REALLY tough 4-game stretch coming--how would you coach it?

[PtldPlatypus]

You're probably all aware that starting Thursday, we host Miami, then visit Golden State, host OKC, and visit Denver. This team--even if it is a playoff team--should not be expected to win any of those games.

I wonder though--if you were Terry Stotts, how would you manage this stretch? Would you play every game like a game 7, trying to prove that this really is a playoff team? Would you give some of the starters a game or two off, knowing that we were going to lose anyway? Something inbetween? If you could influence the coaching staff, what would you want to see over the next week?

 

[Draco]

Just go out and try to win the games. We'll probably get blown out in one or two of the games which will give the starters a ton of rest so I don't think he needs to do anything special.

 

[magnifier661]

I think we need to play it to win it, even if we are playing heavy minutes to the starters. If we can go 2-2 on that stretch, we would seriously gain some momentum. If we could go 3+ in those four games, then we could now be considered "for real". If we win one of those games, then it's business as usual.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Playing heavy minutes to the starters is dumb. The winning is great and all, but at what expense? We break down Aldridge for a shot at the 8th seed?

 

[crandc]

Just as he has been. He's been doing pretty well.

 

[Eastoff]

Take every game quarter by quarter. Try not to over play the starters.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Playing heavy minutes to the starters is dumb. The winning is great and all, but at what expense? We break down Aldridge for a shot at the 8th seed?

Seems most around here are content to win the battle even at the expense of winning the war.

 

[e_blazer]

Seems most around here are content to win the battle even at the expense of winning the war.

You really think that losing and getting the 11th or 12th pick in this draft is going to be a major step in winning the war?

 

[magnifier661]

Playing heavy minutes to the starters is dumb. The winning is great and all, but at what expense? We break down Aldridge for a shot at the 8th seed?

Well it seems you are on board with not making the playoffs. If we come out with a decent winning percentage on this 4 game stint without injury, then we better our chances to go even higher in the standings. If Aldridge gets injured, then you get your wish and we have no shot at the playoffs. And most likely we would drop even further in the lotto chances.

I don't want injury like anyone else, but I think even Aldridge agrees that he wants to win. He is willing to give heavy minutes in process. There are others like him that have averaged the minutes he is averaging and stay injury free. I think Aldridge has the body and endurance to be in the same league as those type of players.

And BTW... The heavy minutes are not new to Aldridge. He's been a heavy minute PF for the last 4 years of his career.

 

[magnifier661]

You really think that losing and getting the 11th or 12th pick in this draft is going to be a major step in winning the war?

LOL I was thinking the same thing. I think winning the war is boosting moral of the ball club. Winning cures all. You can see the swagger of the players increase as they are on a winning mode. I remembered watching the body language of the players during our losing streak. You could see they were frustrated and lackluster. Now they come out searching for blood. I like seeing that.

 

[e_blazer]

Our starters are young and want to win. They want to play big minutes, earn a name for themselves, and overachieve. Intentionally playing to lose is demoralizing and, ultimately, self-defeating. I'm not saying that you run these guys into the ground, but Stotts has developed a pretty good rotation that let the team play 4 games in 5 nights on the road and still have enough gas to win an overtime game last night. Stick with what's been working and let the wins and losses come as they will.

 

[Pinwheel1]

They have two days off before Miami, so they will be rested. Go all out for that one.
Play the bench more in GS the next night.
Go all out at home against OKC
Play the bench more in the high altitude in Denver.

My gut is we battle hard at home and barely lose both. (In part by the super stars getting the calls down the stretch)
And we lose by 10+ on the road. You play to win both, but the bench has to help out.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Well it seems you are on board with not making the playoffs. If we come out with a decent winning percentage on this 4 game stint without injury, then we better our chances to go even higher in the standings. If Aldridge gets injured, then you get your wish and we have no shot at the playoffs. And most likely we would drop even further in the lotto chances.

I don't want injury like anyone else, but I think even Aldridge agrees that he wants to win. He is willing to give heavy minutes in process. There are others like him that have averaged the minutes he is averaging and stay injury free. I think Aldridge has the body and endurance to be in the same league as those type of players.

And BTW... The heavy minutes are not new to Aldridge. He's been a heavy minute PF for the last 4 years of his career.

With injuries to the lower half of his body in each.

I would rather build through the draft, but if we make the playoffs, so be it. Just don't run down our best players to get killed in the first round.

I haven't looked at the NBA, but if you look at running backs who carry the ball a ton, they are pretty much worthless the following years, and sometimes are out of the league because of it

 

[blue9]

If we're going into this with the mindset that we WILL lose at some point during these next four games then I think it's most important to get the wins against WC/Div opponents. Just in case it comes into play for who makes/misses the POs. If we're looking for an honest 2/2 split I'd try to get the wins over GS and DEN. GS because, even though they aren't in our division, they're another team that appears to be greatly exceeding expectations - like us. I'd be nice to be the "up-and-comer" that wins in that battle. DEN because we're going to be closer to them in the standings than OKC - a tie-breaker here MAY come into play at the end of the season.
With that said, I always love when we win on TNT.

