After a strong preseason, what should the Blazer's goal be this year?

[Hoopguru]

I would if I were him. The perception is he is a shitty coach mostly based on his win total. I assume he will want another gig so yeah if I were him I would say fuck you and try to win as much as possible.

Thats how I see it too. Unless, he and Joe have a handshake deal for another 3 years.

 

[kjironman1]

I would if I were him. The perception is he is a shitty coach mostly based on his win total. I assume he will want another gig so yeah if I were him I would say fuck you and try to win as much as possible.

Flip side of that is Chauncey is getting millions and has one of 32 NBA head coaching jobs in the entire world.
Not sure he is all that worried about what people think?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Flip side of that is Chauncey is getting millions and has one of 32 NBA head coaching jobs in the entire world.
Not sure he is all that worried about what people think?

Coaches and players all care. 95% of them are too competitive not to.

 

[kjironman1]

Coaches and players all care. 95% of them are too competitive not to.

Caring about winning and losing and caring about players and the organization is much different than caring about what people think.
If they have a plan in place and they both feel they are following that plan he won’t care much about what the average Joe or even those in media are saying.

 

[wizenheimer]

Gotta wonder what Chauncey is thinking at this point?

probably that this is the last year, for a long time maybe, that he'll make the salary of an NBA head coach.

 

[kjironman1]

probably that this is the last year, for a long time maybe, that he'll make the salary of an NBA head coach.

I just have a very tough time holding the record and the current situation against Chauncey. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else of some importance didn’t feel the same?

 

[BlazerWookee]

The game is dangerous. That's the nature of competition.

Drafting high to build your team is less dangerous than not. That's just math.

If I wanted to watch math, I'd subscribe to BBC USA so I could watch Countdown every night. I want to watch basketball players, playing basketball and trying to win.

 

[wizenheimer]

I just have a very tough time holding the record and the current situation against Chauncey. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else of some importance didn’t feel the same?

not sure who you're referring to?

Cronin?....he declined to pick up the 5th year option for Billups

I'm sure the rest of the NBA knows what the situation was. But I'd also imagine that the same rest of the NBA hasn't seen anything compelling about Chauncey's tenure as HC.

 

[kjironman1]

not sure who you're referring to?

Cronin?....he declined to pick up the 5th year option for Billups

I'm sure the rest of the NBA knows what the situation was. But I'd also imagine that the same rest of the NBA hasn't seen anything compelling about Chauncey's tenure as HC.

Certainly could be the case but again what chance did he really have to roll with a good team?

 

[wizenheimer]

Certainly could be the case but again what chance did he really have to roll with a good team?

he had no chance to roll with a good team because a good NBA team would never have hired a coach with a single year of coaching at any level. Billups was a viable candidate to only one GM:

 

[Phatguysrule]

If I wanted to watch math, I'd subscribe to BBC USA so I could watch Countdown every night. I want to watch basketball players, playing basketball and trying to win.

I understand that completely. And I wouldn't blame anybody for tuning out until they are ready to compete again.

Being fans we have every right to make that choice.

When I advocate for what should and should not happen regarding personnel I'm stepping away from my immediate desires as a fan and looking toward the long-term goal of winning a title.

It is a tough pill to swallow. It's a tough pill to swallow for fans, and it's a tough pill to swallow for ownership. And it's a tough pill to swallow for management. It's a risk. But it's the risk with the best payoff long-term.

 

[kjironman1]

he had no chance to roll with a good team because a good NBA team would never have hired a coach with a single year of coaching at any level. Billups was a viable candidate to only one GM:

View attachment 66423

Not true at all on any level. Multiple ex players have been hired with less. Some that have done fairly well.

 

[kjironman1]

I understand that completely. And I wouldn't blame anybody for tuning out until they are ready to compete again.

Being fans we have every right to make that choice.

When I advocate for what should and should not happen regarding personnel I'm stepping away from my immediate desires as a fan and looking toward the long-term goal of winning a title.

It is a tough pill to swallow. It's a tough pill to swallow for fans, and it's a tough pill to swallow for ownership. And it's a tough pill to swallow for management. It's a risk. But it's the risk with the best payoff long-term.

You also have a tendency to speak as though your approach is the only viable way and it certainly is not. However I agree at this point with this draft ahead that they should just continue to lose this year.

 

[Hoopguru]

When ownership and the board review the Blazers FY improvement PLAN/GOALS, what criteria do you think is weighted more, annually?

1. positioned for 1 of the three best chances at lotto #1.
2. show win/loss improvement over previous year
3. decide what veterans are part of their current improvement plan.
4. Strive to make playoffs
5. Stay under cap
6. Increase TV revenue and season ticket sales
7. Increase profitability over previous year.

 

[Phatguysrule]

You also have a tendency to speak as though your approach is the only viable way and it certainly is not. However I agree at this point with this draft ahead that they should just continue to lose this year.

I speak as though it is the most likely way for a the Blazers to have the most success for the next decade plus.

I'm not interested in trading that potential away for a few meaningless wins now.

 

[Phatguysrule]

When ownership and the board review the Blazers FY improvement PLAN/GOALS, what criteria do you think is weighted more, annually?

1. positioned for 1 of the three best chances at lotto #1.
2. show win/loss improvement over previous year
3. decide what veterans are part of their current improvement plan.
4. Strive to make playoffs
5. Stay under cap
6. Increase TV revenue and season ticket sales
7. Increase profitability over previous year.

I hope it is winning and profitability in the future (which go hand in hand).

But I honestly have no sense of what they actually want.

 

[wizenheimer]

Not true at all on any level. Multiple ex players have been hired with less. Some that have done fairly well.

ok....I'm curious...who?

