I'd take Karl. Not wild about him, but certainly better than Stotts. Either Van Gundy would also do. Hollins. Sloan. Brown. (Probably too old/disinterested for either to come back at this point.) Hornacek - oh wait. I also wouldn't mind finding someone who's not a re-tread. Identify the next Popovich! When it comes to coaches you can tell fairly quickly whether they're a keeper or not, and if they aren't it's better to cut ties quickly and move on to the next prospect.
I like Stotts a ton more than McMillan but I don't see the team playing an identifiable game like I do when I watch Jerry Sloan's team, Pop's team, and I could go on. I do see a team playing in a style that I can identify as the Jerry Sloan style when watching the Suns, so it is possible. Being better than McMillan is not good enough. The Blazers need to find another Jeff Hornacek (or take the original) or a Rick Carlyle. The coach is not just the coordinator, motivator, he has to be the expert of the game that sets the style of play to exploit the talent on the team. Lamarcus would benefit, the team would benefit.
I don't understand this post. Did you forget the Sonics that made it to the Finals? I'm also pretty sure he took the Nuggets and Bucks deep a couple times.
I'm a Stotts convert. Coaches need time to implement a system. I'd be fine with him having another 4-5 years to see what he can build. He's not like Cheeks, where you saw him getting out coached every night. Stotts has shown he can create a system where we have success. The best franchises have stability. We used to be one of those franchises.
I'm on the fence. A little disturbed with what we're seeing right now, but there are some mitigating factors (not having LA for 1). Stability & culture are huge though & it's not like there's a handful of ideal candidates out there to step in if you part ways w/Stotts. A lot (maybe too much) depends on how this season plays out. If the tank continues and we miss post season . . . aye, aye aye. How many coaches go through a, let's face it, historical collapse & comeback to win anything with the same franchise? Has any team with a record of (or close to) 31-9 ever nose dove so bad they missed the post season?
Two posters say stability is always high priority. Wow. Not when there are major unchangeable defects.
Imo I'd bring him back as offensive coordinator but he has no business even speaking the word defense again.
4-5 yrs of more horrible defense? no thanks, I can't afford the alcohol that would entail and my body can't take it
You could be right and I'm not going to say that he has been perfect. But playing defense still comes down to players and what they are willing to do.
That is true Lillard needs to duck under some picks and say fuck you Stotts I dare you to bench me but I am not getting blasted again by some 250 pound gorilla only to watch my guy score yet another lay up.
When has the #1 offense in the league with one of the worst defenses in the league ever been successful in the playoffs? Anyone? Bueller?
If you follow the convo I believe you just made my point why I'd bring him back as an offensive coordinator but not head coach.
That's not going to happen though. Look what happened with Canales. He was never a realistic option as the head coach but he still left.