...Does Nate's seat get hot? I know, the team could win 70, and some of you would still want to fire the guy. I get it. What I am asking for are serious, realistic opinions. How bad would things have to get before PA/KP fire Nate? IMHO, the odds of Nate getting fired during this season are almost nil. If nothing else, KP doesn't strike me as the type to change coaches just to shake things up. He would have to believe there was actually someone *better* waiting in the wings. Do you see anybody out there who fits the bill?
I would love to hire Mark Jackson. Also, I wouldn't mind Jeff Van Gundy. But what this team needs is a real traditional x's and o's coach, someone who can correctly identify weaknesses, strengths and trends during a game and adapt to them or take advantage of them. Someone who can run a decent motion offense with movement, cutters, and actual plays! What a thought. But to answer your question, I think if we don't make the playoffs this season, then Nate's job might be up in the air.
Mark Jackson? WTF has he done? J. Van Gundy? So he can clutch onto Oden's leg and have him drag him along the court? Why???
I don't have a new name to throw out there, but I don't think it's off-base to say that if we miss the playoffs (and look bad doing it) that Nate might feel the heat. KP seems like the type of guy who knows when to cut loses if he feels someone is not a good long-term fit. I would think that that would apply to coaches as well as players. We have some glaring holes on defense, and the offense is still awfully plodding. Nate needs to show that this staff can fix that.
Nate's seat won't get hot until the team is capable of contending for a Championship and doesn't. As far as his replacement, isn't that obvious? I'm sure Pritchard has already chosen the next head coach for this team.
What it would take? Probably some form of player revolt against Nate. Realistically? So long as this team improves every year, which seems like the case, I think Nate's job is secure. If our record stagnates, or heaven forbid, regresses one season, then I think KP would have to push the button. Otherwise, Team USA coaches don't really grow on trees and it shows something about Nate that he was selected to coach in the Olympics. My choice for a replacement would probably be all of us. How cool would it be if we could all take turns coaching the team since we'd all obviously do a better job then Nate.
John Thompson III at Georgetown. And it won't be midseason. And it won't be if we make the playoffs. And I'm not sure we need a new head coach...maybe an "offensive coordinator" like Tex Winter was for Jackson.
KP is going to pay $3m for a PHX pick. He is going to combine this pick with a 2nd rounder and draft us a coach at the low-end of the lottery. You heard it here first.
No way Nate will ever get you guys to be a championship team. He just isn't that good of a coach. I think Avery Johnson is probably the perfect coach for the Blazers. Oden should be more receptive to playing low post than Dirk was. Avery's of Popovich tutelage, and apparently that's what Pritchard is going for.
It seems pretty obvious to me that Kevin Pritchard is going to be the coach that leads this team to the Championship. I'm sure he's just waiting until the roster is settled and Nate has taken the players as far as he's capable before taking these players to the next level. I'd be shocked if it wasn't Pritchard, but if it wasn't it would likely be a current assistant instead of a retread. Look at what Portland's guy is doing in Miami right now.
