New Head Coach Thread

[m2002brian]

I've seen this sentiment quite a bit and my question is: How the hell are you (in general, not specifically) a Wolves fan? Championships are not (yet) in the nature of the beast.

Because I don’t have an uncritical satisfaction with their achievements.

I can be a fan and have hope and belief, and when they fall short I can be critical and unsatisfied in ways that’s are constructive.

Of coarse as a wolves fans we have endured many losing and lost seasons, and of coarse there are different goals in those seasons. Player development, just get to the playoffs.

When you are in the final 4 of the nba, it’s championship or bust. There is no satisfaction being runner up in the western conference. Of coarse we can always try our best to remain positive and find the silver linings and that’s all good for not drowning in sorrow. At the end of the day, we had a shot, a real shot, and maybe we lost to the better team, but better teams have been beat before. From coaching to player execution to brining the right energy we failed, and that is why we lost, not because of anything special okc did. “They are who we thought they were and we let them off the hook”

Just to clarify here, you and baseline are happy that the wolves made it this far, but want a championship. Is that your position?
If it is, that I can get behind, but it seems to me (and this is the bad part of internet conversations, no nuance) that you guys want to tear it all down and start over again with a hall of fame coach. That may just me reading too much into it.
Thanks.

That’s probably reading too far into it. I am grateful for how far we’ve come. Quite obviously I remember the dark ages of no playoffs at all. That said, if, IF a known high iq, high profile coach became available, one known for maximizing his teams talent and making high value in game decisions; why wouldn’t that be something to consider.

[frankenwolf]

Because I don’t have an uncritical satisfaction with their achievements.

I can be a fan and have hope and belief, and when they fall short I can be critical and unsatisfied in ways that’s are constructive.

Of coarse as a wolves fans we have endured many losing and lost seasons, and of coarse there are different goals in those seasons. Player development, just get to the playoffs.

When you are in the final 4 of the nba, it’s championship or bust. There is no satisfaction being runner up in the western conference. Of coarse we can always try our best to remain positive and find the silver linings and that’s all good for not drowning in sorrow. At the end of the day, we had a shot, a real shot, and maybe we lost to the better team, but better teams have been beat before. From coaching to player execution to brining the right energy we failed, and that is why we lost, not because of anything special okc did. “They are who we thought they were and we let them off the hook”

Just to clarify here, you and baseline are happy that the wolves made it this far, but want a championship. Is that your position?
If it is, that I can get behind, but it seems to me (and this is the bad part of internet conversations, no nuance) that you guys want to tear it all down and start over again with a hall of fame coach. That may just me reading too much into it.
Thanks.

That’s probably reading too far into it. I am grateful for how far we’ve come. Quite obviously I remember the dark ages of no playoffs at all. That said, if, IF a known high iq, high profile coach became available, one known for maximizing his teams talent and making high value in game decisions; why wouldn’t that be something to consider.

Oh, it definitely would. However, are we willing to wait for one to become available or trust that Finch can continue to learn from his experiences? Or are you all in on firing Finch and taking a gamble on an unknown?

[Klomp]

Sleeping on it, I don't expect a coaching change this offseason.

[Slim Tubby]

I still want Finch

Why? Not being argumentative, just curious.

He’s (to me at least) a very capable regular season coach but we need a coach that can take us the that next level in the playoffs.

One of my favorite posters...we need to see you around here more often!

I would "argue" that what we actually need is a better overall roster and further player development/maturation to get to the next level, not a different coach.

I'm not a Finch apologist but what he did this year to get this team to the WCF again deserves a raise, not termination. Hell...kicking the Lakers in the face should get him an extension all by itself.

Finchie has flaws, no doubt, but the grass is not always greener. If I'm Connelly, I'm focused on the roster and not the coach. Finch gets a lot of respect from the GB and those guys hate Santa Claus.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

[Neeva]

I still want Finch

Why? Not being argumentative, just curious.

