Westphal v. Rambis

[AriesMar27]

So how come Rambis has been unable to get other players to step up in the absence of Rubio and Love? Westphal has Kenny Fricking Thomas motivated!

You honestly believe that Rubio is a future all-star? Haha, that's funny.

he who shall remain nameless is that dude... kenny thomas is in a contract year and if he werent he wouldnt seem like a very productive player...

minny not having love is like us not having thompson... love is better than thompson... not by much but he is a better player. that alone makes a huge difference. we are missing a one dimensional sg and a back up sf. they are missing their starting pg and pf.... and had a harder schedule and a less talented roster.... its not their coach. the nets and hornets are a different story...

 

[Kingster]

I have no idea about Rambis. Haven't watched the games. But Westphal is obviously a good coach who appears to be a very smart customer on how he manipulates (in a good way) this team. Because of the way he substitutes, no player can rest on his laurels. And again, because of the way he substitutes, every player is invested and involved with this team. It's an elegant strategy for a young team. That said, when Petrie added tough young players to this squad, it made Westphal's life a lot easier. And maybe even Kevin going out with injury made his life easier in terms of establishing this culture of toughness. After all, it's hard to establish that culture when the best player of the last few years is a softie and he demands the most minutes because of his status. (Yes, it would have probably have been done even with Kevin, but it might have been more difficult.) Now, the culture has been cemented in place.

 

[Prince_XY]

I have no idea about Rambis. Haven't watched the games. But Westphal is obviously a good coach who appears to be a very smart customer on how he manipulates (in a good way) this team. Because of the way he substitutes, no player can rest on his laurels. And again, because of the way he substitutes, every player is invested and involved with this team. It's an elegant strategy for a young team. That said, when Petrie added tough young players to this squad, it made Westphal's life a lot easier. And maybe even Kevin going out with injury made his life easier in terms of establishing this culture of toughness. After all, it's hard to establish that culture when the best player of the last few years is a softie and he demands the most minutes because of his status. (Yes, it would have probably have been done even with Kevin, but it might have been more difficult.) Now, the culture has been cemented in place.

I hope you are right. But knowing there is a possibility that we might trade our veteran leader in toughness ( Nocioni ) too soon, and Martin, Hawes, and Beno ( who really were still sucking in defense if you'll just review the games they played ) will probably be getting starter minutes, then there is still the possibility we revert back to being soft again.

Martin, Hawes, and Beno together and getting starter minutes might mean reinfecting the team again with the soft defense we're known for.

I hope you are right and what I fear does not happen

 

[USNAVY15]

Westphal has exceeded my expectations. He doesn't care about anything but putting on a good show in winning fashion. I can't complain when he plays Omri and Brockman and we win. Good show.

 

[Kingster]

I hope you are right. But knowing there is a possibility that we might trade our veteran leader in toughness ( Nocioni ) too soon, and Martin, Hawes, and Beno ( who really were still sucking in defense if you'll just review the games they played ) will probably be getting starter minutes, then there is still the possibility we revert back to being soft again.

Martin, Hawes, and Beno together and getting starter minutes might mean reinfecting the team again with the soft defense we're known for.

I hope you are right and what I fear does not happen

I think if we do a trade, we'll be getting back a player who is tough. After the brutal beating that Petrie (and we) endured last year, in large measure due to softness, Petrie isn't about to revert to softness. Until I see otherwise, last year was a watershed for Petrie, a scarring torturous experience that he will never care revisit.

 

[CruzDude]

At first when Westphal was hired my only concern, and a big one, was he had not been a head coach for 10 years. My thought at the time was could he be rusty to the point he didn't start being a good head coach for half the year or more? Somehow Rambis was never on the top of my preferred coach list. But then again neither was Westphal as I did not even think of him.

But again GP is the near genius we have seen over the years. Westphal comes from that group of coaches who all played at the same time in the 70's and early 80's: Adelman, D'Antoni, Saunders, Sloan, Popovich, etc. All good coaches.

