After a big blow out by the Pelicans, who still believe we go to the playoffs? We face now The Spurs, in a Back to back. Its safety to say: another loss So you guys think Stotts its the right coach for next season?
I think the players like him because he lets them do just about whatever they want. That doesn't make him a good coach. Historically not very good, poor defensively and on offense that is almost entirely perimeter oriented. Not a recipe for Playoff success. One miracle series win over Houston on a historical, game-winning '3' and another against a injury decimated Clipper team. Fun playoff success but not really something to build around.
It's not over, because the Nuggets aren't very good either, and they have a tough schedule. We really don't have any business being in the playoffs, but the West is only 7 deep this year. I'd actually prefer Portland to drop down a few notches to get a top 10 pick.
As bad as I wanted Blazers to make playoffs with Nurkic... this game was a must win. It's over. I'm all aboard the tank wagon now
If we make it great, if we don't, I'll gladly take the lottery pick. I'm mainly watching for Nurkic and improved play at this point.
I mean it's still possible but does anybody honestly wanna see this team get stomped in the playoffs? not me. would rather get a better pick and use it, trade the other two. Not saying I want them to tank but if they end up losing more games and missing playoffs, I think that's best case scenario for the team and us as fans
Yes, go watch something else and stop posting this shit here. Or for a more serious answer - 16 games is still plenty of season left to be played. Edit: Damn I'm too late, everyone else already beat me to it!
Nothing will be better for Nurk than the off-season/training camp. Fortunately that day will come regardless of whether or not we make the playoffs. The second best thing for Nurk? Playoff experience....He's the only one on our roster who looks to have a big role going forward without playoff experience to back them up. Can't undersell the value of experience, nothing can replace it.
Another one of these threads, awesome. There are still 16 games left and Denver has a far from easy schedule left. They are about to play the Clippers, Rockets Twice and Cavs in the next four games. It doesn't get much easier from there. The Playoffs race is still on, if we make it cool, if we don't massage those hurt feelings and get ready for a killer fucking summer, starting with the draft, then an exciting new season in October. There is going to be some change this summer I guarantee it. Do I think that change is going to be firing Stotts, no. I wouldn't use great as a word to describe him, but he is a solid coach offensively. This summer we need to get a kick ass defensive number two to help sort this mess out, and put together a winning game plan. I don't think there is going to be anyone better on the head coach market than Stotts come this summer. Why fire him just to do it, and replace him with a lesser coach? The Blazers have burned through so many coaches just to "change it up." Not a winning move. Hire a grade A defensive assistant coach, draft a guy, make a couple of trade, and we will be looking good come next season. Oh and replace Hurd too.
The Nuggets schedule is really tough so its not a given we have lost out on the playoffs. We are also tied with philly as the youngest team in the NBA, that doesn't scream "we suck run for the hills" especially when most of the contracts given out to young players are given out expecting them to earn the contract by the end of it not at the beginning. I'm not opposed to making changing coaches/GM's but to make a change just for change sake is not something I would be happy with. If there is a long term plan in place awesome then make the changes needed, if there isn't don't panic and make big changes just to make big changes. There will be changes made in the off season about the players on this roster simply because I don't NO can convince PA to pay the luxury tax for a team that at best made the 8th seed in the playoffs the year before and we have lots of assets that we might as well try and turn into something. One last thing before we "mail in the season" is that we haven't seen how the team with Nurkic added to it plays with Turner coming back. Turner was playing much better inserted into the starting lineup and is the perfect player to try and help get Nurkic involved more.
If it was easy, they wouldn't call it competitive sports. We've always competed well with The Spurn. http://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head/spurs_vs_trail_blazers_all_time.htm