Eh - I don't buy it. There is only one dummy on the team - everyone else seems to have at least average basketball intelligence. And I highly doubt players have a lack of willingness to do whatever is asked of them - if there are any then it's Stotts' job to straighten that out.
The thread about hustle stats makes me question whether "youth" or "experience" are at the root of the problem. When the Blazers get in trouble, it is because they are playing like jaded veterans.
I would argue neither. IMO, it's more coaching expectations and the lack of discipline required of the players.
I don't think it's a willingness of the players. These guys all have great work ethic and will do anything it takes to win if they could do. It's the ability to effectively learn multiple schemes and strategies in a short time. The Clippers have been working on this stuff for 5 years. Our guys have been working on it for months. We only had a chance in this series if the Clippers weren't playing their A game. If they are on their game there's nothing we can do; at least this year.
Love Dame. Don't love Terry. Terry should have made a change after the 1st quarter when it was apparent to everyone that Dame was smothered on all screens. And this just kinda illustrates how Terry's "system" is entirely player-driven, off-the-cuff freelance bullshit.
Watch there was no surgery....Meyers will suddenly be active for game two...doc will think it's a mistake....and then....muhahaha!
I'm actually glad we are getting a team that is pushing us like the clippers did in game 1. This eyar was all about development and if getting our asses kicked in round 1 shows not only stotts but the rest of the team what we have to work on then its a huge success in my book.
Meyers will be wearing one of those pull away suits and at the last minute when starting lineups are called he will rip it off revealing his jersey and run out onto the floor ready to play
Offensively Terry had them run tons of plays that resulted in a lot of good and open looks for players, I thought it was a great game plan if every other player hadn't become allergic to seeing the ball through the basket. Don't force it but go with the flow of what the D gives you. It didn't work but I thought the plan was pretty good and part of it was well executed. Defensively we were awful
Mark my words, Dame will coach the Blazers, and might be the first official player-coach in decades when he's older. Normally coaching isn't for high-talent former players, because they use their feel for the game to win rather than pure x's and o's skills that coaches need. But Dame knows more x's and o's than most players, and works hard, and is talented.
Yes, I can see that. It's not to the level that Scottie Pippen was our player-coach, but yeah that's kind of true. I still think Pip would make a good head coach. A colossal asshole of one, but a good one.
I wouldn't mind giving Pippen a shot! Never really thought about him as an option before, but now I'm curious to see how he'd do.
And that weakness shows up big time when team good enough to make the playoffs do the predictable thing, double team the hell out off our top scorer and ball handler. For some reason, Damian (mostly the coach I think) does not look to get the ball quickly to his team mates so they can play 4 on 3 ball when he has done his job drawing the double team. Too many times to count in game one. I don't even know if Stotts knows what to do? Or is Damian just stubborn, won't listen?
Meyers He is much better now than when he began. But you need not defend perfectly when you out score your opponent. He can put the ball in the hoop and I sure as hell wish he were out there with his team urging him to shoot the fucking ball!
