Is the clock ticking on Timberwolves HC Chris Finch?
By Bret Stuter
Is it the race car, or the driver?
Need more proof? If the NBA values its regular season competition, why not award the top-seeded teams a BYE? That’s right, expand the NBA Playoffs to nine teams, and let the top-seeded team bump to Round 2 automatically. Right now, the only true advantage afforded to the best NBA teams is the chance to compete against the lowest-rated teams in the NBA Playoffs. Perhaps it’s time to revisit that method.
How well have these now-pilotless NBA teams performed in the recent past? Pretty well, it seems. In fact, the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks have been darned near the best of the best in the past two NBA seasons. So far, the Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t achieved that level of success under head coach Chris Finch, yet.
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What do I mean? Here was a fun observation noted on Twitter recently:
Here's an amazing stat imo. The Bucks and Suns both made the NBA Finals in 2021. In the two years since then, the Bucks and Suns have tied with each other for the best record in the league during that span, at 109-55. And now both teams have fired their coach. Wild. pic.twitter.com/kUxjLdmATI
— Velodus (@velodus) May 14, 2023
But all of this is a bit analog so far. It’s a measure of the coach’s effectiveness based on the W-L record of the team. What do I mean? Well, let’s think about it this way. Think of a race, and the question is whether or not a racing team has the best driver behind the steering wheel. After all, the driver merely operates the vehicle, he doesn’t build it.
Such is the same with NBA coaches. They may have some input, but they don’t build their team roster. The GM or President of Basketball Operations does that. The NBA head coach is merely tasked with steering the team to the finish line.