Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

Minnesota Timberwolves 2020-21 season grades: Chris Finch

By Dylan Jackson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 13: Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks to a referee during a timeout in the third quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Target Center on April 13, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Nets defeated the Timberwolves 127-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 13: Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks to a referee during a timeout in the third quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Target Center on April 13, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Nets defeated the Timberwolves 127-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

When the Minnesota Timberwolves hired coach Chris Finch halfway through the season, things were looking relatively poor for the team in general. That quickly turned around.

Following an overall poor start to the NBA season under head coach Ryan Saunders, general manager Gersson Rosas decided to part with him, hiring Raptors assistant coach Chris Finch the very same night.

Originally met with skepticism, the hiring seemed pre-planned, as if things were already lined up beforehand, and many were wondering why then-assistant coach David Vanterpool was not hired as interim instead.

Minnesota Timberwolves season grades: Chris Finch

Finch had a rough start as head coach, but after the All-Star break, the Timberwolves had one of the most improved net ratings in the entire NBA, and Minnesota was 16-20 in their second half of the season following the All-Star break.

Finch was achieving something Saunders was unable to do – get the most out of the players on the roster through development and scheme. Since the All-Star Break, the Timberwolves were sixth in points per game – in part due to the development of Anthony Edwards towards the end of the season – averaging 26 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 51/39/74 splits over the course of the last ten games of the season.

While Chris Finch seemingly wasn’t perfect (there were some questionable rotation decisions, as well as the defense regressing in the final parts of the season), he did enough to the point where you know he is an NBA caliber coach – and almost certainly better than the previous one.

Ryan Saunders deserves an assistant coaching job on an NBA staff – that much is known – but it simply did not work out in Minnesota. The Timberwolves found a coach that should be good for years to come, and it will be exciting to see what he does with a full NBA offseason.

Chris Finch season grade: B

There was undoubtedly progression throughout the season under Chris Finch. While he was not perfect, there is much to dissect about his first half-season as Timberwolves coach.

Home/Timberwolves News