What will it take for Chauncey to get fired?

[HoopsFanAZ]

They keep him unless (1) he loses the locker room and/or (2) they begin winning into the mediocre, play-in range and he then shows he cannot take them forward in a leap to 4 or 5.

 

[BIG Q]

I firmly believe that running Brogdon, Ant, Grant and Ayton next season will get Portland 35+ wins next season. Enough to have thoughts of the play in, or as I like to think of it, a ticket onto the treadmill. If Portland wants to do that then just trade the picks for even more veteran help to get them firmly onto the treadmill because purgatory is the outcome. If they want to really improve, all four of the above should be available for better assets that will contribute to future playoff runs, not play in games. Portland needs to clear the decks to suck for at least the next draft after the one coming up this June. I would hope for two more lottery drafts after this one if there are absolutely no true studs to be found in it. I think there are game changers in this draft, they all need playing time and development though. As to CB, why dump him? If they want to go onto the treadmill he is perfect. If they want to embrace full lottery rebuild for the next couple seasons after this one ends, he is also perfect with one guaranteed season and a team option. I honestly only want to bring Ayton back if there is not a good offer for him, and lets be honest, there will not be. Make hime the vet presence on a rebuilding team. Grant, Ant and Brogdon have trade value. Cronin just needs to find it. The current product is unwatchable, and will be for two more years.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I firmly believe that running Brogdon, Ant, Grant and Ayton next season will get Portland 35+ wins next season.

So why didn't it this season?
Either: they genuinely are injury-prone, in which case why expect them to play any more games next season than this season?
Or: we made them sit. But why? Tanking for the worst draft anyone can remember?

 

[kjironman1]

So why didn't it this season?
Either: they genuinely are injury-prone, in which case why expect them to play any more games next season than this season?
Or: we made them sit. But why? Tanking for the worst draft anyone can remember?

Maybe there is a secret player out there that nobody has scouted and isn’t in any of the mock drafts that Portland wants to take with one of the top picks?

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

So why didn't it this season?
Either: they genuinely are injury-prone, in which case why expect them to play any more games next season than this season?
Or: we made them sit. But why? Tanking for the worst draft anyone can remember?

THIS year.
1. Injuries in virus form … and the rest are too young/inexperienced. They weren’t going to win.
2. Tanking for a bad draft versus maximizing wins in a bad draft and still losing a ton to get a ‘worser’ pick?
3. The return from the Dame trade (followed by the Nurkic trade) isn’t done, yet. And the don’t just let Grant/talent walk for nothing keep-or-trade is pending. And the “we need someone to score” — Ant — but he probably won’t be staying scenario.
4. And the Blazers do know how to tank and not get fined or lose a 2nd rounder for it.

 

[Tince]

I think it'll be very difficult to convince a hot up-and-coming coach to take the job until the organization has proven they are committed to winning. While I don't think Billups is an amazing coach, he hasn't really had an opportunity to show it, and the narrative when he's let go will be that he's a horrible coach. He may not get another head coaching job again for that reason alone. Great coaches won't come to Portland while they're floundering as well. That leaves meh retread coaching looking for one last big head coaching contract or very green assistants (see Billups) who may truly not be ready at all.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think it'll be very difficult to convince a hot up-and-coming coach to take the job until the organization has proven they are committed to winning. While I don't think Billups is an amazing coach, he hasn't really had an opportunity to show it, and the narrative when he's let go will be that he's a horrible coach. He may not get another head coaching job again for that reason alone. Great coaches won't come to Portland while they're floundering as well. That leaves meh retread coaching looking for one last big head coaching contract or very green assistants (see Billups) who may truly not be ready at all.

Our next coach will be Scotty Brooks. The only question is how soon and for how long.

 

[Tince]

Our next coach will be Scotty Brooks. The only question is how soon and for how long.

I don't think that'll happen, but he would fit in the category of a "meh" coach looking to get another head coaching salary.

As many of us reasonable folks have been saying for years: Fix the roster by getting top end talent, then worry about who the coach is. Some of these folks who thought the last coaching change was going to make some huge improvement still haven't learned that lesson.

 

[Hoopguru]

Id love to see how Jim Moran would do a head coach in the NBA. He has a way with players and I like his enthusiasm and communicative skills. I would think within a year or two he will get an opportunity.

 

[PCmor7]

Jody's not "cheap". The Blazers are #11 in team salary. She bought a G-League team. She paid off Chauncey's good buddy Eric Bledsoe's retirement contract. She gave Cronin the OK to eat Skylar Mays

I stopped reading right here.

 

[Whyachi]

I stopped reading right here.

Joe bit his head off like a chocolate Easter bunny

 

[Ed O]

Looks like Billups is currently #9 in all-time lowest winning percentage for coaches with 200 or more games coached. He's recently passed Johnny Davis and it'll be a slog to catch up to Red Kerr and the others above him...

At some point, that record is either his fault or Cronin's fault... or both. I am sort of morbidly curious to see where he ends up at the end of his Blazers' coaching tenure.

