What do you think about Terry Stotts?

[MadeFromDust]

Is he the guy you want coaching this team into the future?

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

He's been pretty good for the most part. Best thing he's done is install an NBA offense. The worst is making LA primarily a jump shooter. I cringed when I first heard LA would be playing at the elbow in Stotts' offense, and that he was gonna be used like Dirk, because I knew he'd go away from the post game that first made him an All Star. I don't think LA will make the All Star game again if he doesn't return to posting up as his first option. McMillan deserves some credit for pushing LA to become that player.

 

[Hobbesarable]

He's been pretty good for the most part. Best thing he's done is install an NBA offense. The worst is making LA primarily a jump shooter. I cringed when I first heard LA would be playing at the elbow in Stotts' offense, and that he was gonna be used like Dirk, because I knew he'd go away from the post game that first made him an All Star. I don't think LA will make the All Star game again if he doesn't return to posting up as his first option. McMillan deserves some credit for pushing LA to become that player.

People naturally go towards their tendencies, their comfort zone. I think we are all aware of LA's comfort zone by now.

 

[KingSpeed]

I like Stotts. Seems like a nice guy who cares about the players and wants to win. And yes to the future.

 

[MadeFromDust]

We need to pair him with a good defensive-minded assistant coach and I think we'd improve a lot.

 

[tester551]

We need to pair him with a good defensive-minded assistant coach and I think we'd improve a lot.

Yep. Time to say by to Caleb.

 

[ebott]

He's certainly no good at tanking.

 

[handiman]

He makes the team fun to watch, win or lose. So, basically the exact opposite of Nate.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

He makes the team fun to watch, win or lose. So, basically the exact opposite of Nate.

Exactly this. Close games, lots of energy, and decent rotations with much worse bench talent. Overall, a big improvement.

 

[ripmycity]

Weird wonder if its the coaching of D or the players not playing D. They turned up this game on D. So they know how to play it?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Weird wonder if its the coaching of D or the players not playing D. They turned up this game on D. So they know how to play it?

The Knicks stopped pounding the ball into Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby... it's their own fault.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I've heard him mentioned as a COY candidate. Not implausible.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like him. I'm not sure if he's a guy who could take us all the way, but he's light years better than either of the two guys who came before him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He's been pretty good for the most part. Best thing he's done is install an NBA offense. The worst is making LA primarily a jump shooter. I cringed when I first heard LA would be playing at the elbow in Stotts' offense, and that he was gonna be used like Dirk, because I knew he'd go away from the post game that first made him an All Star. I don't think LA will make the All Star game again if he doesn't return to posting up as his first option. McMillan deserves some credit for pushing LA to become that player.

Pretty solid observations in here. At some point Stotts is either going to have to demand a little more of LA or this team is probably going to end up spinning its wheels, because there doesn't appear to be any other players capable or willing to score high percentage shots in the paint.

My hope is that Stotts' plan was to come in and loosen up things so guys start playing more freely and creatively, but that the longer he is here, he will gradually be able to instill some grit and physical play. Whether or not that happens will probably determine how long he sticks around as a coach ... or maybe he's going to need some slightly different personnel?

 

[Blazinaway]

Yep. Time to say by to Caleb.

absolutely agree

 

[illmatic99]

I didn't think he had the personality to be a championship coach (mellow, calculating rather than fiery, etc), then realized that the last two winning coaches were Spoelstra and Carlisle who have a kinda similar approach.

It all depends on the players we have and whether he can both manage their egos and maximize their talents. Ego isn't an issue now because we have so few above avg players and like no decent veterans, but that will change. But he most definitely has maximized talents this year.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I think he's better than Kaleb Canales would have been.

 

[tester551]

He's been much better than I thought when I first heard of his hire.

I still wish Portland would have hired Brian Shaw as head coach. Hopefully, Portland can steal him as an assistant and "head coach in waiting".
My other choice was McHale, but he was taken.... I would love to see what he would do with LMA.

 

[handiman]

I didn't think he had the personality to be a championship coach (mellow, calculating rather than fiery, etc), then realized that the last two winning coaches were Spoelstra and Carlisle who have a kinda similar approach.

Not to mention Phil Jackson. Poppovich might fit the bill, too.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think he's better than Kaleb Canales would have been.

The hell you say?

 

[Pinwheel1]

He makes the team fun to watch, win or lose. So, basically the exact opposite of Nate.

Does he? or does Lillard make the team fun to watch win or lose?

I like Terry and think he is doing a pretty good job with a limited roster. But the defensive intensity is non existent with this team. He definitely deserves another year though, and no doubt better than KC would have been. But the honeymoon period is almost over. Next year is key for him. I am rooting for him though.

