Let us readdress this issue shall we? Nate McDillon :fail:

Either you totally ignored my question or you are admitting that individual improvement is not how you judge the value of a head coach.

 

But in a lot better shape than the 7 teams above us that don't have Oden.

 

I evaluate coaching based on a number of different components. Individual improvement only being one factor BUT one of the most important when it comes to this or any young team. It's not as important for a team filled with vets.

If I tell you I like Ice cream, do I also have to tell you about every other desert I like?

 

You don't have to tell me anything. I'm just trying to put the puzzle pieces together since the whole story isn't being presented at once.

Could you please list all your criteria so I better understand how you come to such judgments?

 

Feel free to trudge through my 1000+ posts.

You'll find all you need to know in those.

(If nothing else you should be thoroughly entertained)

Can't be bothered answering fan mail to be honest.

 

I figured you wouldn't want it all in one place, and I understand why. Fair enough.

 

You're the one following me around.

If care so much about my opinion put it together yourself Sherlock Holmes.

I don't do requests.

 

SAS had their #1 center for most of the year (Duncan) - and they are currently neck and neck with us.
LAL had 2 very good centers for most the year (Gasol/Bynum) in addition to one of the best players in the league (Kobe) and great role players (Odom/Artest)
Dallas has 2 beefy centers on the roster (Damp/Haywood) next to one of the best PFs in the league
Denver had a good, beefy center for most of the year (Nene) in addition to a great PG and an elite SF
Utah had Okur for most of the year next to a very good PF and the best PG in the league this year.
OKC had no injuries for the entire year and we are only a game behind them.
PHX had a great year - and they are the only team that did not have much better centers than us for a large portion of the year. Of course, PHX is not exactly a team built to go all the way in the post-season and they play gimmick basketball, especially in this stage in their window.

We had an amazing center in 1977 and we had fantastic, experienced teams in the Drexler era - with very good back-courts in addition to Drexler at his peak and Porter who was a better PG at that stage than we have now. so I am not sure what the comparison is about. If this team has a 3 years older Roy next to a 3 years older Batum/Aldridge/Role players core - I would not be surprised to see them getting deep in the playoffs as well. You are comparing apples and oranges here.

I am willing to bet that with a bit of experience, lesser injuries and some luck in the matchups this team gets out of the first round even without Oden. But, since you asked if I am confident in it - the answer is - that with a healthy Oden - I do not think there is any real question that the Blazers are getting out of the first round next year. Would not surprise me if they do it without him next year - and with some luck, maybe even this year.

 

And someone who is a clown is a dill.

 

I agree with pretty much most of what OddEnormous has said of McMillan.

The sheer talent level of the young players we managed to pick up, and their subsequent initial growth upon acclimatizing to the NBA, has masked Nate's ineptitude.
Especially his in-game coaching.
The Blazers will improve when they get a coach that extracts the best from these players and doesn't kill their enjoyment of the game in doing so.

 

Fixed.

 

I like Nate McMuffin.


People really need to realize that Nate is not the guy that is going to take this team to a championship. He is excellent at coaching up talent and he is a good coach, don't get me wrong, but he is not a championship caliber coach. I just don't see his offense and tempo ever winning a title. We get far too predictable and it is painful at times. Don't start to flame me with comments saying I hate Nate, thats not true, he is a good coach but IMO his time here was to get the talent ready to compete (which he has) and now it is time to bring in a guy that is going to take this team deep into the playoffs.

 

Right, that's why he was an assistant coach on the Olympic team. That's why he's in the running for coach of the year.

 

I keep reading a lot of complaints, but they rarely have a viable solution attached to them.

Nate sucks? Then who are we going to get to replace him? Saying "anyone is better" isn't a solution.

I remember when Adleman was a good coach, but wasn't good enough, so we got PJ.

I remember when Dunleavy was a good coach, but wasn't good enough, so we go Mo Cheeks.

Now, Nate is a good coach, but he isn't good enough. So for all those people who want him out, you better keep your trap if/when our next coach is way worse. We have a top 5-10 coach in the league, and to my knowledge, nobody better is available, so I'm not ready to run the guy out of town.

 

The people that know basketball aren't general managers and Olympic team committee members, they are fans on message boards. Duh!

 

*edited*

 

Nate is a mechanic. He's expert at making a piece of crap purr on the freeway at 45 mph. But give him the key to a fine car already in great shape, and he'll drive it like something he salvaged from the junkyard--steady and slow, with lots of discipline that he thinks it requires.

Up to about .550 he is just what we needed. But no matter how fast our ponies become, Nate will continue to hold the reins to 2nd gear.

Kevin McHale is unemployed and knows the Celtic championship fast break, showtime 80s style. He's also an excellent big man coach for Aldridge, Oden, and Batum. But Pritchard will never hire a former GM as Coach to become a possible rival. It would have to come from above him.

 

Yep, he would be high on my list. He is a crappy gm, but a pretty damn good coach.

 

Hey! What did you call me, a-hole?