Match Made in Heaven

[bleedspeed]

Good article about Rubio and Thibs.

http://www.canishoopus.com/2016/5/4/11582826/the-perfect-pairing-rubio-and-thibodeau-are-set-for-a-beautiful

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Good article...I have little doubt that Thibs/Rubio is a defensive match made in heaven. And since I favor that side of the game, that's a very good thing. Ricky's long arms and quick hands, lateral athleticism, instincts, consistent high level of effort and defensive smarts make him a defensive coach's dream.

Offense may be a different story, as I see potential conflicts in the way the two of them view offense. We all noticed a change in the Wolves pace of play the last 2 months of the season, and it resulted in a more entertaining product and also better results. Ricky's turnovers were up the last two months of the year, but the offense was still much improved. But now we have a head coach who has never finished out of the bottom 10 in pace of play, and mentions limiting turnovers every time he discusses his philosophy. There's a good chance Thibs will attempt to get Ricky to play more conservatively, and I'm not sure that is the right approach. Ricky is at his best offensively when he is confident and playing in a joyful manner, and I hope that Thibs recognizes that and loosens the reins.

Don't get me wrong...I want wins more than entertainment. If the Wolves become a bottom ten team in pace of play, but still win 55 games because of a vastly improved defense and development of our young players, I will be a happy guy. I'm just not convinced we can't have both improved defense and an up tempo offensive style.

[Coolbreeze44]

Good article...I have little doubt that Thibs/Rubio is a defensive match made in heaven. And since I favor that side of the game, that's a very good thing. Ricky's long arms and quick hands, lateral athleticism, instincts, consistent high level of effort and defensive smarts make him a defensive coach's dream.

Offense may be a different story, as I see potential conflicts in the way the two of them view offense. We all noticed a change in the Wolves pace of play the last 2 months of the season, and it resulted in a more entertaining product and also better results. Ricky's turnovers were up the last two months of the year, but the offense was still much improved. But now we have a head coach who has never finished out of the bottom 10 in pace of play, and mentions limiting turnovers every time he discusses his philosophy. There's a good chance Thibs will attempt to get Ricky to play more conservatively, and I'm not sure that is the right approach. Ricky is at his best offensively when he is confident and playing in a joyful manner, and I hope that Thibs recognizes that and loosens the reins.

Don't get me wrong...I want wins more than entertainment. If the Wolves become a bottom ten team in pace of play, but still win 55 games because of a vastly improved defense and development of our young players, I will be a happy guy. I'm just not convinced we can't have both improved defense and an up tempo offensive style.

Good points LST. I just don't think this team can win 55 games if we are in the bottom 10 of pace of play. That would really be limiting one of the major strengths we have that contributes to wins.

[Brooklyn_Wolves [enjin:14608167]]

Ricky Rubio recently spoke to ara.cat, a Barcelona based publication, stating that he spoke to Thibodeau. The rough google translation: "I am very glad that Tom Thibodeau, the new coach, knows basketball. I like a lot. Of the 30 minutes we speak, 25 were on defense. He knows that we are a team that likes to run," he said. "I want to bring the Wolves playoffs," he added.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Ricky Rubio recently spoke to ara.cat, a Barcelona based publication, stating that he spoke to Thibodeau. The rough google translation: "I am very glad that Tom Thibodeau, the new coach, knows basketball. I like a lot. Of the 30 minutes we speak, 25 were on defense. He knows that we are a team that likes to run," he said. "I want to bring the Wolves playoffs," he added.

Not sure what to make of that. We would hope that Thibs knows the Wolves are a team that likes to run. That doesn't mean he's going to encourage it...it goes against everything he has ever shown as a head coach, and he detests turnovers. Coaches can change to be sure, but based on his previous style and his consistent message since he's been hired, I don't think we should expect it. Ricky's words sound like wishful thinking to me (Please Coach Thibs...let us run!)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Ricky Rubio recently spoke to ara.cat, a Barcelona based publication, stating that he spoke to Thibodeau. The rough google translation: "I am very glad that Tom Thibodeau, the new coach, knows basketball. I like a lot. Of the 30 minutes we speak, 25 were on defense. He knows that we are a team that likes to run," he said. "I want to bring the Wolves playoffs," he added.

