Paul Allen, Neil Olshey stood pat in draft, but wasn't inactive

You're a bit more optimistic than I am, but over-all a good summation. Internal improvement is just not a realistic plan.

Sadly, I don't expect any meaningful changes until next summer. The team has almost nothing to work with this summer.

 

I like Barton - he won me over this year. I actually like him more than CJ at this point. So don't take what I said as me bashing him. I think he's quite talented. But I would be surprised if he ever gets to the point where he's a legit 6th-man on a contender. I think he could maybe become a 7th/8th man on a contender. He's talented - but we shouldn't be counting on his development to take us to the next level.

 

in this age of instant gratification, I for one am honestly surprised that PA showed restraint and patience concerning the 2014 draft. we haven't been party to the summer workouts to see the effort and improvements of the current team's young players. the spurs continuity has shown to be a successful model for development and growth, both individual and team wise. stotts is entering his third season and has shown flexability and a willingness to embrace changes to his system that improve the final product. as the current players are evaluated by the coaches in their suitability to perform in the system vs. the value of bringing in an individual of marginally better talent yet less experienced and or suitable to the system, can see many reasons for standing pat.

 

Exactly Olshey got lucky with the Lopez deal, drafting Lillard was decided by Allen but worked out and now Neil gets to sit back and relax until next summer. At that point he will need to put up or be fired. My money is on the latter.

 

"wasn't," lol...

 

Lolol yes he got LUCKY with lopez and Lillard was all Paul AllenAnd what about getting Trob for nothing?

 

I also really hate holding up the Spurs model to support the idea of standing pat. You can't compare us - or any other team - to the Spurs. They are unique. They work because they have the best coach of the past 20 years who knows how to get the most out of marginal talent. Not to mention the best PF of the modern era, and one of the best PGs in the league. But it all starts with the coach. We aren't going to emulate the Spurs under Terry "Can't Develop Players or Implement Adequate Defensive Schemes - And Let's Base Our Offense Around The Least Effective Shot In The Game" Stotts.
You know what's had greater success than the Spurs model? Acquiring the best talent possible.

 

Btw if Lillard was Allen's choice, who was Olsheys? You can't just say something like that unless you know it for a fact

 

I will give him credit for that if T-Rob becomes a valuable bench player this season.

 

I think the analysis in the eyes of the Blazers was that whatever we could have gotten in this year's draft wasn't going to be greater than what we already have.

Players don't simply remain static. They add to their games, they mature emotionally and physically, they learn the game better, etc. Given how young our bench is, I expect guys like McCollum, Robinson, Barton, Leonard, Freeland and Crabbe to be better than they were last year.

 

if they are so unique why are their front office personel and assistant coaches so in demand around the league? why is their model the one that the majority of small market teams emulate? if stotts doesn't develop talent why a rookie of the year and carreer seasons by the starters? trob hasn't developed here?

 

The rumors mostly from Canzano were that Olshey preferred Barnes and Drummond to Lillard but was over ruled by Allen. Considering Allen's love and involvement in the draft this rumor seemed quite plausible.

 

Because nobody knows how to win in the NBA. There is no formula for success but presidents and owners are looking for something. Remember when every team needed a big burly center and a hot shooting guard? Remember when everyone needed a Big 3? Remember when everyone tried to run the triangle? I like San Antonio's approach a lot, but it's being treated just like every other fad.

Basketball has fewer players in play than just about every other team sport. As a result, individual talent, personalities, vagaries of refereeing and play calling and dumb luck are all amplified. In a stew of quantum events like that, who wins is less than 100% predictable... except last season, when SA flattened the waveform hard as motherfuck, which is why they're the sudden hotness.

...and their solution might be more portable than "wear a suit and have the three best players in the league". It's a "good and proper" technique. Very Wooden. But even so, it's just one way to win, and only works until someone beats it. Then their technique will be what everyone wants. Their coaches and executives will be poached shamelessly.

It's an endless cycle. The only surefire technique to winning it all is to score one or more points than your opponent, do it every night, and do it without needing luck or superhuman effort.

 

a canzano rumor is the antithesis of a fact

 

how did dallas beat Miami?

 

Yah well Woj was busy that day

 

Of course teams are going to try to copy the Spurs - that's how businesses work. If you can't innovate, you try to copy the ones who can. But unless you have (1) a coach who understands all the facets of the game and (2) a good eye for players that will fit with your system, you're not going to build another "Spurs". Teams have been trying for a while now, and it just doesn't work because all other coaches are shit compared to Pops. The only other two coaches who had similar success are Sloan and Jax - and Jax is the most coat-tail-riding coach I've ever witnessed. Neither of them are coaching right now. So until another transcendent coach comes along there's not going to be another "system" team.

You think Stotts developed Lillard and Robinson? Lillard came in on DAY 1 with those skills. Stotts' training camp isn't the reason Lillard dropped 23/11 on the Lakers in his first pro game. Robinson looked about the same this season as he did in his Kansas videos that I've seen. The fact remains that our bench players play very few minutes, and as a result their development is stunted.

 

So Allen lobbied for Durant, Lillard and Mills. Maybe he should be the GM.

 

stotts system allowed him to excell. do you infer damewould have performed and produced as well under nate's ISO system? Trob played as well in Houston and sacramento?please

 

No bench on Miami's part, Wade was still clinging to the idea is was his team, and Dallas was effective from downtown, plus Miami could not stop Dirk, Marion and Terry.