 

[magnifier661]

For me; I'm just happy we are seeing progress. I think our defense needs a shit ton more work. They have a real tough time with help defense, and this is all the way around.

I never understood why it's hard to put pressure on the ball handler; then get back to your man. I could understand if we were old; but we have a very young team.

The moment we get at least in the top ten in the major defensive categories is when I'm 100% sold!

 

[handiman]

Does he? or does Lillard make the team fun to watch win or lose?

Fair question. Batum and Matthews have that same free-flowing vibe as Lillard this year. They're obviously nowhere near as good, but the quality is there. So, I think a lot of the credit goes to Stotts. Of course, some of it could be Lillard rubbing off on teammates, so we'll never really be able to answer that question.

 

[Sinobas]

It's hard for a fan to evaluate a coach, because we really don't know how he's affecting the team. I like it that he seems to quicker to make changes that McMillen. But I haven't seen much improvement in the team. The Blazers still are near the bottom in fast break points, and still one of the most perimeter oriented offenses in the league. I think it's our players.

I would have preferred Rick Adleman.

 

[HailBlazers]

It's hard for a fan to evaluate a coach, because we really don't know how he's affecting the team. I like it that he seems to quicker to make changes that McMillen. But I haven't seen much improvement in the team. The Blazers still are near the bottom in fast break points, and still one of the most perimeter oriented offenses in the league. I think it's our players.

It might help if you take your black shades off. Our offense is greatly improved, we take so many threes because we actually have ball movement this year. That and The Great Dame.

Defense is obviously our weak point but lots of that is due to our lack of depth and inside presence. On offense, if Stotts can get LMA in the post where he belongs and foster the duo with Lillard on PnR's he'll take this team to the next level.

 

[Sinobas]

It might help if you take your black shades off. Our offense is greatly improved, we take so many threes because we actually have ball movement this year. That and The Great Dame.

Defense is obviously our weak point but lots of that is due to our lack of depth and inside presence. On offense, if Stotts can get LMA in the post where he belongs and foster the duo with Lillard on PnR's he'll take this team to the next level.

We have the 8th worst 3pt% but have the 5th most attempts. Not a good combination. And once again, we rank near the bottom of the league in fast break points (4th worst) and points in the paint (3rd worst). Now you may consider that to be a "great improvement" but the only improvement I see is that we have Lillard instead of Felton and Crawford. We rank 6th worst just in 2pt%. Do you see a pattern here? So you can have all the ball movement you want, but it doesn't matter if you're not efficient.

So this "great improvement" you proclaim is going from shitty to bad, if anything.

And you're right, our defense is terrible too. We're 2nd worst in the league at giving up points in the paint.

 

[magnifier661]

We have the 8th worst 3pt% but have the 5th most attempts. Not a good combination. And once again, we rank near the bottom of the league in fast break points (4th worst) and points in the paint (3rd worst). Now you may consider that to be a "great improvement" but the only improvement I see is that we have Lillard instead of Felton and Crawford. We rank 6th worst just in 2pt%. Do you see a pattern here? So you can have all the ball movement you want, but it doesn't matter if you're not efficient.

So this "great improvement" you proclaim is going from shitty to bad, if anything.

And you're right, our defense is terrible too. We're 2nd worst in the league at giving up points in the paint.

Yes but there has been improvement. If we played like this all season; we'd be a sixth or 7th seed

 

[KingSpeed]

Actually, Jon, we started the year 20-15. It's the way we've been playing recently that has been bad. Time to rev up again though and finish on fire.

 

[magnifier661]

Actually, Jon, we started the year 20-15. It's the way we've been playing recently that has been bad. Time to rev up again though and finish on fire.

Well that start was when batum, aldridge and Matthews were healthy. Let's get them 100% and we got something here "Eric"

 

[HailBlazers]

We have the 8th worst 3pt% but have the 5th most attempts. Not a good combination. And once again, we rank near the bottom of the league in fast break points (4th worst) and points in the paint (3rd worst). Now you may consider that to be a "great improvement" but the only improvement I see is that we have Lillard instead of Felton and Crawford. We rank 6th worst just in 2pt%. Do you see a pattern here? So you can have all the ball movement you want, but it doesn't matter if you're not efficient.

Agree we need to push the tempo big time, but "once again" that comes back to our lack of depth. Once we get deep at every position, a la the Spurs, then we can push the pace and get easy buckets. We might not have as many fast break points as last year but the eye test says we are much better at it this year, we were UGLY last year.