In Praise of Terry Stotts

[Nikolokolus]

The man has been coaching his ass off this season. I'm not sure how many coaches could have taken the hand they were dealt in the off-season (losing four starters) and found success completely re-tooling their offense with a bunch of offensively limited front-court players and former role-players and molded them into what we've seen this year.

Minor quibbles aside with his defensive philosophy, we've been witness to some A+ level voodoo this year. I hope people appreciate just how rare a feat of coaching we're witnessing.

 

[B-Roy]

He has some issues, but then again so does every coach, including the great ones like Pop.

I don't remember who it was but someone wrote an article asking if Stotts should be our "Pop, Sloan, Carlisle" type of coach. I wasn't sold on him till this year, but I'm warming up to that idea. He's definitely on his way.

 

[Tunchi]

He def should be here bare minimum during Dame prime. This guy is the real deal as a head coach..

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Stotts is a Zen Master of managing personalities, young players, and chemistry (in addition to X's and O's skills). Observe:

After a 16-game start where we were 6-10, we've done the following...

In the last 41 games (1/2 of the season), we're 24-17.
That's a 48-win season pace, well above many peoples' expectations, even fans.
...but it gets even better:

In our last 27 games (1/3 of the season), were 19-8. (58 win pace)
In our last 20 games (1/4 of the season) we're 15-5 (62 win pace).
In our last 17 games (1/5 of the season) we're 14-3 (68 win pace).

 

[theprunetang]

I am sold. I hope we resign him to a long term contract. I can't think of another coach (who would be available)that I would replace him with.

 

[Daweez04]

Stotts for Mayor!

 

[theprunetang]

Also, he gets a bad rap for defense, but when we had those extra days at home and had time to work on the defensive scheme, shit seriously improved. That is coaching.

 

[santeesioux]

I was definitely okay with them looking around at other coaches this offseason, but now I want them to lock him up for years.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Stotts had me at "Aminu shooting 35% from 3."

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Stotts had me at "Aminu shooting 35% from 3."

And CJ with 1900 minutes played still putting up 45% FG, 40% 3P, and 80% FT...

Only two players in our regular rotation (Harkless, Vonleh) shoot worse than the conventional "good percentage" of 33.3% (33% 3P equals 50% 2-pt FG% because 3 is worth more than 2). Six regular rotation players shoot better than 33.3% -- that's a result of good spacing, good offensive decision making, good playbook.

 

[Eastoff]

Stotts is a Zen Master of managing personalities, young players, and chemistry (in addition to X's and O's skills). Observe:

After a 16-game start where we were 6-10, we've done the following...

In the last 41 games (1/2 of the season), we're 24-17.
That's a 48-win season pace, well above many peoples' expectations, even fans.
...but it gets even better:

In our last 27 games (1/3 of the season), were 19-8. (58 win pace)
In our last 20 games (1/4 of the season) we're 15-5 (62 win pace).
In our last 17 games (1/5 of the season) we're 14-3 (68 win pace).

I can't wait to see where this exponential growth takes us

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I can't wait to see where this exponential growth takes us

82-0!!!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I can't wait to see where this exponential growth takes us

Without a second All-NBA caliber player next to Damian? Probably no better than the second round in a couple of years, but that's not a coaching problem.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Without a second All-NBA caliber player next to Damian? Probably no better than the second round in a couple of years, but that's not a coaching problem.

Your right. Its a negativity problem!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Your right. Its a negativity problem!

What is?

 

[KingSpeed]

Stotts is a Zen Master of managing personalities, young players, and chemistry (in addition to X's and O's skills). Observe:

After a 16-game start where we were 6-10, we've done the following...

In the last 41 games (1/2 of the season), we're 24-17.
That's a 48-win season pace, well above many peoples' expectations, even fans.
...but it gets even better:

In our last 27 games (1/3 of the season), were 19-8. (58 win pace)
In our last 20 games (1/4 of the season) we're 15-5 (62 win pace).
In our last 17 games (1/5 of the season) we're 14-3 (68 win pace).

15-3 in our last 18

 

[KingSpeed]

Without a second All-NBA caliber player next to Damian? Probably no better than the second round in a couple of years, but that's not a coaching problem.

CJ is All-NBA caliber

 

[Nikolokolus]

CJ is All-NBA caliber

I think he's "good" but definitely not All-NBA and it seems doubtful he gets to that level -- and I'm sure me calling him "good" will somehow get spun into a negative, it's just that the bar for All-NBA level is very, very high IMO. Damian for instance is just "barely" there.

 

[blue9]

I'll reserve judgement to see how he adjusts during a Playoff series.
We're playing better than most expected (though not much better than WE expected). But currently my opinion is that Dame deserves most of the credit, and that Stotts deserves credit for "not getting in the way", which a lot of other coaches might have done.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think he's "good" but definitely not All-NBA and it seems doubtful he gets to that level -- and I'm sure me calling him "good" will somehow get spun into a negative, it's just that the bar for All-NBA level is very, very high IMO. Damian for instance is just "barely" there.

Klay was all-NBA 3rd team last year, and the difference between him last year and CJ this year is not much. CJ is better now than Klay was 2 years ago, and this is CJ's first year as a starter. You're prematurely assuming that CJ has reached his peak.

 

[Orion Bailey]

What is?

Your insistence that this team needs another all star caliber player and cant have any of the existing roster take that step. CJ is borderline already....

 

[Nikolokolus]

Klay was all-NBA 3rd team last year, and the difference between him last year and CJ this year is not much. CJ is better now than Klay was 2 years ago, and this is CJ's first year as a starter. You're prematurely assuming that CJ has reached his peak.

His lack of length limits him somewhat (especially defensively). I'm not saying it's laughable to think he might ever get in the All-NBA conversation, I just don't think it's likely.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Your insistence that this team needs another all star caliber player and cant have any of the existing roster take that step. CJ is borderline already....

I said All-NBA caliber, and history is on my side.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

His lack of length limits him somewhat (especially defensively). I'm not saying it's laughable to think he might ever get in the All-NBA conversation, I just don't think it's likely.

Tell me the likely method by which the Blazers will obtain another all-NBA caliber player.

 

[andalusian]

CJ has the talent offensively to be an all-NBA player. The big questions are - can he maintain or improve it and can he become a better defender (he is not bad, but he is not elite or great).

FWIW - I love CJ's game and the entire experience of watching him play, but I am not certain that Nik is out of line with his reasoning here - all-NBA is a very high level all-around. I am glad that CJ could be there, I am not certain he will be - and that's OK.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Tell me the likely method by which the Blazers will obtain another all-NBA caliber player.

Fuck off. I started a thread where I was praising Stotts coaching ability. I'm done.

Have as nice day fellas.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I think Chris Paul is off the All NBA teams in 2 years and I think everyone else moves up a spot (Dame included of course) and CJ is a prime candidate to take the 3rd team at that point.

 

[Eastoff]

Tell me the likely method by which the Blazers will obtain another all-NBA caliber player.

I think one could argue we just don't have a shot at being championship caliber.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

But really, if someone misses All NBA team by a spot or two what matters at that point? It still means they are elite. There are only so many spots.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Fuck off. I started a thread where I was praising Stotts coaching ability. I'm done.

Have as nice day fellas.

You sure did. And then you took a positive post ("I can't wait to see where this exponential growth takes us") and turned it negative ("without another all-NBA player next to Damian, no farther than the second round"). Don't blame me for the way the discussion went when you're the one behind the steering wheel.