Tom Thibodeau's answers in the interview were posted on the news channel, and many local Minnesota fans also saw the news on the Internet.
Fans had different reactions to his statement.
Some people think that it is indeed Zhao Feiyang's problem. Who allowed him to play for too long in China? After returning to the Timberwolves in a hurry, he will definitely need more time to find his form, so such mistakes will occur; while other fans think that the shooting Conceding a goal is not a big problem, the bigger problem is how the team can continue with a lineup that has suffered injuries.
There is never a shortage of controversy on the Internet, and Thibodeau, who is the central figure in the incident, has never paid attention to it.
He just continues to lead the team his way.
At noon the next day after the game, before the Timberwolves' regular training began, Thibodeau, as the head coach, arrived at the training facility ten minutes early.
In the past, there must have been many people in the training hall at this time, and even if there were occasional late arrivals, there would only be a few. But today, only a few substitute players came to the training hall, and no one else was seen at all.
Thibodeau felt a little strange, but he didn't say anything. He just stood at the door of the training hall and planned to punish those who came late.
But after waiting for twenty minutes, no one else entered the training hall to practice, which really stunned Thibodeau.
"Do any of you know where the others went?"
"Are you the only ones practicing here all the time?"
Thibodeau went up to ask the bench players.
The substitutes shook their heads and said they didn't know.
The reason why they come is because they all belong to the team's fringe figures, and none of them is in the team's main lineup.
This actually means that the core events about the team actually have nothing to do with marginalized people like them.
At least until their contract becomes official.
"Damn it!"
"What are these guys doing?"
Thibodeau really doesn't know what happened now! This is the first time that a group of people did not enter the training hall for training.
He vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't say it for a while.
"Okay! No matter what they want to do, it is extremely stupid to choose this method... If you don't train, you won't train. It has no impact on me..."
Thibodeau said angrily.
After saying these words, he only left the assistant coaches to take care of the substitute players, and he quickly left the training hall.
Soon it was noon on the third day.
Considering the situation the day before, Thibodeau came half an hour late this time. He thought the players would make changes, especially if he didn't compromise, but when he arrived at the training hall, only the substitute players from yesterday were still training this time.
"Aren't they here yet?"
"Yes."
"not a single one......."
"Maybe there will be more later!"
After asking the assistant coach, Thibodeau finally felt that something was wrong! It's fine if one or two players don't come to training, but if a group of people don't come to training, there is no doubt that they are expressing their dissatisfaction with him.
Once this matter is leaked, I am afraid it will cause a huge reaction from outside public opinion.
"no."
"We can't let these guys continue like this..."
After a brief thought, Thibodeau decided to personally contact the players who missed training. The first person he called was Serge Ibaka.
The reason for choosing him is also very simple. He is not Zhao Feiyang's, but only came to the team this season, which proves that he may be attracted.
"Hey, Serge, what's wrong with you? Why didn't you come to the gym to train?"
The call was indeed connected, and Thibodeau did not reprimand him at first, but asked Ibaka in a caring manner.
"Coach Tom, I've been home these days...Sorry, I have some personal matters to deal with. I was too anxious to go back at the time, so I just asked for leave from Manager Sam...he didn't Tell you?"
"Um?"
After hearing Ibaka's answer, Thibodeau quickly hung up the phone and asked the team's general manager Sam Mitchell for confirmation. Sure enough, as Ibaka said, he took leave of absence and left the team as early as the end of the game that day.
In this way, Thibodeau no longer doubts Ibaka! After all, in his opinion, there is no need for Ibaka to be on Zhao Feiyang's side.
So he made a second call.
Of course the person this call was made to was not Zhao Feiyang, but Adrian Ennis. As one of the team's main lineup players, Adrian's status is actually quite embarrassing.
Especially after he became the team's head coach, Adrian got less and less playing time, and various statistics also dropped sharply compared to last season.
Because of this, Adrian is a breakthrough.
Even coach Thibodeau knows that Adrian was supported by Zhao Feiyang. It can be said that he is definitely the most loyal one in Zhao Feiyang's camp.
If he can be brought over, it will undoubtedly be a heavy blow to Zhao Feiyang's camp.
"Hello!"