 

[BlazerWookee]

next year is Chauncey’s last guaranteed year, if you can believe it.

Can somebody please fast-forward us through to then?

 

[MickZagger]

Looks like Billups is currently #9 in all-time lowest winning percentage for coaches with 200 or more games coached. He's recently passed Johnny Davis and it'll be a slog to catch up to Red Kerr and the others above him...

At some point, that record is either his fault or Cronin's fault... or both. I am sort of morbidly curious to see where he ends up at the end of his Blazers' coaching tenure.

View attachment 64239

Also makes me curious of coaches that started their careers out that bad but then once the roster gained competence they accelerated out of that list.

 

[e_blazer]

Looks like Billups is currently #9 in all-time lowest winning percentage for coaches with 200 or more games coached. He's recently passed Johnny Davis and it'll be a slog to catch up to Red Kerr and the others above him...

At some point, that record is either his fault or Cronin's fault... or both. I am sort of morbidly curious to see where he ends up at the end of his Blazers' coaching tenure.

View attachment 64239

I think his record has to be viewed with recognition that the team has been actively tanking the past 3 years. I'm actually of the opinion that it's pretty impressive that he's been willing to stick with it, given the crappy mission that he's been tasked with carrying out.

 

[Ed O]

I think his record has to be viewed with recognition that the team has been actively tanking the past 3 years. I'm actually of the opinion that it's pretty impressive that he's been willing to stick with it, given the crappy mission that he's been tasked with carrying out.

I think every coach on that list has reasons that they could have succeeded had the situation been different.

 

[Whyachi]

Also makes me curious of coaches that started their careers out that bad but then once the roster gained competence they accelerated out of that list.

let's look at those unsuccessful coaching profiles compared to Billups ::

Keith Smart: assistant coach for many years. He'd take over as temp head coach for a year, maybe 2, after the front office fired people a bunch of people. Then Keith would go back to asst. coaching.

Jay Triano: same as above

David Fizdale: assistant coach for many years. Hired as HC for Memphis, fired midway though 2nd season. Hired as HC for Knicks, again fired midseason in 2nd year. Currently an asst. coach.

Richie Adubato: assistant coach for many years, with 1 bad season as HC with old 70's Pistons squad. Hired in '89 to coach the Mavs. For 3 years Dallas stunk, then Richie got canned after a 2-27 start to year 4. He returned to asst. coaching, with a breif and successful temp HC coaching run with Orlando.

George Irvine: assistant coach for many years, hired as HC for the Pacers. They stunk, George was fired after rough start in year 3. returned to asst. coaching for many years, with 1.5 years as temp HC for '99 Pistons before retiring.

Johnny Davis: asst coach for 24 years. 3 gigs as HC. It doesn't look like he got fired midseason.

John "Red" Kerr: old school 60's retro NBA. He gets a pass for being a pioneer of the sport.

Bill Mussleman: dope college coach. Cavs hired him, fired him. He coached expansion T-wolves, then went back to college coaching.

Eddie Donovan: early 60's HC for the Knicks. Bringing this thing called NBA to sports fans. Good job Eddie

Ron Rothstien: asst coach for 6 years, hired as HC for hot new expansion team called the Miami Heat. Was let go after 3 years. Hired to coach Pistons 1 year, a near .500 record. Returned to asst. coaching, a very long career.

Kurt Rambis: Lakers assistant coach for a long time. 1 short successful stint as interim HC. Got hired by Timberworves to run the show. Minnesota was absolutely horrible. Rambis returned to asst. coaching.

Tim Floyd: stepped down from Front Office to coach the Bulls following Jordan's retirement. Chicago cut loose every player except Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc. The Bulls were terrible, but stacked with gold rings. Tim had 1 decent year coaching for New Orleans

Sydney Lowe: assistant for many many years. 2 temp HC spots with expansion T-Wolves and expansion Grizzlies.

Steve Silas: assistant NBA coach for 20 years. The crummy Rockets hired him as rebuilder coach in 2020. Houston never improved. Steve was then hired as Pistons asst.coach

the theme of bad records head coaches is many years of assistant coaching experience before grabbing the wheel. Chauncey had 1 year of assistant coaching. Whether that's a benefit or hindering growth has yet to be determined.

 

[e_blazer]

I think every coach on that list has reasons that they could have succeeded had the situation been different.

Well, sure, but the Blazers are deliberately trying to lose. That’s pretty different than having to deal with injuries (which the Blazers have too) or some other reason that reduces your winning percentage.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Well, sure, but the Blazers are deliberately trying to lose. That’s pretty different than having to deal with injuries (which the Blazers have too) or some other reason that reduces your winning percentage.

I can't wait until we get a coach we can try to win with.

 

[e_blazer]

I can't wait until we get a coach we can try to win with.

Sure, but that probably won’t come until we get a team worth coaching.

