https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndic...-return-as-thunder-coach-next-season.amp.html Billy Donovan Reportedly Won't Return as Thunder Coach Next Season
If Donovan is that crappy a coach, but his career record W-L record is better than Stotts, what does that mean? They are also a small market team with no obvious advantage over Portland. If they have a better record with a worse coach what does that say about Olshey as a talent evaluator and roster builder?
Fuck no. Dude didn't even double team Dame in the playoffs when everyone knows it easily stops the Blazers.
Hmm. Let me ponder that a minute. Maybe it means his GM has given him a better roster (Paul George paired with Westbrick) and healthier roster than Stotts was given? Maybe he didn’t have to go through a near total rebuild like Stotts did when LMA left and then most of the starting lineup was dumped? Maybe the players on the floor make a difference? As far as Olshey goes, he hasn’t had any great moves in quite a while. He needs one now or maybe the move needed is him.
I always thought he was a crappy coach, but I'm now willing to give him quite a bit of leeway in thinking that that had more to do with having to deal with Westbrook.
You don’t think the Thunder were in rebuilding mode when they traded Westbrook and PG? They had no intentions of keeping Chris Paul. They were trying to trade him but couldn’t because of his massive contract. The Thunder simply overachieved. And Gallinari is a 3rd or 4th option at this point in his career.
Sure, management was entering a rebuild mode, but gettin CP3 and not having him really be tradable put that off a year. Presti assembled a playoff caliber roster around Paul. It definitely wasn’t a typical rebuild type of team. Next year probably will be, which is likely why Donovan is leaving.
Hell Billy D may have been fired for making the playoffs. He might have been told to just play the young guys and give CP3 and Gallo as little run as possible. Who knows?
Very true about who Donovan had.....but he lost Westbrook and PG13 from last year (MVP and All-NBA player) and STILL finished with a better record than Stotts....and of course, more Playoff wins. I don't want Donovan, but if he is fired (BETTER REGULAR SEASON RECORD AND BETTER PLAYOFF RECORD) how does Stotts still have a job?
Two things. 1. Chris Paul had an MVP caliber season, and they were unusually healthy this year. 2. Donovan wasn't fired. They mutually parted ways due to the direction of the team's future.