Rumor Report: Owner Paul Allen investigating whether Trail Blazers’ problem is roster or coaching

[Rastapopoulos]

Thank Christ Sherlock Fucking Holmes is on the case...

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm assigning blame as 2/3 Neil and 1/3 Stotts. Neil put this poor and unbalanced roster together and paid a very steep price. I'd fire him first, Stotts is stuck with this and some of the players really don't fit his system well - I still would not mind a replacement for him either.

Stotts was brought in for Aldridge, but LMA left, thus making Stotts a bit unnecessary.

Neil has been trying, but someone can really only do so much when nobody will sign here. Plus I think we would have had a real shot at PG13 if not for the bad blood between Paul and KP.

Honestly, I'm not sure Neil could have done much more with the roster that he was given and the inability to sign new talent through free agency.

 

[Natebishop3]

Replace NO and Stotts with Trajan Langdon and Ime Udoka.

The Alaskan Assassin is a GM?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Paul needs to pull his head out of his ass and either immediately hire the best big man coach(es) money can buy or fire every goddamn Vulcan bean counter.

Not sure who is the best big man coach? Fuck it, hire two (even if that means swallowing your pride and bringing back Kim Hughes). Assistant coaches don't count against the salary cap or the luxury tax.

How is this not obvious to every single person within this organization? Why do we need another Vulcan Inqisition before taking this action?

Firing Hughes, and not immediately replacing him pissed away the most important development years for Meyers Leonard. Noah Vonleh still has ZERO offensive game. Nurk looks totally lost on offense, constantly turns the ball over and misses way too many shots around the basket.

We just spent THREE first round picks in a very deep draft on two very young big men. Yet, haven't hired a big man coach to help them develop. Instead, we are sending Swanigan to a remote G League outpost where we will have no control over his development and have chosen the sink or swim approach with Collins hoping he can play his way into reaching his potential. Kind of like throwing your toddler into the deep end of the pool with no life guard on duty, walking away and hoping the kid turns into the next Michael Phelps.

Nurk, Leonard, Vonleh, Collins and Swanigan, but no proven big man coach? Hell, even an old dog like Ed Davis could use somebody to teach him a low post move, or two.

Paul, I'm not a Vulcan, or part of your inner circle, but for the love of Jesus Harold Christ, you are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in young big men, how about spending a couple million to insure some return on that investment?

Put a couple of those Vulcans to work on something productive for once. Have them contact Kevin McHale, Bill Laimbeer, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and yes, Kim Hughes, and all of their agents. Pick the two best candidates, find out what it would take to get them to commit and make it happen. With so many young bigs in need of help, we could easily use two full time dedicated big man coaches.

Vulcans not up to the task? Hire me and I'll do the work for you. I've been a fan of this team at least as long as you. I can't match your financial investment, but the emotional investment has always been there. Like you, I am a cancer survivor. Fortunately, I have been cancer free for nearly 18 months, but you never know. I want to see this team win another championship before I die. I was not quite 16 when they won their first, I remember it well, but the memories fade with each passing year. Let's make this happen. You can afford the best. Go get 'em.

BNM

 

[jlprk]

Turner is the worst move neil did. that kill him, he's contract is worse than meyers

The McCollum contract is what's preventing any moves. It was the worst, to pay the max based on unrealized potential of a short butterfingers SG who can't play PG.

 

[tester551]

And he's done such a great job in Charlotte that they are a perinneal title contender

 

[TBpup]

Terry Stotts is one if the nicest, most well liked guys in the NBA.....but I've never liked him as a head coach. Much like Mark Helfrich, I like him much better as a coordinator/assistant but just don't believe he has what it takes to be a successful head coach. That said, this is more of a look at Olshey who has been said to be great at the Draft and not so good at FA offereings/signings. What do you think?

2010:
#9 - Al-Farouq Aminu
(#10 Paul George to Indiana)
(#11 Gordon Hayward to Utah)
Possibly his worst draft. Complete miss as Aminu has by far had the least impact in relation to the 2 players picked right after him.

2011:
Traded Baron Williams and their #1 pick (that became Kyrie Irving) for Jamario Moon and Mo Williams
#37 pick LA Clippers - selected Trey Tompins
(#38 - Chandler Parsons to Houston)

2012:
#6 - Damian Lillard
#11 - Meyers Leonard
#40 - Will Barton
#41 - Tyshawn Taylor
Probably his best Draft although many will say Lillard was Portland's first choice before Olshey got they. Meyers hasn't panned out (you can highly question him being re-signed) but there was no clear 'miss' right after him and Barton has been very serviceable for a 2nd round pick.

2013:
#10 CJ McCollum
(#15 - Giannis Antetokuonmpo to MIL))
#39 - Jeff Withey
#40 - Grant Jerrett
#45 - Marko Todorovic
Traded 2 future 2nd round picks for Allan Crabbe
Four picks with only one hit and missed on Giannis. Many people will say, "how was Olshey supposed to know GF would turn out like that?", which is a fair question but that is their job. They are graded on hits and misses because that is what they are paid for to do full time. CJ wasn't a miss as he is a very accomplished scorer....but GF will be an All-Star and All-NBA player which CJ has yet to sniff.

