In Praise of Terry Stotts

[Orion Bailey]

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

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

Have as nice day fellas.

Wow man.. Nice attitude for someone who is fairly negative overall about the Blazers progress and potential.

Yes, you did start a praise Stott's thread, and then proceeded to state the team isn't good enough to get out of the second round with the current roster unless we add an ALL-NBA player.

Someone asks you how we acquire another and you tell him to fuck off?? Take a chill pill man. Man up to the fact that you've been mostly wrong about the team so far and people can get annoyed by those that don't change their stance even amidst glaringly obvious counters..

So beware people... disagree with Nik and you are to fuck off on a fucktard of a fuckfest.....

 

[PtldPlatypus]

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

Sure, one could argue that. If one were to argue that, what do you think would be the most reasonable basis for said argument?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

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.

Shrug, if I would have said that Klay Thompson or Draymon Green had all-NBA potential their rookie year, you would have disagreed strongly. Let's just see how it goes.

 

[B-Roy]

Shrug, if I would have said that Klay Thompson or Draymon Green had all-NBA potential their rookie year, you would have disagreed strongly. Let's just see how it goes.

Thats whyyyyy we playyyyyy the gameessssssssssss

 

[Boob-No-More]

Stotts has done a masterful job of balancing player development with winning - two areas that are usually considered mutually exclusive. We've all seen the huge improvement in C.J. and Crabbe, but honestly I don't think there is a single person alive that would have predicted we'd go 15-3 mid-season with Noah Vonleh starting. Most would have assumed starting Vonleh would only coincide with being in full tank mode with a 3-15 record more likely than 15-3.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

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.

Exactly, All-NBA is a voting thing, and if you miss making All-NBA by a few votes, but you're still a top 5 player in the league at your position, does it really matter all that much? Seems like splitting hairs at that point. Heck the coaches did not vote Dame in as an All-Star reserve. Does anyone here think having zero all-stars on our roster has hurt our recent performance?

BNM

 

[Orion Bailey]

Exactly, All-NBA is a voting thing, and if you miss making All-NBA by a few votes, but you're still a top 5 player in the league at your position, does it really matter all that much? Seems like splitting hairs at that point. Heck the coaches did not vote Dame in as an All-Star reserve. Does anyone here think having zero all-stars on our roster has hurt our recent performance?

BNM

You can even take this one step further. In the history books it will say Lillard was not an ALL star this year.
Now take a poll of players, coaches(yes I( know they didn't vote him in, but I also know they would now if they could) and media and they will all say he is an all star. So the history books saying he isn't means that he was actually worse this year than what everyone believes... correct?

Nik is all but hurt because he took his positive thread and spun some negativity and is getting flack for it. If you cant take the heat, stay outa the kitchen.

 

[Tunchi]

Wow man.. Nice attitude for someone who is fairly negative overall about the Blazers progress and potential.

Yes, you did start a praise Stott's thread, and then proceeded to state the team isn't good enough to get out of the second round with the current roster unless we add an ALL-NBA player.

Someone asks you how we acquire another and you tell him to fuck off?? Take a chill pill man. Man up to the fact that you've been mostly wrong about the team so far and people can get annoyed by those that don't change their stance even amidst glaringly obvious counters..

So beware people... disagree with Nik and you are to fuck off on a fucktard of a fuckfest.....

fuck him, tell to get lost nobody likes him

 

[Orion Bailey]

fuck him, tell to get lost nobody likes him

Thats awesome coming from another very negative person in yourself.

No, no fuck anyone. We are all Blazers fans, wwe just need to learn to agree to disagree, but we all want the same thing

 

[oldmangrouch]

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.

Absolutely agree.

First, Stotts had to deal with strong starting 5/no depth. Now he has strong depth and a dearth of high impact big men. Despite the flaws and imbalances, he keeps winning. He has made both Olshey and some of our players look good.

He is not a "perfect" coach - maybe not even a "great" coach - but no one deserves more credit for our recent success than he does.

 

[jlprk]

fuck him, tell to get lost nobody likes him

I like him. As for Stotts, he's done well in the short term. Now let's see how he does as top teams take us seriously, instead of entering the game overconfident. Stotts won't look as great then.

 

[oldmangrouch]

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.

That is true on the offensive end. As long as players are expected to play both ends of the court, Klay is still the better over-all player. We used to have a guy very much like CJ - his name was Zach Randolph. This forum HATED him. Funny how times and expectations change!

 

[oldmangrouch]

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

I doubt anybody has a simple answer to that one. In any event, that doesn't contradict the argument that Stotts has done a good job!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I doubt anybody has a simple answer to that one. In any event, that doesn't contradict the argument that Stotts has done a good job!

