Which playoff series do you think we had the better roster and should have won but we didn't?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021.

Moderators: 6

Moderators

  1. BrianFromWA
  2. Chris Craig
  3. Darkwebs
  4. Ed O
  5. PtldPlatypus
  6. SlyPokerDog
Page 1 of 5
  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,068
    Likes Received:
    145,306
    Trophy Points:
    115
    Which playoff series do you think we had the better roster and should have won but we didn't?

    Memphis?

    New Orleans?

    One of the complaints about Stotts is that he hasn't coached a team to the finals but I don't see a finals level roster during his tenure.

    What do you think?
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
    #1
    42N8Bounce, kjironman1, Hoopguru and 1 other person like this.
  2. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2008
    Messages:
    20,911
    Likes Received:
    17,795
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The only series we were "supposed to win" was New Orleans. But they were only a 6 seed because Davis had been injured so much. He was healthy in the playoffs, and when he was healthy they were one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league.

    Probably should have been better against Memphis, but Aldridge was so checked out that series was over before it started.
     
    Phatguysrule, Apr 2, 2021
    #2
    ehizzy3, Blazer509, stampedehero and 2 others like this.
  3. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2008
    Messages:
    24,639
    Likes Received:
    37,483
    Trophy Points:
    113
    none. Portland may have had better talent (debatable) than the Pelicans, but the Pels roster was better because of how the pieces fit together

    Portland's roster construction under Olshey has always been questionable. I know Stotts is in the hot seat, and he certainly deserves that heat, but Olshey is the one who should be accountable for playoff failure, especially if it happens again this season
     
    wizenheimer, Apr 2, 2021
    #3
    tester551, Tyrant of Ants, blazerkor and 3 others like this.
  4. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2014
    Messages:
    16,401
    Likes Received:
    17,686
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The answer to this loaded question is a bit nuanced. I think the 2015 roster was better but not without Wes and with LaMarcus playing the way he did (if it was injury or because he was checked out or a combination of both). So the answer to the second part of the question, which series should we have won but didn't is New Orleans in 2018. That team didn't have the excuses the 2015 team did. They got out coached. The Pelicans had a crushing solutions to our strengths and we let them run rampant with theirs.

    I have never said that Stotts has had a finals level roster... I want Olshey fired first but make no mistake about it, Stotts should have been fired after that Pelicans series and just like he refuses to get a better fit in return for CJ, Olshey failed to do his job and fire Stotts back then. The fact with Stotts is... no coach in the history of the NBA has been retained for a ninth season in a row with the same team, not having won a conference finals game. Those aren't the kind of records I want my team breaking.

    Edit: You know what it is a loaded question and I didn't answer it correctly. Maybe we shouldn't have won against the Pelicans but we sure as shit shouldn't have been swept.
     
    blazerkor, Apr 2, 2021
    #4
    Titan, Phatguysrule, Tince and 4 others like this.
  5. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,068
    Likes Received:
    145,306
    Trophy Points:
    115
    Quality well thought out answer! I think you answered it just fine.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
    #5
    Phatguysrule, Tince and blazerkor like this.
  6. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    26,226
    Likes Received:
    14,407
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    User Interface Designer
    Location:
    Hello darkness, my old friend
    You fell right into @SlyPokerDog's trap!
     
    Minstrel, Apr 2, 2021
    #6
    kjironman1, SlyPokerDog and blazerkor like this.
  7. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Messages:
    22,645
    Likes Received:
    34,632
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Investment Management / Financial Planner
    Location:
    Lake Oswego
    Sometimes it is 'how' you play and not the final result. The problem is, they keep getting swept (or gentleman swept) whether the opponent is better or not.
     
    TBpup, Apr 2, 2021
    #7
    BonesJones, hoopsjock, Tyrant of Ants and 2 others like this.
  8. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,068
    Likes Received:
    145,306
    Trophy Points:
    115
    The questions in this thread isn't meant to be loaded or in defense of Stotts.

    IMO it's talent that wins in the NBA, not coaching. Especially in this current era of super teams. I think the only RECENT example of coaching beating talent is the 2011 Dallas Mavs. But it took those players playing out of their minds to achieve that.

    You could argue that Pop's has consistently outcoached talent but even the rosters he's had have had HOF talent.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
    #8
    ehizzy3, 42N8Bounce, Phatguysrule and 5 others like this.
  9. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2014
    Messages:
    16,401
    Likes Received:
    17,686
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Yeah, like the question about clutch defense in the other thread, the team is not disciplined. They don't put out consistent effort. They give up. That is a problem with coach for sure and most likely personnel as well.
     
    blazerkor, Apr 2, 2021
    #9
  10. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    94,001
    Likes Received:
    57,139
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I'm with TB. Not sure if we were necessarily supposed to win those series, but the fact that we were completely embarrassed is the main issue.
     
    Natebishop3, Apr 2, 2021
    #10
    hoopsjock, tester551, stampedehero and 3 others like this.
  11. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,068
    Likes Received:
    145,306
    Trophy Points:
    115
    How about examples of players who left Stott's coaching and became better players?

    LMA?

    Meyers?

    Aminu?

    Harkless?

    GTJ?

    Connaughton?
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
    #11
    Phatguysrule and Tince like this.
  12. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,068
    Likes Received:
    145,306
    Trophy Points:
    115
    My answer: Lillard makes the players around him better.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
    #12
    Phatguysrule, TBpup and blazerkor like this.
  13. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    24,199
    Likes Received:
    30,337
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Consultant
    Location:
    Oregon City, OR
    Pfft. Trick question:

    [​IMG]
     
    e_blazer, Apr 2, 2021
    #13
    BlazerBeav, Phatguysrule and SlyPokerDog like this.
  14. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    94,001
    Likes Received:
    57,139
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Meyers definitely picked up some new lingo after leaving Stotts.
     
    Natebishop3, Apr 2, 2021
    #14
    Phatguysrule and SlyPokerDog like this.
  15. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    26,226
    Likes Received:
    14,407
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    User Interface Designer
    Location:
    Hello darkness, my old friend
    Stotts clearly can't teach hate speech at all.
     
    Minstrel, Apr 2, 2021
    #15
    ehizzy3, stampedehero, Phatguysrule and 2 others like this.
  16. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2008
    Messages:
    18,683
    Likes Received:
    13,088
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Been saying for years we need a hate speech coach.
     
    RR7, Apr 2, 2021
    #16
    Phatguysrule and SlyPokerDog like this.
  17. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2015
    Messages:
    12,451
    Likes Received:
    9,269
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Part Time Building Inspector
    Location:
    NJ
    add Plumlee
     
    stampedehero, Apr 2, 2021
    #17
    Phatguysrule and SlyPokerDog like this.
  18. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,068
    Likes Received:
    145,306
    Trophy Points:
    115
    Better after he left Portland?
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
    #18
  19. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2015
    Messages:
    12,451
    Likes Received:
    9,269
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Part Time Building Inspector
    Location:
    NJ
    Yea. He has been playing with intensity, lately.
     
    stampedehero, Apr 2, 2021
    #19
  20. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    94,001
    Likes Received:
    57,139
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I don't think intensity was ever his problem. The dude couldn't hit a jumpshot to save his life.... and from what I can tell, that hasn't changed.
     
    Natebishop3, Apr 2, 2021
    #20
    SlyPokerDog likes this.
Page 1 of 5

Share This Page