Billy Donovan anyone?

[BigGameDamian]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndic...-return-as-thunder-coach-next-season.amp.html

Billy Donovan Reportedly Won't Return as Thunder Coach Next Season

 

[e_blazer]

No. Just no.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

If Donovan is that crappy a coach, but his career record W-L record is better than Stotts, what does that mean? They are also a small market team with no obvious advantage over Portland. If they have a better record with a worse coach what does that say about Olshey as a talent evaluator and roster builder?

 

[hoopsjock]

Fuck no.

Dude didn't even double team Dame in the playoffs when everyone knows it easily stops the Blazers.

 

[e_blazer]

If Donovan is that crappy a coach, but his career record W-L record is better than Stotts, what does that mean? They are also a small market team with no obvious advantage over Portland. If they have a better record with a worse coach what does that say about Olshey as a talent evaluator and roster builder?

Hmm. Let me ponder that a minute. Maybe it means his GM has given him a better roster (Paul George paired with Westbrick) and healthier roster than Stotts was given? Maybe he didn’t have to go through a near total rebuild like Stotts did when LMA left and then most of the starting lineup was dumped? Maybe the players on the floor make a difference? As far as Olshey goes, he hasn’t had any great moves in quite a while. He needs one now or maybe the move needed is him.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Hmm. Let me ponder that a minute. Maybe it means his GM has given him a better Paul George paired with Westbrick) and healthier roster than Stotts was given? Maybe he didn’t have to go through a near total rebuild like Stotts did when LMA left and then most of the starting lineup was dumped? Maybe the players on the floor make a difference? As far as Olshey goes, he hasn’t had any great moves in quite a while. He needs one now or maybe the move needed is him.

He had Durant too.

 

[Chris Craig]

He will be the next Pelicans coach

 

[e_blazer]

He had Durant too.

True. Just one full season, but it was a great one. 55-27 and made it to the WCF.

 

[OneSport3]

Hmm. Let me ponder that a minute. Maybe it means his GM has given him a better Paul George paired with Westbrick) and healthier roster than Stotts was given? Maybe he didn’t have to go through a near total rebuild like Stotts did when LMA left and then most of the starting lineup was dumped? Maybe the players on the floor make a difference? As far as Olshey goes, he hasn’t had any great moves in quite a while. He needs one now or maybe the move needed is him.

You don’t think losing your 2 superstars is a total rebuild?

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Hmm. Let me ponder that a minute. Maybe it means his GM has given him a better roster (Paul George paired with Westbrick) and healthier roster than Stotts was given? Maybe he didn’t have to go through a near total rebuild like Stotts did when LMA left and then most of the starting lineup was dumped? Maybe the players on the floor make a difference? As far as Olshey goes, he hasn’t had any great moves in quite a while. He needs one now or maybe the move needed is him.

Exactly what I was implying.

 

[e_blazer]

You don’t think losing your 2 superstars is a total rebuild?

Not sure you can call it a total rebuild when your GM gives you Chris Paul and Gallinari.

 

[RR7]

I always thought he was a crappy coach, but I'm now willing to give him quite a bit of leeway in thinking that that had more to do with having to deal with Westbrook.

 

[OneSport3]

Not sure you can call it a total rebuild when your GM gives you Chris Paul and Gallinari.

You don’t think the Thunder were in rebuilding mode when they traded Westbrook and PG? They had no intentions of keeping Chris Paul. They were trying to trade him but couldn’t because of his massive contract. The Thunder simply overachieved.

And Gallinari is a 3rd or 4th option at this point in his career.

 

[e_blazer]

You don’t think the Thunder were in rebuilding mode when they traded Westbrook and PG? They had no intentions of keeping Chris Paul. They were trying to trade him but couldn’t because of his massive contract. The Thunder simply overachieved.

And Gallinari is a 3rd or 4th option at this point in his career.

Sure, management was entering a rebuild mode, but gettin CP3 and not having him really be tradable put that off a year. Presti assembled a playoff caliber roster around Paul. It definitely wasn’t a typical rebuild type of team. Next year probably will be, which is likely why Donovan is leaving.

 

[HailBlazers]

How about Andre Miller, whats he up to?

 

[blazerkor]

You don’t think the Thunder were in rebuilding mode when they traded Westbrook and PG? They had no intentions of keeping Chris Paul. They were trying to trade him but couldn’t because of his massive contract. The Thunder simply overachieved.

And Gallinari is a 3rd or 4th option at this point in his career.

Hell Billy D may have been fired for making the playoffs. He might have been told to just play the young guys and give CP3 and Gallo as little run as possible. Who knows?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

If Donovan is that crappy a coach, but his career record W-L record is better than Stotts, what does that mean? They are also a small market team with no obvious advantage over Portland. If they have a better record with a worse coach what does that say about Olshey as a talent evaluator and roster builder?

The Thunder roster has been much better than POR. Coaches aren't that important.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Chris Paul was the coach of that team

 

[TBpup]

Hmm. Let me ponder that a minute. Maybe it means his GM has given him a better roster (Paul George paired with Westbrick) and healthier roster than Stotts was given? Maybe he didn’t have to go through a near total rebuild like Stotts did when LMA left and then most of the starting lineup was dumped? Maybe the players on the floor make a difference? As far as Olshey goes, he hasn’t had any great moves in quite a while. He needs one now or maybe the move needed is him.