He’s (to me at least) a very capable regular season coach but we need a coach that can take us the that next level in the playoffs.

Two straight times to the Western Conference Finals isn’t “the next level?” For the freakin’ Timberwolves?

26 other coaches did worse. Do 28 coaches need to be fired, or 29?

I am glad I am NOT from minnesota and have this mindset that middling or coming close is good ENOUGH for them, because it’s lowly Minnesota.

Finch is a mid coach, Ant deserves better. His coaching is not the reason they reached the west finals two straight years his coaching is the reason they were badly destroyed in the finals because he was badly outcoached!

[Note30]

Why? Not being argumentative, just curious.

He’s (to me at least) a very capable regular season coach but we need a coach that can take us the that next level in the playoffs.

Two straight times to the Western Conference Finals isn’t “the next level?” For the freakin’ Timberwolves?

26 other coaches did worse. Do 28 coaches need to be fired, or 29?

I am glad I am NOT from minnesota and have this mindset that middling or coming close is good ENOUGH for them, because it’s lowly Minnesota.

Finch is a mid coach, Ant deserves better. His coaching is not the reason they reached the west finals two straight years his coaching is the reason they were badly destroyed in the finals because he was badly outcoached!

Who is this magic coach that is way better? You can't just say we need a better coach and not have any ideas.

IMO this team overperfomed this year. The talent on this team is pretty w.e. after Ant.

[BlacJacMac]

How freaking spoiled have fans of this franchise become?

We had made it out of the first round one time in our history before last year.

Then last year we hear that KAT and Gobert can not work together and everyone thought we'd lose in R1. And then no way could we knock off the defending champs.

This year according to most we made a horrible trade right before the start of the season. People picked us to miss the Playoffs. No way could Randle help a team in the postseason.

Back to back WCFs and people can't wait to get rid of the guy. We played this year with half of an old PG and nothing else. Our back-up C is 6'9, 230 pounds and plays like a SF.

Final 4 two straight years with a roster no one thought had a chance to contend. Until we lost. Then it was a coach holding back an incredible roster.

Our two most important players and cornerstones are 23 and 24 years old. They're surrounded by an "Island of Misfit Toys".

[KGdaBom]

Why? Not being argumentative, just curious.

He’s (to me at least) a very capable regular season coach but we need a coach that can take us the that next level in the playoffs.

Winning 4 playoff series in the last two seasons would probably be considered pretty good playoff success. Maybe there’s someone out there better, but this has been a very successful run.

Not only a very good PO success, the best two years of the team history.

The real question for me is what's the point of this thread when we have the Fire Finch one...

It's IMO incredibly lame that we have this thread. This should only be a thread if and when Finch has already been fired.

[Dewey]

Generally speaking it’s a players game … Finch is not the reason they lost.

Did Finch help the cause? Not really.

Did the players seem ready to play? Not really.

The performance of Ant and Randle was simply inexcuseable in game 4…. It’s on them.

Randle will be gone along with others

[Baseline81]

How freaking spoiled have fans of this franchise become?

We had made it out of the first round one time in our history before last year.

Then last year we hear that KAT and Gobert can not work together and everyone thought we'd lose in R1. And then no way could we knock off the defending champs.

This year according to most we made a horrible trade right before the start of the season. People picked us to miss the Playoffs. No way could Randle help a team in the postseason.

Back to back WCFs and people can't wait to get rid of the guy. We played this year with half of an old PG and nothing else. Our back-up C is 6'9, 230 pounds and plays like a SF.

Final 4 two straight years with a roster no one thought had a chance to contend. Until we lost. Then it was a coach holding back an incredible roster.

Our two most important players and cornerstones are 23 and 24 years old. They're surrounded by an "Island of Misfit Toys".

What a load of bullocks.

