Notice Chauncey Billups new Portland Trail Blazers head coach

[JoshuaHall]

This is a good combination of "whataboutism" and obfuscation. It's the old "she's no angel" tactic. You're also implying that Portlanders regard accused rapists and Christians as on a par, which subscribes to an absurd right-wing caricature of liberals.


The good news is, it's not about you.

The other good news is it’s not about Portland woke culture, which is why Hammon didn’t get the job as so many people wish — primarily based on her gender if you look at the comments on Twitter, Facebook and even a few people here.

 

[B-Roy]

Billups had been considered the leading Portland candidate for months, but it does appear that both Brooklyn assistant Mike D'Antoni and San Antonio assistant Becky Hammon were legitimate finalists to fill Portland's vacancy. D'Antoni was billed as the choice somewhere in the middle, a noted offensive guru that could boost Lillard's production and vault him into a legitimate MVP conversation.

Hammon impressed Portland officials and was generally liked among Blazers staffers, sources said. But when Portland reached out for intel from San Antonio figures, the background on Hammon was not nearly as complimentary pertaining to various aspects of day-to-day coaching responsibilities. That sentiment has been echoed by sources around the league. Blazers personnel then cast doubt that Hammon was the candidate to steer the ship through such delicate waters with Lillard.

Blazers chair Jody Allen was the strongest champion for Hammon, sources said. Allen was energized by the idea of hiring the first female head coach in NBA history, also evidenced by the team contacting South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...ed-nba-head-coaching-hires-in-portland-dallas

@calvin natt

HEY LOOK. Maybe the reason she didn't get the job WASN'T because she was a woman.

Also more insight on Dame's role:

After years of unwavering loyalty, Lillard has begun acting on his frustration with Portland's inability to return to the deeper rounds of the playoffs. His on-the-record support for Kidd was something that Blazers officials were not expecting, sources said, until it was published and broadcast on social media. When Lillard's comments surfaced, several Portland staffers were surprised his public support was not for former Blazers assistant David Vanterpool, whom he previously endorsed for Minnesota's head job.

Otherwise, it seems Lillard was organically involved in the Blazers' search, which does not appear to truly have considered the "20-25 candidates" that general manager Neil Olshey asserted it would. From the beginning stages of replacing Terry Stotts, Billups was always a name that Lillard and Olshey aligned on, sources said, and the Clippers assistant has received nothing but rave reviews around the league during his first year on an NBA bench.

 

[illmatic99]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...ed-nba-head-coaching-hires-in-portland-dallas

@calvin natt

HEY LOOK. Maybe the reason she didn't get the job WASN'T because she was a woman.

Also more insight on Dame's role:

sheesh, @calvin natt

really surprised they let that leak.

All this points to the process being thorough and legitimate. You're not flying Becky and MDA to Seattle (presumably private on Jody's dime) unless you plan to really consider them. The morons claiming this process was a sham need to calm down a bit.

 

[B-Roy]

sheesh, @calvin natt

really surprised they let that leak.

All this points to the process being thorough and legitimate. You're not flying Becky and MDA to Seattle (presumably private on Jody's) unless you plan to really consider them. The morons claiming this process was a sham need to calm down a bit.

It also mentions it's not just Spurs staffers, but sources around the league. It's not just one person.

 

[riverman]

Becky almost got this job....it's not like she got a cold shoulder from Portland...Dawn Staley just got one phone call and not direct interviews and she's a black woman coaching the Olympic team....I'd have welcomed either candidate with no concern for their gender but I think Chauncey is just too talented for the needs of this team than any other candidate they interviewed....I also trust the process when it comes to the front office and believe they've done their vetting thoroughly before coming to a decision....Becky will be a coach soon I'd say...and probably with a lottery team that is not in danger of wasting a superstar's prime. Orlando or New Orleans would be perfect for her but really I think she's going to inherit the Spurs job in the end. I wish her well in her pursuits

 

[B-Roy]

By the way, Boston is hiring Will Hardy from the Spurs to be an assistant. Wish we could go for someone like that.

 

[illmatic99]

By the way, Boston is hiring Will Hardy from the Spurs to be an assistant. Wish we could go for someone like that.

he's a name i've thrown around here, but really he has nothing going for him outside of being at pop's side for 10 yrs. really surprised he's leaving SA-- most of their fans on their boards figured him to be Pop's replacement.

i want someone with more than a few yrs of actual head coaching experience as assistant.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Becky will be a coach soon I'd say...and probably with a lottery team that is not in danger of wasting a superstar's prime. Orlando or New Orleans would be perfect for her but really I think she's going to inherit the Spurs job in the end.

