I can’t wait for the new Coach

[tester551]

Just look what Thibs did in NY. A new coach - the right coach - can make a difference.

A coach can make a huge difference. They can take a terrible team to average (or slightly above average) in a short period of time.

It's much more difficult to go from good/average to great. To do so, you have to have the right mix of 1) Talent, 2) Coaching, 3) Front Office/GM/Ownership. They all have to be in alignment. Right now - I don't think Portland has the right mix on any of these fronts to get to the true contender status (being a great team).

 

[julius]

People said the same about Shaq and Wilt and FT%. Why can't people recognize that defense is a talent and isn't just about effort?

Ft shooting isn't even remotely the same thing.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Ft shooting isn't even remotely the same thing.

It's an analogy.
Kanter is not stupid. Kanter has put an amazing amount of time and effort into his offensive game. But no amount of coaching will make him a good defender.

 

[Chris Craig]

Note the word "just".

I'm just saying if the Blazers put in real effort they could win.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Let's see what y'alls think when Stotts is replaced by Mike D'Antoni.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm just saying if the Blazers put in real effort they could win.

Yeah, those lazy bums just don't WANT to win.

 

[tester551]

Defense, especially in this era, is mostly cohesiveness as a team instead of individual prowess. Knowing what to do in situations where you are beat. I watched the Warriors a lot this season, and their defense, even with Green off the floor, is better than the best defensive lineup we put on the floor. Jordan Poole is a better defender than any of our guards and that guy could not play a lick of defense last year.

I was impressed with how when someone gets beat off the dribble, the Warriors always hustle to cover on the weakside D.
When the Blazers get beat off the dribble - most of the time they just stand around watching the rest of the play.

 

[Natebishop3]

You know what never made sense to me? You can pay a coach as much money as you want. There's no coach salary cap.

Why the hell didn't Paul write the biggest check in the history of big checks for the best head coach on the planet?

 

[THE HCP]

Mike SZHEZEVCKSKSI?

 

[tester551]

True, but
1. Who's "the right coach"? Thibs didn't work in Minnesota, and he had Jimmy Butler.
2. Thibs also wears on players both emotionally (they get sick of him) and physically (he plays his starters into the ground).

I am certainly of the mindset that coaching matters. I support Leeds United, and they have been completely revolutionized by a mad genius manager (i.e., coach), Marcelo Bielsa. One of the things that he did was get his players in amazing shape so that they could be in constant motion, and defenders could switch to offense and vice versa at the drop of a hat. THAT much might help our defense, and allow the coach to play the crappy bench even less than currently.

I'm not sure 'Thibs didn't work in Minnesota' is completely accurate.
They've had 1 season making the playoffs (with a >500 record) in the last 17-years. That occurred with Thibs as coach. Considering the history of the franchise, that's not bad.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm not sure 'Thibs didn't work in Minnesota' is completely accurate.
They've had 1 season making the playoffs (with a >500 record) in the last 17-years. That occurred with Thibs as coach. Considering the history of the franchise, that's not bad.

Fair enough, but he couldn't sustain it. I have a feeling his tenure in New York isn't going to last very long.

 

[GDiama]

Dunleavy, Cheeks, McMillan, Stotts

Results the same: Blazers lose

Only one of them had Dame. Maybe the most incompetent one. We will never know if we don't try something new.

By the way it's not championship or bust. Most likely we will not win it. We can trade for AD tomorrow and still not win it. The problem so far is we are not competitive against the top teams. We always end up getting swept.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Obviously i want the Blazers to suceed, and to win against Denver, but i cant stop thinking about (if the reports by Shams and Quick are true) that Stotts will be fired if we lose, and to get excited to see a new Coach, and hopefully a new offense and defense. I cant watch this ugly Stotts basketball anymore.

Thanks for the warm welcome! I look forward to being the Blazers new coach!

 

[wizenheimer]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I look forward to being the Blazers new coach!

that's just great....now we get to see a fire hydrant next to the coach's chair. Can't wait for Jordan Kent's commentary

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Let's see what y'alls think when Stotts is replaced by Mike D'Antoni.

On the plus side, Dame could average 40 ppg for the season.

 

[julius]

It's an analogy.
Kanter is not stupid. Kanter has put an amazing amount of time and effort into his offensive game. But no amount of coaching will make him a good defender.

And a good coach wouldn't play him then

 

[James lamphear]

You think so?

The only reason he's stayed in portland as long has he has is Damian. He's a .500 coach (and for those who are known for sending PM's correcting people, his winning % is .515) with a winning % of .35% in the playoffs.

There are currently 2 coaches in the NBA who are older than Terry Stotts.

Dwane Casey and Pops.

I can't see another team in the league hiring a guy who would be on the upper side of his mid 60's by then, to coach again.

Even though his playoffs record is bad he finds away to get his team there. Plus he not fire as our coach yet until he does he got job. Speculation that he will be but until that's happeneds he still employed.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

And a good coach wouldn't play him then

An even better coach would be one that makes him a useful contributor DESPITE his flaws. You know, like having him be +155 over the season.

As for this series:
Jokic plays 34 mpg
Nurkic fouls out in 30.
Who stands between Jokic and the rim for the other 4? Kanter is averaging all of 13 mpg and 6 in the last one.

 

[wizenheimer]

Jokic plays 34 mpg
Nurkic fouls out in 30.
Who stands between Jokic and the rim for the other 4?

legacy

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Phatguysrule]

What would suck is if they do let Stotts go, and we bring in some old tired retread of a coach. If they are going to make a change..... make a change!

This is my worry. They should have had the next coach working here 3 years ago.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Hey, maybe Spoelstra AND Brad Stevens will be available!

 

[Phatguysrule]

You know what never made sense to me? You can pay a coach as much money as you want. There's no coach salary cap.

Why the hell didn't Paul write the biggest check in the history of big checks for the best head coach on the planet?

Yes. This has always bothered me too. Same with GM.

 

[TBpup]

8 straight Playoff appearances is nice.....but we aren't progressing. With one minor exception of beating a dysfunctional OKC team that had never been out of the 1st round without KD, and then beating a Denver team whose team average age seemed around 23, we keep getting swept. I don't care if it was by the Warriors some years. Then be better and don't have to play them in the 1st round.

Medocrity....thy name is Portland. For some fans, that is good enough.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A different coach still has to try and win with a poorly constructed roster

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Let's see what y'alls think when Stotts is replaced by Mike D'Antoni.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Mike D has a nice offensive system, he’d need to bring in a defensive guru for that hire to make sense though

 

[TBpup]

Mike D has a nice offensive system, he’d need to bring in a defensive guru for that hire to make sense though

Get Steve Clifford to be the Lead Assistant and in charge of the defense and I'm just fine with D'Antoni.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Get Steve Clifford to be the Lead Assistant and in charge of the defense and I'm just fine with D'Antoni.

Meh

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Meh

Do you have an idea for a good defensive lead assistant?