Does Stotts make it through the rest of the season?

I can only imagine if Stotts got fired after the losing streak how many people would be certain this 10-2 finish was proof he was holding us back. Any response saying we would've finished 10-2 with him anyway would've been dismissed so quickly.

 

I’m worried that we have a very winnable matchup with the nuggets, that we make it to the second round (before getting smoked), and that because we won a series, stotts won’t have “done enough” to get fired.

 

I think the odds now 50-50 that he will be back.

 

For a guy who preaches that “coaching doesn’t matter,” you sure do defend Stotts a lot.

So what exactly did Stotts do in the final 12 games to help them win? Or was it Dame being tired of the losses, calling a players-only meeting, and getting everyone on the same page? Not to mention how absurdly well Dame played in that stretch. If Dame averages 20-25 ppg in that same stretch (instead of the 30+), we would be talking about the Blazers in the play-in.

 

Hell, we almost were talking Blazers in the play-in... we just got gifted our sixth seed by the Nuggets.

 

I just want to remind everyone that Stotts is the coach (I don't give a shit about strength of schedule) who couldn't get a better winning percentage out of a team with CJ and Nurk than he did without them. That might speak to the way Neil has constructed the roster poorly but it is for sure still a referendum on Terry's poor coaching.

 

How was I defending him? Have I given him any credit for winning 10 out of 12?

I think what I was pointing out was exactly my overall theory.

 

Thinking this Blazer team, without Nurk/CJ for a combined 60 games would be cruising into the playoffs as the 4th seed in the West would unrealistic expectations in my opinion.

 

Fire him no matter what

 

Hopefully the fact that he “dressed up” in a suit and tie for the last regular season game was a sign that he knows he is being fired. Maybe he was expecting a salute or standing ovation for coaching his last regular season game in Portland? A guy can dream.

 

I was completely agreeing with you... this team by the grace of the Nuggets doesn't have to be in the play-in tourney. So of course a top 4 seed isn't realistic.

I will point out to you that the games we had CJ and Nurk were not very different at all from the games that we had them. In fact (and I know strength of schedule contributed) we had a better winning percentage without CJ and Nurk. .581 with, .586 without.

 

You're very very likely to get your wish, I think you can rest easy.

 

For sure... which is a double edge sword. I hope it's strength of schedule related. I would hate confirmation that our 2nd and 3rd best players are even less impactful than most think.

 

and that doesn't account for the CJ/Nurk games also having Powell

but Blazers DNA hasn't changed in 6 years: how goes Dame is how goes the Blazers

 

Maybe he'll get fired before the post-season starts? It's possible, right?

 

Is it possible?... yes. Is it likely?... hell no.

 

Kinda like the original idea in this thread... He was never getting fired 12 games ago.

 

Nurkic was just coming into his own and CJ was dominating when they got hurt. Then Terry's GOOD coaching kept things afloat. When Nurk and CJ returned, it took time for them to find their footing and when you play guys who aren't on their game, your going to lose games. Finally, those two guys get going and Stotts coaches team to 10-2 finish. Stotts never got down, always stayed positive, and kept his team together when it looked like it would fall apart.

 

The coaches wore suits because it was Fan Appreciation Night.

 

We're playing pretty darn good. I'm in no hurry to see Stotts go.