Is Terry Stotts 'Mark Helfrich'?

Not everyone is cut out to be a Head Coach. They might be the nicest guys in the world and very good as a coordinator or assistant but for some reason that just doesn't translate to effective Head Coach. I've always had some issues with Stotts in terms of defensive schemes, the complete lack of any fast break game whatsoever, and very little ability to create easy shots for his team. As young and athletic as this team is, you'd think fast break points and several lobs a game would be a no-brainer.

But as a fan, whether I like how he coaches or not takes a back seat to what I saw against the Raptors....almost a complete lack of effort. Toronto was without their starting Center and Power Forward and still completely outworked the Blazers from start to finish. Outside of Dame in the first 18 minutes of the 2nd half, it was one of the most lackluster performances I've ever seen from a Blazer squad.

And we are only 7 games in to the season and it was at home.

I've never thought that a lineup built around two small, ball dominant scoring guards who don't play defense will ever work for more than moderate success. (Oddly enough, their biggest road win in history came when one of them sat out. Then they barely beat the same team at home when both played and the other team's best defensive guard sat out.) But last night was a team mentality thing over scheme or effort and I saw it last year with the Ducks football team until they basically quit.

This schedule was set up for the Blazers to get off to a very hot start and yet they are getting blown out at home by a team missing almost half of their starters. This start does not have a good feel to it.

 

At this point, I think it's more of a Dame thing. When he's out, it seems like the team runs more... just not very well.

 

I agree

 

It seems like the team plays better when the depth offtge bench is used instead of a tight rotation.

 

Granted, the roster Olshey has put together has some gaping holes in it in my opinion, but Neil was just re-upped through 2021 so he's not going anywhere. Even with the holes though, there are things that are complete head-scratchers with Stotts that haven't changed in years.

The lack of a running game befuddles me and his abject refusal to double-team someone who is torching the team and make someone who is averaging 6 points a game beat you kills me.

 

Stotts argued that in the third quarter, we did send a double team on DeRozan and we got burned with several threes from other guys. Hey, Coach, that'll happen. But it doesn't happen as often as DeRozan (or any team's star) scoring against single coverage. In the same vein that when they double Dame, sure, every now and again Harkless or Aminu might actually make them pay - but rarely.

 

Stotts can argue that all he wants but the double-teams were terribly and there was very poor rotation that left Nogueira wide open under the hoop. There is doing something and then doing something effectively.

 

Stotts is a good head coach, with a flawed roster

 

Stotts is another example of mediocrity.
Too good to make us lose games and too bad to battle against top coaches like Pop, Rivers, Kerr, Stevens etc etc

 

I would agree he is a solid OFFENSIVE head coach. Defense, transition, rotations....not as convinced.

 

Even his offensive system isn't that innovative, and offense should be his flagship.

 

I think he's an above average head coach. He has shown he can coach defense like he did that year we won 54 games, and even the year after before Wessy went down.

I just think guys will grow tired of him and his strategies after 6 straight years.

 

I really like Stevens. He has a better record every year he has coached so far and has already made adjustments after losing Gordon Hayward in the very first game. Not the best talent and holes in certain spots but I like how he works with what he has.

 

Exactly! Not exactly loaded with McDonald's All-American's like those other schools. Pop also is a fan and that says a lot.

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2017/10/gregg_popovich_boston_celtics_1.html

 

I don't agree with any of this stuff about Stotts....I think the forum is scapegoat fishing....probably because Meyers hasn' t played much....we're 4-3....Cleveland lost 3 in a row...

 

Can we not compare Portland to teams that have won championships recently? They don't even care until after the all-star break. Portland on the other hand has a very soft, home loaded schedule and needs to be as good as possible because they don't have championship winning experience to fall back on.

In fact, in the playoff series' that put them out in the last 4 years, their record is 3-16. This team needs every win it can get especially against teams missing top-level starters.