Something's missing

[Rhal]

I'm actually glad we are getting a team that is pushing us like the clippers did in game 1. This eyar was all about development and if getting our asses kicked in round 1 shows not only stotts but the rest of the team what we have to work on then its a huge success in my book.

 

[Chris Craig]

Meyers will be wearing one of those pull away suits and at the last minute when starting lineups are called he will rip it off revealing his jersey and run out onto the floor ready to play

 

[Rhal]

Love Dame. Don't love Terry. Terry should have made a change after the 1st quarter when it was apparent to everyone that Dame was smothered on all screens.

And this just kinda illustrates how Terry's "system" is entirely player-driven, off-the-cuff freelance bullshit.

Offensively Terry had them run tons of plays that resulted in a lot of good and open looks for players, I thought it was a great game plan if every other player hadn't become allergic to seeing the ball through the basket. Don't force it but go with the flow of what the D gives you. It didn't work but I thought the plan was pretty good and part of it was well executed.
Defensively we were awful

 

[BlazerCaravan]

If Terry isn't gonna instill more options and counters, it appears Dame will.

Mark my words, Dame will coach the Blazers, and might be the first official player-coach in decades when he's older. Normally coaching isn't for high-talent former players, because they use their feel for the game to win rather than pure x's and o's skills that coaches need. But Dame knows more x's and o's than most players, and works hard, and is talented.

 

[blue9]

Mark my words, Dame will coach the Blazers, and might be the first official player-coach in decades when he's older. Normally coaching isn't for high-talent former players, because they use their feel for the game to win rather than pure x's and o's skills that coaches need. But Dame knows more x's and o's than most players, and works hard, and is talented.

Some might argue he's already the de facto player-coach.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Some might argue he's already the de facto player-coach.

Yes, I can see that. It's not to the level that Scottie Pippen was our player-coach, but yeah that's kind of true.

I still think Pip would make a good head coach. A colossal asshole of one, but a good one.

 

[blue9]

Yes, I can see that. It's not to the level that Scottie Pippen was our player-coach, but yeah that's kind of true.

I still think Pip would make a good head coach. A colossal asshole of one, but a good one.

I wouldn't mind giving Pippen a shot! Never really thought about him as an option before, but now I'm curious to see how he'd do.

 

[MarAzul]

I think this is our biggest weakness. A freelance system will do you fine - if you have the personnel - in the regular season. But you can't get away with a freelance system in the Playoffs. The few sets we run are known throughout the league and won't work for an entire game, let alone a 7-game series.

Stotts is a fine regular season coach, but he doesn't have the Xs/Os and discipline to cut it in the Playoffs.

Hoping I have to eat these words after tomorrow night!

And that weakness shows up big time when team good enough to make the playoffs do the predictable thing, double team the hell out off our top scorer and ball handler. For some reason, Damian (mostly the coach I think) does not look to get the ball quickly to his team mates so they can play 4 on 3 ball when he has done his job drawing the double team.
Too many times to count in game one. I don't even know if Stotts knows what to do? Or is Damian just stubborn, won't listen?

 

[MarAzul]

Meyers
He is much better now than when he began. But you need not defend perfectly when you out score your opponent. He can put the ball in the hoop and I sure as hell wish he were out there
with his team urging him to shoot the fucking ball!

 

[MarAzul]

I wouldn't mind giving Pippen a shot! Never really thought about him as an option before, but now I'm curious to see how he'd do.

Luke Walton.

 

[e_blazer]

This discussion of replacing Stotts seems odd to me. The guy has taken a team that nobody gave a shot to do anything to the 5th seed in the West and is a serious candidate for COY. I can respect that some of you have been consistent in your complaints about Stotts all season, but it seems to me that you ought to at least wait to see how the rest of the series goes. I'll guarantee you that the Blazers would look like prime time idiots dumping Stotts after the way the season has gone and the way his players love him. What coach who's better than he is would want to come to an organization that would dump his predecessor after achieving way more success than anyone dreamed of?

