If we beat the Nuggets, does Terry stay?

[Freshtown]

Let's say the following scenario occurs, which is (IMO) realistic:

1. We beat the Nuggets in 6-ish games.
2. We advance and lose to the Clippers/Lakers in 5-6.

Does Terry keep his job for next season?

As crazy as this sounds, if the answer is yes, I would almost rather see us lose in the first round if it would ensure that Terry goes. I just don't think I could handle another year of the same core.

(Obviously, the best scenario is that this team goes really far and Terry gets canned no matter what).

 

[illmatic99]

The only way I think he should stay is if we get to the finals. 9 yrs without winning anything of substance is a long time.

 

[Chris Craig]

Probably

Yes

 

[Strenuus]

I still maintain that it's WCF or fired for Stotts. The momentary excitement of once again having a hot streak going into the playoffs will wear off if we get ousted in the first or second round.

Especially if Denver beats us in 5 (I don't see that).

If we beat Denver in 7 and lose in 4 or 5 to the next team, that'll cause a change.

9 years of just making the playoffs to just wither away except for one year (where we didn't even win a game and gave up 3 big leads in the WCF).... THIS is put up or shut up time for stotts.

 

[riverman]

I hope so no matter what playoff results happen....Terry has captained my favorite Blazer era since Clyde was on the team.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

If we go out, I think it depends on how we go out. Getting eliminated in 4 straight losses for the 5th straight year would be a bad look even if it’s in the Finals. People who want us to lose to fire Stotts have no respect for Dame and should have their fan card taken away.

 

[Chris Craig]

I think and this may be an unpopular take, but Terry has one more year left. He coached the Blazers to the playoffs for the 8th year in a row, the NBA's longest active streak.

I think the Blazers might give him the last season on his contract.

 

[Strenuus]

I hope so no matter what playoff results happen....Terry has captained my favorite Blazer era since Clyde was on the team.

All blazer eras have had a change. Can't get sentimental if the coach isn't getting the job done in the playoffs.

But like I said, WCF or fired for stotts. No matter how the first two rounds go. So he has a chance, but he has to work for it.

 

[Chris Craig]

If we go out, I think it depends on how we go out. Getting eliminated in 4 straight losses for the 5th straight year would be a bad look even if it’s in the Finals. People who want us to lose to fire Stotts have no respect for Dame and should have their fan card taken away.

Yeah, I think that it is ridiculous to want the Blazers to lose just so Terry gets fired. I get wanting Terry gone, but come on. I will never want or root for the Blazers to lose. That is anti-fan.

 

[Strenuus]

I think and this may be an unpopular take, but Terry has one more year left. He coached the Blazers to the playoffs for the 8th year in a row, the NBA's longest active streak.

I think the Blazers might give him the last season on his contract.

That is a saving grace for him. But, 8 straight years and only 2 years out of the first round? 16 teams make the playoffs... half the teams (or darn near close!) Play ins don't count as actual playoff games IMO.

Making the playoffs is one thing... making noise in the playoffs is another.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

WCF he stays.

 

[Chris Craig]

That is a saving grace for him. But, 8 straight years and only 2 years out of the first round? 16 teams make the playoffs... half the teams (or darn near close!) Play ins don't count as actual playoff games IMO.

Making the playoffs is one thing... making noise in the playoffs is another.

I don't disagree with you. I think it is however, possible that the Blazers brass don't have as big an aversion to Stotts as many here do.

 

[Scalma]

It’s gonna take more than beating a team without one of their best players.

 

[riverman]

All blazer eras have had a change. Can't get sentimental if the coach isn't getting the job done in the playoffs.

But like I said, WCF or fired for stotts. No matter how the first two rounds go. So he has a chance, but he has to work for it.

There's a difference between being sentimental and being respectful and loyal....I believe front office stability is more important than the revolving door method. Making the playoffs in the west for 8 straight seasons and making the conf finals in the west for the first time in 14 years is success.......the rest of the negativity springs purely from buzzkill and the temporary hot streak venting fest it gives the doubters. 10 more years! We can beat anybody right now in my view. I did not think we'd have a shot with Trent and Hoodie starting but with Norm and Nurk....it's a new game.

