Kinda over Stotts

[riverman]

Ill concede on the Spurs, but that still only leaves 4 teams who are solid contenders. Everyone else is second tier.

Cavs will be right there...Bucks may be rejuvenated 2nd half...a lot of new rosters post all star game but there's talent out there and there's injury

 

[Orion Bailey]

Cavs will be right there...Bucks may be rejuvenated 2nd half...a lot of new rosters post all star game but there's talent out there and there's injury

Yeah, but lets not focus on what MIGHT happen, with injuries. They happen EVERY year. Not predictable.

Looking at current rosters as is, I have to disagree with ya my friend.

Also remember if a team jumps up into the fry because of injury, that isn't adding another team because you lost the team that had the injury.

 

[TBpup]

The league is a lot tougher than in Cheeks era in my view...there's a lot more parity....I got really tired of having only 4 teams who could win it all for so many years...

Unless the GSW have injuries, no one is beating them 4 times in a two week span. This season is almost as boring as last season. The only difference is that the East is more up in the air.

 

[blue9]

The middle is really clogged....trade deadline is around the corner..I think injuries have trimmed the crop....come March things are going to get interesting..off the cuff I'm adding Spurs with Kawhi back..OKC...Utah...Indiana..Minnesota...Detroit with Blake Griffin now...Philly...it's deeper than back when it was the Bulls and Jazz every season

LOL!
Reality is it's more like a 1+3 run for the Championship as long as CLE keeps struggling.

Contender - GSW
Pretender/Contender - CLE
Pretender - BOS
Pretender - HOU
Irrelevant - everyone else

 

[riverman]

Unless the GSW have injuries, no one is beating them 4 times in a two week span. This season is almost as boring as last season. The only difference is that the East is more up in the air.

Golden State is the reigning champ...so it's one team only or it's a deeper field...I think it's a deeper field...actually clogged field in the middle..

 

[Orion Bailey]

Golden State is the reigning champ...so it's one team only or it's a deeper field...I think it's a deeper field...actually clogged field in the middle..

you are right, it IS a clogged field in the middle, but they are all second tier teams that wont be there in the end. Barring KD and SC go down, but like I said previousdly, cant count on things like that. You take them when they happoen, but you dont count on it.

For example, do you really think that NO and PA are sitting there going, yeah, with a couple injuries, we will get HCA!!!

 

[blue9]

..actually clogged field in the middle..

Right - the field is clogged with irrelevant teams.

 

[calvin natt]

It’s pretty amazing that this horrendous coaching staff led by terry Stotts has seen guys like Pat, Ed and Shabazz develop so substantially this year.

 

[tester551]

It’s pretty amazing that this horrendous coaching staff led by terry Stotts has seen guys like Pat, Ed and Shabazz develop so substantially this year.

Ed didn't develop this year. He reverted back to the '15-'16 version after being hurt last year.

 

[KingSpeed]

yikes

 

[KingSpeed]

LOL!
Reality is it's more like a 1+3 run for the Championship as long as CLE keeps struggling.

Contender - GSW
Pretender/Contender - CLE
Pretender - BOS
Pretender - HOU
Irrelevant - everyone else

Toronto?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Toronto?

Meh.

 

[jlprk]

It’s pretty amazing that this horrendous coaching staff led by terry Stotts has seen guys like Pat, Ed and Shabazz develop so substantially this year.

Napier and Connaughton got playing time finally. When Napier arrived, I saw a much better player already than Stotts did, but Stotts is in love with exhausting Lillard.

Davis recovered from injury. You can tell by his tough inside emphasis that he learned all he knows in previous stops. He's the same player as when he arrived.

 

[KingSpeed]

Meh.

I'm starting to believe in Toronto. They'll probably still lose the first game of the playoffs as is their tradition but this may be their year. I'm starting to be reminded of how I felt about Dallas in 2011. No one was talking about them. No one considered them a contender. In fact, we were predicted by most to upset them in the first round, but it was simply THEIR year. Dallas did what it took to finally win a title. I think Toronto could do it this year too.

 

[H.C.]

Disagree, Ed Davis is better than his 15-16 version.
His 15-16 version would get pulled for Nards against bigger Centers because Davis couldn't keep them off the glass, nor protect the rim.
Last night against the Clippers was the first time all season Davis needed assistance protecting the rim/glass.

