It was a “rough” film session for the Timberwolves on Thursday following their Game 1 loss to Dallas, head coach Chris Finch told reporters, including Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Finch, who spoke post-game about the team’s lack of composure and disappointing performance in clutch moments, was even harsher when he revisited the Game 1 loss a day later.
“I told the guys, ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve been this disappointed in your effort. Your performance, your attitude, your application and attention to detail just wasn’t there,'” Finch said. “The Western Conference finals started. Not sure if they got the memo. But they got it this afternoon.”
According to McMenamin, one team source said Thursday’s session was “about as fired up as he’s ever seen Finch.” The coach’s goal, the source explained, was to encourage his team to recognize what a rare opportunity it is to play in the conference finals and to urge them to increase their urgency and capitalize on that opportunity.
Finch also pointed out that the team’s three home losses in the postseason – Games 3 and 4 vs. Denver and Game 1 vs. Dallas – came after longer-than-usual layoffs, and with the Wolves coming off of big wins.
“I said to our guys, ‘We’re 3-3 at home, and we’ve had two kind of similar performances coming off stints of success,'” Finch said. “There’s a lot of ways immaturity kind of rears its head, and this might be one of them. But they’ve got our attention now, so there’s no reason for us to be feeling ourselves.”
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- While four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert gets much of the credit for leading the Timberwolves‘ top-ranked defense, assistant coach Elston Turner is a key under-the-radar contributor as the coordinator of that unit, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. Describing the dynamic between Gobert and Turner, Finch took a moment to come up with an appropriate analogy. “Like divorced parents trying to co-parent,” the head coach said with a laugh. “A healthy co-parent. My only caveat to that is they’re not divorced. They’re on the same team.”
- While there are still holes on the roster, Rylan Stiles of SI.com contends that the Thunder can afford to use the No. 12 overall pick in next month’s draft to take a shot on a higher-upside prospect who may be a year or two away from contributing rather than trying to find a win-now player who addresses a current need on the roster.
- In a separate story for SI.com, Stiles wonders if the Thunder should take advantage of their window before paying Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander big raises by taking a swing on a veteran star who is owed significant money for the next couple seasons but who may not stay on the books beyond that.
- Raequan Battle (West Virginia), Adem Bona (UCLA), Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State), Ugonna Onyenso (Kentucky), Will Richard (Florida), and Jaylon Tyson (California) participated in a pre-draft workout for the Trail Blazers on Thursday, tweets Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report. None of those prospects is likely to receive consideration with Portland’s lottery picks (No. 7 and No. 14), but some could end up as second-round or undrafted free agent targets.
The Thunder can take either approach… They have a lot of building blocks… Whatever move they make needs to be as a complimentary player to their current stars…
Just not Durant….so tired of hearing that one. Don’t want or need him back.
By making his second All NBA team Shai is Now eligible to sign a 4 year $294.26MM extension next off season. That’s somewhere around $80MM in the final season. Good for him and I’m all far players getting their bags but that is an insane number!
NBA is hedging their bets that expansion and NBC will propel them to into the future. Teams have a lot invested right now. If the NBC transition tanks viewership because they lock games behind pay walls, things can go south very quickly.
If I’m OKC I throw a really nice 2 year deal at Klay.
2 years 50 mil with bonuses potentially going to 56 mil or something.
He gives you a nice 3 and D wing with some experience, which would slot in great to what they already have.
After that, I think you need a more experienced centre to back up Chet aswell. A real glass cleaning, rim protector so maybe you could play some twin towers minutes with Chet at the 4 in the same way KAT plays the 4 with Gobert. Doesn’t need to big a big minutes player just locker room presence and an occasional 10/15 mins. Maybe a JaVale McGee, Tristan Thompson, Dwight Howard or Derrick Favours.
Would also go along way in helping the development of Chet.
After that you’ve got pick 12 in the draft which should get you someone useful even if it’s just to sit and develop. Lots of people have Maya’s Buzelis falling down, he had a poor g league year but he’s also got a really high ceiling if you can develop him. Cody Williams is JDubs brother and has a real similar 3 and D skill set. Even a guy like Kyle Filipowski, big ceiling and potential to play twin towers with Chet. Two 7 footers that can shoot the 3, protect the rim and rebound wouldn’t be crazy
Klay looked cooked, he isn’t leaving California and would only go to some nice weather area.
Need bigger bodies to help rebound and defend paint.
None of those old bigs play, they had Bismack and Muscala. No difference between any of those big guys.
I think the OKC need a bigger, stronger body at the 5-spot that would help improve their rebounding, a Jarret Allen type. Capela is def available, and I think he’s exactly what they need. I don’t think they need another scorer. Have Capela at the C, Chet to PF, Williams at SF, Dortz at SG, and SGA at PG.
Then just an improved bench, bring in some vets that are playoff-tested. I think all this team needs to do is tinker on the edges and get playoff experience.
link to youtu.be
This guy is growing on me. Great size at the three. He’s young still a high ceiling imo. His dad was a baller in Europe. So he knows the gm, fundamentals. Top three pick. Give him 3-4 yrs.
Pistons should trade up for Knecht. He’s older and is ready now. Going to be a scorer. Solid team guy. Won’t be there at 5 for them.