Ryan Saunders Has Been Fired - Chris Finch Hired!!!

Baseline81 · Post #81 » by **Baseline81** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:56 am

Rookie-Mistake wrote:I ask you this.

Are we still on the tank?

The losses will still keep coming.. it's the same young list... We hit reset on the excuses... New system, new coach, injuries, no pre season.. bla bla bla...

Honestly, it's an interesting question.

I thought, based on the standings, Saunders was likely to remain until season's end. As a result, the tank would continue. However, by firing him at such an odd point, not quite midway, suggests Rosas is more concerned about turning this around than a pick in the upcoming draft.

What's telling is the multiyear contract to Finch. It's an indicator to Towns, I think. Going with an interim means there's no guarantee that person will stick, thus a waste to KAT. This path is more about laying the groundwork for next season.

Murphs56 · Post #82 » by **Murphs56** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:02 am

I really wanted to get behind the Rosas hiring but has anything he done far with the roster actually been a positive? I guess Beasley has turned into a nice player but other than that...

Post #83 » by **Klomp** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:06 am

Blake Murphy, Raptors beat writer: Finch comes with a long track record of improving offenses. He's consistently found ways to maximize star-oriented offenses, from James Harden to Zion Williamson. That makes him a logical consideration for a franchise with Towns, D'Angelo Russell and a No. 28-ranked offense. Want evidence of his impact on that end? Despite losing two centers, the Raptors have nudged from 13th to ninth in offensive rating this year and are scoring an additional two points per 100 half-court possessions.

https://theathletic.com/news/timberwolves-ryan-saunders-fired-chris-finch/vg9Nr4vE53xy

Post #84 » by **Klomp** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:07 am

Read on Twitter

Baseline81 · Post #85 » by **Baseline81** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:13 am

Klomp,

Here's the important piece from that link:

"He got the most out of his talent," Nurse once told The Athletic's Eric Koreen about Finch. "His teams played super hard. He played team basketball. And he won. He won."

This could not be said of Saunders.

TRik · Post #86 » by **TRik** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:35 am

Yup, Chris Finch is a good one. The Nick Nurse coaching tree is expanding. I'm stoked that the Wolves are getting him.

Sad day for Saunders, but it was time. Wolves are a young team that need an experienced coach. Saunders just always looked out of his element. This team is now 7 and 24, clearly this isn't one of the best rosters in the league, but a good experienced coach likely could have gotten more than 7 wins by now with the same players. Saunders will have a future in this league as an assistant for a while, and who knows, maybe he'll get another shot at head coaching again in a decade or two.

packforfreedom · Post #87 » by **packforfreedom** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:35 am

I am super happy Ryan is fired. He seems like a really nice person, but coaching an NBA team was clearly to much for him.
Now with Finch hire, I was kind of hoping to get a established coach in the offseason, so we make sure we don't get another puppet of Rosas on the bench. Don't know anything about Finch, but everybody seems to be high on him. Well he can't be worth than Ryan and I am looking forward to having an actual system on offensive.

Dan33185 · Post #88 » by **Dan33185** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:36 am

Murphs56 wrote:I really wanted to get behind the Rosas hiring but has anything he done far with the roster actually been a positive? I guess Beasley has turned into a nice player but other than that...

Naz, Vanderbilt, McDaniels, McLaughlin...none of them will probably become superstars, but they definitely are good finds in places where previous GM's wouldn't have.

Post #89 » by **Calinks** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:51 am

Read on Twitter

Touching anectdote. Of course, people are being douches in the comments.

Post #90 » by **Domejandro** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:21 am

Calinks wrote:I think mostly everything Ryan was doing was stuff Rosas dictated. I hope this new coach has his own say and I really hope this is the end of small ball.

The worst part of this for the wolves is that yet again we got another coach and yet again we have to relearn a system and a bunch of crap. No consistency with this damn squad. Glen should have let Rosas hire who he wanted from the start if this is the case, that's 2 years wasted.

It is no secret that Saunders would have preferred running more structured sets instead, which is kind of evidenced by his solid side-out action. Unfortunately analyzing play action is not sexy, so it isn't shocking that people pinned everything on Ryan.

As a coach, Finch is much more comfortable coordinating motion offenses, so I expect to see the Timberwolves improve because of this hiring. I genuinely hold the opinion that people blaming Ryan (who I criticized frequently) are more interested in scapegoating than acknowledging that Minnesota just isn't very good (particularly because of the amount of injuries), but it is what it is. Minnesota will likely be better off because of this coaching change, as unfortunate as the circumstances surrounding it are; just a shame that the team got nuked by injuries this season.

