And a significant portion of last summer was consumed by international play.

I agree with Q on the "toughness" thing. I want more talent, skill and production. Not more toughness.

I've thought all along that Flip wants to coach and has planned all along to insert himself as head coach when Adelman leaves. But I trust the person I talked to. So I no longer see Flip becoming our next head coach.

Camden wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Cam -- I was also surprised by #8. I asked why and was told that Flip is really liking his current role and doesn't want to go back to the grind and pressure odpf coaching. I was told who the Wolves would target to replace Adelman, but only after I promised not to repeat what I was told. I can tell you it would not be Adelman's son. I can also say that I think most on this board would be pleased with the choice. I know I'd be pleased and I'm not easily pleased. :)

I'm excited about the next 12 games. This is the Wolves' opportunity to establish themselves as a playoff team to be reckoned with. I agree that Westbrook's absence definitely gives us a great shot at getting a W against the Thunder.

Ahh. The old "tell me, I won't tell anybody else" promise. Lol established when we're children and held true until we're much older. I won't press for an answer then, but if you like it I'm assuming it's someone who's coached before and likely a recognizable name. A Van Gundy perhaps? Would make sense in my head. Just thinking (typing) out loud.

No doubt about it. The players also realize the next 12 games or so are huge. Barea was quoted tonight saying something to the effect of "this is a stretch where we have to make a push." The team's looked at the schedule. They know what's going on around the league. There's 10 very winnable games and two coin flips to me. Coin flips being SA and OKC.

Cam - Not Van Gundy, but a name we'd all recognize and respect.

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Cam -- I was also surprised by #8. I asked why and was told that Flip is really liking his current role and doesn't want to go back to the grind and pressure odpf coaching. I was told who the Wolves would target to replace Adelman, but only after I promised not to repeat what I was told. I can tell you it would not be Adelman's son. I can also say that I think most on this board would be pleased with the choice. I know I'd be pleased and I'm not easily pleased. :)

I'm excited about the next 12 games. This is the Wolves' opportunity to establish themselves as a playoff team to be reckoned with. I agree that Westbrook's absence definitely gives us a great shot at getting a W against the Thunder.

Ahh. The old "tell me, I won't tell anybody else" promise. Lol established when we're children and held true until we're much older. I won't press for an answer then, but if you like it I'm assuming it's someone who's coached before and likely a recognizable name. A Van Gundy perhaps? Would make sense in my head. Just thinking (typing) out loud.

No doubt about it. The players also realize the next 12 games or so are huge. Barea was quoted tonight saying something to the effect of "this is a stretch where we have to make a push." The team's looked at the schedule. They know what's going on around the league. There's 10 very winnable games and two coin flips to me. Coin flips being SA and OKC.

Cam - Not Van Gundy, but a name we'd all recognize and respect.

Jim Dutcher.

I'm not going to read every post, but I don't understand this "toughness" thing. The Wolves don't lack toughness. They lack guys who could win a spirited game of HORSE.

lipoli390 wrote:

sjm34 wrote:Lip, I find it hard to believe that it took 2.5 years for the staff to realize that Rubio had a problem with his mechanics and that they are just starting to correct it now. Some players just shoot better in practice, and can never get it to translate during the games. I would not have expected that from Rubio though. Hummel, sure, he is a borderline player so confidence may be an issue, but Rubio seems to be a gamer.

If Flip thought we needed some toughness, I am surprised he let Steimsma walk. He could have declined the option and offered him something less, like what we paid Turiaf.

I am not surprised by Flip's attitude, but I also wouldn't bet the house on it. He has been a little vague when asked the question before, and certainly didn't close the door on that option.

I don't think Rubio's flawed shooting mechanics were a brand new discovery by the Wolves staff. The point was that he's really improved his mechanics when stationary. The focus now will be on getting him to apply the proper mechanics when shooting on the move. Keep in mind that Rick's injury took away an entire summer and significant portions of two seasons when he couldn't do the sorts of motion shooting drills (running, cutting, quick stop, elevating) he needs to do. And a significant portion of last summer was consumed by international play.

I agree with Q on the "toughness" thing. I want more talent, skill and production. Not more toughness.

I've thought all along that Flip wants to coach and has planned all along to insert himself as head coach when Adelman leaves. But I trust the person I talked to. So I no longer see Flip becoming our next head coach.

It scares me Lip if they feel they have fixed his stationary mechanics. He has a very low release point and no arc on his shot. It looks the same as it did in his rookie season. I've watched coaches improve release with a player sitting in a chair, so I think they missed an opportunity during Ricky's rehab.

I'll take you at your word on Flip not wanting to coach, and hope that the guy they are targeting is Hollins.

Hollins would definitely be my personal choice.

lipoli390 wrote:Hollins would definitely be my personal choice.

This is an honest question: why does everyone like Hollins so much? He coached Memphis with quite a bit of talent to a middling record and a bad defense until Joerger showed up and made them into an elite defense. That's why management let Hollins go and gave the team to Joerger. They won with defense, and that was all him.

Hollins took a 20 something win team and won 40 games in his first full season, then got them into the PO's for the next three seasons including a trip to the conference finals last year. If Joerger was the difference, why is Memphis sucking wind this season?

Hollins is gone because he had a run in with Hollinger last season, and expressed his displeasure with some of the moves the front office made.

sjm34 wrote:Hollins took a 20 something win team and won 40 games in his first full season, then got them into the PO's for the next three seasons including a trip to the conference finals last year. If Joerger was the difference, why is Memphis sucking wind this season?

Hollins is gone because he had a run in with Hollinger last season, and expressed his displeasure with some of the moves the front office made.

Is ESPN ever going to run a story about how horrible Hollinger is and prove his system useless?

thedoper wrote:

sjm34 wrote:Hollins took a 20 something win team and won 40 games in his first full season, then got them into the PO's for the next three seasons including a trip to the conference finals last year. If Joerger was the difference, why is Memphis sucking wind this season?

Hollins is gone because he had a run in with Hollinger last season, and expressed his displeasure with some of the moves the front office made.

Is ESPN ever going to run a story about how horrible Hollinger is and prove his system useless?

Do we need more proof than his power ranking system having the wolves at #6 right now ahead of Portland!

sjm34 wrote:Hollins took a 20 something win team and won 40 games in his first full season, then got them into the PO's for the next three seasons including a trip to the conference finals last year. If Joerger was the difference, why is Memphis sucking wind this season?

Hollins is gone because he had a run in with Hollinger last season, and expressed his displeasure with some of the moves the front office made.

They were 7-5 with two wins over GS and a win over the Clippers before Gasol went out. They are still 6th in points allowed and just 1.5 games behind the Wolves even though they've been missing their best player.

Under Hollins they won 40, 46, 41(lockout season), and 56 games. They improved greatly the last two seasons because their defense became elite, which was Joerger's work. Hollins got fired because yes, he and Hollinger didn't get along, but also because the one time they got to the conference finals they were swept.

The Grizzlies had 1 season where they were higher than 19th in PPG, and they were 13th that year. Last year they were 27th. 27th!