2014:
No picks of any kind. All had been traded away.

2015:
#23 Hollis-Jefferson, immediately traded with Steve Blake for Plumlee/Connaughton
Traded cash for #54 Utah pick Daniel Diaz
(Nothing to take notice of here..)

2016:
No Draft picks...again. They had all been traded away. Traded another future 2nd for Jake Layman

2017:
#15 - Justin Jackson
#20 - Harry Giles
#26 - Caleb Swanigan
(Jackson and Giles traded for Collins. Swanigan picked right before #27 Kyle Kuzma who will make the All-Rookie team and instead of local favorite Jordan Bell who will also make the All-Rookie team.)

So far in 7 years of Drafting, really only 2 hits if you believe Dame was already the choice before Olshey got here. CJ and Barton....and that comes with the caveat that CJ was taken instead of GF. Now Collins may become one but it's too early to tell. The other thing I notice is that, if Oshey's strength is the Draft, why does he keep trading away picks? Since Neil got to Portland, he has traded away something like 15 Draft picks while getting back around 6. I somewhat lost track after a while as the number was quite high for a 5 year stretch of trades.

Since the Blazers aren't getting anyone of significance to come here via FA'cy, Draft picks are crucial for acquiring players that you have control over. Neil is one smooooth talkin' guy but the more I looked at the Draft history, the less I was impressed.

 

[jlprk]

I know everybody gives stotts shit and yeah he does dumb shit sometimes but it’s honestly the talent.

It's not occasional Stotts errors. It's his whole philosophy of playing at a speed at which few players can do well. Vonleh will always look like a statue in a Stotts system, but will be satisfactory for another coach. McCollum will always be a butterfingers ball of greased lightning, unable to hold the ball and missing most shots.

A new coach will have them play at a normal speed, and everyone will do better. Olshey could get twice the talent, and we'd still underperform. We need a new coach.

 

[TBpup]

While I agree with the 'holes in the roster' sentiment, I also believe Stotts is coaching them in a way that does not take advantage of what talent he does have and how well they have rebounded for the most part. LAST in fast break points and assists when Aminu, Harkless, Vonleh etc would all benefit greatly from being out on the break and having minimal decisions to make. Either that is a Stotts philosophy or Dame/CJ are tuning him out. Whichever it is, means Stotts is not being effective.

 

[tester551]

It's not occasional Stotts errors. It's his whole philosophy of playing at a speed at which few players can do well. Vonleh will always look like a statue in a Stotts system, but will be satisfactory for another coach. McCollum will always be a butterfingers ball of greased lightning, unable to hold the ball and missing most shots.

A new coach will have them play at a normal speed, and everyone will do better. Olshey could get twice the talent, and we'd still underperform. We need a new coach.

I'm not convinced the playing speed is a Stotts issue. I think Dame has more control over that than anyone else

 

[rotary111]

I like a coach that gets mad. When was the last time Stotts called a time out and lit the team up for playing bad? Show some passion. Being nice all the time doesn't work for a head coach. Even Kerr gets mad....not very often though.

 

[Natebishop3]

The Twolves have built exactly how I would have built.

They traded their star who was obviously going to leave for a high lottery pick.

They signed a defensive minded coach.

They blew it up when it was obvious that they weren't going to compete.

They traded young talent for an established star. Now they have one of the best starting fives in the league.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I like a coach that gets mad. When was the last time Stotts called a time out and lit the team up for playing bad? Show some passion. Being nice all the time doesn't work for a head coach. Even Kerr gets mad....not very often though.

Rasheed wallace as assistant coach

 

[riverman]

Paul needs to pull his head out of his ass and either immediately hire the best big man coach(es) money can buy

this

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The big men coaches that would be perfect for us.

1. Kevin McHale
2. Bill Laimbeer
3. Kevin McHale

 

[Natebishop3]

Imagine for a moment if we would have traded LMA for the #1 pick?

And then dealt Batum/Wes/Rolo because we were starting over and building around Dame/#1 pick?

 

[Cippy91]

We are in full treadmill mode. We can't wait for Collins to develop.

CJ/Dame just isn't a good duo to build around.

Stotts is a middling coach. He's good at getting the most out of his talent, but I don't think he's on the same level as a Kerr or a Pop. We don't have a LeBron to make the coach irrelevant.

At this point, I'd fire Stotts and crew. Trade CJ. Give Neil one more summer to pull it all together or he's gone too.

