In 20+ years as a fan I’ve never, ever wanted them to lose. But I’m now wondering if it’s the only way to a better future. Two doors to go down: 1. Get somewhat back on track, maintain a decent record, earn a 5-8th seed, lose in the first round or, if we match up well with the opponent and dame goes supernova, win a round and lose in the second round. 2. Continue to disappoint. Lose to bad teams. Force Olsheys hand to fire stotts, trade cj, or all of the above. Is it bad that for the first time ever I want to see number 2 happen?
It's mind blowing to me that Stotts stil has a job as a Head Coach in Portland. What has he achieved that he can remain a Blazers coach for so long? Yeah we made the playoffs each year but that shouldn't be the goal especially when the best Player in Franchise History is in the middle of his prime. Any other team would have fired him long ago, 9 years now is just waaaay to long. We made one Conference Finals appearance and we didn't even win one game
It is sad it has come to this, but maybe that is what it takes to elicit change. How are questions not asked? If Stotts is such a good coach, ...and Dame is the best leader in the NBA, ...and CJ is part of the best backcourt in the league ...how come such average results no matter who the peripheral pieces are?
In my opinion tanking for any reason is an insult to the fanbase so yeah...it's bad to want them to lose as a fan. If Stotts doesn't have a winning record by midseason he may get fired but he's not making us miss shots for 7 minutes at a time....our shooters slumped badly last night...Dame has not been shooting very well in losses at all.....do you think trading Dame is the answer? I don't...I think reps is the answer for this roster and 7 games in....we're not close yet...I'd say most fans here don't like Stotts so you'll get alot of support here at S2 for firing the coach...just not from me...
...but he is in charge of the type of offense they have and the shots they get. 1, one, uno, ein, single shot inside of the 3-point line in the final 7 minutes.
They missed wide open threes and even bricked put backs and slam dunks last night...you have to execute to outscore anybody in this league and we couldn't shoot....game over last night..we went 4 minutes and then later 7 minutes without making a shot in the second half...that's why we lost this game...not the game plan...we actually got a lot of stops that we couldn't convert into points
this mindset is fine if change were actually expected. When terry didn't get fired after the pelicans series two years ago, what makes you think a regular season loss would push him out? Terry has immunity. He is the longest tenured active coach in the league after Pop/Spo/Carlisle. All this will cause you is pain.
Same game plan as for the last 8 years. Not getting us anywhere despite Dame being supposedly the top 1 or 2 PG in the league and being the best leader. I appreciate your loyalty. Just in my opinion, it is misplace. We will have to agree to disagree. Stotts 'style', I have wanted gone for years. Those issues haven't changed. All that has changed is that Dame is several years older. Waste away....
The good news is we won't just keep losing - we're too good for that and won't shoot that badly every night. The problem is we don't appear as if we're going to get serious about winning.
I won't argue with you about the history of the Blazers under Stotts...we disagree. I think a lot has changed over the years but Stotts being unpopular here hasn't changed in 8 years...I'll say that...his detractors are consistant in that area. Utah lost by 36 last night...we lost by 3....neither coach should be fired because of it in my view. For 8 years there's always been a scapegoat Meyers...Chief...Stotts...CJ....ET.Melo..Olshey..this season it's Stotts again...I'm here to cheer! My complaints this year are not about the Blazers...they are a bright spot in a dark time in our country in my view..we're 7 games in and one game below 500,,,,We've had worse starts...Go Blazers....Just check how many negative threads pepper the boards over the last 8 years about the team.....
No, it's not bad. I've been that way a couple times. 2011-12 was one of those times. To me, if you see players not giving it their all, there's a reason. If they came into the season out of shape, they should be in shape by now. It's been over a month and they've played 11 games. If it's because there are new players and they're incorporating a "new defense" and they're unsure of what to do, it's been a month and they've played 11 games and should show signs of improvement game to game (they haven't). Me thinks it's not either of those, but they're both being used as convenient excuses. This leads me to feel they're tuning out the coach/not willing to go the extra mile for him. DJJ is playing balls out and RoCo is playing well too. But either the bulk of the team is mad that Anthony isn't starting (but won't admit it) or they've grown tired of the predictable offense/lack of taking advantage of players talents. Think about how many players have been shoe-horned into just being spot up shooters. I know other teams are losing badly too, but if the end goal is to be the first to reach mediocrity, then bravo, Stotts is your man.
