A few years from now

[Bruno_Sabino]

After the end of the game last night, i was wondering in my house and I start think about Dame's carrer.

How great he's been since he's in the league, and we (ppl who watch the games) know how good he really is. The thing is... Lillard it is a real player. Like top 10 in the league, for sure, and just not this year. The thing that bothers me; He doenst have a chance to play for another coach.

It is almost 10 years of the same system of basketball. I know this season is been badly because of the injuries, and im very grateful for Stotts. I really am. He elevates our franchise, like him or not, he will always be in the Blazers history. But he has to go. We're in 2021 and he still in the Blazers.

We're not going to win with him - thats clear for almost everyone here; How much time it takes for him to go? 2022? 2023? 2024? Dame will play for another coach? Things that past my mind and ONLY the time will tell....

 

[Chris Craig]

Get used to seeing Stotts. He will be here till Dame isnt

 

[Natebishop3]

The fucker gets a built in excuse every fucking year with injuries. So damn annoying.

 

[jlprk]

Get used to seeing Stotts. He will be here till Dame isnt

If you want to be happy, join me in the Bizarro world. In comic books, it's where everything is the opposite of here.

Stotts is the greatest coach we've ever had. Time passes fast when you have fun, and it seems like yesterday that we hired Stotts. Shame on Lillard for wasting these precious few years we have with Stotts.

 

[wizenheimer]

If you want to be happy, join me in the Bizarro world. In comic books, it's where everything is the opposite of here.

Stotts is the greatest coach we've ever had. Time passes fast when you have fun, and it seems like yesterday that we hired Stotts. Shame on Lillard for wasting these precious few years we have with Stotts.

 

[Propagandist]

The fucker gets a built in excuse every fucking year with injuries. So damn annoying.

Exactly. I was watching the end of the game last night, as iso play after iso play failed and our d looked all out of sync, thinking this. And also thinking, "Godfuckingdamnit."

 

[blazerkor]

Get used to seeing Stotts. He will be here till Dame isnt

The fucker gets a built in excuse every fucking year with injuries. So damn annoying.

I don't think so guys. I really think either the Vulcans or who they sell the team to are going to get sick of Olshey's excuses and car salesman nonsense. They will fire Olshey because he doesn't get a pass for staying with injury riddled players. Not moving on from them is on him. It's just not likely that the group who set records going through GMs will set a record sticking with one who puts out such mediocre results.

His replacement will fire Stotts (probably not because of his coaching but just to put their stamp on the team) and make big, sensible changes to the roster. Dame will keep doing Dame things because knows it's a business and his brand is loyalty to the team and city. If he surprises me, the guy does have a lot of trade value. I don't think we'll be stuck in this place past the end of next season.

 

[Minstrel]

I think Olshey is comfortable with Stotts. I think Stotts and Olshey get removed together in a complete regime chance at some point. I don't know when that'll be, though--I have no sense for how the executives in charge of the Blazers, or Jody Allen, feels about the team.

 

[Cugel]

Seattle is looking for a team...
But seriously, I am not seeing the next generation blazers team in any way shape or form. Maybe Trent as a longer-term piece but he isn't the guy you build a team around. Not a single pick other than GT is a keeper. Collins, Simons, Elleby, Swanigan (smh), or Little are not pieces to build a contender. That's pretty bad IMHO and 100% on Neil. I guess a case could be made that Stotts has to take blame for not developing those guys to full potential; we know they most are ~world-class athletes.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Seattle is looking for a team...
But seriously, I am not seeing the next generation blazers team in any way shape or form. Maybe Trent as a longer-term piece but he isn't the guy you build a team around. Not a single pick other than GT is a keeper. Collins, Simons, Elleby, Swanigan (smh), or Little are not pieces to build a contender. That's pretty bad IMHO and 100% on Neil. I guess a case could be made that Stotts has to take blame for not developing those guys to full potential; we know they most are ~world-class athletes.

It uncommon that someone you draft late-first-round or in the second round becomes someone around whom you build a team - and even then, not generally until several years have passed and they have had a chance to mature and improve.

The only draft pick we've had that could reasonably qualify as being in a position around which to build is Collins and while I don't view him as an anchor player, I do view him as a good role player whether starter or early-off-the-bench player. That is, assuming he can stay healthy for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Trent, a second-rounder is not a centerpiece but is a solid player.

