Nate deficiencies.

[MickZagger]

Nate McMillan pretty much summed it up perfectly a few weeks ago when he said "if you're gonna go down, you go down your way." He's just a stubborn, hard-headed person that has difficulty adjusting. And being stubborn and having difficulty adjusting is not a successful quality as a head coach.

As a head coach its your job to make adjustments throughout the game and season. We're a team that absolutely gets exploited on pick and roll defense. Nate continually coaches switching on screens which always results a defensive mismatch. When a team runs the pick and roll, their objective is to get you to switch. This results in mismatches and the defense is then in scramble mode. This is exacerbated by the fact that Portland does not play good team defense failing to rotate and help teammates. That's why in the past 3 playoff series you saw Houston, Phoenix and Dallas pick and roll us to death.

Good coaches see where they can improve and develop strategies that fits their roster. For example, take Erik Spoelstra. In the Finals, Dallas slowed downed the game to force Miami's athletes to execute a half-court offense, which was not their strength. So what did Spoelstra do? He tried to find ways to improve the offense that fit the players on his roster. Its been said that he went to Oregon and consulted Chip Kelly about the nuances of the spread offense. He realized that with the speed and athleticism of Lebron James and Dwyane Wade Miami would thrive if he opened up the court and spread out the floor. Now look at Miami's offense, they're running teams out of the gym.

Adjustments.

Thats a very solid post.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I agree with the guy who wrote it and team defense is right at the top. Either not teaching it properly or not holding the players accountable for executing it.

Also good point about our pick and roll is always a pick and pop.

Either not teaching or not holding accountable for execution of fundamentals of screening, blocking out and passing.

 

[KingSpeed]

PapaG, its pretty obvious that you're a diehard Nate apologist. People on this board are always bashing Nate and you throw out stats and numbers to disprove them. Now Let me ask why you what skills or positives does Nate offer as a head coach? What does it take or how long before you realize he's not the right fit for this franchise?

In over 11 seasons as a head coach, his possesses a .500 regular season record, a .250 playoff record and advanced out of the first round of the playoffs only one time. What justifies him remaining the head coach?

Nate has a .333 playoff record with us.

 

[jlprk]

The article in the opening post compiles the deficiencies which many of us have noted for years. Nate always had the excuses of youth and injuries until this season. He's finally getting the criticism he has deserved for lo these many years. Very good article.

 

[magnifier661]

Thats a very solid post.

Yes that was a smart post. I agree