Game Thread GAME# 38: BLAZERS @ KINGS - JANUARY 1, 2019 - TUESDAY, 6:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Sheldon Shape]

I see our players go ISO crazy and stop moving the ball or shooting too early from deep in the shot clock and I blame the guards, not Stotts.

If the guards aren't running the game plan then as coach, Stotts needs to discipline them and make them play the right way. If he can't, he's already lost them and should no longer be the coach. It's pretty simple.

 

[riverman]

If the guards aren't running the game plan then as coach, Stotts needs to discipline them and make them play the right way. If he can't, he's already lost them and should no longer be the coach. It's pretty simple.

Stotts offense has nothing to do with the guards going into ISO mode...and we don't know what St0tts says to them in practice or off camera...I don't buy that Stotts has ever lost his locker room or the respect of his players....our problem isn't Stotts...it's execution on a consistent basis

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Stotts offense has nothing to do with the guards going into ISO mode...and we don't know what St0tts says to them in practice or off camera...I don't buy that Stotts has ever lost his locker room or the respect of his players....our problem isn't Stotts...it's execution on a consistent basis

Seriously!? This is ABSOLUTELY on coach. WTF. If he's not getting his players to execute his game plan then he is simply ineffective in his role as head coach. That's literally what a head coach is for. LMAO.

I don't care what Stotts tells them in practice or off camera, it's not happening on the court. HE takes the fall for that. Nobody else. He's the coach. He's responsible.

 

[riverman]

he is simply ineffective in his role as head coach.

yeah...well good luck with that....he got this roster, yes this roster to the 3rd seed last season in the WEST......he's been great for Portland...he's also gotten this team to beat the best teams in the league....he gets a lot out of what he has to work with. San Antonio hasn't exactly owned the post season since Duncan retired...we've done well since Lamarcus bailed considering.

 

[kjironman1]

I definitely disagree with this and I think anyone who watched Blazers' championship team or any of the Adelman teams would disagree also.

You do realize the rules are much different today right? Every player on the court would be fouled out or thrown out.

 

[kjironman1]

he got us out of the first round for the first time in 14 years...I call that success...making the playoffs 5 years in a row with one star player and role players in the west.....and the west is a beast

A bunch on here lost their favorite whipping post when they made it to the second round.

 

[kjironman1]

I don't know if you meant to, but you just pointed out part of the conundrum here. Stotts is a better coach in the regular season than he is in the play-offs, where the scales tip toward coaches who are willing and able to adjust on the fly. The post season is like football - teams have more time to scout their opponent and come up with a specialized game plan. A team that is too predictable is at a huge disadvantage....and you can't deny that the Blazers are awfully predictable on both ends of the court.

You absolutely cannot be successful in the post season if you don't get there.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

yeah...well good luck with that....he got this roster, yes this roster to the 3rd seed last season in the WEST......he's been great for Portland...he's also gotten this team to beat the best teams in the league....he gets a lot out of what he has to work with. San Antonio hasn't exactly owned the post season since Duncan retired...we've done well since Lamarcus bailed considering.

You're misquoting me on purpose I guess to make your point? I didn't say he was ineffective. It was your assertion that the guards don't listen to him and execute his game plan. I'm saying IF that is true, which I don't think is, then he is ineffective if he can't get his players to play by his rules. You can't have it both ways.

I don't think he's worthless as a coach. For a team looking to rebuild like the Suns, he would be good. We've simply outgrown him and aren't going any further with him.

 

[BonesJones]

You absolutely cannot be successful in the post season if you don't get there.

We have Dame, we dont have a problem getting there.

 

[kjironman1]

We have Dame, we dont have a problem getting there.

So you are essentially saying that if the team had more than just Dame then they would do better in the playoffs. I agree wholeheartedly. Not only that but Stotts would be doing better on pretty much every front if the team had more talent also. Look even Spoelstra got a chip.

 

[oldmangrouch]

So you are essentially saying that if the team had more than just Dame then they would do better in the playoffs. I agree wholeheartedly. Not only that but Stotts would be doing better on pretty much every front it the team had more talent also. Look even Spoelstra got a chip.

I used to defend Stotts and treat this as an either/or issue. It isn't. Stotts and Olshey have both worn out their welcome. People say you shouldn't make changes just for the sake of change. I disagree. When you have stagnation, a new voice and perspective doesn't need to be perfect to have value. This is a case where moving beyond being first round cannon fodder requires taking a risk.

I'll get off the soapbox now.

 

[BonesJones]

So you are essentially saying that if the team had more than just Dame then they would do better in the playoffs. I agree wholeheartedly. Not only that but Stotts would be doing better on pretty much every front if the team had more talent also. Look even Spoelstra got a chip.

No, dont put false words into my mouth.....

The playoffs are much different than the regular season. The playoffs are more about game planning and adjustments, and that's where Stotts is heavily lacking.

Stotts would've gotten a ring coaching that Heat team too.