This will be interesting to follow. I think you are right, but if she does not get the Spurs then the speculation in this article might be true.

 

[B-Roy]

he's a name i've thrown around here, but really he has nothing going for him outside of being at pop's side for 10 yrs. really surprised he's leaving SA-- most of their fans on their boards figured him to be Pop's replacement.

i want someone with more than a few yrs of actual head coaching experience as assistant.

Well if the reports are true it definitely won't be Hammon.

 

[riverman]

he's a name i've thrown around here, but really he has nothing going for him outside of being at pop's side for 10 yrs. really surprised he's leaving SA-- most of their fans on their boards figured him to be Pop's replacement.

i want someone with more than a few yrs of actual head coaching experience as assistant.

There are multiple assistant coaching positions so I think you can have both a talented coach from another assistant job and a veteran assistant with head coaching experience....the thing I love about Chauncey is his ability to organize a team and keep it on the same page...he did that as a player and I expect it as a coach...he's popular and I'm sure will have no trouble attracting a talented staff

 

[Scalma]

You start with facts about Hammon and end with speculation.

the only fact about Hammon is that she’s an assistant with the Spurs. That on its own doesn’t qualify her to be a head coach.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

You start with facts about Hammon and end with speculation.

Isn’t that what people are doing with Billups? I offered facts and then gave my opinion. What’s wrong with that? That’s how message boards are supposed to work, isn’t it?

I don’t see her as a good fit culturally in the city of Portland due to the facts I listed.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

This is a good combination of "whataboutism" and obfuscation. It's the old "she's no angel" tactic. You're also implying that Portlanders regard accused rapists and Christians as on a par, which subscribes to an absurd right-wing caricature of liberals.


The good news is, it's not about you.

I said nothing about accused rapists in my post. Please don’t put words in my mouth and instead address what was actually written. If not, that’s a very dishonest strawman. The post was about Becky Hammon fitting in politically and culturally in Portland and had zero to do with Billups. I didn’t even mention him.

Also, it’s my post so of course it’s about me and my opinion. What the hell?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Some of the comments here, on other sites, and on social media would make you think a large portion of Blazer fans are upset with the hiring of Billups.

If you look at the poll only 5% are not happy with Billups as the new coach. That is one person out of twenty. So I would call it an extremely popular hire.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

he's a name i've thrown around here, but really he has nothing going for him outside of being at pop's side for 10 yrs. really surprised he's leaving SA-- most of their fans on their boards figured him to be Pop's replacement.

i want someone with more than a few yrs of actual head coaching experience as assistant.

Billups has played everywhere and is highly-respected around the league so I don’t think finding assistants including one with HC experience will be an issue if Jody will pay a premium to get them to Portland. After reading about things other than the rape allegation I’m excited to see what he can do as a coach. He is respected by current players, played within the last 7 years, and is only 44 years-old. I don’t think he’s going to have any problem challenging modern players since he played against most of the stars in the league and was seen as a great leader and highly regarded by all of them. Could be an absolutely perfect head coach for the modern player as long as some experienced and also respected assistants are on the bench with him.

 

[illmatic99]

Twitter update: Chris McGowan has now followed Chauncey.

how much was he resisting do it earlier?

 

[KristinthBonkers]

Twitter update: Chris McGowan has now followed Chauncey.

how much was he resisting do it earlier?

Probably waited until they announced it as official to do so. I wouldn’t read too much into it.

 

[illmatic99]

Probably waited until they announced it as official to do so. I wouldn’t read too much into it.

it's a running joke because he routinely follows people before news breaks. it was actually quite predictable over the past two seasons.

keep up, newbie.

 

[JoshuaHall]

“Hammon impressed Portland officials and was generally liked among Blazers staffers, sources said. But when Portland reached out for intel from San Antonio figures, the background on Hammon was not nearly as complimentary pertaining to various aspects of day-to-day coaching responsibilities. That sentiment has been echoed by sources around the league. Blazers personnel then cast doubt that Hammon was the candidate to steer the ship through such delicate waters with Lillard.”

Yet I was getting torched for asking if anyone knew what the fuck she did.

