I don't understand how you can judge he's trying harder. By his facial expression? the determination in his eyes? clenched jaw? If he's still beat off the dribble and ineffective stopping penetration; still ends up chasing his man too often; still too slow on rotations; still buried behind screens; still not showing any improvement in lateral reactions. If he's still failing defensivly the same as he's been failing for 4 seasons, where does the trying harder show up? and in this case, how can you gauge that he tried harder this season than Sharpe?
His issues are his physical limitations on defense. I said he was trying harder, not that he was adequate on defense. Eyeball test showed he was trying to compete more on defense. Results weren't much different and I wouldn't have expected them to be. But he was still trying harder. The other part to the OG question was that Sharpe seemed to try harder and get better on defense in the second half of the season.
Stop worrying about Ant's defense, he's not gunna be a Blazer past his current contract, maybe even earlier. Also, Camara Avdija and Clingan are good enough defenders that once we trade for Evan Mobley we'd be respectable Scoot / Banton Sharpe / Thybulle Avdija / Camara Mobley / Murray Ayton / Clingan
The Portland Trail Blazers won’t renew the contracts of assistant coaches Roy Rogers, Chris Fleming and Ryan Gomes, NBA sources has told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Rogers arrived in Portland before the 2020-21 season and oversaw the team’s defense, which showed improvement last season. Fleming arrived last season and worked extensively with point guard Scoot Henderson and also helped coordinate the offense. Gomes worked as a player development coach. https://hoopshype.com/rumor/3614246/
I wonder how Nate Bjorkgren is working out as an assistant coach. He seems like he would be the most important assistant.
It honestly feels like he's the head coach, or at least the one making in game adjustments. He's pretty next to/in Chauncey's ear during EVERY game.
He definitely looked like he was in Chauncey's ear quite a bit. He does have some head coach experience. I am sure he wants another shot.
They must have some replacements lined up...a lot of coaching staffs are going to break up this off season.
More often than not assistant coaches are looking to move up the ranks at some point and want a new landscape while others just might want to be somewhere else closer to family, etc. Chauncey's bro is back coaching in Colorado I think.
I would expect to see upgrades. Last year when they made hires nobody knew if Chauncey would be back after this year. Now he’s extended and it’ll be a more attractive destination than it was last year. Surprised by Roger’s though. Apparently he’s the defense guy and our defense obviously improved this year
