Stotts Angers, Blazers Listen

[MAS RipCity]

When Terry Stotts Gets Angry, The Trail Blazers Listen - By Jason Quick

Little did the fans know, but inside the Blazers locker room, the night's most important victory was being forged.

Terry Stotts, the normally mild-manner leader of the Blazers, took a stand.

He got mad.

And when he stood before his team in the locker room, the Blazers players found out he was the most cutting brand of mad.

He wasn't screaming mad. He wasn't cursing mad. And he wasn't overly animated.

"He was calm,'' Nicolas Batum said. "And that's worse.''

I will fully admit that I've questioned Coach Stotts' ability to motivate this team ever since we faltered after that incredible 30-8 start. I get annoyed at his bench rotations. And I absolutely loathe his overall defensive philosophy, especially his stubbornness in defending the pick and roll. But, I am thankful he took a stand tonight. While the majority of fans will see this game as "meaningless" and having zero impact on the playoffs, I see tonight's performance as Exhibit A in what has been a troubling trend for this squad throughout the year: a lack of focus.

"It was one of those games where we just didn't bring it,'' Lillard said. "We didn't play good enough. It's not us not caring, it was us taking it for granted that they aren't going to be a playoff team.''

Lillard went on to call the game "unacceptable."

While I think the great coaches get the most out of their players and find the proper buttons to push over the course of 82 games, at the end of the day, it's all on the players. Who is our leader? Where is the leadership? Are these guys too nice? Too close? Last year it was Mo Williams who got all up in Nicolas Batum's face at halftime of Game 1 in Houston because Chandler Parsons was punking him. Last year it was Wesley Matthews who had seen enough after a loss in Orlando and let his teammates hear it. See a theme here? Last. Year.

Wes would be our vocal leader but he is out and these guys don't want to say too much when they are injured and aren't capable of actually implementing the changes themselves on the court. So who will it be? Or does such a player exist on our roster right now?

Saturday, that was made plain and clear by Stotts, and Lillard said he expects to see a different Blazers team from here on out.

"I know what kind of team we have, and how we respond usually when we have bad efforts,'' Lillard said. "We don't like it and we want to fix it right away. So I'm excited to see what we do next.''

Time is ticking on this Trail Blazers season. And Portland does not want to head into the postseason on a four-game losing streak. I'm intrigued to see how this team responds from an embarrassing loss like they suffered on Saturday night and would love nothing more than to roll into the playoffs on a two-game winning streak, especially if beating the Thunder knocks them out of the postseason.

#RipCity

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[PDXFonz]

I love that move by Coach Stotts.

 

[tlongII]

Talk is cheap.

 

[magnifier661]

Talk is cheap.

No man two dollar whores are cheap

 

[rasheedfan2005]

i hope the players respond well. im glad he mentioned the fans dont deserve that. all i ever want as a fan is for our squad to play hard. even 10 years ago when we were like 27-55 i loved joel przybilla because he played hard even though we had zero talent

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[PDXFonz]

Talk is cheap.

You're just upset because this move goes against your "Blazers will go nowhere" thread!

 

[ChadWick]

How many times have we fucking heard Lillard or our team say "oh we just didn't bring it tonight"

Or "oh we took them for granted" "any team in this league can beat you any night, it's the NBA"

Unfortunately, I see this team losing in 5 maybe 6 games in the first round. Ugh I hope they prove me wrong.

 

[BigGameDamian]

How many times have we fucking heard Lillard or our team say "oh we just didn't bring it tonight"

Or "oh we took them for granted" "any team in this league can beat you any night, it's the NBA"

Unfortunately, I see this team losing in 5 maybe 6 games in the first round. Ugh I hope they prove me wrong.

Just cross your fingers that Aldridge gives Neil his john hancock or this team is really screwed.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Just cross your fingers that Aldridge gives Neil his john hancock or this team is really screwed.

 

[HailBlazers]

No need ^ This is LA's team.

 

[Rhal]

I see a lot of people who are worried about the playoffs, I can't explain why but I just have this feeling that LA/Dame live for the playoffs and once they start they will be the best two players on the floor at the end of the first round. We may end up losing but we wont get run over and those two are going to have monster series vs whoever we play against.

 

[riverman]

I've enjoyed this season more than many I can remember over the last few years and I think the playoffs are going to be great. If we need anything to prepare for the playoffs, it's a more devoted cheering section.

 

[KingSpeed]

I've enjoyed this season more than many I can remember over the last few years and I think the playoffs are going to be great. If we need anything to prepare for the playoffs, it's a more devoted cheering section.

Amen