Tom Thibodeau leads list of new NBA coaches
Tom Thibodeau was unemployed a year ago, but he was hardly idle.
Always re-examining and honing his philosophies, Thibodeau hopped from training camps in Charlotte, San Antonio and Los Angeles so he wouldn’t lose touch with the game. He had been fired by the Chicago Bulls in late May 2015 despite a 255-139 record and five consecutive postseason appearances. A well-documented front office rift led to his departure.
As last season wore on, he couldn’t entirely remove himself. Thibodeau would watch Los Angeles Clippers games and offer opinions to their coach, Doc Rivers, a longtime confidant.
“He watches more games than I did, I can tell you that,” Rivers said before a December game at United Center. “I was golfing.”
Thibodeau, one of 11 new coaches this season, was simply too big a talent to pass on for the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Chicago, there were concerns about his hard-driving nature and philosophical stubbornness, but nobody questioned his dedication and work ethic. Or his defensive tactics.
In Minnesota, Thibodeau inherits what he described as the best young roster in the NBA. With back-to-back rookie of the year winners Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, it’s hard to dispute his claim. His ability to mold and develop two-way guys — such as the Bulls’ Jimmy Butler, the No. 30 overall pick in 2011 — shouldn’t be overlooked.
Progress, at least for this season, should be judged by player development and chemistry, not necessarily by a postseason berth, though ending the current NBA-worst 12-year drought would be nice.
There are, however, new faces around the league who will feel immediate pressure to win. The three most obvious are Mike D’Antoni with the Houston Rockets, first-time head coach David Fizdale with the Memphis Grizzlies and Nate McMillan, who took over the Indiana Pacers.
D’Antoni could be an excellent fit with James Harden and the Rockets’ retooled roster, which now includes Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon. Houston could challenge the Golden State Warriors for most three-pointers attempted this season.
As for Fizdale, the Grizzlies have to be thrilled with the hire. A disciple of the Miami Heat organization, he brings a championship pedigree with a record of grooming veteran stars.
There’s little question that the Grizzlies’ window is closing, but Fizdale’s roster has talent. He has challenged Marc Gasol to expand his game to the three-point line, and he has been harping on newly re-signed point guard Mike Conley to think of himself as an All-Star. If healthy, expect Grit and Grind to make noise in the postseason.
In the Pacers’ case, some were critical of Larry Bird for not hiring outside the organization after dismissing Frank Vogel, but there’s a certain logic to promoting McMillan. With the additions of Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young, the Pacers have a roster ready to contend in the Eastern Conference.
McMillan already has a relationship with the team’s best player, Paul George, and budding star Myles Turner, so why waste time? McMillan has had success as a head coach, though the Pacers suggest they’ll play a faster tempo than he’s accustomed to. Still, the idea that he has a comfort level with Bird and George can’t be ignored.
Jeff Hornacek takes over a New York Knicks squad teeming with talent, but how quickly can Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah mesh with the team’s established stars? Does Hornacek have the clout to command the locker room?
What about Scott Brooks’ pairing with the Washington Wizards? Brooks deserves credit for navigating a difficult relationship between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Could a similar narrative be developing between stars John Wall and Bradley Beal?
The Orlando Magic could be in a position to contend for the postseason provided Vogel unlocks a rotation using his stable of big men. Deploying a huge lineup, when the rest of the NBA is going small, isn’t without its risks.
With the Sacramento Kings, new coach Dave Joerger’s first priority should be establishing a working relationship with DeMarcus Cousins. Joerger worked with big personalities in Memphis.
Kenny Atkinson has a positive pedigree (Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs) working for him with the Brooklyn Nets, but their lack of talent could obscure his potential, at least this season.
The book is still out on Earl Watson with the Phoenix Suns as well, though there did seem to be a noticeable change in culture after he took over last February. Watson is two years removed from playing in the league.
Finally, after handling a Warriors team brimming with All-Stars as interim coach last season, Luke Walton gets to guide a Los Angeles Lakers squad with potential. There’s an interesting mix of veterans (Luol Deng, Timofey Mozgov) and raw talent (Brandon Ingram, D’Angelo Russell) that Walton needs to develop. The Warriors are well off in his rearview mirror.