Also, I think we are seeing a shift into hiring black men as HC’s because more than a few players have said, on record, that it’s a more relatable experience for them. Here is one article. Players also have more input than ever before (well, star players) so they virtually dictate who gets hired. Most have went to bat for… you guessed it, black/former players because “relatable.”

I think this may be another major hurdle for Hammon.

 

[B-Roy]

Simmons and Rusillo on their podcast said that Portland was willing to interview Kidd. Kidd backed out because he knew he was going to get the Dallas job. Seeing how quickly it happened (and how Carlisle seeming knew when he left), I think that is plausible.

So we may have to thank the Mavs for saving us from Kidd at least.

 

[All Net]

Hell yea!!!… Billups is a championship starting point guard, finals mvp, all star and all nba defensive high iq floor general! Great hire!

All of that was also true of Magic Johnson, and yet he was a horrible coach.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

it's a running joke because he routinely follows people before news breaks. it was actually quite predictable over the past two seasons.

keep up, newbie.

Thanks!

 

[KristinthBonkers]

Simmons and Rusillo on their podcast said that Portland was willing to interview Kidd. Kidd backed out because he knew he was going to get the Dallas job. Seeing how quickly it happened (and how Carlisle seeming knew when he left), I think that is plausible.

So we may have to thank the Mavs for saving us from Kidd at least.

Rusillo is a lot more connected to sources in the NBA than most people think. He just doesn’t brag about it much which is probably why he keeps getting good info.

 

[illmatic99]

Simmons and Rusillo on their podcast said that Portland was willing to interview Kidd. Kidd backed out because he knew he was going to get the Dallas job. Seeing how quickly it happened (and how Carlisle seeming knew when he left), I think that is plausible.

So we may have to thank the Mavs for saving us from Kidd at least.

that podcast was a painful listen. hurt my heart, man.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[illmatic99]

smh, there is no winning here.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Simmons and Rusillo on their podcast said that Portland was willing to interview Kidd. Kidd backed out because he knew he was going to get the Dallas job. Seeing how quickly it happened (and how Carlisle seeming knew when he left), I think that is plausible.

So we may have to thank the Mavs for saving us from Kidd at least.

Thank you Mavs!

 

[B-Roy]

smh, there is no winning here.

Yeah, of course this would be the response. Whose to say they're wrong. But there seems to be more legs to this than people realize.

Also, 7 years for Becky is not long. Bud waited 20 years before getting his first HC.

 

[All Net]

Also, I think we are seeing a shift into hiring black men as HC’s because more than a few players have said, on record, that it’s a more relatable experience for them. Here is one article. Players also have more input than ever before (well, star players) so they virtually dictate who gets hired. Most have went to bat for… you guessed it, black/former players because “relatable.”

I think this may be another major hurdle for Hammon.

No doubt about it. And the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about is that most NBA players don’t want to be coached by a woman.

 

[illmatic99]

Yeah, of course this would be the response. Whose to say they're wrong. But there seems to be more legs to this than people realize.

Also, 7 years for Becky is not long. Bud waited 20 years before getting his first HC.

The BR article even goes as far as to say Jody was ready to hire her and that they all really liked her during the interview. But that gets ignored of course.

Olshey has shot himself in the foot in these press conferences as of late and i think he brings a lot of this criticism on himself with the way he answers questions. And NO ONE gives him the benefit of doubt.

But the interview process was as legitimate as can be. They went through it exactly as how he had outlined a few weeks ago, and if you follow the twitter stalking and the insiders we have here, multiple candidates were considered (Joerger, Barry, Staley, Hollins, etc). And they pinpointed three of them to be interviewed by Jody, did their due diligence with Billups (read: INDEPENDENT third party was the one that vetted his background on the allegation). Dame sat in on EVERY interview as was reported, not just with Billups.

The process was as thorough as can be. Sure they had a leading candidate, and that's not unique to this position or this league, but they didn't just provide lip service to the others.

Look at what Indy did. They put Stotts/ Clifford/ Shaw through the ringer of interviews, but reportedly hired Carlisle off a single phone call.

Or Dallas, hiring Kidd without any other interviews.

There obviously is a level of nepotism in this field, as there is in any other, (and what Neil did to leak this news to Woj/Shams on Friday was nothing short of a disaster) but i am comfortable that they did a comprehensive interview and touched all their bases here.