Head Coach thread (2 Viewers)

[B-Roy]

In his first year as an assistant with the Clippers, Billups also recently interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching job and has drawn interest from several more teams with openings, including Washington, Orlando and New Orleans, sources told ESPN.

Billups is a prominent candidate in the Blazers' search, sources said.

Billups was five-time NBA All-Star in his 17 seasons as a player, including MVP of the 2014 NBA Finals with the Detroit Pistons.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ka-bucks-darvin-ham-clippers-chauncey-billups

 

[illmatic99]

Has it been explained why there is no talk at all about Vanterpool?

Kinda strange that he doesn't even get an interview after all the drama Dame/CJ created a few months ago.

 

[Chris Craig]

Now that Steve Van Gundy and Scott Brooks are out in NO and WAS, not mention Carlisle in Dallas, there are more and more head coaching openings. Blazers need to make their move or they may lose their candidate to another team. Seeing as most of our candidates are also interviewing with other teams. Time is short.

 

[riverman]

Now that Steve Van Gundy and Scott Brooks are out in NO and WAS, not mention Carlisle in Dallas, there are more and more head coaching openings. Blazers need to make their move or they may lose their candidate to another team. Seeing as most of our candidates are also interviewing with other teams. Time is short.

Pretty sure we already have our coach and he's coaching the playoffs right now...also Portland is way more attractive to many coaches than other destinations...Mavs aren't hiring a coach until they get a GM....fact is we could be headed in the same direction..we'll find out soon I'm sure...everything to me is leading towards Chauncey being our guy and other interviews just due diligence...I also don't think they want DVP because he was here under Stotts for so long and he didn't produce stellar results in Minnesota either nor get a nod there as a head coach.

 

[wizenheimer]

He could be interviewing again with us as well.

I think if Neil really wanted Billups though he should push to make the move now. Get a verbal commitment.

it entirely possible he has pushed for a commitment and Billups isn't buying the pitch

 

[HailBlazers]

Has it been explained why there is no talk at all about Vanterpool?

Kinda strange that he doesn't even get an interview after all the drama Dame/CJ created a few months ago.

Because he's a known quantity? Who's likely not strong enough to take this team to the next level.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Because he's a known quantity? Who's likely not strong enough to take this team to the next level.

But D’Antoni is?

 

[riverman]

But D’Antoni is?

I sure don't think so

 

[JoshuaHall]

But D’Antoni is?

At least when he makes the playoffs he gets out of the first round, almost every time.

 

[JoshuaHall]

And Dame specifically said that part of the reason Minnesota should’ve hired Vanterpool is because he can “develop an elite backcourt.”

As I’ve said a million times, his reasoning for saying that job is good for Vanterpool does not apply to why he would (or wouldn’t, in this case) be a good hire for Portland. Are we still trying to develop our backcourt?

Uh, no. So that’s why.

 

[Scalma]

Woj is hinting at Billups/Portland in here. This as much as he’ll say without actually saying it.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ka-bucks-darvin-ham-clippers-chauncey-billups

also mentions Celtics players are endorsing Udoka. I wonder why he wasn’t a candidate in Portland.

 

[Mediocre Man]

At least when he makes the playoffs he gets out of the first round, almost every time.

So?

 

[Haakzilla]

Woj is hinting at Billups/Portland in here. This as much as he’ll say without actually saying it.



also mentions Celtics players are endorsing Udoka. I wonder why he wasn’t a candidate in Portland.

...because we want that championship ring finals MVP prestige (worldwide)!!

 

[JoshuaHall]

So?

The “next level” for Portland would be consistently getting past the first round. Which D’Antoni does.

 

[Mediocre Man]

The “next level” for Portland would be consistently getting past the first round. Which D’Antoni does.

Then what? Dame retires or moves on and we’re right back to now. Let’s swing for the fences

 

[BonesJones]

Woj is hinting at Billups/Portland in here. This as much as he’ll say without actually saying it.



also mentions Celtics players are endorsing Udoka. I wonder why he wasn’t a candidate in Portland.

Ime got Aldridge to San Antonio according to LaMarcus himself. Maybe Olshey holds a grudge from that.