 

[jlprk]

Disagree, Ed Davis is better than his 15-16 version.
His 15-16 version would get pulled for Nards against bigger Centers because Davis couldn't keep them off the glass, nor protect the rim.
Last night against the Clippers was the first time all season Davis needed assistance protecting the rim/glass.

Everyone except Olshey knew that Leonard was finished here. So yes, Davis would get pulled for Nards...to "develop" the lesser player, Leonard. Davis was already our best defender and Leonard our worst.

 

[calvin natt]

Napier and Connaughton got playing time finally. When Napier arrived, I saw a much better player already than Stotts did, but Stotts is in love with exhausting Lillard.

Davis recovered from injury. You can tell by his tough inside emphasis that he learned all he knows in previous stops. He's the same player as when he arrived.

Maybe they got playing time because they got better?

 

[tester551]

Maybe they got playing time because they got better?

In what way is Ed performing better than the '15-'16 version? He's almost identical across the board, but slightly lower this year. His TRB% is slightly higher this year - but not by much.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Disagree, Ed Davis is better than his 15-16 version.
His 15-16 version would get pulled for Nards against bigger Centers because Davis couldn't keep them off the glass, nor protect the rim.
Last night against the Clippers was the first time all season Davis needed assistance protecting the rim/glass.

I think practicing against Nurk is helping him. I don't think he would have tried that hook shot against Jordan without the confidence of practicing it against someone big.

 

[H.C.]

Everyone except Olshey knew that Leonard was finished here. So yes, Davis would get pulled for Nards...to "develop" the lesser player, Leonard. Davis was already our best defender and Leonard our worst.

Ed Davis outside of the first game against the Spurs, and last night against Harrel hasn't had issues getting out physicalled this year by really anyone this year.
That was not the case in 15-16, where routinely Nards would sub in for Davis when there was a true big that Davis couldn't matchup with.
It wasn't for development, it was because Nards for everything he's not. He's a very physical post defender who rarely gets overpowered. It's why he gave Boogie such issues before Boogie realized. 'Oh I'm far quicker than him'.

 

[blue9]

... it was because Nards for everything he's not. He's a very physical post defender who rarely gets overpowered.

That can't be right - the narrative in here is that he's a big softy who can't stand contact.

 

[H.C.]

That can't be right - the narrative in here is that he's a big softy who can't stand contact.

That narrative, and your opinion of Aminu have something in common then.

 

[blue9]

That narrative, and your opinion of Aminu have something in common then.

Boooooo!

 

[tester551]

:::BUMP:::

If Walton becomes available, Portland needs to jump on the opportunity to hire him.
Stotts is good (especially in the regular season), but not great (especially in the post-season).

 

[THE HCP]

Walton. Get the hell outta here. Why?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

When I saw this thread revived, I assumed it would be someone praising how Stotts seems to have updated his style and philosophy this season, adjusting his substitution patterns, reducing his reliance on starters' minutes, and relegating Meyers to even less than garbage time.

Shocked to see a call for Laker Luke.

 

[e_blazer]

:::BUMP:::

If Walton becomes available, Portland needs to jump on the opportunity to hire him.
Stotts is good (especially in the regular season), but not great (especially in the post-season).

Luke?? No.

How hilarious that Magic assembles a goofball roster of LeBron and group of miscast misfits and then starts dogging Walton because he can't instantly make a cohesive winning NBA unit out of these guys. But, that's the NBA for you.

 

[Scalma]

Luke?? No.

How hilarious that Magic assembles a goofball roster of LeBron and group of miscast misfits and then starts dogging Walton because he can't instantly make a cohesive winning NBA unit out of these guys. But, that's the NBA for you.

My favorite is still when Magic was talking about building a roster specifically for the playoffs.

PLAYOFFS!?

 

[illmatic99]

:::BUMP:::

If Walton becomes available, Portland needs to jump on the opportunity to hire him.
Stotts is good (especially in the regular season), but not great (especially in the post-season).

If he'd be willing to take on an assistant role, I'd be all over it. He can take over for Terry later on. This is the most predictable Woj article ever, btw.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Luke?? No.

How hilarious that Magic assembles a goofball roster of LeBron and group of miscast misfits and then starts dogging Walton because he can't instantly make a cohesive winning NBA unit out of these guys. But, that's the NBA for you.

It will be interesting to see how Luke "adapts" to LBJ. Walton wants to play at a GS style pace and shoot lots of 3s. On paper (nor on the floor) it does not look like they are built for that. Not yet anyways.