TUALATIN, Ore. — While the sight of Portland Trail Blazers such as Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla and Travis Outlaw not being on the court this season due to injuries has been unsettling, another view has in many ways been downright odd.
The scene: Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams walking the sideline and calling out plays, as Portland head coach Nate McMillan watches from the bench.
Factor in that lead assistant coach Dean Demopoulos assumed interim head-coaching duties for four games this season, and the Blazers’ coaching triumvirate has evolved by necessity into one of — if not the — most unique situations in the NBA.
McMillan said the relationship between him, Demopoulos and Williams is primarily based off trust and communication.
“For me, it’s being patient. I’ve had to calm myself down,” McMillan said Sunday. “Because I can’t move and I can’t stand. And I think Monty’s done a great job of relaying information to the players. And Dean, we still are working together, but I’m sitting more.”
Portland’s three-tiered coaching evolution began when McMillan ruptured his right Achilles tendon Dec. 4 while practicing with the team. Following his injury, McMillan underwent surgery. And he was left to watch a four-game road trip on television while Demopoulos took the reins.
Portland went 1-3 during the stretch. But several Blazers, led by star guard Brandon Roy, felt the run marked a major turning point in the team’s season.
Portland played just as hard for Demopoulos as it did for McMillan. Moreover, all the traits of McMillan-ball — hard, scrappy play; sacrifice and selflessness; defensive focus and offensive execution — were pushed to the forefront after being missing in action during an uneven start to the season.
A team suddenly playing without Oden — who suffered a season-ending knee injury Dec. 5 — refused to quit and give in. In doing so, Portland set the tone for a run of inspired, improbable victories that followed...........................