 

[blue9]

This discussion of replacing Stotts seems odd to me. The guy has taken a team that nobody gave a shot to do anything to the 5th seed in the West and is a serious candidate for COY. I can respect that some of you have been consistent in your complaints about Stotts all season, but it seems to me that you ought to at least wait to see how the rest of the series goes. I'll guarantee you that the Blazers would look like prime time idiots dumping Stotts after the way the season has gone and the way his players love him. What coach who's better than he is would want to come to an organization that would dump his predecessor after achieving way more success than anyone dreamed of?

Unfortunately, I agree that it would look bad and therefore the Blazers won't make a change for a few more years.

However - and I realize there are some important differences - GSW hired Mark Jackson after a single losing season under Smart. Jackson started with a team that he coached to a 23-43 record, and in his 3rd year had a record of 51-31 with two Playoff appearances, and one series win. He was then replaced after - by all metrics - having done a great job.

I am still very much interested to see what Stotts does the rest of the series. I personally don't think he's cut out for the Playoffs, but I'm always willing to change my opinion as new information becomes available. But based on some posts about Lillard coming up with 6 plays to get off-ball scoring opportunities I think he's the true coach of the team.

 

[Strenuus]

This discussion of replacing Stotts seems odd to me. The guy has taken a team that nobody gave a shot to do anything to the 5th seed in the West and is a serious candidate for COY. I can respect that some of you have been consistent in your complaints about Stotts all season, but it seems to me that you ought to at least wait to see how the rest of the series goes. I'll guarantee you that the Blazers would look like prime time idiots dumping Stotts after the way the season has gone and the way his players love him. What coach who's better than he is would want to come to an organization that would dump his predecessor after achieving way more success than anyone dreamed of?

Yup. I have my reservations about Stotts, but I do also realize the psychological aspects of what would happen if we just cut bait.

Look at Sacremento. lol.

Look at those teams who fire a coach after a playoff run. Thibs got fired because of the teams' injuries pretty much... though, his 'run 'em to the ground' style probably had a little to do with it.

 

[BigGameDamian]

All tell you what's missing. HCP isn't doing Talkin' Ball.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I'm not a fan of Leonard at all but yeah he can shoot. He's pretty much James Jones.

Not too shabby of a comparison. Leonard is actually a better shooter (Leonard TS% of 58.2% compared to Jones TS% of 56.4%) and a much better rebounder (Leonard 4.1 rpg compared to Jones 1.9 rpg).

James Jones was able to carve out a 13 year NBA career. Solid role player. Every team needs guys like that.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Not too shabby of a comparison. Leonard is actually a better shooter (Leonard TS% of 58.2% compared to Jones TS% of 56.4%) and a much better rebounder (Leonard 4.1 rpg compared to Jones 1.9 rpg).

James Jones was able to carve out a 13 year NBA career. Solid role player. Every team needs guys like that.

I don't disagree. It's just sad that they average the same amount of blocks though..

 

[WillG]

Whilst our guards get pushed, by the trap, almost back up to the half court line by opponents defense, when we're trying to initiate the offense -
and when on the other end our big does nothing to deter the opponent guard curling off of a screen - then
Nothing will change.

We haven't changed.
Stotts has not adjusted all season to this - teams know it . They have just ramped up the exploit of our team here in the playoffs. They already know the winning formula against us.

If we see the same old shit from Stotts - we are doomed.
Opposition PGs must drool when they see the Blazers on their schedule.

 

[tester551]

However - and I realize there are some important differences - GSW hired Mark Jackson after a single losing season under Smart. Jackson started with a team that he coached to a 23-43 record, and in his 3rd year had a record of 51-31 with two Playoff appearances, and one series win. He was then replaced after - by all metrics - having done a great job.

Great point. It's very hard to go from GOOD to GREAT. I think Stotts is a GOOD coach. I don't think he has it in him to become a GREAT coach. I don't think I would replace Stotts just to replace him, but if I am NO -> I definitely would kick the tires on a few of the other coaching candidates before extending Stotts.

 

[PCmor7]

Any time "Leonard" is the answer, you may want to rephrase the question. Not that ANY of our bigs covered themselves in glory.

Part of the problem is that our bigs really aren't big.