 

[BlazerWookee]

Per 48 preseason stats - what jumps out?

View attachment 66413

We need a better team barber?

 

[Hoopguru]

I hope it is winning and profitability in the future (which go hand in hand).

But I honestly have no sense of what they actually want.

Yeah, it's hard at this point to see what their priorities are.
I've always thought they want a golden goose laying golden eggs regardless of records.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

This is projected to be a historical Draft. Watching very early season college film, Flagg, Bailey and Harper all look very legit. Traore and VJ also have looked very good at times and way above an average years #4-5 prospect.

Play the youngsters as much as possible. Find out what you've got. But any wins the Blazers get because of Ayton, Grant, Ant, Thybulle, Reath, etc is mostly a waste. Yes, the kids need to learn how to win, but they need to do it of their own volition. Help is on the way. Camara is already looking better. Sharpe was looking better in training camp until his injury (again). Scoot needs to show signs of improvement, you need to find out what Walker is, if Rupert will continue his growth curve, see what Kling Kong can do and if Avdija is a piece that can be a veteran to the youngsters, or is a trade piece for later.

Add to that a ridiculous bucket getter like Bailey (his ability to make shots is very advanced) an all-around playmaker like Flagg, a big floor general like Harper and this team starts to progress next year and the following year is a #6-8 Playoff team. By then, you have the future Draft picks you've traded for and whatever you got from Grant/Ant/Ayton/Thybulle, etc to add pieces to the foundation of your roster.

It will take time, but this year is the year to Draft that 'IT' player that propels them to the next level.

Yeah I wish we were putting our youth in a place to try and win, with maybe 1 vet and one bench vet. Instead we have this Ayton/Ant/Grant/Thybulle/Timelord group that makes no sense to have as part of our roster.

Would having more young guys and less of those vets lead to more losses? Probably, but as you say thats fine we get a better pick. It also means we don't have to do a 4th year of this sit vets with fake injuries gimmick that Cronin has done since he became GM. I'm so sick of the Gleague scrubs playing meaningful minutes.

 

[BassPlaya]

Of course I am (happy when they do well). I've said so many times.

But the teams who rebuild based on emotion tend to have unsuccessful rebuilds that can take decades.

Not going to get to deep into this, but it appears that you are basing things on a premise. The premise that a championship is the only thing one's team should strive for.
It's different for me. I like good character players, giving their all in a game. Losing on purpose is horrible character. They are paid to win...every time they
step on the court.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

This rebuild is going to take at least five years on its current pace. If that's too fast for you, I don't know what to say. You're going to be at the point where the first players you brought in are going to be too old for your competitive window by the time you feel it's complete.

It'll take much longer than five years at its current pace, I'm not sure about 10.

Quicker than getting Flagg, or a lottery pick or a star to get the rebuild really going would be Jody selling the team. Sounds like she thinks it will be 20 years or longer though.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I want them to play the way they played in preseason, and I want Chauncey to go deep into the rotation to keep everyone fresh. The losses will take care of themselves.

 

[kjironman1]

ok....I'm curious...who?

Does Steve Kerr ring a bell?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

ok....I'm curious...who?

Steve Kerr and Jason Kidd were both title winning PG former players hired as head coaches with zero coaching experience, they have done pretty damn good.

Chauncy Billups was a very articulate TV commentator after his playing days and then was in discissions to take on front office positions such as the GM role with the Cavs. He was an assistant coach with the Clippers. You make it sound like he only got the Blazers coaching job from an Olshey relationship and was unqualified. He was a highly regarded candidate and had many opportunities with other organizations.

 

[kjironman1]

Lenny Wilkins?
How about Jason Kidd? I think he was an assistant for one year also. Lenny went straight to head coach.

 

[kjironman1]

Mark Jackson, Steve Nash, Larry Bird

 

[Phatguysrule]

Not going to get to deep into this, but it appears that you are basing things on a premise. The premise that a championship is the only thing one's team should strive for.
It's different for me. I like good character players, giving their all in a game. Losing on purpose is horrible character. They are paid to win...every time they
step on the court.

I'm not suggesting (and never have suggested) the players and coach should do anything other than try to win.

And I've specifically said on numerous occasions that they should be playing to win.

 

[Foxx]

Seeing this discussion happening in Utah game thread, thought we should move it here.

Continue exactly what they’re doing. Listen to no one and do what’s right and professional.

if this franchise didn’t have that backbone we would be tanking like y’all think. No offense but three year old thinking. You’d set our franchise back ultimately right back into the crapper.

At this point I wouldn’t even be surprised if Flagg busts with the way y’all swear he’s some savant. Karmic energy applied here - I would not be surprised.

I also would be equally non surprised to see us try to be competitive/not tank and still have an almost equal chance to get him.

like losing attracts anything good… okay I’ll stop

Perhaps toumani and deni high end potential is a maximum dominating factor anyway. Like to assume cooper even adds more value at the end of the day at this point is complete hopium. I just want that acknowledgment and I don’t see it, anywhere.

so respectfully, continue to cook.

what do we do? Continue to let ‘em cook.

As for me? Try to be gentle on this fan base as it develops. I recognize a lot of people that have no clue what they’re talking about, so perhaps teaching more than scolding is important.

 

[wizenheimer]

Does Steve Kerr ring a bell?

good catch, although he did spend 3 years as a GM before becoming coach

but again, what about Chaucey's 1st 3 seasons as a HC do you see as reason any other team would hire him as a HC? I'm thinking the Blazers won't re-sign him next summer and his ceiling for the next several seasons will be as an assistant coach