Bottom line, I didn't have a clue and had no list of hopeful coaches. In Petrie I trust.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

i dont know if anyone remembers my personal view on rambis.... but in case you forgot...

Rambis is a done nothing over rated piece of.... that has been lucky to ride the Kobe/Shaq train for all its worth... i dont care if he played for the Kings hes laker trash... overrated at its highest

(side note) he might be a nice/good guy however after he didn't get this job it seemed like he was a little baby about it and cried to the media

I don't think this is completely fair. He did a very good job with their defense and making that trapping scheme that fit very well with their personnel.

I am very happy with Westphal, but still think that Rambis can be a very good coach in this league. I think his biggest mistake so far is his unholy allegiance to the Triangle offense. Right now the Wolves have a great post up Center who is not a great passer, a pure PG and wings who cannot shoot. Those are the wrong pieces for the triangle. And even if they were the right pieces, the offense takes most players a solid 2 years to really understand and run correctly. Rambis would probably be better served running a simpler offense that takes advantage of the players he has and focusing on a good defensive game plan.

Either way as AJ continues to recover from his surgery and Love comes back, I am guessing the Wolves will play better and Rambis will look like a better coach.

 

[Telemachus]

I don't think this is completely fair. He did a very good job with their defense and making that trapping scheme that fit very well with their personnel.

I am very happy with Westphal, but still think that Rambis can be a very good coach in this league. I think his biggest mistake so far is his unholy allegiance to the Triangle offense.

I have always felt that the good coaches adapt their style of play to the players on their current team. Trying to run the triangle offense with the players on Minnesota is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole IMO.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I have always felt that the good coaches adapt their style of play to the players on their current team. Trying to run the triangle offense with the players on Minnesota is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole IMO.

I agree with you completely. Since Rambis is a brand new head coach coming from a team that was very successful with that system, I am willing to cut him some slack. Now if he is stubborn and refuses to alter his system, then he will just be a mediocre coach and will probably be out of a job by the end of next season.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

he who shall remain nameless is that dude... kenny thomas is in a contract year and if he werent he wouldnt seem like a very productive player...

minny not having love is like us not having thompson... love is better than thompson... not by much but he is a better player. that alone makes a huge difference. we are missing a one dimensional sg and a back up sf. they are missing their starting pg and pf.... and had a harder schedule and a less talented roster.... its not their coach. the nets and hornets are a different story...

I agree that Rambis is hampered by not having Love; however, to say they are missing their starting PG when you are referring to a 19 year old who has never played a NBA game and act like that is worse than us missing a near all star does not compute. Rubio may wind up being a phenomenal player down the road, but I believe that Flynn would be better than Rubio this year even if Rubio had come to the NBA. Rubio also would have been a TERRIBLE fit in the triangle as shooting is his biggest weakness.

 

[AriesMar27]

I agree that Rambis is hampered by not having Love; however, to say they are missing their starting PG when you are referring to a 19 year old who has never played a NBA game and act like that is worse than us missing a near all star does not compute. Rubio may wind up being a phenomenal player down the road, but I believe that Flynn would be better than Rubio this year even if Rubio had come to the NBA. Rubio also would have been a TERRIBLE fit in the triangle as shooting is his biggest weakness.

that entire team sucks for the triangle... flynn and sessions included...

 

[Sptsjunkie]

that entire team sucks for the triangle... flynn and sessions included...

Session completley agree. Flynn, I think would have his talents maximized in a more standard offense. However, at least he can shoo and is a smart player, so he fits decently into the triangle.

 

[est.1999]

Damn dude just stop. How can this be enjoyable for you? You can be critical of the team, that's fine, but you're looking and reaching for reasons to be critical.

BTW, he who shall remain nameless is overated and is not even in the league right now. Just drop it...

 

[VF21]

he who shall remain nameless

You know, that got tedious a long time ago. He has a name - it's Ricky Rubio.

 

[AriesMar27]

You know, that got tedious a long time ago. He has a name - it's Ricky Rubio.

okay...