Timberwolves' Chris Finch's travel plans provide optimistic outlook for Nuggets series
03/05/2024 20:55
The Minnesota Timberwolves disposed of the Phoenix Suns fairly easily in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, but it came at a price. The Wolves organization and fanbase collectively held their breaths when head coach Chris Finch collapsed after point guard Mike Conley ran into him during Game 4 on Sunday.
Thankfully, it looks like Finch will be okay. The 54-year-old was back at practice leading the team Thursday, via ESPN’s Andrew Lopez.
“The Wolves will travel on Thursday evening ahead of Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals matchup against the second-seeded Denver Nuggets,” said Lopez. “It’s unclear if Finch will travel Thursday but the plan is to have him in Denver for Game 1.”
Finch’s plans were in question after he had surgery on his right patellar tendon Wednesday. Before the surgery, Minnesota thought that he might have to communicate with assistant coaches from the locker room if he was not ready to sit on the sidelines by Monday.
Now, the Wolves at least know for sure that Finch will be in the building for Game 1. How will this affect their operation as they prepare to face the Denver Nuggets in the second round?
Chris Finch’s presence will be crucial to the Wolves’ chances of upsetting the Nuggets
Any team is better off with its head coach present, especially one as well-respected as Finch. It would be a challenge to suddenly be without him against the defending champions after getting used to having him around all year.
Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly sounded off on Finch’s resilience at practice on Thursday.
“Finch is obviously a leader and a super tough guy,” Connelly said, via Lopez. “I have a ton of respect for him bouncing back so quickly. He’s chomping at the bit to get back out there. He’s really excited about the series and it’s great to have him back.”
Finch’s presence at practice was especially impressive, considering that he may have been in significant pain. Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori mentioned that his pain medication might have started to wear off during practice, via Sports Illustrated’s Joe Nelson.
“I think the initial pain medication that they gave him was starting to wear off from the surgery, so I think he was in immense pain,” Nori said. “But I think that he doesn’t show it. You ask him and he’s ‘I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine.'”
Finch’s tenure has been a revelation for Minnesota, as it’s made the playoffs in each season since 2021-22, his first full campaign as the top dog. Before that, the club made the playoffs just once since its Conference Finals run in 2003-04.
Finch was having his best season yet before Sunday’s accident. The former shooting guard coached in the All-Star Game, finished third in Coach of the Year voting, and led the Wolves to their second-best regular-season record in team history. Additionally, Minnesota’s sweep of the Suns was the team’s third-ever playoff series win.
While taking down Denver will be a Herculean task, the Wolves’ chances of doing so go way up with Finch present. If he can coach from the bench at some point in the series, it’ll be even better for team morale.
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