HOF QB Praises MN Timberwolves Coach for Admitting Mistake
The Minnesota Timberwolves will begin their second round NBA Playoff matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. Tip-off hasn’t been scheduled yet , but the sportsbooks have already made the Wolves heavy underdogs, both in Game 1 and in the series.
Who can blame them? Not only are the MN Timberwolves without superstar Anthony Edwards and his starting backcourt partner, Donte DiVincenzo (torn achilles – out for playoffs), but also first guard off the bench, Ayo Dosunmu, too.
That’s why, with Ant, DiVo and Ayo all out with injuries, Finch was desperate for someone who could attack the basket on offense, which Denver struggles to defend.
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Then, the MN Timberwolves gave TJ Shannon Jr. a chance
And that desperation is forcing Finchy to play Terrence Shannon Jr more often, recently. IN fact, on Thursday night, the former first round pick was in the starting lineup, after Dosunmu was ruled out. He repaid his head coach for the minutes by putting up 24 points in a winning effort .
After the series-clinching victory, a relieved Chris Finch turned the finger of blame at himself, publicly scrutinizing his coaching of TJ Shannon Jr this season. “Silly me” the head coach joked, before admitting he should have put the ball in TJS’ hands at the top of the key more often, where he is at his best.
Shannon Jr spent way too much of his limited minutes this season wasting his talent in the corner, where his innate ability to charge the lane and finish at the basket was largely stripped from his offensive arsenal.
Of course, just like any head coach, Chris Finch has received a lot of criticism, but his refusal to play the kids is No. 1 on most lists, especially when things start to go off the rails.
Kurt Warner applauds Chris Finch for falling on TJS sword
While the blame for his “step back” isn’t all on on the head coach, Finchy deserves some. Everyone involved does. However, the MN Timberwolves head coached gained at least one more fan with his honesty and self reflection after Game 6 — NFL Hall of Fame QB, Kurt Warner.
Amen… instead of pointing at player for not being effective enough in a bad position, actually realizing much of that was due to you not presenting them with a plan/position to be successful! Wow, so refreshing after what I’ve witnessed over the last year!
Extreme Leadership = ALWAYS looking internally FIRST to say “What Could I have done better or differently”!!
Kurt Warner tweet about Chris Finch (above)
More Wolves News: Jaden McDaniels Throws More Shade at Nuggets
To this point, not one draft pick that either Tim Connelly or Jaden McDaniels selected during the Chris Finch era averaged more than 13 minutes per game last season. Jaylen Clark’s 13.1 MPG (11th most) was the closest .
TJS was right behind him, at 12.5 minutes per game. Then, directly below them, Rob Dillingham (9.3 MPG). The former No. 8 overall draft pick, however, was traded at the deadline for Ayo Dosunmu.
That’s why all ten Wolves players who received more minutes than Shannon Jr and Clark during the 2025-26 regular season were veterans with at least five seasons of NBA experience. But now, Finchy doesn’t have a choice but to play the youngsters.
Minnesota Timberwolves need Terrence Shannon Jr vs Spurs
Ayo Dosunmu’s status remains in question for Game 1, after the playmaking trade deadline acquisition sat out Game 6 vs Denver with a calf strain.
While it’s plausible Ant returns from injury against the Spurs, if it goes more than four or five games, nobody knows when that hyperextended knee and bone bruise will be ready for game action.
Thus, if the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to hang with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in this series, they will need Terrence Shannon Jr. to play a ton of minutes… and good ones.
Sure, we could see Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle or a handful of others who could step up and contribute any given night. But if the undermanned Wolves are going to keep this series close, it’ll be Finch pulling the right levers on the right nights, just like he did in games four, five and six vs the Nuggets.
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