First underline, who picked us to miss the playoffs? Even I, as someone who didn't like the KAT trade and want to see the team and Finch part ways, figured they would, at the very least, make the play-in game as their path into the playoffs. I think most thought we would take a step back.

Second underline, if the Wolves never win a title with Edwards, we'll look back on this time and think what if. Because you don't often get a talent as good as Edwards, arguably our best in franchise history (either him or Garnett).

Third underline, there was a thread on whether those who want Finch fired would actively cheer for the Wolves to lose in the first round. I believe the result was once we made the playoffs, each of us wanted the team go as far as it could.

[Worm Guts]

Second underline, if the Wolves never win a title with Edwards, we'll look back on this time and think what if. Because you don't often get a talent as good as Edwards, arguably our best in franchise history (either him or Garnett).

I don’t know, when KG was at his best he was clearly in the top 2-3 players in the league. Edwards is great but he’s also still the 2nd tier of the league. Jokic, Giannis, SGA are all clearly a tier above him. He still hasn’t reached his prime but he’s not yet a guy who automatically gets a team in the championship discussion.

[Neeva]

Two straight times to the Western Conference Finals isn’t “the next level?” For the freakin’ Timberwolves?

26 other coaches did worse. Do 28 coaches need to be fired, or 29?

I am glad I am NOT from minnesota and have this mindset that middling or coming close is good ENOUGH for them, because it’s lowly Minnesota.

Finch is a mid coach, Ant deserves better. His coaching is not the reason they reached the west finals two straight years his coaching is the reason they were badly destroyed in the finals because he was badly outcoached!

Who is this magic coach that is way better? You can't just say we need a better coach and not have any ideas.

IMO this team overperfomed this year. The talent on this team is pretty w.e. after Ant.

They were a 6 seed they got lucky with playoff matchups lets be real!

[Worm Guts]

I am glad I am NOT from minnesota and have this mindset that middling or coming close is good ENOUGH for them, because it’s lowly Minnesota.

Finch is a mid coach, Ant deserves better. His coaching is not the reason they reached the west finals two straight years his coaching is the reason they were badly destroyed in the finals because he was badly outcoached!

Who is this magic coach that is way better? You can't just say we need a better coach and not have any ideas.

IMO this team overperfomed this year. The talent on this team is pretty w.e. after Ant.

They were a 6 seed they got lucky with playoff matchups lets be real!

Meh, I think the Wolves could have been competitive with anyone who wasn’t OKC. I guess they got lucky they didn’t play them earlier.

[Neeva]

Who is this magic coach that is way better? You can't just say we need a better coach and not have any ideas.

IMO this team overperfomed this year. The talent on this team is pretty w.e. after Ant.

They were a 6 seed they got lucky with playoff matchups lets be real!

Meh, I think the Wolves could have been competitive with anyone who wasn’t OKC. I guess they got lucky they didn’t play them earlier.

Well they should have been the second seed. i said this all along, I am tired of finch coached teams losing to lottery teams and teams missing their best players in the regular season to end up with a lower seed. Also tired of them being embarrassed and OUTCOACHED badly when they reach the finals. Time for a change!

[Note30]

They were a 6 seed they got lucky with playoff matchups lets be real!

Meh, I think the Wolves could have been competitive with anyone who wasn’t OKC. I guess they got lucky they didn’t play them earlier.

Well they should have been the second seed. i said this all along, I am tired of finch coached teams losing to lottery teams and teams missing their best players in the regular season to end up with a lower seed. Also tired of them being embarrassed and OUTCOACHED badly when they reach the finals. Time for a change!

So were they a lowly 6th seed that overperfomed against matchups or a second seed that underperformed against lower seeds in the playoffs? You can't have it both ways.

Our talent is not 2nd seed level. We don't even have an answer at PG nor is our wings outside of Ant capable of doing well with the ball.

So I repeat who is this magic coach?

[BlacJacMac]

Meh, I think the Wolves could have been competitive with anyone who wasn’t OKC. I guess they got lucky they didn’t play them earlier.