 

[e_blazer]

Quick has an interesting article in The Athletic this morning about how much Dame wants and dreams about winning a title in Portland. This caught my eye:

“I mean, I see every year when we get to this point as pivotal,” Lillard told The Athletic. “Because at every point, it’s an evaluation: Where do we go from here? Like, can we get the job done as we are? And if not, where do we go from here? What is the change that needs to be made? That’s just what it is. And I don’t know where that change comes from, you know, maybe we … I don’t know if it’s moving players, I don’t know if it’s a coaching change … whatever it is that happens in the NBA, the changes that are made when you look at the postseason and what you consider success and failure, and things like that, and what changes you have to make to improve or give yourself a better chance. I think we’ve done a lot, and I think every year we get to this point and it’s like ‘What is it that will get us to where we want to be?’

Dame has been grilling Norm Powell about what it took in Toronto to become champions. Powell said, more or less in passing, that “you gotta play defense” and that’s when Dame took it on himself to really up his D and challenged his teammates to do the same. He also talks about how players on title contenders have to have an absolute belief that they can get the job done. He has that belief and he’s challenging his teammates to have it for this season too.

Dame is aware that he’s been in the league for nine years and his chance to win in Portland is more urgent. All of this leads me to believe that Terry’s time is now. I think the team has to, at a minimum, make the WCF and either win there or at least push it to 7 games. If there isn’t the demonstration that the team is going to contend next season under Stotts, I don’t see Dame pushing for him to stay. And without that vote of confidence from Dame, I think Terry will be out of a job.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Quick has an interesting article in The Athletic this morning about how much Dame wants and dreams about winning a title in Portland. This caught my eye:

“I mean, I see every year when we get to this point as pivotal,” Lillard told The Athletic. “Because at every point, it’s an evaluation: Where do we go from here? Like, can we get the job done as we are? And if not, where do we go from here? What is the change that needs to be made? That’s just what it is. And I don’t know where that change comes from, you know, maybe we … I don’t know if it’s moving players, I don’t know if it’s a coaching change … whatever it is that happens in the NBA, the changes that are made when you look at the postseason and what you consider success and failure, and things like that, and what changes you have to make to improve or give yourself a better chance. I think we’ve done a lot, and I think every year we get to this point and it’s like ‘What is it that will get us to where we want to be?’

That's a little troublesome for me; that just before the playoffs begin, he has doubts about whether they have the personnel and coaching to win it all. I think it's unlikely we can win it all; but I think you have to go in thinking that somehow you can. If he has problems with the coaching, go to the coach and let's get it ironed out and fixed as much is possible in the week off here.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Dame has been grilling Norm Powell about what it took in Toronto to become champions. Powell said, more or less in passing, that “you gotta play defense” and that’s when Dame took it on himself to really up his D and challenged his teammates to do the same. He also talks about how players on title contenders have to have an absolute belief that they can get the job done. He has that belief and he’s challenging his teammates to have it for this season too.

Dame is aware that he’s been in the league for nine years and his chance to win in Portland is more urgent. All of this leads me to believe that Terry’s time is now. I think the team has to, at a minimum, make the WCF and either win there or at least push it to 7 games. If there isn’t the demonstration that the team is going to contend next season under Stotts, I don’t see Dame pushing for him to stay. And without that vote of confidence from Dame, I think Terry will be out of a job.

The way I read this is that after he talked to NP, Dame looked at himself in the mirror and took it upon himself to step up defensively. His teammates will follow his lead. So maybe he does not blame Terry. I think if the Blazers can keep NP and get Collins back next year, along with an improved Little and Ant, they have a good nucleus for next year. ( I see Jones and Mello moving on ) Not sure how much Kanter will cost but I would like to see him back too.

Having said that if they get swept by Denver, Terry is gone. My hope is GS beats the Lakers in game one and Portland beats Denver and plays Phoenix in round 2. (and hopefully play Utah in the western finals)

I really have enjoyed watching this team the last month. Much more so than the first couple of months.

 

[e_blazer]

That's a little troublesome for me; that just before the playoffs begin, he has doubts about whether they have the personnel and coaching to win it all. I think it's unlikely we can win it all; but I think you have to go in thinking that somehow you can. If he has problems with the coaching, go to the coach and let's get it ironed out and fixed as much is possible in the week off here.

