Is this a direct quote? I am flabbergasted if it really took 9 years for Dame to realize he needs to put some effort on defense.
Terry stays as he already accomplished his goals on making the playoffs and continue the streak. That’s the only goals Neil and Terry have for the Blazers.
No, it's not a direct quote. It's a summary. I'm pretty sure that Dame was aware that a 29th-rated defense is a problem. I read it as more like he was picking Norm's brain, as Quick says he does other players around the league who have been on championship teams, looking for anything that would make the Blazers chances of winning better. Norm saying that resonated with him, according to Quick. Maybe it's like hearing from your old girlfriend hundreds of times that you need to lose a few pounds. It's different when the new girl in your life says it. Whatever, he's obviously looked in the mirror and realized that a change needs to be made and he's taking steps to be better.
Dame: Yo norm, what does it take to win a championship? Norm: Well, you see Dame, you have to actually play some defense. Dame:
I'm not harping on Dame. More of the infrastructure around him to even have this mindset in the first place. This is on Stotts and the coaching staff for not emphasizing the importance of defense. 9 years of it.
sorry, but I'm a little confused about those last 2 paragraphs. Were they from the article? Wast that Quick or you? in any event, I think the perpetual narrative around here about Dame being adamantly opposed to trade or coaching changes has always been overstated significantly. We know he's loyal, no question. But we also know that if he throws anybody under the bus it will be himself first. He's not allergic to looking in the mirror and being self critical. To assume that introspection doesn't extend to the team, teammates, and coaches isn't logical now, everybody knows my disdain for Olshey. That extends to believing he'll want plenty of ass-cover for any significant changes he makes. If Dame is fine with coaching or personnel changes after another playoff disappointment...and that article certainly seems to imply that would be the case...Olshey may finally make changes
It's possible. It's shortsighted by them, but ite possible. All I ask is that we make the WCF and win a couple games. That to me is a successful season and reason to bring Terry back. But getting swept in the WCF would be brutal. Anything less is just not good enough. If this hot streak is indicative of the real team, then winning in the WCF should be the bottom of the goal list, and if he can't coach us to that, then they should see that and change course.
Only the part in quotation marks was a direct quote from the article. The rest was my synopsis. I edited the original post to clarify that. I think Dame is willing to do whatever it takes to win a title in Portland. The way I read that quote is that, while Dame's a loyal guy, if coaching or roster changes are needed, so be it. I'm sure that the same would be true of the GM position. If Olshey can't get the job done, then get someone in who can. But all of that stuff is for the off-season. Dame is the kind of guy who believes the team can get the job done with what they have available to them and he's going into the playoffs with that mindset. Period.
Except that that story by Chris Haynes seemed like a clear, purposeful leak from Blazer brass that it's win big or go home.
And in both cases changes are/were needed. If we win the championship this year, it's all for naught. But 9 years of retread needs changes too. Now let's go win a championship.
If we make it to the finals, no way Dame approves Stotts being fired, and if you don't think he has a say, I think you're wrong... If they do fire Stotts if they make the finals, Dame loyalty If they lose to Denver, I see him gracefully re-signing with a deal on his last year.
How many coaches has Phoenix had in the last nine years? No way this city puts of with an owner like Sarver and a 9 year drought.
I'm still waiting for someone to tell me one win out of that 10-2 run that you're truly proud of. If we had beaten Phoenix that would have been a good candidate... but Terry blew it.
The one I'm proud of was the Utah one. Yes, down a backcourt but Utah came to play and hit us hard early. But that Phoenix one was the toughest loss I can remember in recent memory. That was such a clusterfuck. Great game and was fun as hell... just the coaching was abysmal.