 

[BonesJones]

I used to defend Stotts and treat this as an either/or issue. It isn't. Stotts and Olshey have both worn out their welcome. People say you shouldn't make changes just for the sake of change. I disagree. When you have stagnation, a new voice and perspective doesn't need to be perfect to have value. This is a case where moving beyond being first round cannon fodder requires taking a risk.

I'll get off the soapbox now.

People forget what happened on the post-season last year. They cant remember us running pick n roll constantly at half court in game 3 even though it was getting constantly trapped and we were getting killed by it.

It's all "getting better players should neutralize the trap"! Yeah, well so would not setting a ball screen at halfcourt.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

You do realize the rules are much different today right? Every player on the court would be fouled out or thrown out.

I actually think those teams would have been more successful under today's rules; especially playing in the finals against Detroit.

 

[kjironman1]

I used to defend Stotts and treat this as an either/or issue. It isn't. Stotts and Olshey have both worn out their welcome. People say you shouldn't make changes just for the sake of change. I disagree. When you have stagnation, a new voice and perspective doesn't need to be perfect to have value. This is a case where moving beyond being first round cannon fodder requires taking a risk.

I'll get off the soapbox now.

No worries. I totally understand the sentiment. Also i'm pretty sure his days are numbered. Stotts won't get another contract unless they somehow make the WCF.

 

[kjironman1]

I actually think those teams would have been more successful under today's rules; especially playing in the finals against Detroit.

Ha Ha.... Sure thing.

 

[kjironman1]

No, dont put false words into my mouth.....

The playoffs are much different than the regular season. The playoffs are more about game planning and adjustments, and that's where Stotts is heavily lacking.

Stotts would've gotten a ring coaching that Heat team too.

But right here in your post

The playoffs are more about game planning and adjustments, and that's where Stotts is heavily lacking

But then....

Stotts would've gotten a ring coaching that Heat team too.

So i guess having Lebron, Wade and Bosh with Chalmers, Anderson and Battier with Haslem and Mike Miller shooting threes would mean that Talent makes a difference and only having Dame would be considered tough to win a chip with.

You can't have both sides of the conversation Bones. Either Stotts has the talent to compete or he doesn't? Which one are you going to chose here?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Not to be snarky here, but on any team featuring Lebron the "coach" is just a name in the program.

 

[Jade Falcon]

You smoke $20+ cigars?
I'm impressed. $2.75 is my upper limit.

Thanks, but I don't smoke them often, and when I do buy cigars that price, I let them rest for at least a year before I smoke them.

I think the most expensive one I have at the moment is a $11 Tatuaje Miami Especiales Lancero. Not sure without looking at my tupperdore though....

Most expensive cigar I ever bought was a $40+ Fuente Fuente OpusX for my father about 8 years ago. Goddamn, that thing was pricey! That's the kind of cigar that you let rest about 3 to 5 years before you smoke it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Thanks, but I don't smoke them often, and when I do buy cigars that price, I let them rest for at least a year before I smoke them.

I think the most expensive one I have at the moment is a $11 Tatuaje Miami Especiales Lancero. Not sure without looking at my tupperdore though....

Most expensive cigar I ever bought was a $40+ Fuente Fuente OpusX for my father about 8 years ago. Goddamn, that thing was pricey! That's the kind of cigar that you let rest about 3 to 5 years before you smoke it.

For that price you'd think they would already come rested.

 

[Jade Falcon]

For that price you'd think they would already come rested.

lol, tobacco doesn't quite work like that, I'm afraid. Large growers will stack their tobacco in 100 lb bundles during the curing process for anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 years.

 

[HailBlazers]

People forget what happened on the post-season last year. They cant remember us running pick n roll constantly at half court in game 3 even though it was getting constantly trapped and we were getting killed by it.

It's all "getting better players should neutralize the trap"! Yeah, well so would not setting a ball screen at halfcourt.

It was the least I've watched a Blazers playoff series in many many years. Zero adjustments we're made and it was simply unbearable.

 

[oldfisherman]

Thanks, but I don't smoke them often, and when I do buy cigars that price, I let them rest for at least a year before I smoke them.

I think the most expensive one I have at the moment is a $11 Tatuaje Miami Especiales Lancero. Not sure without looking at my tupperdore though....

Most expensive cigar I ever bought was a $40+ Fuente Fuente OpusX for my father about 8 years ago. Goddamn, that thing was pricey! That's the kind of cigar that you let rest about 3 to 5 years before you smoke it.

I smoked a hand made Fuente today. But paid less than $3 for it.

I buy my cigars from Holts.com. They private label handmade Fuentes under the label "Holts factory specials". They are as good as any $20 I have ever smoked.

They come in a lot of sizes and wrappers. You need to buy 25-100 to get the good price. They are under $5 per stick.

I buy Gigante Natural 7.5x54, 50 at a time for $139.95 shipped free, and they throw in a free lighter.

The other cigar I like from Holts is going to crack you up. The brand is Herfdog. It comes in 3 sizes, I get the Angry Mutt size which is a churchill. The cost $19.95, for 20 of them, + shipping. Decent smoke with a good burn.

 

[Jade Falcon]

I smoked a hand made Fuente today. But paid less than $3 for it.