I think that since you didn't have the advantage of reading the article and relied just on my synopsis you took Dame's quote in a negative way. He absolutely believes that they can win it all this season and he's pushing his teammates to adopt that same mindset. The quote was more about what he thinks about each offseason regarding any changes that may need to be made.

 

[e_blazer]

The way I read this is that after he talked to NP, Dame looked at himself in the mirror and took it upon himself to step up defensively. His teammates will follow his lead. So maybe he does not blame Terry. I think if the Blazers can keep NP and get Collins back next year, along with an improved Little and Ant, they have a good nucleus for next year. ( I see Jones and Mello moving on ) Not sure how much Kanter will cost but I would like to see him back too.

Having said that if they get swept by Denver, Terry is gone. My hope is GS beats the Lakers in game one and Portland beats Denver and plays Phoenix in round 2. (and hopefully play Utah in the western finals)

I really have enjoyed watching this team the last month. Much more so than the first couple of months.

Yeah, I don't think that there was any sense of blaming Terry about the D. I think he saw that as something that the players had to change, starting with himself. It's showed in the past couple of weeks.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think that since you didn't have the advantage of reading the article and relied just on my synopsis you took Dame's quote in a negative way. He absolutely believes that they can win it all this season and he's pushing his teammates to adopt that same mindset. The quote was more about what he thinks about each offseason regarding any changes that may need to be made.

I hope so. I still hope he has a sitdown with Stotts and Powell and Nurk and CJ; gets some stuff ironed out. It's hard to interpret that quote as saying he is really happy with the coaching.

 

[B-Roy]

Dame has been grilling Norm Powell about what it took in Toronto to become champions. Powell said, more or less in passing, that “you gotta play defense” and that’s when Dame took it on himself to really up his D and challenged his teammates to do the same. He also talks about how players on title contenders have to have an absolute belief that they can get the job done. He has that belief and he’s challenging his teammates to have it for this season too.

Is this a direct quote? I am flabbergasted if it really took 9 years for Dame to realize he needs to put some effort on defense.

 

[DDolla]

Terry stays as he already accomplished his goals on making the playoffs and continue the streak. That’s the only goals Neil and Terry have for the Blazers.

 

[e_blazer]

Is this a direct quote? I am flabbergasted if it really took 9 years for Dame to realize he needs to put some effort on defense.

No, it's not a direct quote. It's a summary. I'm pretty sure that Dame was aware that a 29th-rated defense is a problem. I read it as more like he was picking Norm's brain, as Quick says he does other players around the league who have been on championship teams, looking for anything that would make the Blazers chances of winning better. Norm saying that resonated with him, according to Quick. Maybe it's like hearing from your old girlfriend hundreds of times that you need to lose a few pounds. It's different when the new girl in your life says it. Whatever, he's obviously looked in the mirror and realized that a change needs to be made and he's taking steps to be better.

 

[Natebishop3]

Dame has been grilling Norm Powell about what it took in Toronto to become champions. Powell said, more or less in passing, that “you gotta play defense” and that’s when Dame took it on himself to really up his D and challenged his teammates to do the same. He also talks about how players on title contenders have to have an absolute belief that they can get the job done. He has that belief and he’s challenging his teammates to have it for this season too.

Dame: Yo norm, what does it take to win a championship?

Norm: Well, you see Dame, you have to actually play some defense.

Dame:

 

[illmatic99]

Is this a direct quote? I am flabbergasted if it really took 9 years for Dame to realize he needs to put some effort on defense.

yes, essentially: http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/dames-got-a-feeling.366022/page-2#post-5159534

 

[B-Roy]

No, it's not a direct quote. It's a summary. I'm pretty sure that Dame was aware that a 29th-rated defense is a problem. I read it as more like he was picking Norm's brain, as Quick says he does other players around the league who have been on championship teams, looking for anything that would make the Blazers chances of winning better. Norm saying that resonated with him, according to Quick. Maybe it's like hearing from your old girlfriend hundreds of times that you need to lose a few pounds. It's different when the new girl in your life says it. Whatever, he's obviously looked in the mirror and realized that a change needs to be made and he's taking steps to be better.

I'm not harping on Dame. More of the infrastructure around him to even have this mindset in the first place. This is on Stotts and the coaching staff for not emphasizing the importance of defense. 9 years of it.

