Bill Laimbeer padding resume for dream gig

Auburn Hills

Bill Laimbeer didn't stop by his favorite fishing hole or sit in his easy chair. He no longer calls Detroit home.

He has houses in Florida and Minnesota, so he stayed in a hotel like the rest of the Timberwolves prior to Thursday's exhibition at The Palace.

Once Laimbeer left this summer -- resigning as head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock, then signing on as a Timberwolves assistant coach -- he pulled up all ties from his home of 18 years.

He still, however, showed his true colors as a Tigers fan.

"I was rooting for them," he said laughing, having gone to the Tigers-Twins one-game tiebreaker at the Metrodome. "Too bad they choked."

Paying his dues

Laimbeer, 52, still is the direct-to-the-point guy who won two NBA titles as a player with the Pistons and three as head coach of the Shock.

He no longer is the lead voice, though. Laimbeer is just another voice, hoping this apprenticeship under Kurt Rambis puts himself in position to be the head man again.

Laimbeer didn't want to become an NBA assistant, but it became apparent he needed this final piece on the resume in order to land his dream job: head coach of an NBA team.

This is Rambis' first full-time head coaching job, but his resume included a number of years as an assistant. Having watched Joe Dumars tap two assistant coaches in a row for the Pistons' top job, Laimbeer finally got the picture and is thankful for the opportunity to serve his time. He's already gained valuable experience coaching NBA players.

"I have learned a lot. It's much more complicated," said Laimbeer, who took the Shock job in 2002. "The players shrink the court. They are bigger, faster and stronger. It's a little bit different. In the WNBA, you are defending five-on-five. Here, it's more taking away individual aspects of the game and the speed of the game is much faster."

Coaching the women helped because he understands how to manage a game.

He left a lasting imprint with the Shock although the team is moving to Tulsa. He was saddened by the news earlier this week, but admits he saw signs of trouble on the job. But he said that's not why he resigned just three games into the Shock's season.

"It was time for me to move on," Laimbeer said. "Not only for me but for the coaching staff that stayed behind. It was an opportunity for them."

I remember when ...

What's he like as a coach?

"He's a great coach," forward Brian Cardinal said. "What he does for us is he shows us how the game is to be played and how to be tough. He has a passion for it."

That said, there seems to be some dispute whether Laimbeer brings up the past too often. Al Jefferson lit the match, saying Laimbeer brings up his playing career more than any other coach.

"Not true. Al was joking with a writer," Laimbeer said.

Minutes later, Cardinal was asked if players knew about Laimbeer's days as a player.

"Oh yeah," he said. "And if they don't he will tell them."

"What did you say?" Laimbeer screamed, laughing. "He is just trying to stir stuff up."

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