I think part of Simons problem may be that he is being mis-cast as a PG (as many have pointed out) and I think in the right environment/position, he could potentially thrive. I don't ever see him as a centerpiece either but again, I think he has good potential to stick in the league for a while.

I think part of the problem is the Olshey is only willing to trade his nickels and dimes and not roll the dice with a major trade. As such, all we ever get back is more nickels and dimes. Combine that with Dame being good enough that the Blazers while never great, are good enough that we are not in a position to have a great pick which leaves us in the roll-the-dice and draft person-X mode and hope they turn out better than Swanigan. Olshey has done well at finding serviceable players (for the most part) with his drafts, just no home-runs.

 

[Tince]

I'm going to guess at the end of the 2021-22 season.

 

[PCmor7]

I think the biggest problem is they don't seem to have an idea HOW they're trying to build a winner. The three major players in the building of this team don't seem to be on the same page.

Stotts is an average head coach. He's good with simple yet effective offensive concepts, and the players seem to like him, which is important considering the power players hold in the NBA. Conversely, his teams routinely are terrible on defense and situationally.

Olshey is a sharp guy with great connections. He's not a real maverick, though. He's not a buy that's going to find a way to make the gutsy trade that's going to make the national media put the Blazers as the top story for at least a day, and he doesn't hit as well in the first round of the draft as we'd hope -- although some could argue that also is a reflection of Stotts not developing younger players. In spite of Olshey's connections, he can't sell Portland to free agents; granted, that's not going to be for everyone, but the city has its charms and the organization has been run well enough that one would think someone who could be a difference-maker would be attracted here at some point.

Dame's great, obviously, but the position he plays and how he plays it dictates that he needs help to go far in the playoffs. And, hey, who doesn't? Even LeBron couldn't crack the playoffs in the West without AD.

They need to get these three men in the room together with Jody Allen to figure it all out.

"Terry, what do you feel you need to get this team over the top."

Stotts submits priorities.

Olshey has a list of available players that he narrows down using Stotts' list.

"Dame, who on this list do you like that you think you can play with?"

The list is whittled down further.

"Jody, how much are you willing to pay for us to try to make this work?"

Too much of what I say seems to have been putting random parts in places that don't fit with what Stotts does, and, if you're going to put the roster together and are committed to a coach that doesn't evolve, you better get him someone with a skillset that fits what he does.

As a result, we've been left with a team that has no real positive defining trait. In contrast with most of the teams with whom we compete, we are small, slow and un-athletic. We don't have a zillion great shooters or hard-nosed guys or players that all can handle and attack the rim or are terrific on defense. It's like a mishmash.

What exactly was being accomplished that we traded two first for Covington, a good player but a questionable fit in Stotts' 25-year-old style of play? Same with Bazemore last year? Or Evan Turner before that?

I just can't figure out what they are going for. It seems like everyone has a different idea and the decision-makers aren't coming to a consensus on what is the best direction to go, so we go a little bit this way and a little bit that and end up going nowhere.

 

[calvin natt]

1) Don’t feel sorry for Damian or anyone else on this team
2) Stotts isn’t as bad as anyone thinks but he isn’t great and needs to go. He would get hired in a heartbeat.
3) I would bet this is his last year. Shit. He might even want to go at this point. (Kidding. Kinda)
4) I would like to see another coach with this roster before bailing on Neil but maybe I’m biased.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Seattle is looking for a team...
But seriously, I am not seeing the next generation blazers team in any way shape or form. Maybe Trent as a longer-term piece but he isn't the guy you build a team around. Not a single pick other than GT is a keeper. Collins, Simons, Elleby, Swanigan (smh), or Little are not pieces to build a contender. That's pretty bad IMHO and 100% on Neil. I guess a case could be made that Stotts has to take blame for not developing those guys to full potential; we know they most are ~world-class athletes.

Really? I actually can’t wait for the next generation blazer team. The one we have now is super played out and bad. Other than Dame this team sucks..

 

[Chris Craig]

The fucker gets a built in excuse every fucking year with injuries. So damn annoying.

Every year

 

[Kano John]

The fucker gets a built in excuse every fucking year with injuries. So damn annoying.

This makes me wonder - Maybe our problem is not so much with the coach but with our trainers. Think bout it - 5 of our 6 best players are out with injuries. Some more serious than others but I've never seen so many injuries hit at the same time. I don't know this to be true but I would take a serious look at our training and conditioning personnel.

