Game Thread GAME# 23: MAGIC @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 9, 2021 - TUESDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

I agree with you on all fronts about people doing there jobs.

I want to see Dame be the PG & leader. I think he can do that and I think he's proven he can adjust to new teammates.

I know there is this narrative that Olshey or Stotts have totally abandoned their philosophy to make Melo happy, but I'm not sure how were positive this to be true. The Stotts only runs ISO and doesn't play his young guy narrative started way before Melo, so I'm not sure he's changed that any more for Melo. I'm not sure what Olshey or Stotts stand to gain by allowing Melo to do whatever they want, so I'm not sure why we're assuming that is what is happening.

I haven't seen facts that say Olshey or Stotts care more about feelings than winning. That's the narrative, it's a good story, it could be true, but it's just a theory at this point; at least in my eyes.

 

You're right there is only circumstantial evidence to support the narrative. I look to things like Olshey saying that CJ is untouchable and year after year saying if this team just gets a chance to play healthy... I look at Stotts saying that Melo's career has earned him the right to playing time and to always have a green light. I also look at the lack of public accountability in the face of glaring problems.

Then there is the fact that Stotts is still here, CJ is still here and we haven't done much of anything with the seemingly untouchable combo of Olshey/Stotts/Dame/CJ. Again the fact that there is never a hint of even constructive criticism from Stotts for almost any of his players and from Olshey to Stotts in public stinks of pandering to the feelings of others in the organization. I don't want assholes running the show here that are constantly throwing people under the bus. I happen to love what Dame does but if you have an on court leader who is all positivity you have to have people off the court somewhere in between Thibs and Stotts. GMs always have to be pragmatic above anything else.

 

All well thought out point that could be right.

I don't see a lack of public critism from Stotts to his players, Olshey to Stotts, or vice versa as a negative sign. To me, organizations that air their dirty laundry in public are far more flawed.

I think Olshey not making big moves or sticking with his guys long term could be a sign of things outside of him caring about their feelings. He might truly think his first moves are far better than they are, he sells that to ownership, and wants to ride it out as along as possible until he gets called on his bluff. I don't get the warm and fuzzy vibe from Olshey or Stotts for that matter.

 

Wow you’re right. Both have about the same BPM -2.5 and -2.3. I guess Trents gawdy 3pt % and the hype made me think he had much better numbers than that. For Ant that’s a good number given that he was something like -6.0 earlier this year.

Those aren’t good BPMs though for players with such nice 3pt percentages so without looking into the numbers I assume it’s due to poor rebounding and not getting the the FT line much. Good news for Ant, bad news for Trent. Seems like we’ve been overrating him. Starting to look like we should not have written Ant off.

 

I think he did early on, but Stotts lost confidence in Meyers mid-career. Meyers acknowledged in his last exit interview here that he went through a bad period emotionally and it affected his ability to perform, and that his final season in Portland was an attempt to get back the coaches' confidence in him.

 

Everyone wants approval and validation to some degree. Some are better at hiding it or coping with it, while others are more willing to acknowledge it.

Vanity isn't a great quality by any means, but did you ever hear a bad word said about Meyers by anyone other than fans? IMO, that speaks more about the people who have a problem with him than it says about Meyers himself.

 

No shit! Thats what I just said. there games aren't completely different. Scottie was one of my favorite players ever. As far as TOs......the guys creating for others always have a ton right? Look at Kidd and Nash.

 

yes....facilitators usually have a higher turnover rate. They are busy trying to see the court and find open passing lanes. Passing will create more turnovers than dribbling....unless you're Aminu

 

Also, one is a defender; one is not......

 

Difference between Trent and Simons on defense that Trent going to guard there best scoring guard and Simons doesn't.

 

We're just making random statements now? What do they have to do with anything I said?

 

When was the quality of play part of the discussion? Like I said, you're just introducing random elements.

 

And you took that to mean level of play? Da hell?

Even if that is how you bizarro interpreted it, did any of his teammates ever say he sucked?

There's simply no rational way of explaining the direction you took that.