Utah lost to better team than the Blazers did. Utah was on the road (granted, that doesn't have the impact it used to). again, if we're fine with "well, we're not alone in suckin this year!", I guess then we should keep Stotts.
Its the Tortoise and the Hare....much can happen within a season and whomever is healthy and rolling can contend. This game has changed so much over the years and players and coaches come and go, teams that are fortunate to acquire multiple superstars seem to have an advantage but still no guarantees.
It was a weird feeling last night...... I didn't want us to lose, but at the same time I was completely numb as I watched us choke and it was a rerun of the same movie over and over.
I've said before....I don't think it's mentally easy for teams to play at all this season or travel....there's nothing normal about it and without fans....it's like playing 4 sets in an empty club with the TV blaring at the bar.....as a performer in the past...it doesn't help the band to play to an empty room....I empathize with all the NBA players this season...it's got to suck to deal with a covid restricted season. Manufacture excitement night in and out....I hope personally that Stotts has another 8 years here.....don't like volatile coaches at all. We don't suck yet...we just haven't gelled and been consistent 7 games in. It's happening all over the league...not just in Portland...the mighty Bucks got blown out by a bottom feeder too this season....I think it might have even been Chicago...or was that Philly they blew out?
These are all valid points. Although, I would say after watching last night's game, combined with the past 8-9 years of Terry Stotts, it's not the game result that's worrying me. We have an entire system of basketball that is not suited to win consistently. Terry has not changed his system and is coaching like it's 2014 again. There is no movement on offense. We all stand around while players take turns isolating their defender and hoisting up a contested jump shot. On defense, it's much of the same. We don't throw multiple looks throughout the game or adjust in-game. There is no reason to allow a nine-man Bulls team to score 66 points in the second-half. Even if there were fans or the team flipped the intensity switch, I don't think we play championship-style basketball.
I think we play about a qtr and a half of championship basketball per game so far....we need to string complete games together...to me...that's chemistry...we bricked more gimmies at the rim this season than I've ever seen...bricked more free throws than Blazer teams do and bricked some dunks even...the pick and roll hasn't been producing points even when DJJ gets 6 steals in a game....what I see differently is Dame is not trying to carry this team to wins but trying to get guys going on offense early in games....when it works we win...when it doesn't we go 7 minutes without a bucket...CJ and Enes have been our two most consistent players in my view
I've wanted Olshey's ass fired for years....I've said repeatedly the Dame/CJ back court will never be the back court of a real contender....and while I spent 5 or 6 years pretty ambivalent about Stotts, the last 2 years I've been in favor of him joining Olshey in the unemployment line. I'm convinced the Blazers will go nowhere as long as Olshey, Stotts, and CJ are around all that said, I don't think I can ever bring myself to root for Blazer losses. Besides, they come naturally without my advocacy. I wasn't pissed watching the game last night, or at least not much. I was more re-signed to watching another re-run and knowing nothing will change as long as the current GM is in place
I don't know if Dame is the best leader in the NBA but he is one of the best leaders in the NBA. A leader in the NBA plays the way he wants his teammates to play (effort, selflessness and positivity in Dame's case), he motivates his teammates, he fosters a family environment among all of his teammates collectively, he also leads each player individually which takes knowing them, having their trust and having their back and he unites the team behind his coaches' policies and schemes. That's what a leader does. He creates the best atmosphere for success given the coaching and personnel surrounding him. I think Dame is one of the best in the world at doing these things. It's not Dame's job as a leader to appose his coaches, it's not his job as a leader to be a coach on the floor (that is a different skill set), it's not his job as a leader to sew discontent, it's not his job as a leader to make personnel moves and it's not his job as a leader to single handedly win games. Those things just aren't part of leadership. If any of those responsibilities have been thrust on him by the organization or some of you... that's doing him a great disservice as he tries to be a team captain and player leader. The one thing that might be a legitimate complaint about Dame's leadership is if you think that strong leadership means heavy accountability. My experiences in sports, life and industry tell me that accountability or punishing when not getting the desired result over positivity in the face of the desired result is a huge mistake in leadership. Studies have shown this idea to be scientifically verifiable. I'm telling you that Dame's style of leadership among peers is phenomenal.