I am dripping with pretentiousness with this post, but some takes have been beyond unreasonable lately. Regardless, this coaching change should help alleviate that, it is a better hire for this team, almost certainly. I am happy, despite being crotchety.

wolves_89 · Post #91 » by **wolves_89** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:08 am

I feel bad for Saunders, but this was a move that had to be made. The only surprising thing was that the Wolves were able to hire what seems to be their first choice for new head coach during the season. I'm happy Rosas was brave enough to do this now rather than punting the second half of the season with a coach that was pretty obviously on the way out.

My number one wish going forward is that the coach will be allowed to implement offensive/defensive systems that fit the talent that's actually on the roster. It would be a huge step forward if the Wolves could actually maximize their players production, rather than forcing them to struggle in systems where they clearly don't fit well.

Dual · Post #92 » by **Dual** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:13 am

It was needed, but, if things stay the same about what type of basketball this team is going to play (Rosas bball), it will mean nothing.
I hope things change for real.

Post #93 » by **Domejandro** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:57 am

Finch is far better equipped to lead the offense Rosas wants to run, he will use Towns more aggressively.

Merc_Porto · Post #94 » by **Merc_Porto** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:05 am

Disgusting move. Typical by this franchise.
The first guy to be fired was the wrong one.
The responsible for this **** show is still in the control.

It's a matter of time until he get's fired thought. Hopefully with a new ownership along.

**** Rosas.

Rookie-Mistake · Post #95 » by **Rookie-Mistake** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am

Huh?

mercgold3 wrote:Disgusting move. Typical by this franchise.
The first guy to be fired was the wrong one.
The responsible for this **** show is still in the control.

It's a matter of time until he get's fired thought. Hopefully with a new ownership along.

**** Rosas.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using RealGM mobile app

TRik · Post #96 » by **TRik** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:34 am

Rookie-Mistake wrote:Huh?
mercgold3 wrote:Disgusting move. Typical by this franchise.
The first guy to be fired was the wrong one.
The responsible for this **** show is still in the control.

It's a matter of time until he get's fired thought. Hopefully with a new ownership along.

**** Rosas.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using RealGM mobile app

Ryan just letting his anger out on one of his ghost accounts. Let it out mate.

Jedzz · Post #97 » by **Jedzz** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 12:18 pm

NattaNerNutta wrote:I was really hoping that Cheryl Reeve would get a legit look for the job, at the end of the season. Or call San Antonio about Becky Hammon. WTF has Finch done to get the call, other than previously work with Gersson?

He's workd with Rosas before? Well, that splains all. He can continue his Vision of this glory. I was hoping for Becky Hammon as well, or someone of note that could lead from experience in winning game decisions. Find out next game I guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Jedzz · Post #98 » by **Jedzz** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 12:22 pm

TRik wrote:
Rookie-Mistake wrote:Huh?
mercgold3 wrote:Disgusting move. Typical by this franchise.
The first guy to be fired was the wrong one.
The responsible for this **** show is still in the control.

It's a matter of time until he get's fired thought. Hopefully with a new ownership along.

**** Rosas.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using RealGM mobile app

Ryan just letting his anger out on one of his ghost accounts. Let it out mate.

Who is this TRik with the Raptors logo that just started coming around anyway? Speaking of ghost accounts.

Jedzz · Post #99 » by **Jedzz** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 12:23 pm

Domejandro wrote:Finch is far better equipped to lead the offense Rosas wants to run, he will use Towns more aggressively.

You've spoken with him?

Jedzz · Post #100 » by **Jedzz** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 12:27 pm

wolves_89 wrote:I feel bad for Saunders, but this was a move that had to be made. The only surprising thing was that the Wolves were able to hire what seems to be their first choice for new head coach during the season. I'm happy Rosas was brave enough to do this now rather than punting the second half of the season with a coach that was pretty obviously on the way out.

My number one wish going forward is that the coach will be allowed to implement offensive/defensive systems that fit the talent that's actually on the roster. It would be a huge step forward if the Wolves could actually maximize their players production, rather than forcing them to struggle in systems where they clearly don't fit well.

That sounds like a great idea or something that's always been needed here, for endless years. However, Rosas still runs this show right? He's the one selecting players that didn't fit his system he was putting in place all this time. Have we not been talking about how Kat and Okogie were the only two left from previous regimes?