The Wolves will be facing a new coach tonight in Sacramento after the Kings fired Reggie Theus this morning following a 6-18 start.
Theus, who was replaced by assistant coach Kenny Natt, is the sixth NBA coach to be fired this season and second since Kevin McHale replaced Randy Wittman on the Wolves’ bench a week ago.
The Sacramento Kings come into their game against Minnesota with a new coach, a 6-18 record and having lost 14 of their previous 16, but the Wolves insisted it wouldn’t change their approach.
“It doesn’t make any difference,” coach Kevin McHale said after the morning shootaround. “We’ve got to go out there and take care of ourselves and just play. We’ve got to be a lot more focused on how we play than who we play.”
Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site posts a scouting report of tonight’s game at Sacramento.
Marc Stein/ESPN has the Wolves at #29 on his weekly power rankings.
Not sure how much this factoid will encourage the brave Wolves fans out there, but did you know that McHale is the only coach of the six interims hired this season with any prior NBA head-coaching experience?
J.A. Adande/ESPN on Kevin McHale:
I asked him if he wanted to coach for the long haul. He said the difference between this time and last is that his kids are out of the house now, which makes it easier to be on the road. But the challenge is greater now.
“Last time I coached, it was more of a veteran group, it was probably easier,” he said. “It was going in and instilling discipline. With this group it’s confidence. Discipline’s a lot easier than confidence.”
And maybe being a coach is easier than being a general manager. At least McHale is making it look that way.