Apr 13, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor presents head coach Rick Adelman with a signed plaque honoring Adelman

So what is good enough for an NBA coach anymore? In the never ending coaching carousel that has become the 2013 NBA off season, a question has come to mind. If Rick Adelman chose not to come back in 2013-2014, who would be the best fit to fill what would be a tough coach to replace?

George Karl is out there, so is Lionel Hollins. Alvin Gentry or maybe even Vinny Del Negro. Those are just some of the coaches with experience. There is even Byron Scott, who somehow keeps getting mentioned for head coaching positions.

That’s if you feel like the best coach is an established one. There is really 2 ways that this could go, hire the proven coach that has been in the seat before, or go a new direction and pick the coach that has yet to get his chance.

Jacque Vaugh has been solid in Orlando, Mike Budenholzer will get his chance starting next season, after sitting next to Gregg Popovich. Tom Thibodeau just needed a chance in Chicago, and that has turned out pretty good. Scotty Brooks has proven to be a great choice in Oklahoma.

The Wolves have tried their fair share of coaches with no experience, Sidney Lowe, Bill Blair only had 6 games experience before the Wolves gave him the head coaching duties. Dwane Casey got his first head coaching job in Minneapolis. Kurt Rambis only had 37 games under his belt before being given the reigns. Kurt wasn’t the only player turned coach to get their first gig, Kevin McHale also called the plays for almost 1 full season over 2 years. The most famous of the no previous experience coaches for the Wolves is Flip Saunders. He had no NBA head coaching experience before the Wolves gave him a chance, and now he is still the all-time winningest coach in the team’s history.

Rick Adelman has more experience than any other Wolves coach had. The team was drastically different this past season when he was on the sideline, and when he wasn’t. That is experience, knowing when substitutions need to be made and being able to read matchups. Adelman hasn’t had the best 2 seasons as the Wolves skipper. The first season was in the lock out shorten year, and, well last season the team was devastated with injury. This season will be a telling year, the majority of the Wolves roster will be back, and this is going to be the 3^rd year of the same coach and the same offense in place.

The problem with Timberwolves coaching situation is that Rick was iffy about coming back this season. After 22 seasons and over 1800 career games coached, the end of what has been an incredible coaching career is close to being done. So Wolves fans, when Rick decides to call it quits, who is the coach you would like to see take this roster with immense potential over? Do you want to stay with a proven commodity, or go with the unknown, and try to land the next big thing?

Apr 17, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AT

The Wolves end on a high note. In what can only be considered an extremely disappointing season for the Timberwolves, they closed out the 2012-2013 regular season with a 108-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night ending a 16 game losing streak in The Alamo Dome. This is also the first time the Wolves have won a season finale since the 2008 season.

The Wolves went into halftime trailing by 6, 61-56. The Wolves came out in the 2^nd half hitting their shots and outscored the Spurs 52-34. The Wolves took the lead at the 6:50 mark in the 3^rd quarter and never looked back.

The Wolves erupted for a 41% 3 point shooting performance. They also forced the Spurs into 18 turnovers while committing 12.  The Wolves got a very efficient offensive performance from Derrick Williams, who finished 7-15 for 21 points. Even with Nikola Pekovic out for the season finale, the Wolves out rebounded the Spurs 45-40.

The Wolves had 6 players in double figures, Chase Budinger netted 15 points while Greg Stiemsma and Ricky Rubio each finished with 12 points. JJ Berea and Dante Cunningham each had 10.

The Spurs, the 2 seed in the West, opted to sit their starters and Manu Ginobili in the second quarter.  The best thing on the night for the Spurs was seeing Manu on the floor before the first round of the playoffs.

As I’ve heard John Gordon say many times, “that is all, that is all. There is no more. For all of you listening and I know there are many. That is all, that is all.”  Thank you Wolves fans.