Nobody disagrees with that assessment. What I take issue with is the implication that the axiomatic "unlikelihood" of CJ becoming an all-NBA player somehow suggests that we need a different direction in the current team build, when in fact all avenues of procuring multiple all-NBA players are similarly unlikely. As it stands, our most likely method to obtain a second all-NBA player is for one to develop from within, and of the players we have, CJ is the most likely candidate to achieve that status. @Nikolokolus making a point of telling us all how unlikely that may be without providing a preferable alternative is nothing more than pointless negative fatalism.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Nobody disagrees with that assessment. What I take issue with is the implication that the axiomatic "unlikelihood" of CJ becoming an all-NBA player somehow suggests that we need a different direction in the current team build, when in fact all avenues of procuring multiple all-NBA players are similarly unlikely. As it stands, our most likely method to obtain a second all-NBA player is for one to develop from within, and of the players we have, CJ is the most likely candidate to achieve that status. @Nikolokolus making a point of telling us all how unlikely that may be without providing a preferable alternative is nothing more than pointless negative fatalism.

Thanks Platy. Not trying to bag on Nik, but you said it better than I ever could.

 

[dviss1]

We used to have a guy very much like CJ - his name was Zach Randolph. This forum HATED him. Funny how times and expectations change!

Wait... Whoa... What? Dafuq are you talking about?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Wait... Whoa... What? Dafuq are you talking about?

I believe the comparison is that both are offensively talented, even unguardable, but sub-par at best on defense.

 

[Duckhook]

We used to have a guy very much like CJ - his name was Zach Randolph. This forum HATED him. Funny how times and expectations change!

CJ likes weed, dog fighting, and unprotected anal with hookers?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Wait... Whoa... What? Dafuq are you talking about?

Think about it. Zach and CJ are both somewhat under-sized for their position, and neither blow you away with their athleticism. As a result, both struggle on defense.

On the flip side, both worked hard to hone their skills and become lethal weapons on offense. Both consistently put the ball in the hoop against bigger, more athletic defenders. The difference is that fans cheer when CJ drops 30 on somebody. If Zach did that, he was accused of being a selfish ball-hog. IIRC, you weren't part of this community back then. so you really can't appreciate how overwhelming the venom was.

 

[oldmangrouch]

CJ likes weed, dog fighting, and unprotected anal with hookers?

I despise people involved in dog-fighting. As for CJ's position on pot and hookers - I couldn't care less.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Think about it. Zach and CJ are both somewhat under-sized for their position, and neither blow you away with their athleticism. As a result, both struggle on defense.

On the flip side, both worked hard to hone their skills and become lethal weapons on offense. Both consistently put the ball in the hoop against bigger, more athletic defenders. The difference is that fans cheer when CJ drops 30 on somebody. If Zach did that, he was accused of being a selfish ball-hog. IIRC, you weren't part of this community back then. so you really can't appreciate how overwhelming the venom was.

Zach turned himself into an above average defensive player (he still isn't stellar but that is because now father time is finally catching up but there was a period there a few years ago where his defensive stats were good). CJ has more drive (imo) than Zach. CJ will be better than average in this area within 2 years I would bet.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I believe the comparison is that both are offensively talented, even unguardable, but sub-par at best on defense.

Thank you! I should have known people whould ignore the on-court analogy

 

[Boob-No-More]

Think about it. Zach and CJ are both somewhat under-sized for their position, and neither blow you away with their athleticism. As a result, both struggle on defense.

On the flip side, both worked hard to hone their skills and become lethal weapons on offense. Both consistently put the ball in the hoop against bigger, more athletic defenders. The difference is that fans cheer when CJ drops 30 on somebody. If Zach did that, he was accused of being a selfish ball-hog. IIRC, you weren't part of this community back then. so you really can't appreciate how overwhelming the venom was.

I remember things a little differently. The fans LOVED Zach during the Dallas series and for a season or two after. In a supporting role, he was great. It was when he became the number 1 option and the face of the team that things went downhill. When all the off-court shit started, the fans turned on him. And yes, at that time Zach was a selfish ballhog. I seem to recall him winning the Black Hole Award one year (worst FGA/AST ratio).

Yes, C.J. can get his own shot, but he's a MUCH better distributor (4.3 apg) than Zach ever was in a Blazers uniform.

And then, there is the lack of leadership, immaturity and off court legal issues that were part of the whole Hoops Family package. In that regard, C.J. is the exact opposite of young Zach.

BNM

 

[dviss1]

I believe the comparison is that both are offensively talented, even unguardable, but sub-par at best on defense.

Yeah but that's not AT ALL why people hated Zach...

 

[BlazerCaravan]

CJ's Hoops Family all play D&D 5th Edition together.

 

[dviss1]

Thank you! I should have known people whould ignore the on-court analogy

That was ignored because it was insinuated that the on court analogy is the reason why he was hated.

That simply is not true.

 

[oldmangrouch]

OK, I will let this drop, but with one last observation - bagging on Zach for his passing is like ripping CJ for his rebounding. Very few players are good at everything.

 

[oldmangrouch]

That was ignored because it was insinuated that the on court analogy is the reason why he was hated.

That simply is not true.

It was true in this on-line community.

 

[Eastoff]

CJ's Hoops Family all play D&D 5th Edition together.

What?! 4th edition for life

 

[BlazerCaravan]

What?! 4th edition for life