Minnesota Sports Forum

FNG wrote:

1)This franchise has a history of making the easy choice...hiring the safe guy that they know rather than bringing in someone perhaps more qualified from the outside. You know, the country club. Hiring someone that was already on the inside smacks of "business as usual" country club behavior. I say this recognizing that Finch is not completely an outsider because he has a prior relationship with Rosas, but at least he is untainted by the Wolves Experience.

While I agree the Country Club thing has not usually worked out well... the Wolves have also tried multiple strategies, some out of the box.

- Giving All the power (coaching + executive) to a previously successful barking ogre. (Thibs)
(Replaces him with Saunders v2.0)
- Giving the coaching gig to an experienced, fairly successful and respected coach (Adelman) late in his career.
(Replaces him with Saunders v1.0)
- Giving the coaching gig to a Phil Jackson Triangle disciple... and a lifer with one of the league's best franchises.
- Giving the top exec job to a former sportswriter, baseball relocation guy, real estate guy who had zero history with NBA personnel experience
(Replaces him with Saunders v1.0)
- Giving the coaching gig to an experienced NBA assistant coach.
(Replaces him with country club Wittman)

It seems that usually when Taylor goes outside the proverbial box... and it fails... he returns to his soft, warm cocoon of the country club.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

FNG wrote:

1)This franchise has a history of making the easy choice...hiring the safe guy that they know rather than bringing in someone perhaps more qualified from the outside. You know, the country club. Hiring someone that was already on the inside smacks of "business as usual" country club behavior. I say this recognizing that Finch is not completely an outsider because he has a prior relationship with Rosas, but at least he is untainted by the Wolves Experience.

While I agree the Country Club thing has not usually worked out well... the Wolves have also tried multiple strategies, some out of the box.

- Giving All the power (coaching + executive) to a previously successful barking ogre. (Thibs)
(Replaces him with Saunders v2.0)
- Giving the coaching gig to an experienced, fairly successful and respected coach (Adelman) late in his career.
(Replaces him with Saunders v1.0)
- Giving the coaching gig to a Phil Jackson Triangle disciple... and a lifer with one of the league's best franchises.
- Giving the top exec job to a former sportswriter, baseball relocation guy, real estate guy who had zero history with NBA personnel experience
(Replaces him with Saunders v1.0)
- Giving the coaching gig to an experienced NBA assistant coach.
(Replaces him with country club Wittman)

It seems that usually when Taylor goes outside the proverbial box... and it fails... he returns to his soft, warm cocoon of the country club.

The sad thing is almost nothing has worked with this hapless franchise...country club or otherwise. And even when something does work...the Butler trade that led to our first playoff appearance since George Bush was president...it ends up even tragically worse than the other moves.

And yet with me, generally hope springs eternal. Maybe this might be the right move. Maybe. But it also has the potential for disaster. Finch has all the signs of being a good choice, but my biggest fear is KAT's reaction, because all of our eggs are resting in his basket. It seems that the loss of a parent at a young age created a bond between KAT and Ryan, and my simple mind attributed KAT's improved defense this season to wanting to make his coach successful. I note that KAT has not tweeted or commented since the firing/hiring, and while I'm never a fan of letting the inmates run the asylum, a focused happy KAT is essential to our success...so I hope he is on board with this move. He at least has to be pleased with Finch's comments that everything has to go through KAT, but a 4th grader also could have come to that conclusion. KAT's an emotional guy, and it's not difficult to sense his mood. I'll be watching him closely tonight to see if the defensive effort is still at the same level I have been pleased to observe this year.

How can the Timberwolves get better in the 4th quarters?

Anthony Edwards: "Put the ball in KAT's hands. Shit, he's the best player. Just get KAT the ball and get out the way."

Let's be honest what the hell did Vanterpool do as a Wolves Assistant that makes you want to hand him the job even in the interim? He came here as the defensive coordinator the Wolves were not good on that end. I'm not blaming him for that but if we are about meritocracy what did he do here to deserve it? Did he do some good individual work with some players? Maybe that doesn't qualify him to lead this team to whatever heights (or low bar someone has to not trip over to be decent) this team wants to achieve. I would have been fine if he had gotten the job for the rest of the season but I'm not crying about someone else even another NBA assistant getting the job over him.

Meanwhile Finch has seemingly being the offensive guy for a few different teams that have all had success. Idk what Towns was looking like lately but early on he was like an afterthought in the offense. I was willing to give. A bit of a pass partly because who knew if he was even himself. If it has still been like that still than hell get fucking Sam Mitchell back here having Towns running off screens like a guard again and doing all kinds of stuff. If Finch is really an offensive guru at least we got something going right.

Yes Finch and Rosas know each other. That fine with me. The sports executive and the coach need to be somewhat on the same page. It works really well if they are. The thing that I like is that Finch didn't just work for just one organization that only seemed interested in all 3's etc. He has coached a few different places with various players as the center of what they are doing. Is anyone complaining about the Raptors "System"? I'd LOVE to be doing what they have been able to do the last couple years. What people are frustrated with is that they aren't seeing success of the roster and players used in ways that utilizes their strengths. Again I have only seen about half the season but I didn't see Russell as a guy that was doing what I think he is capable of...doing more than just be a scorer. Some of that is on the coaching staff. If Finch can tap into Towns AND Russell who I think are pretty talented as offensive players that's gonna be a big deal and I'm not talking about their stats which are already pretty good I'm talking about those guys playing in a way that flows and therefore helps other around them. I'm not getting my hopes up too high but like others have said the bar isn't too high.

monsterpile wrote:Let's be honest what the hell did Vanterpool do as a Wolves Assistant that makes you want to hand him the job even in the interim? He came here as the defensive coordinator the Wolves were not good on that end. I'm not blaming him for that but if we are about meritocracy what did he do here to deserve it? Did he do some good individual work with some players? Maybe that doesn't qualify him to lead this team to whatever heights (or low bar someone has to not trip over to be decent) this team wants to achieve. I would have been fine if he had gotten the job for the rest of the season but I'm not crying about someone else even another NBA assistant getting the job over him.