Not sure what to make of that. We would hope that Thibs knows the Wolves are a team that likes to run. That doesn't mean he's going to encourage it...it goes against everything he has ever shown as a head coach, and he detests turnovers. Coaches can change to be sure, but based on his previous style and his consistent message since he's been hired, I don't think we should expect it. Ricky's words sound like wishful thinking to me (Please Coach Thibs...let us run!)

This gets back to the prior thread on Thibs where I lamented no one ever pinning him down on reconciling his emphasis on defensive rebounding/limiting TOs with leveraging the strength of your existing players (which for us right now is playing with a high pace). I guess time will tell.

[Jester1534]

Ricky Rubio recently spoke to ara.cat, a Barcelona based publication, stating that he spoke to Thibodeau. The rough google translation: "I am very glad that Tom Thibodeau, the new coach, knows basketball. I like a lot. Of the 30 minutes we speak, 25 were on defense. He knows that we are a team that likes to run," he said. "I want to bring the Wolves playoffs," he added.

Not sure what to make of that. We would hope that Thibs knows the Wolves are a team that likes to run. That doesn't mean he's going to encourage it...it goes against everything he has ever shown as a head coach, and he detests turnovers. Coaches can change to be sure, but based on his previous style and his consistent message since he's been hired, I don't think we should expect it. Ricky's words sound like wishful thinking to me (Please Coach Thibs...let us run!)

Isn't the mark of a good coach is adapting to what your team does best? He said in the press conference that every team is different you need to play there strengths and weaknesses. Maybe those Bulls teams weren't equipped to run the floor. My example of coach who does adapt is
Pop 2 years ago he went to a very heavy 3 point emphasis and now with Aldrige, West and Duncan they play more of inside out game.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

It's worth mentioning that the majority of teams that are successful in the playoffs are half-court oriented. Good teams take away transition points first. It could be a good thing for this team to slow it down and know how to win in offensive sets instead of the current hero ball nonsense or demanding that Rubio create everything or just out athlete-ing other teams. We have some difference-making athletes, but they need to not rely on just that to win games. Look at the Nuggets under Karl and the Clippers before Redick got there. Two teams that could get to the post-season by running and running, but didn't accomplish shit in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Vogel-led Pacers, Thibs-led Bulls, Joerger-led Grizzlies have had success in the playoffs with their slower approach. We just happen to have more offensive talent than all of those teams did. I think we'll be fine.

[Monster]

Ricky Rubio recently spoke to ara.cat, a Barcelona based publication, stating that he spoke to Thibodeau. The rough google translation: "I am very glad that Tom Thibodeau, the new coach, knows basketball. I like a lot. Of the 30 minutes we speak, 25 were on defense. He knows that we are a team that likes to run," he said. "I want to bring the Wolves playoffs," he added.

Not sure what to make of that. We would hope that Thibs knows the Wolves are a team that likes to run. That doesn't mean he's going to encourage it...it goes against everything he has ever shown as a head coach, and he detests turnovers. Coaches can change to be sure, but based on his previous style and his consistent message since he's been hired, I don't think we should expect it. Ricky's words sound like wishful thinking to me (Please Coach Thibs...let us run!)

This gets back to the prior thread on Thibs where I lamented no one ever pinning him down on reconciling his emphasis on defensive rebounding/limiting TOs with leveraging the strength of your existing players (which for us right now is playing with a high pace). I guess time will tell.

Did you listen to Dan Berreiro when he had Thibs in studio?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Ricky Rubio recently spoke to ara.cat, a Barcelona based publication, stating that he spoke to Thibodeau. The rough google translation: "I am very glad that Tom Thibodeau, the new coach, knows basketball. I like a lot. Of the 30 minutes we speak, 25 were on defense. He knows that we are a team that likes to run," he said. "I want to bring the Wolves playoffs," he added.

Not sure what to make of that. We would hope that Thibs knows the Wolves are a team that likes to run. That doesn't mean he's going to encourage it...it goes against everything he has ever shown as a head coach, and he detests turnovers. Coaches can change to be sure, but based on his previous style and his consistent message since he's been hired, I don't think we should expect it. Ricky's words sound like wishful thinking to me (Please Coach Thibs...let us run!)

This gets back to the prior thread on Thibs where I lamented no one ever pinning him down on reconciling his emphasis on defensive rebounding/limiting TOs with leveraging the strength of your existing players (which for us right now is playing with a high pace). I guess time will tell.

Did you listen to Dan Berreiro when he had Thibs in studio?

No, did this issue come up?