The title of this thread is an insult to this board, just like is Scoot a bust is also disrespecting this site. Chauncey is great for this team, calm down everyone. Scoot is 19. I love the direction that this team is heading in. They are playing like dogs on defense, that’s on Chauncey. And let’s give Scoot some time. I love this team. I would much rather have a bunch of young guys, trying hard like this group than a bunch of vets riding out their big contracts. And props to Jeremy for his effort every night. The trend is up, and props to Schmidt for his vision. There’s some eighth graders right now in Ohio that may be playing for us someday when they come out in the 2028, 2029 NBA draft.
Shouldn't we have Chauncey instill this "playing your ass off" foundation before we send him packing? That foundation will be important when we move on to a better Xs and Os coach. Chauncey is exactly who Dame and CJ needed at the beginning. Stotts refused to coach effort and defense and that still shows in Dame and CJ today.
Scoot better be back in the starting lineup in today's game. Brogdan led the team to a first-quarter deficit (11-16 when Scoot came into the game) and his missed shots down the stretch were a main reason (not the only reason) the Blazers lost the game. It might have been a wire-to-wire loss without Scoot and Matisse. Brogdon isn't the one who put Scoot in the game to go sit in the corner then have to defend Giannis down the stretch, so I'm not blaming him for crappy coaching. That's on Chauncey Billups. Maybe it's a good thing the Blazers lost. If they had won, we might see Brogdan starting the rest of the season.
I started this thread and truthfully, I regret it. Mea culpa. It was after a game I attended where I literally saw the worst half of professional basketball I have ever seen. As I said at the top, it wasn't that they lost, its was how they lost: Lethargic, lazy, boring. I was a fan venting, but what I know is that I should have known better. Judging a team on its worst loss with a bunch of hurt players is an amateur move. No, I don't think Chauncey is a great coach by any means. Heck even my wife thinks his post-game 'they played hard' stuff gets silly, but so what, and WTF do I know about coaching anyway?
I've been waiting for Blazers playing that hard for a long time. If Stotts team have played that way, Dame would be a champion already. So, for now, I am happy with Billups.
People chomping at the bit for him being axed are expecting way too much. You cant take a team and teach them how to bunny hop on a bmx bike without first learning to ride without training wheels. Defense first. Get that locked in and then clean up the offense. The last decade has taught us all offense doesn't get shit. Get the hard hustling defense good first. Then polish the offense. Those expecting immediate gsw style offense are in for a loooonnnngg season.
I still don't know if Billups is the long term solution, but I sure like what he has this team doing on defense. It's been a very long time since I have seen that. There are still a lot of mistakes, but considering this group has only played together for a short time, I like the trajectory. At least coach seems to be helping players grow correctly. Whether he will be a good coach in playoffs years down the road only time will tell.
Chauncey seems to be an amazing motivator and seems to have his staff doing a great job developing players. So maybe we don't have to get rid of Chauncey in during this run with this young core. Just hire an X's and O's guy. Who is Chauncey's Tex Winter. Just get that done and Chauncey is a great head coach.
It's looking better with the vets back...if Chauncey can win more endgames he'll have me singing his praises. He admits himself that he has holes in his coaching game. I wouldn't have a guy who's been throwing the ball away bringing the ball in down a couple buckets with a game on the line but Chauncey apparently does. There's a lot to doubt about our endgame and offensive style so far but I love the defense. If we can't make 3s we're going to lose a lot of games.
I'd be down with something like that. It would be cool if we could get him some help on that side of the ball...
I would say things are looking better with SCOOT back. Both Brogdan and Grant played in that worst loss of the season (to the depleted Grizzlies in Portland). The Blazers are 1-5 without Scoot.
I must bump this thread when Billups is doing well. Because you know when we go on a losing streak someone will complain again, but they stay quiet when he does well lol. This team is fighting, scrapping and playing good basketball overall. Billups has his flaws but he is getting better, the X and O's part will get better too. I like that he is getting on Sharpe at times. This is what young guys need, someone to get on them early in their careers and not to develop bad habits, like Stotts didn't do. A quote from the Cavs game: Billups said he had to get on Sharpe about not always playing with intensity. “I was even on him in the first half,” Billups said. “He was moving around out there like we was in summer time playing pickup ball. So, I had to get after him ... I tell him all the time, I don’t care if you’re mad at me. Act like you’re playing against me, sometimes, and just go out there and get after it. He did that. He was great.”