The call was connected, and Adrian's voice came from the other end.
Thibodeau still didn't use any blaming tone, but just asked Adrian, "Why didn't you come to training? Adrian, you are the team's main striker, this shouldn't be your behavior..."
"No. Coach Tom, I'm just an underappreciated substitute player..."
"Maybe it was before, but as long as you come to the team for training now, I guarantee you that as long as I am still on the team, you will be one of my most important players... I can't guarantee anything else, but I will give you all the remaining opportunities at the starting four position this season. I will definitely do this as long as I say..."
"As long as you come to the training hall to train now..."
Adrian on the other end of the phone was silent for a long time.
Thibodeau thought his strategy was successful, but just when he was about to feel proud, Adrian on the other end of the phone spoke, "Coach Tom, you'd better find someone else!"
"I've been feeling a little uncomfortable for the past two days. I will ask for leave from the team..."
After speaking, Adrian hung up the phone directly.
This really pissed off Thibodeau, and he yelled angrily at his cell phone, "Damn it! Who do you think you are?"
Unfortunately, Adrian on the other end of the phone wouldn't hear it.
Being rejected twice in a row made Adrian very angry. But I was unhappy, and I still had to make the next phone call.
Soon he called players such as Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng, Ricky Rubio and Shabazz Muhammad. This time no one made him angry because there was no one at all. Answer the phone.
These players seemed to have discussed it long ago. All their mobile phones were out of contact. In short, no matter how hard Thibodeau called, he could not get through.
"Farke!"
"These damn bastards...how dare they unite against me? Do you think the team can't fight without them?"
Thibodeau, who was so angry that he was about to lose his mind, still didn't give up. This time he called the team's substitutes directly. In his opinion, these substitute members are easy to win over. As long as they are given the ball and more playing time, someone will always fall to him.
Once you gain enough support, you may express your opinion to the team management to trade certain players.
If we can get to that point, all problems will be solved.
"Hey, Brandon, where are you? Why didn't you come to the gym to train?"
"I order you to come over immediately... Of course, I can guarantee you that as long as you come to the gym on time for training every day, I can guarantee to give you more playing time..."
Beep beep.
The other person on the phone didn't say a word and just hung up.
"Aldridge, what are you doing? Why didn't you show up for training?"
"It's still too late if you come now! I can make you the team's starting small forward... Yes, I will do what I say..."
Beep beep.
Thibodeau made several calls in a row, with the same result every time. As soon as he finished speaking, the person on the other end of the phone hung up the phone without exception.
The successive setbacks finally made Thibodeau depressed.
"Why? Why don't these guys want to come?"
"Forget it if the main players don't come! Why don't the substitutes come either? Isn't my promise worthy of trust?"
While the players were collectively absent from training, the injury diagnosis results for Dwight Howard and Zach LaVine finally came out.
To everyone's surprise, LaVine's injury, which seemed more serious, was only a minor injury, and he could recover after a doctor's diagnosis and about a month's rest.
But Howard, who didn't seem that serious, was really seriously injured. His ankle injury is too severe and he may need surgery, which also means that Howard will no longer be able to play for the rest of the season.
As a result, his season reimbursement has been officially determined.
As soon as the news came out, all Timberwolves fans exploded.
Many people had thought that the team's new lineup could compete with the Warriors for a few games, but now the regular season has not even ended, and the team's starting center Howard has been reimbursed for the season.
How can we fight like this?
It was at this critical juncture that I don't know who spread the news that the Timberwolves players were on strike. For a time, the outside world was in an uproar.
If many people were still on Thibodeau's side before, then this time, more people are on the side of crusade against Thibodeau.
Being able to make so many players quit is enough to prove how disliked what he did by the players.
Perhaps it was because there was too much pressure from the public opinion brought by the outside world, or perhaps it was because the players did not come to training for several days in a row, which made Thibodeau unhappy. The day after this incident happened, Thibodeau directly asked the team management for leave. He stated that he needed to leave the team for a period of time due to personal matters.
"Don't they think they are powerful?"
"Then I will let them fight on their own... Then after a disastrous defeat, they will definitely beg me to come back..."
In an email to general manager Sam Mitchell, Thibodeau wrote this.
