Honest question for Stotts supporters

Yeah... Part of why I keep bringing up changing the line ups is that Skal / Simons / Little as much as they still need to grow up, their energy is just different (even Trent Jr.). Whitesides just slow (Physically) so its hard to tell, but there are definitely a lot of games where the starters all stand around and watch either player bad defense, and stand around and play iso ball. - I think that might be harsh lol. Its hard to judge effort but that “extra” energy doesnt seem to be there.

 

If they started Skal, Little and or Simons the FIRST time one of them sucked this place would be pissed. The last few weeks of Simons playing like garbage people were like “he’s bad get him out”. Literally impossible to make fans happy

 

My suggestion was never to start all three. Just try starting like one or two of them. Like Little I think might be a better option to start then Melo or Baze, because he's just going to play defense, won't help spacing but he's not gonna need the ball in his hands. Of course, fans are only super happy when their winning, I understand that.

 

I'm not interested in counting, but look at this page and see how many different lineups we have had this year. Many have been due to injuries but there have even also been different lineups that Stotts has used not because of injuries.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2020/lineups/

 

that’s usually the case. Players win games.

 

Tank.

 

I've actually defended all 3 playing this year even when they suck. Some of the best basketball they've played this year was with Little starting. So please don't lump groups of people together.

 

ok so I’m clear- more Little, Skal and Simons, (less whoever else) better coaching by Stotts and they should be better than 14-18

 

The Blazers 2nd and 3rd things absolutely.

The 1st isn't as cut and dry. I know of 3 games off the top of my head where playing one of those guys would've been the correct move. For Skal he got taken out when he was killing it against Philly for Tolliver who had 2 rebounds in 27 minutes when they had an 8 point lead and blew it. Then the GS game most people forget about this but the Blazers fought back and took the lead in the 2nd half thanks to some good play from Skal and then he came out and GS went on a big run. For Little he had held Siakam to a miserable night shooting and then didn't play a minute of the 4th quarter as Siakam had a huge 4th and Toronto came back and won. There's 3 games right there that would've made our record 17-15. And before you say hindsight I said all 3 of those at the time they went out of the game.

As for Simons I think he's playing the perfect amount around 20 minutes a game.

 

Its just not a great season to be a Blazer fan IMO. Im enjoying watching Simons grow up, I love watching Little play. Dames always so good. Just things havent gone there way. Whether its line ups, injuries, new faces, coaching, a combination of all that, something else, I dont know. I do know Id do things differently here or there and this forum is the right outlet to voice that opinion. It doesnt mean Im right, or that I know more than the players, coaches or other fans, its just my opinions on how I would make changes.

I dont know if its energy, sloppiness, or what but this has been a fairly frustrating season and Ive been through a lot of them just because it feels like something between the ears of the team seems off. Maybe its losing some of the chemistry from last year, maybe I and others were just wrong about the moves over the summer and “blaming” a coach or an individual is easier than just admitting I was wrong, I wouldn't rule it out.

Hope they kick the Lakers butts tonight.

 

But in your case you've questioned things since the Pelicans series, right? That's why I hate the new players and injury excuses. Yes, those are contributing factors but a lot of these problems surfaced years ago and are not being masked anymore by someone like Nurk who almost single-handedly transformed the defense.

 

I have had my doubts about Stotts as a Championship level coach. Ive always thought his systems were “ok” for the regular season, they havent been this year though, which is why I think its more than just bad coaching. Injuries, chemistry, lack of talent all that probably have at least something to do with it.

 

Tolliver is hot garbage for sure. Skal was money offensively that game, really struggled on the glass (the whole team did). Hezonja and Tolliver playing 64 minutes is never going to cut it.

 

I agree about this team having a championship level coach, or front office, or roster for that matter.

Just curious @TorturedBlazerFan outside of the NOP series, what playoff series have the Blazers lost where you thought we were the more talented team? I've asked this question of a couple of other people, but nobody wants to answer it, but I'm confident you will!

 

How far back do I get to go? I thought they were better than Memphis the year that LMA was in quit mode. I think at least 2 of the years they got swept by GS they shouldve taken them to 6 games, especially last year.

 

The Stotts era is fine. So Memphis/NOP it sounds like. Did you think we had more talent in each of the LAC, OKC, and Denver series?

 

Yes after the injuries especially, yes, and pretty even.

 

Games aren't played on paper thankfully.

 

Agreed! Though some might think we'd have far more success if they were!