Very true about who Donovan had.....but he lost Westbrook and PG13 from last year (MVP and All-NBA player) and STILL finished with a better record than Stotts....and of course, more Playoff wins. I don't want Donovan, but if he is fired (BETTER REGULAR SEASON RECORD AND BETTER PLAYOFF RECORD) how does Stotts still have a job?

 

[illmatic99]

Very true about who Donovan had.....but he lost Westbrook and PG13 from last year (MVP and All-NBA player) and STILL finished with a better record than Stotts....and of course, more Playoff wins. I don't want Donovan, but if he is fired (BETTER REGULAR SEASON RECORD AND BETTER PLAYOFF RECORD) how does Stotts still have a job?

Two things.
1. Chris Paul had an MVP caliber season, and they were unusually healthy this year.
2. Donovan wasn't fired. They mutually parted ways due to the direction of the team's future.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

How about Andre Miller, whats he up to?

I wish he would come in and teach our guys how to throw a lob!

 

[TBpup]

Two things.
1. Chris Paul had an MVP caliber season, and they were unusually healthy this year.
2. Donovan wasn't fired. They mutually parted ways due to the direction of the team's future.

I thought Dame was the one having an MVP type season. So lets say both players had an MVP type season....OKC still had more regular season wins and Playoff wins.

As for 'mutually parted ways'....fine. Wish we would have 'mutually parted ways' with Stotts long ago. Every year there is some excuse for Portland and other teams that did better had some reason some fans down played.

@wizenheimer had it dead right. 4-28 in closeout series under Stotts. I enjoy the excuse making, rationalization or whatever other reason why we should continue down that road. Don't agree with it....but enjoy reading.

 

[illmatic99]

I thought Dame was the one having an MVP type season. So lets say both players had an MVP type season....OKC still had more regular season wins and Playoff wins.

As for 'mutually parted ways'....fine. Wish we would have 'mutually parted ways' with Stotts long ago. Every year there is some excuse for Portland and other teams that did better had some reason some fans down played.

@wizenheimer had it dead right. 4-28 in closeout series under Stotts. I enjoy the excuse making, rationalization or whatever other reason why we should continue down that road. Don't agree with it....but enjoy reading.

whos making excuses? i want stotts gone too, but he's a better coach than donovan. we saw first hand last year,

 

[TBpup]

No one here wants Donovan so a bit of a straw argument. Just saying if Donovan is gone with a better record all around, how does Stotts keep his job year after year?

....and as for who is making excuses? Uh....really?

 

[tester551]

whos making excuses? i want stotts gone too, but he's a better coach than donovan. we saw first hand last year,

I'm not sure I agree that Stotts is better than Donovan.
Realistically, they are comparable and both mediocre.

 

[illmatic99]

I'm not sure I agree that Stotts is better than Donovan.
Realistically, they are comparable and both mediocre.

Sure, but Terry coached circles around Donovan head to head. This year's OKC run where they won 2 more playoff games in the first round shouldn't remove that fact.

And seriously, OKC was REALLY healthy all year. When was the last time Gallo played damn near every game for his team? What about Paul?

We think Terry is bad at making adjustments in the playoffs-- Billy is just as bad. He's not an upgrade over Stotts at all

 

[Natebishop3]

lol no

 

[e_blazer]

Very true about who Donovan had.....but he lost Westbrook and PG13 from last year (MVP and All-NBA player) and STILL finished with a better record than Stotts....and of course, more Playoff wins. I don't want Donovan, but if he is fired (BETTER REGULAR SEASON RECORD AND BETTER PLAYOFF RECORD) how does Stotts still have a job?

I think that you know the answers to that, but just for the sake of discussion:

1. Yeah, he lost Westbrick and George, but he got CP3 and Gallo to return to a very solid supporting cast.

2. He didn't have the injuries that the Blazers had: No Nurk until the bubble, Collins and Hood lost in the first month of the season.

3. The Thunder got 3 wins in the playoffs, but it was against the Rockets, (No. 4 seed) not the Lakers (No. 1 seed) , and the Blazers lost Collins and for 1.5 games, Lillard.

There is absolutely nothing I can say that will convince those who think that Stotts is the major reason for the Blazers lack of success. I guess I somehow expect people to at least acknowledge reality though.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Neither Donovan, Bud, nor Brett Brown are hills I would be willing to die on. At best, they would be only minor upgrades. OTOH, 2 of those guys are out of work and the 3rd is hanging on by his toenails while Stotts is seemingly bullet-proof. If those teams can find up-grades, so could Portland.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

There is absolutely nothing I can say that will convince those who think that Stotts is the major reason for the Blazers lack of success. I guess I somehow expect people to at least acknowledge reality though.

Not the only reason, not even "the major reason" , but one of the reasons. The same can be said about Olshey. If the Blazers are serious about contending, they need to make multiple changes.