Gameday preveiw: OKC Thunder get first shot at Ryan Saunders led Wolves

The OKC Thunder will get the first shot at the Ryan Saunders led Wolves tonight. Gameday preview examines the keys to capturing the victory.

Preseason’s greatest drama came full circle Sunday with the dismissal of Tom Thibodeau. At the center of the buzz was the timing of the decision. Fresh off a 22 point thumping of the Lakers, the sweat wasn’t dry on the Timberwolves jerseys as the news leaked out that Thibs was fired.

The Wolves franchise cornerstone, Karl-Anthony Towns had accumulated his best seven game stretch of this season. Oft disinterested, enigmatic wing man Andrew Wiggins had erupted for 28 points on the day.

New teammates Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Jerryd Bayless (received in the Jimmy Butler trade) had integrated and transitioned well with their new team. On the surface, the Wolves seemed to be improving with as good of a shot (if not better) than their West opponents of going on a run to join the current playoff seeds.

Tom Thibodeau was just short of halfway into his third season as Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Wolves. Arguably this was an inevitable conclusion given Thibs never delivered on the promise he was hired for.

Specifically, his primary goal was to turn the offensive focused squad into a top defensive team, something which never came to pass. He did, however, get the team back to the postseason after a 13 year absence. Albeit their trip was short lived as the Rockets dispensed of the Timberwolves in five games.

Moreover, as the President of Basketball Operations Thibs kept adding members from his former Bulls squad to the Wolves. So much so that it became a running joke to refer to the former nicknamed ‘Timberpups’ as the ‘TimberBulls’.

In hindsight, Thibs gut instinct regarding Derrick Rose was correct as the guard experiences a renewed renaissance of sorts. Yet, the one former Bull which will forever be married to Thibs demise is Jimmy Butler.

Minnesota owner Glen Taylor obviously felt Thibs emphasis centered on Butler over the development of franchise cornerstones Towns and Wiggins. Given Taylor’s long term investment with KAT and Wiggs, the two parties clearly had alternate visions for the Wolves moving forward.

When Thibodeau was dismissed in Chicago he exited with his reputation intact and remained a highly coveted coach. For all accounts, Thibs possesses an encyclopedic basketball mind. Once gained, his support is unshakable, as the Butler and Rose examples attest. But, sadly, his tenure in Minnesota won’t be kind. He leaves appearing to be unwilling or unable to coach youthful squads. Thibs penchant for overplaying his stars, unshakable stubbornness and old school leanings will hamper his future prospects. It’s also likely the farreaching effects of Thib’s firing will be married to the end of the Coach-GM dual role across the Association.

Ryan Saunders assumes the role of interim coach. Ryan is the son of the late Flip Saunders who held the coaching and GM positions with Minnesota for much of his NBA career.

Moving forward, the fallout from Thibs dismissal will increase the spotlight on a few players as well. Towns and Wiggins will need to deliver and prove the franchise’s commitment to ship out Butler and fire Thibodeau was warranted.

And, Jimmy Butler better hope he improves the 76ers without unnecessary turmoil or he could find his summer of free agency doesn’t run smoothly – then again Butler seems to thrive on drama, regardless of who it effects.