Meanwhile Finch has seemingly being the offensive guy for a few different teams that have all had success. Idk what Towns was looking like lately but early on he was like an afterthought in the offense. I was willing to give. A bit of a pass partly because who knew if he was even himself. If it has still been like that still than hell get fucking Sam Mitchell back here having Towns running off screens like a guard again and doing all kinds of stuff. If Finch is really an offensive guru at least we got something going right.

Yes Finch and Rosas know each other. That fine with me. The sports executive and the coach need to be somewhat on the same page. It works really well if they are. The thing that I like is that Finch didn't just work for just one organization that only seemed interested in all 3's etc. He has coached a few different places with various players as the center of what they are doing. Is anyone complaining about the Raptors "System"? I'd LOVE to be doing what they have been able to do the last couple years. What people are frustrated with is that they aren't seeing success of the roster and players used in ways that utilizes their strengths. Again I have only seen about half the season but I didn't see Russell as a guy that was doing what I think he is capable of...doing more than just be a scorer. Some of that is on the coaching staff. If Finch can tap into Towns AND Russell who I think are pretty talented as offensive players that's gonna be a big deal and I'm not talking about their stats which are already pretty good I'm talking about those guys playing in a way that flows and therefore helps other around them. I'm not getting my hopes up too high but like others have said the bar isn't too high.

Exactly on point about Vanterpool. I watched a few clips on ESPN about how we passed him over and how it was such a travesty! Oh no you didn't hire the black coach who has the 3rd(?) worst defense in the league!!!

Lillard and McCollum tweeted some stuff as well and let's be real, those guys are not exactly defensive pillars! Offensive yes, defensive no.

I think BY FAR most fans don't care if the coach is black, white, brown, green or red if they win. Winning is what fans want.

The media is such a joke.

I've read a lot about Finch giving the players freedom on the court. Just let them play... basically.

I think that approach is going to change. As I've harped on so many times... this team simply lacks enough guys who know HOW to play NBA basketball. More importantly... HOW to play WINNING basketball.

Let's just say it's probably not with an offensive coach who preaches freelancing and just staying out of the way. I don't put too much stock in too many quotes/comments. But if that's actually the new coach's plan, it won't be for long.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:I've read a lot about Finch giving the players freedom on the court. Just let them play... basically.

I think that approach is going to change. As I've harped on so many times... this team simply lacks enough guys who know HOW to play NBA basketball. More importantly... HOW to play WINNING basketball.

Let's just say it's probably not with an offensive coach who preaches freelancing and just staying out of the way. I don't put too much stock in too many quotes/comments. But if that's actually the new coach's plan, it won't be for long.

Yep, being hands off with the youngest roster in the league just isn't a good strategy. It helps you earn the worst record in basketball and job termination. If anything I think even more structure and hands-on instruction is required. I think Finch will figure this out.

Camden wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:I've read a lot about Finch giving the players freedom on the court. Just let them play... basically.

I think that approach is going to change. As I've harped on so many times... this team simply lacks enough guys who know HOW to play NBA basketball. More importantly... HOW to play WINNING basketball.

Let's just say it's probably not with an offensive coach who preaches freelancing and just staying out of the way. I don't put too much stock in too many quotes/comments. But if that's actually the new coach's plan, it won't be for long.

Yep, being hands off with the youngest roster in the league just isn't a good strategy. It helps you earn the worst record in basketball and job termination. If anything I think even more structure and hands-on instruction is required. I think Finch will figure this out.

I sure hope so. I feel we need a Thibs without the constant barking and a bit better at navigating interpersonal dynamics on the team. But slowing the pace down and providing more structured offensive sets does not require a certain personality type to pull off.

Camden0916 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:I've read a lot about Finch giving the players freedom on the court. Just let them play... basically.

I think that approach is going to change. As I've harped on so many times... this team simply lacks enough guys who know HOW to play NBA basketball. More importantly... HOW to play WINNING basketball.

Let's just say it's probably not with an offensive coach who preaches freelancing and just staying out of the way. I don't put too much stock in too many quotes/comments. But if that's actually the new coach's plan, it won't be for long.

Yep, being hands off with the youngest roster in the league just isn't a good strategy. It helps you earn the worst record in basketball and job termination. If anything I think even more structure and hands-on instruction is required. I think Finch will figure this out.

There is being somewhat hands off while players are playing and then there is also a lot of work done to have guys do that. The Triangle isn't based on complicated sets but Tex Winters was maniacal about details in practice.

What I was seeing earlier in the season they would run sets but it didn't seem like they were things that were run well a lot of the time. I'm not advanced enough to diagnose plays just watching games. I do agree there likely needs to be some more structure but the reality is that there is often a lot of individual work that if successful translates into teamwork/team success but...the coach and the staff have to be good at their jobs in that regard to put it all together.

While Towns expressed a hope that more "Black and minority coaches" - including Wolves assistant David Vanterpool - will get head coaching opportunities going forward, he pledged to support Finch and once again reiterated his commitment to the franchise, as Hine writes in a separate story for The Star Tribune. "I'm a very loyal guy, to a fault. I've said it before, I would love to finish my career here in Minnesota," Towns told reporters. "I want to build something great here. I want to build a legacy in Minnesota."

The bit about minority coaches aside, these are the kinds of comments you'd like from your franchise player. Loyalty. Who knows if he sticks to that or not but it sounds great.