CJ, Trent Jr, Zach Collins, Will Barton, Noah Vonleh, Tim Frazier and others but yes...the guys on your list gained value coming from Stotts rookie coaching and got paid to play in the league...some had their best seasons in Portland but they did get contracts.. CJ is a perfect 6 man type player...he's just not in that role...Simons is getting development here too...you don't have to appreciate it because you won't see value in Stotts tenure here...that's a given that you admit all the time...all good.
Cj was never tabbed as a bench player. He was picked #10 Same with Collins (he was a high draft pick to be the PFOTF) who has been hurt for 2 years. Barton is about as close as you come. Trent as well. Vonleh is and was a poor player who had bright spots. 2 players out of 9 years is not a good track record. And tester spelled it out. This isn't about my dislike for stotts, it's about how our benches have been God awful and there literally is no disputing that. You can't put CJ and Zach in as bench guys when there roles coming in to stotts tutelage was to be starters. Barton and Trent are your examples, and that's 2 players out of 9 years. That is an awful track record and it speaks for itself.
CJ came off our bench for 2 years behind Wes and like the others...3rd year was the leap..we drafted him and developed him....who we draft is not a coaches choice in Portland either
He was always gonna be our 2 guard. He came in to be our next SG. You don't pick someone 10th in the draft to be on the bench. Same with collins, they were part of our future. Even if I am to say CJ was part of the bench (he never was) stotts sucks at cultivating a bench. It's in plain sight. Do I blame some of that on Olshey? Hell yeah. But stotts also has a track record of being awful at developing lesser talent into anything. 2 in 9 years (3 if you want to move the goal posts, but cj honestly doesn't count). It's fine to say stotts has a flaw. I promise you it's okay to admit the fact. You can still love him as a coach and for him to have faults. But the bottom line is he's never been good at bringing a solid bench. Period.
every rookie is "gonna be" our something but they have to earn it...only rarely do you get a rookie who's an impact starter like Dame......I'll flip it back at you ...you can still hate Stotts and talk in negative absolutes about his impact on the Blazers but admit he's a good mentor for young players.
Is he? The sporadic playing time and short leash to kill confidence says otherwise. When you're picked 10th you're expected to be an impact player the following year. This isn't baseball. Lol.
I find it best to take people at their word until you are given a reason not to.....if you believed what Roco said, you wouldn't doubt the health of our locker room and player coach relationships....choices. I follow most Blazer content and nothing even hints at dysfunction or grumbling on our team....the last Blazer who had issues in my view was Swanigan and he's gone.
CJ wasn't going to replace Wes his second year....hell Meyers was picked 11th and he didn't even break a sweat....where you are drafted does not always earn you court time or minutes...and our guys don't lack confidence...fans yes, players, not at all.
RoCo wouldnt throw him under the bus even if he thought he was the problem. We both know this. Therefore I can't put stock in it.
that's your choice...I personally respect his opinions as stated...no "hidden reading shit into it" ...he's an impressive man who is clear spoken. I also happen to agree with him and Dame and CJ and Melo and Norm and all the guys who've come out in support of Stotts even through the losing streak....shows character. I'm actually really proud of the Blazers these days.
Wait, are you trying to make the argument that Stotts developed Barton? LMAO. Seriously with a straight face? He refused to play Barton, that's why he was thrown in a trade when Matthews went down. Stotts didn't do shit to develop Barton. I haven't even heard that one before. Thanks for the laugh. lol
developing Barton...yes of course...he didn't crack the regular rotation but we developed him and Denver gave him a job after we drafted him..they didn't waive him after the trade....surprised the dunk contest didn't end his career but I like Will. Dame didn't want to trade Will...that's that narrative ..
It's kind of ridiculous the way some are looking at it? This year 2/3 of the season Stotts over achieved without two starters and then had a rough patch when they were trying to get the group together. Since then he has again aver achieved with the starters for the last 2-3 weeks. How is Stotts not doing a good job here? I'm absolutely no expert but i see results and results seem to speak for themselves.
There is no "hidden shit" in it, it's basic common sense that RoCo wouldn't completely throw his coach under the bus. I'm not saying he's lying, I'm saying he'll say that no matter what. I don't know how that's even debateable.
Portland didn't really win games they shouldn't have won without Nurkic and C.J. They had an extremely easy schedule during that stretch. They had a tough final 15 games set up for them but ever top 10 team they've played has had a star (or multiple stars) out. That's why I like to base my evaluation of the coach based on what happens on the basketball court, instead of basing it off of a sheet of paper.
You're projecting he's sugar coating and I'm saying he's being honest about Stotts....you might actually consider that he likes his coach even though you don't like his coach.
I'm not projecting anything other than the obvious which is that he wouldn't throw Stotts under the bus.
I heard what he said and it wasn't matter of fact...it was a solid vote of confidence....the politics just fuel false speculations....I believe he was being honest....
