In Tom Thibodeau's first five seasons as an NBA head coach, he won 45 or more games, or more than any Timberwolves' team since 2004.
When the Chicago Bulls fired Thibodeau, they quickly became a Midwestern version of the Sacramento Kings.
When Thibodeau took a year off, he hung out with the likes of Gregg Popovich and became the top assistant on Mike Krzyzewski's Olympic staff.
Without Thibs coaching his defense, Doc Rivers has orchestrated a series of disappointments in L.A.
If Thibodeau had to submit a résumé during the Wolves' coaching search, it's tough to say whether his achievements or references would have been more impressive.
In his 14 months as the Wolves' basketball boss and coach, Thibodeau has built one of the best rosters in franchise history, one that may be capable of winning more than 51 games for only the second time in franchise history.
So this might be a strange time to critique the man known as Thibs, but in sports a rising tide raises many questions.
Thibodeau inherited one of the NBA's most promising rosters. His record as Wolves coach is 31-51. And to date he has made exactly one personnel move that deserves universal praise — his trade for All-Star guard Jimmy Butler.