Rod Simons, Contributor
Win six of eight games and you will turn heads. Especially in these parts. Doesn’t matter the sport. The Wolves have done just that.
Fans have been waiting for the Wolves to turn the corner for years. Through the Budinger and Foyes. Barea to Brandon Roy to Ridnour and dozens and dozens in between.
I think about all the players and coaches who’ve come and gone as the Wolves try to find that perfect fit to fix their playoff drought. It’s tested the patience of the best of fans, but it’s not just our Minnesota NBA team looking for successful renovation work. The Indiana Pacers can be found in this equation as well. I know because I caught the Wolves-Pacers game day shootaround, in part, to compare notes. But also to reconnect with longtime friend, former Seattle Super Sonics point guard and Pacers coach Nate McMillan.
You learn a lot from just watching and observing in this media only settings. Quiet and dim, Target Center’s only buzz was all the construction carrying on around us and the bouncing basketballs. My eagerness was simply to catch pregame goings-on as the Wolves readied for Indiana.
McMillan is one of my all-time favorite guys. We hit if off years ago when he hit Seattle soil after being drafted out of North Carolina State in the ‘90s. I covered the Sonics extensively and really, you could tell then that McMillan was always going to be a coach. As a collegiate, as a pro leading the George Karl coached Sonics and then, moving into the NBA coaching ranks. You could just see it. That was what he would do the rest of his life.
That hasn’t been easy. McMillan assumed the bench boss seat just this past season in Indiana and team president Larry
Bird caught plenty of flak for the move. Hoosier state fans wanted more. The expected a hire of another kind. Perhaps, a bigger name? Bird liked McMillan’s patience, work ethic, defensive emphasis and his ability to relate to players. Those attributes were things the media said McMillan lost after years coaching the Portland Trail Blazers. He hasn’t.
What’s obvious is that if you coach for a boss who’s known as “Larry Legend”, it has its challenges. These days, fans know King James and Kevin Durant and other forwards who turn heads. In HIS day, no one was better than Bird. He simply was one of the best. Seeing Bird tab McMillan to coach his team was sweet.
McMillan admits that finding that “fix” is not easy. And it’s not. How many other NBA teams swing and miss every year. It’s elusive and frustrating but addicting too as the effort is made.
McMillan sees a very bright future for the Wolves. Much like many other NBA coaches. What makes his words and praise ring for me is that he’s building with many pieces and problems that pop up like the Wolves.
The Pacers have played through a ton of injuries this season and have managed to play .500 ball. Pretty good from my seat outside the arena but to McMillan, clearly not enough.
As the Wolves finished their day-of-game shootaround and walked off the court, McMillan’s Pacers were still behind closed doors. Listening. Likely not talking much. Anxious to get out of that tiny cramped visitors’ locker room.
Likely with a different script but same song, Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau was talking about it all on the other end of the arena, too. Preaching patience and hard work, players committing to all the disciplines being thrown at them and more.
There’s so much more to just the game played on the court 82 times a season. The NBA life is played out in a gym. Day and night. Seven days a week. Not always bright lights and screaming fans.
The Wolves are getting “it.” The young players are climbing over that hump. On this night, the Pacers took the “W” but the Wolves day is coming, I’m convinced it’s not far off.
An outsider’s opinion means something and McMillan likes what he sees from the Wolves. I like that because it’s a friend’s opinion. And hanging with him over his career, I’ll take it.
Get in your 2-cents!
Communication is a two-way street so feel free to chime in and give me your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. If you want to weigh in on all things Wolves, the NBA or anything else hoops, drop me a line by emailing me at Rod@GameONtvMN.com. Feel free to compare notes. And keep your GameON!
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