Just a thought!

 

[Propagandist]

This makes me wonder - Maybe our problem is not so much with the coach but with our trainers. Think bout it - 5 of our 6 best players are out with injuries. Some more serious than others but I've never seen so many injuries hit at the same time. I don't know this to be true but I would take a serious look at our training and conditioning personnel.

Just a thought!

Two broken bones... Are the trainers giving them osteoporosis or something?

EDIT: Three broken bones!

 

[wizenheimer]

Two broken bones... Are the trainers giving them osteoporosis or something?

there's an easy solution for a broken bone problem:

 

[blazerkor]

I think the biggest problem is they don't seem to have an idea HOW they're trying to build a winner. The three major players in the building of this team don't seem to be on the same page.

Stotts is an average head coach. He's good with simple yet effective offensive concepts, and the players seem to like him, which is important considering the power players hold in the NBA. Conversely, his teams routinely are terrible on defense and situationally.

Olshey is a sharp guy with great connections. He's not a real maverick, though. He's not a buy that's going to find a way to make the gutsy trade that's going to make the national media put the Blazers as the top story for at least a day, and he doesn't hit as well in the first round of the draft as we'd hope -- although some could argue that also is a reflection of Stotts not developing younger players. In spite of Olshey's connections, he can't sell Portland to free agents; granted, that's not going to be for everyone, but the city has its charms and the organization has been run well enough that one would think someone who could be a difference-maker would be attracted here at some point.

Dame's great, obviously, but the position he plays and how he plays it dictates that he needs help to go far in the playoffs. And, hey, who doesn't? Even LeBron couldn't crack the playoffs in the West without AD.

They need to get these three men in the room together with Jody Allen to figure it all out.

"Terry, what do you feel you need to get this team over the top."

Stotts submits priorities.

Olshey has a list of available players that he narrows down using Stotts' list.

"Dame, who on this list do you like that you think you can play with?"

The list is whittled down further.

"Jody, how much are you willing to pay for us to try to make this work?"

Too much of what I say seems to have been putting random parts in places that don't fit with what Stotts does, and, if you're going to put the roster together and are committed to a coach that doesn't evolve, you better get him someone with a skillset that fits what he does.

As a result, we've been left with a team that has no real positive defining trait. In contrast with most of the teams with whom we compete, we are small, slow and un-athletic. We don't have a zillion great shooters or hard-nosed guys or players that all can handle and attack the rim or are terrific on defense. It's like a mishmash.

What exactly was being accomplished that we traded two first for Covington, a good player but a questionable fit in Stotts' 25-year-old style of play? Same with Bazemore last year? Or Evan Turner before that?

I just can't figure out what they are going for. It seems like everyone has a different idea and the decision-makers aren't coming to a consensus on what is the best direction to go, so we go a little bit this way and a little bit that and end up going nowhere.

The concept here is actually one of the biggest problems this team has in my opinion. If Jody wanted to sit down with Neil and Terry that would make sense. If she wanted to sit down with Dame that would make sense. What would make the most sense is if Jody or the Vulcans sat Dame down and said, "I know how loyal you are to everything and everyone and you are doing your job better than anyone else but Neil and Terry aren't so they are gone. The new GM will hire the new coach and those two will probably move players that you are loyal to, in order to win this team and you a championship."

Fuck sitting down with Neil so he can try to sell you on injuries and his next big idea.

Fuck sitting down with Terry so he can honestly tell you about the great group of guy we have.

It's just too nice for me at this point. That's the problem here. This is a business. While you need to have great soft skills to run a business and realize that the people are your most valued commodity, you have to be competitive and someone has to be in charge. Neil has squandered his chance to hold Stotts accountable by either not having the hard conversations with him that led to big changes or firing him. Neil has also squandered the chance to make results based assessments and get rid of players that don't fit (cough CJ). Terry just doesn't seem to want to do the hard things that get players to do what needs to be done, doesn't know how to get players to do what needs to be done or doesn't know what needs to be done to win big.

 

[Pinwheel1]

End of this year. Unless they advance in the playoffs. And even then he will only last through his contract. (2021-22)
It wouldn't surprise me if Terry himself would want a break soon.

 

[MickZagger]

My gripe is we’re kind of wasting away Lillards prime. You need to make ballsy trade for 1 more really solid player.

I think if you can add even a guy like Tobias Harris could be a move that move us into the elite level teams.