I buy my cigars from Holts.com. They private label handmade Fuentes under the label "Holts factory specials". They are as good as any $20 I have ever smoked.

They come in a lot of sizes and wrappers. You need to buy 25-100 to get the good price. They are under $5 per stick.

I buy Gigante Natural 7.5x54, 50 at a time for $139.95 shipped free, and they throw in a free lighter.

The other cigar I like from Holts is going to crack you up. The brand is Herfdog. It comes in 3 sizes, I get the Angry Mutt size which is a churchill. The cost $19.95, for 20 of them, + shipping. Decent smoke with a good burn.

Damn, that's a good deal! I just checked Holts out, and they've got great prices.

Problem is, I don't currently have a credit card, so I buy mine with cash at a B&M. Otherwise, I would definitely jump on that.

I'd have to buy a few more containers to keep them in, however, with that amount of cigars, lol. I currently use a 7-liter KlipIt container for the ones that I have, but it wouldn't hold 100 sticks.

Which Fuente did you smoke?

 

[kjironman1]

Not to be snarky here, but on any team featuring Lebron the "coach" is just a name in the program.

That isn't snarky at all. It's the truth. It's the truth because Lebron is the most talented player in the league. When you put a number of other talented players around him the team becomes very very good.
The Blazers lack talent. There is only so much that can be done without it. That is the whole point. Doesn't matter who coaches when you have a bunch of talent because any coach can look good. It's what a coach does when he has very little talent that makes the difference.

It really doesn't matter much though. The Blazers most likely will not give Stotts another contract. Certainly will be looking for a new owner soon enough. Looks to me like we will see a number of changes. I would also assume that would include Olshey. But why pay those two to leave early with the team the way it is right now? Most everyone can see this team will only compete to an extent without a major acquisition. They need a serious threat to score other than Dame or CJ from outside. They don't have that right now.
Second round best for this team this year.

 

[HailBlazers]

I smoked a hand made Fuente today. But paid less than $3 for it.

I buy my cigars from Holts.com. They private label handmade Fuentes under the label "Holts factory specials". They are as good as any $20 I have ever smoked.

They come in a lot of sizes and wrappers. You need to buy 25-100 to get the good price. They are under $5 per stick.

I buy Gigante Natural 7.5x54, 50 at a time for $139.95 shipped free, and they throw in a free lighter.

The other cigar I like from Holts is going to crack you up. The brand is Herfdog. It comes in 3 sizes, I get the Angry Mutt size which is a churchill. The cost $19.95, for 20 of them, + shipping. Decent smoke with a good burn.

Damn Pro Tip right there. Thanks @oldfisherman!

 

[BonesJones]

But right here in your post

But then....

So i guess having Lebron, Wade and Bosh with Chalmers, Anderson and Battier with Haslem and Mike Miller shooting threes would mean that Talent makes a difference and only having Dame would be considered tough to win a chip with.

You can't have both sides of the conversation Bones. Either Stotts has the talent to compete or he doesn't? Which one are you going to chose here?

Of course talent makes a difference. So does coaching. Elite talent can overcome coaching,
and vise versa.

So yes, if Stotts had elite talent around the best player in the world, he could win a championship. That doesn't mean hes a bad coach or that hes not holding us back.

 

[BonesJones]

"Obviously more talent helps teams win more games so it cant be coaching. Cant have both". Ok then. Smh...

 

[kjironman1]

"Obviously more talent helps teams win more games so it cant be coaching. Cant have both". Ok then. Smh...

Sure you can. However, this is where the opinions come in. There are a vocal minority on a few boards that follow the Blazers that seem to think Stotts isn't a good coach. And there are a whole bunch of people including the players of the team and other teams, Fans of other teams, Owners of other teams, Coaches of this team and others from every level high school, college and NBA, Ex- players and players that used to play on the Blazers that have been traded, that feel he is not only a good coach but they actually say he is a great coach.

Yes there are a few media types that want to jump on both sides of this equation also. But it isn't many. Most say the problems in Portland are not coaching. The problems stem from lack of talent. Then they usually add that Stotts is doing a tremendous job with the talent he has to work with. He has literally been in the running for COY for 3 of the past 5 years.
Now don't get me wrong here. Stagnation happens, Coaching changes happen, Infusing new blood into a system that isn't growing can have very positive effects. But to trash the man's abilities is wrong. Terry Stotts deserves much more respect than that.

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't know if you meant to, but you just pointed out part of the conundrum here. Stotts is a better coach in the regular season than he is in the play-offs, where the scales tip toward coaches who are willing and able to adjust on the fly. The post season is like football - teams have more time to scout their opponent and come up with a specialized game plan. A team that is too predictable is at a huge disadvantage....and you can't deny that the Blazers are awfully predictable on both ends of the court.

Stotts has won 2 playoff series without HCA. That is very difficult to do. How many coaches in the West have done that in the last 5 years? Are there any? Last season was the only time he had HCA and yes, we blew it but otherwise, he’s been great. Yes, we got swept by Warriors but we were 8 seed without Nurkic playing against one of the best teams of all time.