I can't seem to find the thread with all the pictures from that day? I posted a picture of Stotts with him.
This thread was never about Stotts being a great coach. I understand the flaws and the reasons people wanted a new coach. This thread was only about a great guy and the fact that he gave everything he had for the community and the team.
People on here threw DJJ under way more buses than Stotts did. They guy missed his first six or so dunk attempts and couldn't hit a three. Stotts said DJJ knew what was best for the team. Do you really think ES didn't know what he was doing either? Seriously?
The man is a great example on how to stay classy and always work hard to improve. His team overachieved quite often.
Gotta admit I'm glad this run is over. I also got to admit i was ready for him to be gone before this season even started but was hoping the roster changes would help.
Stotts' teams repeatedly outperformed what I expected of them. He made creditable approximations of silk purses out of sows' asses. Several players had their careers saved or launched under his tenure. He was a very good offensive coach (despite this boards incessant whining about him) and, when he didn't have among the worst defenders in the league on his team, had some good defensive years too. Here's hoping we look back on his tenure as mediocrity before the greatness... but I have my doubts about the sudden surge to greatness his detractors think is about to happen.
Stotts was not a great coach, but he certainly wasn't shitty. I would say "better than average" is fair. It's weird that people both complain about our roster and then expect amazing results from it, and when they don't come, blame the coach. Are Golden State fans like this? Are they all screaming for Kerr to be axed because Golden State didn't make the playoffs despite the greatness of Steph?
Without a big roster change - this team is not going further than what TS took them, imho. He was not the big issue with this team.
I'm not saying I believe the critism is fair, but if you look up Chauncy Billups & Ron Mercer in 2000 you'll find a story people will certainly be bringing up given todays climate. Again, I'm not taking a side on this issue, I'm just saying, it will be brought up to some degree.
I was never on the anti-Stotts wagon until the last year or two. And even then, I thought many of the criticisms of his coaching were simply scapegoating Stotts for roster issues. And I still think that's the case. But, 9 years is too long to go without any sustained playoff success. Portland needed fresh eyes and fresh ideas infused into the offense and defense after the Pelicans series....and they didn't get it, which was quite obvious over the last 10 days. They also needed fresh high-end talent, but that's not Terry's fault never came close to meeting him, but he seemed like a quality person, and probably an above average coach. I wish him well, but that seems a hollow wish as just about anybody who made 50M dollars over a 9 year stretch is certainly doing well, and likely to do so from here on out bottom line though is the guy who hired him should have been fired before him. If that guy still has his job, the new coach will very likely be saddled with the same problems the old coach was
