Players are like children. They need structure. If they have no structure, we see chaos, which has become all too often with this team. How many times have you seen Dame/CJ/Melo and even GTJ take a completely fucking awful shot with no repercussions from Terry? That kind of offense and defense without accountability is what's hurting this team. I have seen GTJ get the ball, run down the court, and try to attack the rim against three defenders. Passing isn't even a thought in his mind. CJ does this too. We have one of the most selfish teams I have ever seen. It was extremely refreshing yesterday to see the young guys playing unselfishly and putting out effort on both ends. So I will say again, Terry allowing this behavior is one of his biggest flaws. It's like he's afraid to hold his players accountable for mistakes. We have horrible ball movement under Stotts, and whether that's on the players or not, Terry isn't doing anything to fix it.
The indiana game with their new coach and largely the same roster as year was eye opening. their new guy has completely unlocked Turner to be a front runner for DPOY. And he has made brogdan into a legitimate all star caliber player, and they're still missing a bunch of players. Like people do watch these games... right? While we keep blowing 20 pt leads while healthy to half the Bulls team?
See that's just it bro, I have never claimed him to be a "genius". Never said he'd take us to the "promise land". Now there is something to having a great relationship and chemistry with you franchise player that you have to factor in. There is a reason coaches don't stick around in some places and it's not the lack of coaching skills, but the people skills side of things. I agree we do need to be getting the best coaches and players for Dame.
it's worth risking coaches hurting players' feelings if it means we don't have the 28th best defense in the league. Like what are we talking about here? these are professionals. Terry has himself mentioned that he doesn't hold his vets accountable and that it's not his style. maybe ruffling some feathers will make our defense the 25th best? that SHOULD BE worth considering. wasting dame's prime here.
He has a great relationship with Dame and CJ because he lets them do whatever the fuck they want. They have free reign.
Correct, that is usually what happens. Just like last night. Just like in Chicago the night after we fired Coach Nate. I think Thibideau and Stan Van Gundy also had their new teams playing at a higher level at first. But it ultimately comes down to the players and the talent level, no?
I don't think anybody is saying that. I think we have teams below us with HALL OF FAME and up and coming coaching geniuses with healthy rosters that aren't doing as good a job as Stotts. Want to try and steal coaching legend Tyron Lue to lead us to your promise land?
And some teams have HOF coaches playing like absolute shit. Miami and Dallas. It’s a weird year. It’s a players league.
Think this is the flawed kinda thinking. 1. had you heard of Nick Nurse before he came to the Raptors? 2. How about the guys coaching in OKC/IND? you don't need big name coaches, you're the one who keeps bringing up Ty Lue, not me-- and it's not my job to find them. our POBO and people in the front office/vulcan are paid millions to know who these guys are who would put in the work, understand personalities, AND are adaptable enough to maximize players' strengths. Next thing... I ABSOLUTELY DO believe this is the best roster we have put around Dame since the Aldridge/Batum/Wes teams and had no business being 25th and worse in defense before all our injuries. What we saw in the first ten games of this abbreviated season was exactly what we have seen from Terry's teams in his nine years here... mediocrity. Roco was first team all defense 2 seasons ago. Jones was a monster defensively last year. Nurk has historically been very good. Yet we saw no change. And I'm JUST talking defense. think our offense is in spite of the system, not because of it.
Lue and Stotts are the same dude. They ride the coattails of their superstar player and don't make waves. Stotts could go to LA and win a championship, I'm sure. We don't need a players coach. We need someone who has a nice mix of being a players coach but also has tighter reigns than Terry.
Probably - no, I think definitely- the hardest, most complicated, difficult job for nba coaching is the whole “hold them accountable” thing. I don’t disagree with it. But remember. These players all make more than the coach. They know this. The players are grown men. It’s a very fine line. I was there, in person, when PJ got choked by Spree because he wasn’t practicing well and throwing the ball all over the fucking gym. That’s an extreme example but that’s what these coaches deal with. Almost any other coach would have let him have a bad practice. Or a day off. PJ wasn’t wired like that. And got choked the fuck out. Again - extreme example. I think it’s likely Stotts could be tougher on his players. But for many of these guys it’s “kid gloves”.
Maybe, but I've also seen him talking to those guys in the lobby of the hotel late at night on long ass tough road trips. I think they respect him for things like that as well. I'm quite sure a lot of coaches have such open relationships with their stars. People skills are a large component of being a quality coach.
Nobody is blaming just the coach dude. Did you miss all the hate that Melo gets, pretty much since we re-signed him? Nurk got a bunch of flak for looking disinterested. CJ..... well.... CJ is the most polarizing player on our roster I think. With that said, I refuse to give up on our roster until I see them with a new coach. We have no idea whether this team could contend with Dame or CJ until we see a new system.
All that criticism is well deserved, and to think, with all that AND our roster in absolute shreds, we are still ahead of 10 or 11 teams in the west.
The team is mediocre because the overall basketball talent is mediocre. Also true: Stotts is a mediocre coach. If you have a better option available, you should fire Stotts. I don't think you should fire Stotts because it's easy and why not. Good franchises operate because they have a plan. Bad franchises operate on "why not" because they don't know what else to do. I'd like Portland to at least aspire to be a well-run franchise.
