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NBA News : Thibodeau New Timberwolves Head Coach 4/21
Not many events can steal the headlines of HRWager’s NBA News that is outside of the playoffs right now. This hiring certainly made eyebrows raise. Minnesota Timberwolves not only gave Tom Thibodeau the head coaching job but the reigns to the team. He also takes over as president of team operations. What will he bring to one of the most talented young teams in all of professional basketball?
NBA News : Minnesota Roots
First job ever in the league was his hire as an assistant with the Timberwolves in their initial season. He was just 27 years old and part of the Harvard Crimson staff when he came over. Since then, Tom steadily rose in the ranks of the league until he took over the Bulls as his most high profile job. He brought the Bulls to the brink just behind LeBron James’ dynasty of Miami in the east. The traits that propelled his team to their heights got him let go in the end of his run there.
System Does Work
Ironically, how he was most judged to be effective was by this year’s performance of the Bulls! 42-40 and out of the playoffs. Team refused to play defense under their new coach and just letting them shoot was a step backwards. His style of defensive basketball with the outwork the other team mantra produces at least regular season results. This does clash with the professional mindset of most players in the league. Look at Doug Collins in Chicago and David Blatt in Cleveland for examples of how the hard nosed approach works but can lose your players. This is the tight rope that he walks because resentment of working so much harder for your money than your co workers around the league sets in if continual progress is not made.
Five year or him that could be as high as $11 million per year. Scott Layden is the GM in Minnesota. Two pluses for Tom is that first he has worked with him before in their time at the Knicks. Secondly is that Thibodeau avoids the conflicts with the front office that got him canned in Chicago. Great move for everyone involved for a few years. Minnesota should be playoff ready next year. Thank you for being here at HRWager and we will have your free pick to profit by a little bit later this Thursday.
