I think it's pretty obvious that the first thing the Bucks will do this offseason (fast approaching for them) is fire Budenholzer. This will be to take Giannis off the hook and also to appeal to him that they're trying to do something. They'll then give him input in the next hire (instead of doing what they should, which is trade Giannis to us). So... Mike Budenholzer as Trail Blazers coach? Well, we all know it won't happen as long as Olshey's GM, and I'm not even sure it should, but I think Budenholzer is being unfairly demonized for the Bucks' postseason failings. And this person agrees: But, on the other hand....
All things being equal, he might be a minor upgrade. OTOH, there is something to be said for a fresh voice and perspective. Stotts is one of the longest tenured coaches in the NBA, which is pretty strange for a guy so aggressively average. Even good coaches tend to move on after a few years, simply because their relationship with the locker-room gets stale. On the third hand (?) real change would require that Olshey be replaced.
Why would Dame want to play for another coach on Portland? He thinks Terry is a very good coach. On another team, sure.
At least Bud’s teams have a .500 winning percentage in the playoffs and a .582 regular season winning percentage. His system may not be perfect but it’s considerably better than Stotts’ iso ball system. Stotts’ career 0.344 win % in the playoffs proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt. And at least Bud’s teams are competitive in the playoffs and don’t just get swept out of the playoffs year after year like Stotts’ teams. Bud’s body of work, on the whole, is at a completely different level than Stotts and there is no arguing against that.
I don't really Trust Bud's system in the playoff's that much more than I trust Stotts'. I believe this will be the third time he's been the #1 seed and lost. I think he would be an upgrade over Stott's, but I'm not sure how much. Anyone know what his playoff record is?
Bud is probably better at adapting his schemes to his personnel but even more slow and stubborn as far as in game adjustments. And at least Terry plays his best players a lot.
He's probably a better coach than Stotts. I don't think we get out of the first round with him this year either though. Is the marginal improvement worthy of potentially upsetting Dame? That's a question for Olshey I suppose.
And as the #1 seed in his conference, three times, his coaching has lead them to as many conference finals as Terry Stotts has had. Sure, while Terrys teams have been swept, they're A: in a tougher conference and B: never were the #1 seed in their conference. People act like losing to the Pelicans was such a surprise, but the Pelicans had 1 less win than Portland did.
From what I've seen, Bud seems to have the same problems as Stotts: very stubborn, stick to the gameplan, slow to make adjustments.
C. Were the lower seeded team when they lost for all but one series and never were the top seed. D. Never had the MVP of the prior season on the roster.
Anyone think that switching Stotts for Budenholzer achieves a win over the Lakers this season, all other factors being equal?