Well they should have been the second seed. i said this all along, I am tired of finch coached teams losing to lottery teams and teams missing their best players in the regular season to end up with a lower seed. Also tired of them being embarrassed and OUTCOACHED badly when they reach the finals. Time for a change!

So were they a lowly 6th seed that overperfomed against matchups or a second seed that underperformed against lower seeds in the playoffs? You can't have it both ways.

Our talent is not 2nd seed level. We don't even have an answer at PG nor is our wings outside of Ant capable of doing well with the ball.

So I repeat who is this magic coach?

If Spoelstra, Carlisle or probably Lue were available, then sure. Pull the trigger.

Otherwise I'm not sure who is a legit upgrade. Maybe Malone for a few years?

I'm not sure there are more than 2 or 3 coaches that truly move the needle. Guys I thought were a huge cut above: Daigneault, Mazzulla, Udoka and Atkinson all made a number of moves that I believe cost their teams playoff games.

[Note30]

Well they should have been the second seed. i said this all along, I am tired of finch coached teams losing to lottery teams and teams missing their best players in the regular season to end up with a lower seed. Also tired of them being embarrassed and OUTCOACHED badly when they reach the finals. Time for a change!

So were they a lowly 6th seed that overperfomed against matchups or a second seed that underperformed against lower seeds in the playoffs? You can't have it both ways.

Our talent is not 2nd seed level. We don't even have an answer at PG nor is our wings outside of Ant capable of doing well with the ball.

So I repeat who is this magic coach?

If Spoelstra, Carlisle or probably Lue were available, then sure. Pull the trigger.

Otherwise I'm not sure who is a legit upgrade. Maybe Malone for a few years?

I'm not sure there are more than 2 or 3 coaches that truly move the needle. Guys I thought were a huge cut above: Daigneault, Mazzulla, Udoka and Atkinson all made a number of moves that I believe cost their teams playoff games.

I'd take Lue off that list. Malone is definitely not on that list.

So you got two coaches who are unquestionably good. That's not a huge list. unless there are some college coaches who are just absolutely cutting edge and have some system that's unheard of this team already has a decent enough coach. It needs better players.

[Note30]

Winning 4 playoff series in the last two seasons would probably be considered pretty good playoff success. Maybe there’s someone out there better, but this has been a very successful run.

Not only a very good PO success, the best two years of the team history.

The real question for me is what's the point of this thread when we have the Fire Finch one...

It's IMO incredibly lame that we have this thread. This should only be a thread if and when Finch has already been fired.

But also there isn't really a clear answer for who can run this place better. If we were getting 2012 Gregg Pop then fine run it, but that's not happening.

[KGdaBom]

Second underline, if the Wolves never win a title with Edwards, we'll look back on this time and think what if. Because you don't often get a talent as good as Edwards, arguably our best in franchise history (either him or Garnett).

I don’t know, when KG was at his best he was clearly in the top 2-3 players in the league. Edwards is great but he’s also still the 2nd tier of the league. Jokic, Giannis, SGA are all clearly a tier above him. He still hasn’t reached his prime but he’s not yet a guy who automatically gets a team in the championship discussion.

People are desperate for a title and IMO are overrating ANT. He's great. Definitely a top 10 player, but KG was the best player in the league for a couple seasons. Got one MVP and robbed of another.

[Baseline81]

I don’t know, when KG was at his best he was clearly in the top 2-3 players in the league. Edwards is great but he’s also still the 2nd tier of the league. Jokic, Giannis, SGA are all clearly a tier above him. He still hasn’t reached his prime but he’s not yet a guy who automatically gets a team in the championship discussion.

Please note I used the words "arguably" and "either... or". Hard to be certain as Edwards already holds a few franchise records as well as leading the team to two WCF, something Garnett was never capable of doing. Obviously, I am aware of Garnett's MVP season as well as his other achievements.