It's been less than a week since Chris Finch took over as coach of the Timberwolves. But Saturday's game at Washington was already his third game.
It's been an unusual transition. Finch coached the team for two games before having enough time to meet with each player one-on-one, for example. He's trying to adjust to things on the fly, though a seven-day break in early March will help that process.
Before Saturday's game Finch, was asked what has been most difficult.
"My biggest challenge is trying to get on top of the workload and everything that's coming at me," Finch said from Capital One Arena. "Mostly off-court stuff. Organizational stuff. And then trying to reorganize, if you will, my thoughts for basketball."
Finch took over a team struggling to begin with, one without injured D'Angelo Russell. And now, though expected, the 12-game suspension for Malik Beasley. Saturday Finch started Josh Okogie at shooting guard in place of Beasley.
On the court, Finch's focus has been culling the playbook.
"We are trying to streamline a lot of things," he said. "And that's been a process, too. As we want to start adding stuff, I have to make sure it jibes with what we've decided to keep. So that takes a little bit of manipulating, or thinking about, if you will."
Introductions
Finch spent time Thursday in one-one-one meetings with players. It appears his players appreciate Finch taking the time.
"It was great," said Jaylen Nowell. "He's a real great guy, easy to talk to. We talked about a lot of stuff, not just basketball-related, but off the court."
Said Naz Reid: "It went well. It was getting to see his vision, what he sees in us individuals — how he can use us in his game plan, things of that nature."
Moments matter
After practice Friday, Finch was asked about a quote Charlotte coach James Borrego had made, saying that late-game, crunch-time situations are the most important part of a coach's job.
"I think it's extremely important," Finch said. "It gives confidence to your team in those situations that you know, and they know, and together we all know what we're trying to do."
But he also said it's "really important to focus on the other 46 minutes."
Spectators on the way
The Wolves announced that starting Sunday against Phoenix they will play in front of 250 family members and friends of players in Target Center, in keeping with Gov. Tim Walz's latest guidelines for indoor crowds during the pandemic. After the All-Star break, they plan to allow a limited number of front-line workers in the arena.
