It was Tom Thibodeau’s first season as …

It was Tom Thibodeau’s first season as head coach of the Timberwolves, and his squad had stopped in Louisville for a couple days before a preseason game. Rick Pitino, who was coaching the Louisville Cardinals at the time, took his staff to observe Thibodeau’s session. They expected a relaxed atmosphere considering the NBA’s reputation, but were floored by the intensity and efficiency. “He was meticulously organized, almost scary organized, and he reminded me of Bill Belichick,” Pitino told the Daily News. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Belichick and Thibodeau’s got a lot of the same mannerisms, the same attention to detail that Belichick has. And that’s about the highest compliment I could give someone.”