SI Interview with Stotts

[Minstrel]

Terry Stotts to bring lessons learned with George Karl, Rick Carlisle to Blazers

 

[BBert]

George always believed that starting a role player made your bench better, and I do, too. Ervin Johnson started for us in Seattle in the 1990s, and that allowed us to bring Sam Perkins off the bench. And in Milwaukee one year [2000-01], Mark Pope started something like 45 games for us so that we could bring Tim Thomas off the bench.

Interesting?

I should have started a thread: "Olshey to start Babbitt and bring Batum off the bench." LOL

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Maybe he will start elliot, with wes.playing The.sixth man

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Here's what I was happiest to see, because I think Portland has been really weak in this area:

"I kept a file of just things I learned from Rick. It’s like three pages now of different things. More than anything, it’s the attention to detail on defense. His focus on pick-and-roll coverages, committing to a certain way of doing that, and having a defensive coordinator — those are things I want to take to Portland."

 

[BBert]

Here's what I was happiest to see, because I think Portland has been really weak in this area:

"I kept a file of just things I learned from Rick. It’s like three pages now of different things. More than anything, it’s the attention to detail on defense. His focus on pick-and-roll coverages, committing to a certain way of doing that, and having a defensive coordinator — those are things I want to take to Portland."

Same here. His talking about guarding and practicing guarding the P&R was the best part. Also:

I’m a big, big believer in the three-point shot. You have to have a decent number of three-point shooters on the court just for the spacing — at least two or three. It opens up space to run pick-and-roll, post up, and for penetration.

Add those to his previous comments about passing not dribbling, and I'm liking what I'm hearing.

 

[Eastoff]

Same here. His talking about guarding and practicing guarding the P&R was the best part. Also:
[stuff about 3 point shooting]
Add those to his previous comments about passing not dribbling, and I'm liking what I'm hearing.

I just hope to god he doesn't value 3 point shooting more than decent defense. Because Luke Babbitt is a good shooter, but oh god does he give it up more than a french whore on the D side.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Here's what I was happiest to see, because I think Portland has been really weak in this area:

"I kept a file of just things I learned from Rick. It’s like three pages now of different things. More than anything, it’s the attention to detail on defense. His focus on pick-and-roll coverages, committing to a certain way of doing that, and having a defensive coordinator — those are things I want to take to Portland."

This part made me laugh though

 

[Mediocre Man]

Wants 3 shooters on the floor?

Lillard, Smith, Wes, Batum, Babbitt, Williams

to a lesser extent Barton, Claver

can all hit 3s. Should be a fun team to watch

 

[santeesioux]

Wants 3 shooters on the floor?

Lillard, Smith, Wes, Batum, Babbitt, Williams

to a lesser extent Barton, Claver

can all hit 3s. Should be a fun team to watch

Yeah, if it's going to be a bad team, may as well be entertaining, that was sorely missing last year.

 

[HailBlazers]

SI.com: Sounds like you think Batum is ready to do more.
Stotts: You take the contract out of the equation, and there are a lot of things he can become better at. I don’t want to limit him. I want him to post up, to get his own shot, to handle in the pick-and-roll.
SI.com: More freedom?
Stotts: I don’t know if freedom is the right word. It might be more responsibility.

Bingo!

 

[dviss1]

"SI.com: Do you ever see LaMarcus Aldridge drifting out there? If he’s going to share minutes with Meyers Leonard, would it help?

Stotts: He hasn’t yet, and I don’t think it’s important that he does. He’s a young player still, and maybe that part of his game develops. But spacing with Meyers and LaMarcus could become an issue if you want to run a pick-and-roll with LaMarcus or post up a wing like Nic [Batum] or Wesley [Matthews]. But I think LaMarcus probably spaces well enough now."

That's right Terry! Keep his A$$ in the post!

 

[Mediocre Man]

That's right Terry! Keep his A$$ in the post!

Actually he was talking about getting LA's ass out of the post more and putting miss matches in the post more often. It's almost like he is a real coach.

 

[dviss1]

Actually he was talking about getting LA's ass out of the post more and putting miss matches in the post more often. It's almost like he is a real coach.

I disagree. 1st of all, Wesley ain't gonna be posting up anybody. If Stotts has him in the post, I myself will call for his firing. 2nd, He basically answered the question saying he doesn't need to do anything different (space wise).

 

[Mediocre Man]

I disagree. 1st of all, Wesley ain't gonna be posting up anybody. If Stotts has him in the post, I myself will call for his firing. 2nd, He basically answered the question saying he doesn't need to do anything different (space wise).

Ok.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think I'd rather have Wesley posting people up than facing up and trying to drive to the hoop with that awful handle of his. He's got a thick frame and if worked at it, I think he could be a pretty good post-up guard.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think I'd rather have Wesley posting people up than facing up and trying to drive to the hoop with that awful handle of his. He's got a thick frame and if worked at it, I think he could be a pretty good post-up guard.

Vernon Maxwell without the crazy? Straight edge JR Rider?

 

[Sedatedfork]

I have fond memories of JR with a sweet up and under move on a play after hitting a fadeaway against the Suns. Oh what could have been, had JR not been an idiot.