 

[JoshuaHall]

Then what? Dame retires or moves on and we’re right back to now. Let’s swing for the fences

And getting an unproven coach does that, how?
Swing for the fences is MDA with someone like Clifford as AHC — in my opinion. Someone with a proven track record of winning in the playoffs and someone with a proven track record of being a beast at teaching defense.

not sure how Darvin Ham is swinging for the fences.

 

[Strenuus]

The “next level” for Portland would be consistently getting past the first round. Which D’Antoni does.

The next level is the championship. Dantoni would be the worst hire regardless though.

 

[JoshuaHall]

The next level is the championship. Dantoni would be the worst hire regardless though.

When you get blasted in the first round, the next level isn’t championship barring MAJOR roster changes.
The next level is getting out of the first round and competing in the second round / conference finals with a shot at the finals with injuries (like this year).
assuming the roster stays the same, in my opinion, it is absolutely insane to consider the next level for this team a championship. Don’t care if Phil Jackson, Jack Ramsay and Gregg Popovich formed a super staff.

 

[JoshuaHall]

And I’ll actually recant a portion of that. The next level should be conference finals. That should be the expectation.
Finals, uh, not gonna happen without major injuries (once again, like this year.)

 

[damianlillard]

Ime got Aldridge to San Antonio according to LaMarcus himself. Maybe Olshey holds a grudge from that.

Actually that’s actually a good point

 

[Mediocre Man]

And getting an unproven coach does that, how?
Swing for the fences is MDA with someone like Clifford as AHC — in my opinion. Someone with a proven track record of winning in the playoffs and someone with a proven track record of being a beast at teaching defense.

not sure how Darvin Ham is swinging for the fences.

Bright young assistant over also ran 70 year old who’s teams play shitty defense

 

[Mediocre Man]

Huh?

 

[calvin natt]

When you get blasted in the first round, the next level isn’t championship barring MAJOR roster changes.
The next level is getting out of the first round and competing in the second round / conference finals with a shot at the finals with injuries (like this year).
assuming the roster stays the same, in my opinion, it is absolutely insane to consider the next level for this team a championship. Don’t care if Phil Jackson, Jack Ramsay and Gregg Popovich formed a super staff.

They went past the first round like two years ago. I don’t think rounds or where they finished last means shit. It’s not always a round by round progression. They need to have a better roster and better coaching

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Ime got Aldridge to San Antonio according to LaMarcus himself. Maybe Olshey holds a grudge from that.

These are professionals we are talking about here. Not sure you can blame anyone for Aldridge other than Aldridge.

 

[Mediocre Man]

These are professionals we are talking about here. Not sure you can blame anyone for Aldridge other than Aldridge.

Aldridge was never to blame

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Actually that’s actually a good point

always the tone of surprise

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Woj is hinting at Billups/Portland in here. This as much as he’ll say without actually saying it.



also mentions Celtics players are endorsing Udoka. I wonder why he wasn’t a candidate in Portland.

Very good question.

 

[JoshuaHall]

They went past the first round like two years ago. I don’t think rounds or where they finished last means shit. It’s not always a round by round progression. They need to have a better roster and better coaching

From what I recall, they got swept in back to back years. Made a run to WCF, where they got swept, then lost in the first round in back to back years. 4/5 years not reaching the second round. While I don’t think it is round by round progression that is the end all be all, I would certainly judge this team much differently if we reached the second round 4/5 years rather than the other way around.

Additionally, the players stated getting WCF experience was eye opening for them. (Although it resulted in them getting bounced in the first round.)

And the whole “playoff experience” thing may or not be bullshit but I certainly thing progressing in the playoffs is… preferable.

and it’s not about where they finished most recently. It’s where they consistently finish. In the first round then lose.

And if you read my post - I said WITH NO ROSTER CHANGES - it would be insane to assume that this is a finals bound team; thus, with solely a coaching change to “take us to the next level”, it would be consistently getting into the second round or WCF - in my opinion.

And as you’ve stated that we need coaching changes AND roster changes to reach the finals, not entirely sure what you’re disagreeing with.

Unless you change your theory to “if we had the best coach in the league, we would be title contenders!” Which would contradict your previous point of “needing roster changes.”

 

[Mediocre Man]

Rice hinting at Mike D’Antoni