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McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:13 pm
by shrink
Its the NY papers, so take it with a grain of salt, but ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/sport ... basketball McHale accepted the change graciously, if unenthusiastically. Now, as unlikely as it seems, he may take up permanent residence in the coach’s office.
Despite a generally dismal season, Taylor has indicated that the job is McHale’s to keep, if he wants it. McHale, who generally disdains talking about himself, will not entertain the discussion publicly. But there is a sense that McHale is much more open to coaching than his curmudgeonly demeanor and curt answers would suggest.
In the past, McHale has bemoaned the hectic schedule required of coaches, particularly the travel. His players said they never hear the complaint, except from inquiring reporters.
“We heard that when he first came in,” point guard Sebastian Telfair said, “but he’s definitely putting the time in. We haven’t had much days off. I thought we’d have more days off for a guy that’s so laid-back,” he added with a chuckle.
The job of teacher and mentor suits McHale, who was a Hall of Fame forward for the Boston Celtics. Even as an executive, he could often be found on the Timberwolves’ practice court, passing on advice to young players and occasionally giving instruction to the big men.
“You feel that he wants you to do good,” Telfair said.
There is some evidence that he may even be a good head coach, the current record notwithstanding. McHale guided the team to a 19-12 record after replacing Saunders in 2005. The youthful Timberwolves had begun to thrive this season before Al Jefferson, their gifted power forward, sustained a season-ending knee injury Feb. 8.
The fans turned on McHale long ago, for failing to win with Garnett and for failing to keep him. But the mood is different in the locker room.
“Guys want him back, especially me,” Telfair said. “I feel when he came in, we started playing basketball the right way.”
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:52 pm
by Devilzsidewalk
good. I like McHale the coach.
come to think of it, I like McHale the GM as long as he keeps drafting the guys I want
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:20 pm
by archerdino
Devilzsidewalk wrote:good. I like McHale the coach.
come to think of it, I like McHale the GM as long as he keeps drafting the guys I want
You mean drafting them and keeping them instead of trading them away right after the draft rite
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:27 pm
by Devilzsidewalk
I guess I mean as long as he keeps drafting the guys I don't want, then waking up the next morning and seeing that he traded him for the guy I do. That was so sweet, I immediately opened up the curtains and kicked off a batch right there in the window so the whole world knew how good I was feelin
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:29 pm
by john2jer
Devilzsidewalk wrote:I guess I mean as long as he keeps drafting the guys I don't want, then waking up the next morning and seeing that he traded him for the guy I do. That was so sweet, I immediately opened up the curtains and kicked off a batch right there in the window so the whole world knew how good I was feelin
You baked cookies in front of an open window to show the world how happy you were?
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:36 pm
by Devilzsidewalk
john2jer wrote:Devilzsidewalk wrote:I guess I mean as long as he keeps drafting the guys I don't want, then waking up the next morning and seeing that he traded him for the guy I do. That was so sweet, I immediately opened up the curtains and kicked off a batch right there in the window so the whole world knew how good I was feelin
You baked cookies in front of an open window to show the world how happy you were?
Yes of course, what did you think I meant?
I LOVE cookies right away in the morning, especially after a marathon session of furious...hold on, phone's ringing
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:43 pm
by john2jer
Devilzsidewalk wrote:john2jer wrote:Devilzsidewalk wrote:I guess I mean as long as he keeps drafting the guys I don't want, then waking up the next morning and seeing that he traded him for the guy I do. That was so sweet, I immediately opened up the curtains and kicked off a batch right there in the window so the whole world knew how good I was feelin
You baked cookies in front of an open window to show the world how happy you were?
Yes of course, what did you think I meant?
I LOVE cookies right away in the morning, especially after a marathon session of furious...hold on, phone's ringing
Nothing better than a mouthful of warm cookie in the morning.
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:43 pm
by Devilzsidewalk
OVER THE LINE
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:47 pm
by john2jer
Does that mean I win?
In the spirit of Christmas, I of course meant give, not receive.
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:56 pm
by Devilzsidewalk
I'm afraid nobody wins today...nobody
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:05 pm
by john2jer
Devilzsidewalk wrote:I'm afraid nobody wins today...nobody
Not even the children?
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:24 pm
by casey
I think the assumption by pretty much everybody is that he'll be back next year.
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:30 pm
by C.lupus
^and I have no problem with that. For a young, rebuilding team with a couple good post talents, McHale is a good choice. As the team matures and becomes a playoff contender, they'll probably need to find a better Xs and Os guy to take them over the top, though.
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:31 pm
by john2jer
My thought is unless they have a homerun for a replacement, it's best to stick with McHale. No more recycled crap like Whitman.
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:56 pm
by shrink
C.lupus wrote:^and I have no problem with that. For a young, rebuilding team with a couple good post talents, McHale is a good choice. As the team matures and becomes a playoff contender, they'll probably need to find a better Xs and Os guy to take them over the top, though.
I agree with C.lupus. I actually didn't think he'd want to stay on as a coach, because travel is so hard on his back, and he wouldn't want to put in the long hours. This article makes it sound like he's OK with that. After all the January wins there was a wonderful attraction there, that I wasn't sure would survive when Al went down, and losses mounted for two months. However, it sounds like people are understanding this. If I has to blindly pick one guy on the team that could care less whether McHale would be back as coach, I'd have picked Telfair, but it sounds like I was wrong, and he's on board too.
I think McHale's strongest attribute is that he can motivate players, and in the interviews I've read with players, even with all the losses, their keeping their heads up. That's no small accomplishment with young players and lots of losses. Wittman certainly couldn't do it. If these guys are McHale's, and he can keep up the motivation and growth, I think he's a fine coach for where we are now. However, I don't think he's an X's and O's guy, and eventually as our team improves, we'll need to move in another direction. I hope they keep McHale around as a special assistant, to keep motivating and teaching.
Re: McHale May still coach?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:06 pm
by Calinks
Yep, unless we got a great coach lined up, stick with McHale. He's probably better than a lot of assistants out there and he sure as hell is 10 times better for a young team than Wittman.