Honest question for Stotts supporters

That would not be fair either.
Stotts just came off a WCF run and they had players in place. Kerr has lost both Curry and Thompson. You take Lillard and CJ off the team they would be exactly the same.
It's absolutely wrong to try to compare what Kerr is dealing with this season to what Stotts is dealing with.

 

KJ, you’re first post in this conversation was saying Kerr is “meh”. Now you’re saying you never said he wasnt good or superb, I know words have different meaning but I think most people take that to mean he’s “average at best”, not good or superb.

As for the rest of it, yeah Kerr came into a pretty good situation, so did Phil Jackson, so did, Jack Ramsey, so did Pops, I dont think there is any way around it though, you dont win rings with bad players. I think the part with Kerr people gloss over is how good he got that team to play defensively, they became a great defensive team over the course of those championship runs.

 

To me the real question isnt how good Kerr is or isnt, but would a different coaching system be what puts the Blazers over the top. Also for those who are Stotts supporters what would it take for you to say its time to move on?
Likewise for Stotts “detractors” is a championship the only thing that will make you ok with him?

Say next year they come into it with a new coach, and they win it all, would it just be oh the new coach is amazing, not that they had a year to get healthy, Simons and Little got a year older and better. Is it just the coach came into a good situation? Or did the coaching change matter?

 

It didn't seem to have much of an effect.....

 

I did say that and at this point it is true. Their record is pretty bad wouldn't you say? It also says "without three All-Stars" and that he has shown with 4 All-Stars he can win. This year is "Meh...." That is not saying he isn't good.
Their record is 7-24 with one All-Star. To me either they are "Tanking" or with a Roster of Green, Russel, Cauly-Stein, Looney, Burks, Lee, Paschall, Bowman he is strugling?
My bet is Kerr would never Tank. So that leads me to believe that with this group he is working to put it together still.

 

So, look at the minutes they’re playing their “stars” and its clear they arent trying to win right now. He’s playing the young guys quite a bit. I dont think he’s telling them hey dont try to win, but I think his rotations have made it clear what the priority is, development of young players, see what they have. Also Draymond is an All-star but he’s a role player, his skills are great for a role players and he deserved his all star nod, but he isnt a guy who can carry a team like most all stars and Deangelo would never sniff an ASG in the west. With Curry and Klay down the talent they have is a bit if a hodge podge, sort of like the Blazers with both forwards down.

 

Good questions! To me, when a coach loses his players its an obvious time to seriously consider a coaching change. I don't think that has been the case with Stott's now.
If it's coaching X's and O's Stott's is primarily an offensive motion coach, which players like Dame, Nurk & CJ have benefited. They also have elected to stay here and play for Terry.
Every team has strengths and weakness's and the Blazers, at this point, is injuries which cant be helped otherwise defense, rebounding have been issues too. I think with Nurk & Collins coming back and maybe a trade, those areas will be addressed to a certain degree.
I'd give Stott's at least till mid next year or maybe even after this season if things look really bleak. Sometimes players and coaches need a change of scenery just like anyone else thats employed, regardless of current and past performances.

 

Could be exactly what he is doing. You could even say he is a better coach for doing just that.
There is absolutely no comparison between where he is and a number of other situations. Now if Dame and CJ went down i would expect the very same from Stotts.

 

The Blazers are in an interesting position. They cant really tank, Dames healthy and asking a superstar to not try... good luck. They do have a lot of injuries and really very few teams can miss 3/5ths of their starters and play at a high level. Melo’s been ok, but I think he’s a bench scorer at this point. Whiteside has been very good, but the bench has really suffered which I think at least part of that can be chalked up to the injuries making guys play roles they were never meant to play.

Stotts is a likeable guy. He has adopted Portland, reps the town well. Has been apart of a full rebuild and has had mostly winning seasons. People say Kerr made Curry alot better, its possible Stotts has helped Dame to get where he is at in his career too. Stotts has redeeming qualities.

On the flip side, their defensive schemes kind of suck, they dont force turn overs, their wings and guards trail players way too much because of the way they guard screens. Their rotations this year are atrocious. How much of that is injuries, and coaching and personnel changes, Im sure they all play a role to some extent. My problem is with Stotts I dont believe he’s a good playoff coach. I dont think he abuses mismatches very well, I dont think he makes defensive adjustments, I think when Dames struggling, or when teams are playing perimeter hard he doesnt make them run plays that attack the rim.
It feels like somewhat of a lost season if the bigs cant give them some support come playoff time, but most of their schematic issues arent new ones

I think after last year he will get another season or so to see if they can break the glass ceiling.

 

It makes sense to me that you would hate it.

 

No doubt you get this concept, but I don't think everyone does.

I've never seen anyone on here say Stotts is the best coach in the NBA. Finding someone who is likely to be better, is available, and willing to com to Portland is where I have my reservations.

What do you think of what McMillan is doing this year in Indiana? Were you a fan of his when he was here?

 

Wow.

 

I'm glad you noticed that too.

 

McMillan has evolved and improved mightily. Wish Stotts would do the same.

Getting a head coach to come to Portland isnt hard, and shouldn't be used as an excuse for us to sit on our hands.

 

Side Question - if your last name is Kerr why the fuck would you name your kid Nick?

Nick.... Kerr........

Someone HAD to have mentioned it to them.

 

Agreed on Nate, I'm very surprised by him. Goes to show coaches can improve for sure.

How many elite coaches has this franchise been able to land in the last 25 years? If it is so easy, then our GMs have really been dropping the ball.

 

Different coaches are valuable in different situations. Stotts would be a great coach for a rebuilding team who just hit the reset button. For a team trying to contend? He's bad.

 

That was exactly what people were saying about Nate when he was in Portland. Supposedly he was great for bringing structure to mess that Mo Cheeks left, but didn't have the X's and O's to get a team to the conference finals. Not sure it was a fair narrative, but that certainly what was being said on here.

 

As if Stotts could hold Russell's leash

They're both on the same level.
I thought Stotts was a good coach when he landed in Portland, yet he convinced me otherwise.

 

I would expect this to be the case with our next coach as well.