 

[magnifier661]

With injuries to the lower half of his body in each.

I would rather build through the draft, but if we make the playoffs, so be it. Just don't run down our best players to get killed in the first round.

I haven't looked at the NBA, but if you look at running backs who carry the ball a ton, they are pretty much worthless the following years, and sometimes are out of the league because of it

I understand your concern, but Aldridge is known for playing heavy minutes. There have been so many PFs that averaged more minutes than what Aldridge is averaging even now; yet they stayed healthy.

 

[mook]

Maybe you pull a Popovich and draw a big circle around the Golden State game and tell Aldridge/Batum/Matthews/Lillard that they can stay home on that trip. Get some much needed rest, and get ready to work your asses off against OKC.

Besides, it'd be hilarious to see Price/Claver/Babbitt/Jeffries/Hickson start against that team. The utter debacle would only serve to highlight how impressive our starters have been this year.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I understand your concern, but Aldridge is known for playing heavy minutes. There have been so many PFs that averaged more minutes than what Aldridge is averaging even now; yet they stayed healthy.

But Aldridge hasn't stayed healthy

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

That's easy. Start Nolan Smith, Ronnie Price, Claver, Jeffries and Freeland vs. Miami, who allegedly plays down to the competition.

Once you lull them into a coma with various quaalude moves, put the starters in for a short game-winning stint in the 4th quarter.

The starters will be fresh the next night in GS. Utter genius, yes?

 

[magnifier661]

But Aldridge hasn't stayed healthy

If you exclude the two heart murmor episodes; he's been very healthy.

 

[blue9]

^^Ha ha! I actually like it! And it could potentially work...

 

[blue9]

If you exclude the two heart murmor episodes; he's been very healthy.

Don't forget his hip and labial tear...
Oh, and back.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I get the idea of LA wearing down, and I suspect we will see him be shut down or minutes drastically reduced if end of season rolls around and Blazers aren't in the playoff mix.

But LA himself has admitted that he has lost a step and isn't as quick as he was a few years ago. Blazers haven't been this healthy in years. (Blazers had a long term plan that never happened due to injuries.) Each season is crazy and you never know when your star is going to blow out a knee like the Bulls or the Wolves.

I say ride this wave and LA's peak (although we are probably past it) and see how far it can go . . . there are no guarentees in this game and tanking for a draft slightly raises the chances this team will be better next year, IMO (assuming everyone remains healthy, which is a a bad assumption)

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Maybe you pull a Popovich and draw a big circle around the Golden State game and tell Aldridge/Batum/Matthews/Lillard that they can stay home on that trip. Get some much needed rest, and get ready to work your asses off against OKC.

Besides, it'd be hilarious to see Price/Claver/Babbitt/Jeffries/Hickson start against that team. The utter debacle would only serve to highlight how impressive our starters have been this year.

I like this idea. PA will gladly pay the fine.

Speaking of PA, what a life. He watches his Seahawks win a playoff game then flies to Ptd the next day to watch his Trailbalzers beat Orlando in overtime to make it 3 in a row. Both his teams are overachieving this year . . . he deserves this for all his commitment he has shown to NW sports.

 

[Pinwheel1]

LMA is the one player who should get a few less minutes per game. I think we all agree on that. But I don't think his minutes will effect his long term health. Worst case scenario is he doesn't last the season. Which seems to be a best case scenario for some of you who want to build through the draft. Which is a debate that we have had for a while.

Right now I like that they are hanging in there. It gives us hope for the future. It also gives the players hope and the desire to stay here. And if they were to stumble at the end and fall deep into the lottery.........then that it not the end of the world either. We get a good pick.

But as I have posted numerous times this season, the more probable scenario is we barely miss the playoffs where the draft pick is either non impressive or non existent. So play hard to win and give the fans something to cheer about. Like last night. Regardless who it was against....it was a fun game to watch.

 

[Eastoff]

Maybe you pull a Popovich and draw a big circle around the Golden State game and tell Aldridge/Batum/Matthews/Lillard that they can stay home on that trip. Get some much needed rest, and get ready to work your asses off against OKC.

Besides, it'd be hilarious to see Price/Claver/Babbitt/Jeffries/Hickson start against that team. The utter debacle would only serve to highlight how impressive our starters have been this year.

Oh god, and can you imagine the shitstorm SA would raise if we didn't get fined?!?!

 

[illmatic99]

Dame will not sit out the game in Oakland.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Dame will not sit out the game in Oakland.

Good point. Then again, he hasn't sat out any games yet this year.

I was about to suggest that he should sit out the Denver game, so that he doesn't have to deal with the altitude issue, but then I remembered that he spent 4 years in Ogden Utah, which is only a few hundred feet lower altitude than Denver is. He'll probably have less problem with the thin air than anyone else on our team.