One thing. Many could argue that Kerr isn’t that great of a coach at all. He inherited a team and the talent was already set up for historic seasons. Then they added Durant. Can’t argue with pop though, one of the greatest coaches of all time

 

[Cippy91]

Turner is the worst move neil did. that kill him, he's contract is worse than meyers

I will never forget the article that came out after we signed him about turner calling up his friend iggy surprised himself he got a contract for that much. In my opinion it’s worss than the crabbe contract and that’s saying a lot because the crabbe contract was and is garbage too

 

[Natebishop3]

One thing. Many could argue that Kerr isn’t that great of a coach at all. He inherited a team and the talent was already set up for historic seasons. Then they added Durant. Can’t argue with pop though, one of the greatest coaches of all time

He inherited a team that was roughly where we were a couple years ago. You're thinking of the Warriors as they are now, not as they were when Mark Jackson was the head coach. Don't forget, Jackson had all of those same pieces.

 

[Nikolokolus]

One thing. Many could argue that Kerr isn’t that great of a coach at all. He inherited a team and the talent was already set up for historic seasons. Then they added Durant. Can’t argue with pop though, one of the greatest coaches of all time

Did you see how that team looked with Mark Jackson at the helm? Kerr was the only significant change, and it was radically significant, in that they completely changed the way they played after he got there. Of course there was some great talent there, but he got the most out of it, which is what great coaches do.

 

[Cippy91]

Imagine for a moment if we would have traded LMA for the #1 pick?

And then dealt Batum/Wes/Rolo because we were starting over and building around Dame/#1 pick?

Lma, Wes, rolo all walked. Batum became vonleh. Yeah it was handled bad. Should of traded Lma back then and then be honest with the fans. Neil is a great actor though. Alway trying to convince fans what we have is so good when in reality it’s not

 

[Cippy91]

He inherited a team that was roughly where we were a couple years ago. You're thinking of the Warriors as they are now, not as they were when Mark Jackson was the head coach. Don't forget, Jackson had all of those same pieces.

Right I just give mark jackson more credit than Kerr. Kerr just came in at the right time

 

[Natebishop3]

Lma, Wes, rolo all walked. Batum became vonleh. Yeah it was handled bad. Should of traded Lma back then and then be honest with the fans. Neil is a great actor though. Alway trying to convince fans what we have is so good when in reality it’s not

Two years later. I'm talking about in the summer of 2013 when LMA was talking about wanting out and the Cavs were rumored to have offered Thompson/#1 pick for him.

 

[Natebishop3]

Right I just give mark jackson more credit than Kerr. Kerr just came in at the right time

That's laughable.

 

[Cippy91]

Did you see how that team looked with Mark Jackson at the helm? Kerr was the only significant change, and it was radically significant, in that they completely changed the way they played after he got there. Of course there was some great talent there, but he got the most out of it, which is what great coaches do.

I just don’t believe the Steve Kerr hype. Luke Walton stepped in when Kerr was out most of the season with his back issues. They still won an insane amount of games. Take pop away from the spurs for that amount of time, I think they become mediocre. Kerr is overrated

 

[Natebishop3]

I just don’t believe the Steve Kerr hype. Luke Walton stepped in when Kerr was out most of the season with his back issues. They still won an insane amount of games. Take pop away from the spurs for that amount of time, I think they become mediocre. Kerr is overrated

Walton was running Kerr's offense. His system.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I'm assigning blame as 2/3 Neil and 1/3 Stotts. Neil put this poor and unbalanced roster together and paid a very steep price. I'd fire him first, Stotts is stuck with this and some of the players really don't fit his system well - I still would not mind a replacement for him either.

Find a replacement for Olshey and bring in Tony Bennett (currently Virginia Cavaliers head coach) to replace Stotts.

 

[Natebishop3]

I just don’t believe the Steve Kerr hype. Luke Walton stepped in when Kerr was out most of the season with his back issues. They still won an insane amount of games. Take pop away from the spurs for that amount of time, I think they become mediocre. Kerr is overrated

You think that Duncan/Parker/Manu would have been mediocre?

 

[riverman]

The big men coaches that would be perfect for us.

1. Kevin McHale
2. Bill Laimbeer
3. Kevin McHale

Bill Laimbeer was my first choice but I believe he's now the Adam Silver of WNBA....cushy commissioner job might be tough for Bill to give up to be a big man coach these days....I think Sheed would be a good choice....Hakeem is on the Rockets bench...McHale can barely walk these days.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I just don’t believe the Steve Kerr hype. Luke Walton stepped in when Kerr was out most of the season with his back issues. They still won an insane amount of games. Take pop away from the spurs for that amount of time, I think they become mediocre. Kerr is overrated

I disagree with your premise. If Pop were out for a couple months, I don't think the Spurs would suffer greatly, because his greatness isn't in-game coaching, but in the culture and system he has created and maintained in San Antonio. Even without him on the sidelines for a stretch, the culture and system would remain, and whatever assistant is holding down the fort would still be successful.

I believe that the same is the case with Kerr and GSW. The jump they made when he took over from Jackson, without a major personnel change, suggests that it was his contributions that brought that team from good to great. Walton being able to maintain the excellence is just a testament to foundation Kerr had already laid, which still existed in his absence.