The Timberwolves record in 2007: 22-53 (.298)

The Timberwolves record under Randy Wittman: 15-48 (.238)


Not that I'm advocating for him, because I think he was bad as well, but Casey was 7-5 (.583) in 2007 and 20-20 (.500) overall that season when he got the axe.

Was it below what we had hoped? Yeah. Replacing him with a proven coach would've made sense. But getting rid of him to hand the reins to Wittman so you can pay them both a head coach's salary was just dumb. Definitely a case of the \"boys club\" not doing what's best for the team, once again.

One has to wonder how these young Wolves would fair with a coach who's proven he can win more than 30% of his games...

Do you guys think these are front-page worthy numbers? Does the T-Wolves nation need to see these?

Yeah, I remember last year when the Wolves won 7 of 8 after New Years. I think they were 20-14 or somewhere in that vicinity and then dumped 4 or 5 straight and McHale dumped Casey at that point.

I think one of the reasnons Casey got canned, other than the \"boys club\" because I think there's truth to that, is that after the losing streak, McHale and the other front office personnel realized that they couldn't win with that roster. During the winning streak, I think Blount was shooting somewhere near 60% and everything was clicking right. When the players came back down to earth, it was just clear that the team didn't have the talent around KG to win games. One knock I had on Casey while he was coach was his unwillingness to play the young guys. During McCant's rookie season, he yanked him after almost every mistake. Last season, he was hesitant to give Foye more minutes for the first 30 or so games and, even though Craig Smith was putting up impressive numbers, Casey really limited his time.

I do think the reason Casey did this is because he wanted lineups in there that he felt could go to the playoffs and I can understand thinking Mike James gives you a better shot of doing that than Foye, at least at first. However, Craid Smith was outplaying Madsen in almost every respect and often Smith's game made more sense than Blout's depending on the matchup.

So, to kind of sum up, I think Casey got canned from a combination of:

(1) at some point the front office knew they couldn't win with what they had and Casey kept coaching like they could (aka doing his job);

(2) the front office couldn't get Iverson and, when that happened, they knew the mediocre talent around KG wasn't going anywhere;

(3) Without the squad to win, Casey seemed reluctant to play the rookies; and

(4) Combine that with the McHale boys club, and I don't think Casey stood a chance.

What I don't understand is resigning Wittman to an extension. He proved he couldn't get mediocre talent going in the right direction down in Cleveland. It just doesn't make much sense.

Wow Wittmans record is that bad? I think coaches have just as big of an impact on the game as the players. So it is bewildering to me that we would want to keep this guy. The end of last season should have been indication enough. If he cant get some good games out of a Kevin Garnett team whats he gonna do with a Garnettless one? I am unfortunate enough to have witnessed an answer to that question this season. But one more question, why didn't we go try to get Van Gundy? I dont think its naive of me to believe our record would significantly better. Not only that but even in our losses I would want to believe would come from being outplayed, and not melting down or losing focus.

Oh and can someone tell me how to get rid of Ndudi Ebi underneath my name? thanks

PMAC wrote:
As soon as you reach 10 posts it turns into Craig Smith.

Good stuff fellas...

I agree that Casey was overacheiving, but he wasn't the long-term answer. However, neither is Wittman. It pisses me off so much that he got a three year deal this offseason. What a joke.

This is mostly a \"player's league\" meaning that you need to have talent to win. However, I do think coaches make a difference. Not a huge difference... but a difference nonetheless. It is more pronounced with a young squad as the coach needs to train the players and get as much as possible out of them. I don't think Wittman is capable of this at all. He's a chump.

PMAC wrote:

What I've found really works well is to get yourself some Gin and Tonic and then settle down in front of the comp for a good ol night on the forums. Before you know it you'll have 100+ posts and it will no longer say Ndudi Ebi below your name.

College Wolf wrote:
You might think he's joking. Let me assure you, he's not.

DeROK wrote:

Coaches can make a difference. TUBBY SMITH