 

[wizenheimer]

Quick has an interesting article in The Athletic this morning about how much Dame wants and dreams about winning a title in Portland. This caught my eye:

“I mean, I see every year when we get to this point as pivotal,” Lillard told The Athletic. “Because at every point, it’s an evaluation: Where do we go from here? Like, can we get the job done as we are? And if not, where do we go from here? What is the change that needs to be made? That’s just what it is. And I don’t know where that change comes from, you know, maybe we … I don’t know if it’s moving players, I don’t know if it’s a coaching change … whatever it is that happens in the NBA, the changes that are made when you look at the postseason and what you consider success and failure, and things like that, and what changes you have to make to improve or give yourself a better chance. I think we’ve done a lot, and I think every year we get to this point and it’s like ‘What is it that will get us to where we want to be?’

Dame has been grilling Norm Powell about what it took in Toronto to become champions. Powell said, more or less in passing, that “you gotta play defense” and that’s when Dame took it on himself to really up his D and challenged his teammates to do the same. He also talks about how players on title contenders have to have an absolute belief that they can get the job done. He has that belief and he’s challenging his teammates to have it for this season too.

Dame is aware that he’s been in the league for nine years and his chance to win in Portland is more urgent. All of this leads me to believe that Terry’s time is now. I think the team has to, at a minimum, make the WCF and either win there or at least push it to 7 games. If there isn’t the demonstration that the team is going to contend next season under Stotts, I don’t see Dame pushing for him to stay. And without that vote of confidence from Dame, I think Terry will be out of a job.

sorry, but I'm a little confused about those last 2 paragraphs. Were they from the article? Wast that Quick or you?

in any event, I think the perpetual narrative around here about Dame being adamantly opposed to trade or coaching changes has always been overstated significantly. We know he's loyal, no question. But we also know that if he throws anybody under the bus it will be himself first. He's not allergic to looking in the mirror and being self critical. To assume that introspection doesn't extend to the team, teammates, and coaches isn't logical

now, everybody knows my disdain for Olshey. That extends to believing he'll want plenty of ass-cover for any significant changes he makes. If Dame is fine with coaching or personnel changes after another playoff disappointment...and that article certainly seems to imply that would be the case...Olshey may finally make changes

 

[Strenuus]

I don't disagree with you. I think it is however, possible that the Blazers brass don't have as big an aversion to Stotts as many here do.

It's possible. It's shortsighted by them, but ite possible.

All I ask is that we make the WCF and win a couple games. That to me is a successful season and reason to bring Terry back. But getting swept in the WCF would be brutal.

Anything less is just not good enough. If this hot streak is indicative of the real team, then winning in the WCF should be the bottom of the goal list, and if he can't coach us to that, then they should see that and change course.

 

[e_blazer]

sorry, but I'm a little confused about those last 2 paragraphs. Were they from the article? Wast that Quick or you?

in any event, I think the perpetual narrative around here about Dame being adamantly opposed to trade or coaching changes has always been overstated significantly. We know he's loyal, no question. But we also know that if he throws anybody under the bus it will be himself first. He's not allergic to looking in the mirror and being self critical. To assume that introspection doesn't extend to the team, teammates, and coaches isn't logical

now, everybody knows my disdain for Olshey. That extends to believing he'll want plenty of ass-cover for any significant changes he makes. If Dame is fine with coaching or personnel changes after another playoff disappointment...and that article certainly seems to imply that would be the case...Olshey may finally make changes

Only the part in quotation marks was a direct quote from the article. The rest was my synopsis. I edited the original post to clarify that.

I think Dame is willing to do whatever it takes to win a title in Portland. The way I read that quote is that, while Dame's a loyal guy, if coaching or roster changes are needed, so be it. I'm sure that the same would be true of the GM position. If Olshey can't get the job done, then get someone in who can.

But all of that stuff is for the off-season. Dame is the kind of guy who believes the team can get the job done with what they have available to them and he's going into the playoffs with that mindset. Period.

 

[Stevenson]

I think and this may be an unpopular take, but Terry has one more year left. He coached the Blazers to the playoffs for the 8th year in a row, the NBA's longest active streak.

I think the Blazers might give him the last season on his contract.

Except that that story by Chris Haynes seemed like a clear, purposeful leak from Blazer brass that it's win big or go home.