 

[THE HCP]

Hate is strong on here! My guy makes the HALL OF FAME as a player today and NOTHING! Where are all the “Anybody is better than Stotts” people as well? Never hear form them anymore.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Hate is strong on here! My guy makes the HALL OF FAME as a player today and NOTHING! Where are all the “Anybody is better than Stotts” people as well? Never hear form them anymore.

We should have never fired Stotts until we found a guaranteed better coach to replace him (not an easy task, IMO).

That was my stance the whole time.

 

[Five Second Violation]

I think his record has to be viewed with recognition that the team has been actively tanking the past 3 years. I'm actually of the opinion that it's pretty impressive that he's been willing to stick with it, given the crappy mission that he's been tasked with carrying out.

On the other hand, I think it's a bit reductive to categorize either 21-22 or 22-23 as active tanking seasons. Both years started out ostensibly as win-now campaigns, and it was just some combination of injuries and incompetence that led to the tank wheels coming on by March. This year is the first true rebuild season where losing was basically the directive or the expectation throughout.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't see the point in keeping him next year, unless we're going wholesale tank to try to get Flagg.

 

[Whyachi]

I don't see the point in keeping him next year, unless we're going wholesale tank to try to get Flagg.

as I perused the bad record head coaches, I noticed a distinct feature. All the coaches who were let go as HC returned to assistant coaching. If the Blazers decide to make a coaching change, Billups is not banned from the NBA. On the contrary, Chauncey has gained a ton of experience developing young players, which would benefit every team in the association.

 

[wizenheimer]

We should have never fired Stotts until we found a guaranteed better coach to replace him.

That was my stance the whole time.

there needed to be major changes

I was never one of those that blamed Stotts for major issues, or at least not for most of them. I do think the Blazers being 3rd seeds in 2018 and getting swept by the Pelicans was a giant black eye for Stotts and it would have been justified to fire him for that

but mainly the failures of the Stotts era were due to Neil Olshey being a pompous ego-driven idiot. What should have happened was that Olshey got his ass fired and the new GM allowed to decide what happened with Stotts. Olshey should have never been given the opportunity to scapegoat Stotts and hire Billups. That the process was bollixed and back-asswards is on Jody and the Vulcans

I'd wonder if any NBA team will ever hire Olshey in any capacity again

 

[Phatguysrule]

there needed to be major changes

I was never one of those that blamed Stotts for major issues, or at least not for most of them. I do think the Blazers being 3rd seeds in 2018 and getting swept by the Pelicans was a giant black eye for Stotts and it would have been justified to fire him for that

but mainly the failures of the Stotts era were due to Neil Olshey being a pompous ego-driven idiot. What should have happened was that Olshey got his ass fired and the new GM allowed to decide what happened with Stotts. Olshey should have never been given the opportunity to scapegoat Stotts and hire Billups. That the process was bollixed and back-asswards is on Jody and the Vulcans

I'd wonder if any NBA will ever hire Olshey in any capacity again

My problem with that is that the Pelicans were the clearly better team than Portland. When they had Davis healthy they killed us in the regular season... Pelicans probably should have been a 1 or 2 seed if Davis had been healthy all season. They would have certainly been ahead of Portland. That was just a terrible matchup and I don't think any coach in the league would have coached portland to more than a win. They had Rondo and Holiday (probably the 2 best defenders Dame has ever played against), and they had both Cousins and Davis.

We had NO chance in that series.

Olshey should have been fired LONG before being allowed to fire the best thing the team had going for it outside of Damien Lillard. I'd take Stotts back right now if he were willing to come back.

 

[wizenheimer]

My problem with that is that the Pelicans were the clearly better team than Portland. When they had Davis healthy they killed us in the regular season... Pelicans probably should have been a 1 or 2 seed if Davis had been healthy all season..

??

Davis played 75 games that season which was 2 more games than Dame played and as many games as he's ever played in a season. AD played 3 of 4 games against the Blazers and Portland was 2-1 in those 3 games so there was no clear indication that a 'healthy' Davis was going to put Portland at such a disadvantage.

besides that, Portland had HCA...and they got swept. Pretty hard to excuse that

 

[Phatguysrule]

??

Davis played 75 games that season which was 2 more games than Dame played and as many games as he's ever played in a season. AD played 3 of 4 games against the Blazers and Portland was 2-1 in those 3 games so there was no clear indication that a 'healthy' Davis was going to put Portland at such a disadvantage.

besides that, Portland had HCA...and they got swept. Pretty hard to excuse that

From my recollection Davis left both of the games Portland won with injury (and the Pels were up when he went out), and he was playing limited minutes for them the 2nd half of the season. I distinctly remember thinking our only hope in that series was a Davis injury. I was not at all surprised we were swept.

All of that aside. How in the hell were we supposed to match up with Cousins and Davis, while Dame and CJ was being hounded by Rondo or Holiday? Even if we were lucky enough to get a game or two during the regular season, there was no coaching move that was going to put us over the top more than once against that team during the playoffs if they were healthy.

Chief would have had to play like a freaking all star. And that was NEVER going to happen.

 

[HailBlazers]

I prefer Billups defensive mindset.