Timberwolves’ Chris Finch aims to turn good into great with talented roster:
My hopes usually never go doing easy and back in October 2022 I read the following post:
That led me to think up and write on the following:
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been through their fair share of growing pains over the past few seasons. From high draft picks that haven’t panned out to coaching changes, the team has struggled to find success on the court. However, the arrival of Chris Finch as head coach midway through last season brought some stability and hope to the franchise.
Finch inherited a team that was 7-24 at the time of his hiring, and while he couldn’t completely turn things around, he did help the team play better and improve their record to 16-25. The Timberwolves played with more effort and energy under Finch, and he showed an ability to get the most out of his players despite the team’s talent limitations.
Now, with a roster that is stacked with rotation-quality players, Finch faces a new challenge: turning good into great. He must find the right formula to make Minnesota’s talented, deep roster work and maximize its output. This means figuring out who will play and how many minutes they will receive, as well as what combinations and lineups will work best.
The addition of Rudy Gobert adds an interesting wrinkle to the equation, as Finch must find a way to make the Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns pairing a matchup advantage on a nightly basis rather than the opposite. Finch is incorporating multiple defensive schemes in practice that they’ll interchange depending on who is on the floor.
Optionality and versatility raise a team’s ceiling, but it’s on the coach to push the right buttons at the right time to allow everything to come together. Finch has shown an ability to do this in the past, but this season will be different. The game plans will be more intricate, and he must find the right combination of concepts and plays that can accentuate the talents of his players.
The success of the Timberwolves this season will depend on how well Finch can navigate these challenges. He believes he’s up for the task, and the team has faith in him as well. Finch’s ability to turn the Timberwolves from losers to winners in a short amount of time has earned him adoration from fans and respect from his peers. If he can continue to build on that success and turn good into great, he could cement his status as one of the NBA’s top coaches.
As the Timberwolves aim to turn good into great under Chris Finch’s leadership, the coach’s poise will be put to the test. As mentioned earlier, poise is the possession of confidence and preparation executed in a controlled manner. This is a key characteristic of championship cultures.
The Timberwolves, like many young teams, have experienced their fair share of growing pains. Last season, they showed flashes of potential, but ultimately fell short of making the playoffs. This season, the expectations are higher with the addition of Rudy Gobert to the frontcourt and a deeper, more talented roster overall.
To succeed, the Timberwolves will need to develop a championship culture, and that starts with their coach. As Finch noted, intricate game plans and finding the right combinations of concepts, plays, and sets are crucial in maximizing a team’s talents. But it’s also about staying composed in high-pressure situations and executing with precision.
Finch’s ability to instill poise in his team will be a critical factor in their success. He will need to keep his players focused and disciplined, even when facing adversity. This is where his experience as an assistant coach with championship-caliber teams like the Rockets and Nuggets will be valuable.
But poise isn’t just about staying calm under pressure; it’s also about having a strong foundation built on preparation and planning. This is where the POISE method that Finch has developed can come in handy. By planning, organizing, identifying, specifying, and executing with precision, Finch can ensure that his team is fully prepared for every game and every situation.
Ultimately, the Timberwolves’ success will come down to whether they can turn their potential into results. With a coach like Chris Finch leading the way, they have the potential to do just that. If Finch can instill a championship culture built on poise, preparation, and precision, the Timberwolves could be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
If you are interested in more key insight on POISE and Championship Culture and the Mental aspect of the game, I soon will be doing a masterclass that covers most points for any one that has interest in it. More on that on Ubuntu Basketball!
