There are many factors but I think that we have lost some very winnable games due to coaching ineptitude. I don't believe Chauncey knows how to get the most out of his players (which, Stotts seemed to do, to at least some degree) and I've seen nothing with respect to an offensive scheme to take greatest advantage of the skills of each player. Defense, one of what we thought would be his calling cards is again, largely non-existent. Yes, there is a talent component here but I think that with subpar coaching, it requires a higher degree of talent to get the same success and even then, it may not be able to overcome lesser talent with superior coaching in a playoff series.
Wow. I guess during that winning streak at the start of the season, Chauncey must've been John Fucking Wooden.
All of these play a part. The roster is terribly balanced and relies on players playing out of position. Chauncey is a first time coach in his second year...playing the game is a lot different than coaching the game. Chauncey is set on it being his way but sometimes as coach you have to build a game plan around the team, not continually force them into something that's not working. The Blazers have the lowest scoring bench in the NBA. A big part of that is injuries. Little, Winslow, and Payton II, main pieces of the bench have all missed alot of games, leaving the Blazers shorthanded and the starters to play heavy minutes. That backcourt pairing of Dame and Simons is high octane offensively like Dame and CJ were. But, like with CJ you have two players who aren't playing off of each other and who both need the ball. Also, while Dame has improved defensively, Simons is atrocious on defense. There does seem to be a lack of something. Is it effort? Maybe chemistry? Alot of nights they aren't clicking as a team while opponents are all playing with each other and using that to kick our ass. The Blazers are a turnover machine this year. That seems to be indicative of a tired starting 5 but also of a team that is lacking synergy. Nurk gets more blame than he deserves. The main problem with him is Chauncey is using him wrong. He needs to work more at cultivating his shot at the basket than developing that three. He isn't Jokic and he shouldn't try to be. The Blazers do rely on Dame too much. When he is clicking, the rest of the team stands and watches and are not active. They are too hesitant and unconfident in themselves. Dame should never record 50 points in a loss. Dame is picking up everyone else's slack. Everyone not named Dame on the team needs to step up.
I think Chauncey is trying to coach "the right way" - lots of ball movement, etc. - while Stotts just thought "fuck it, how can I maximize having my two best players be undersized gunners?" I like Chauncey's method better (because I like that style of basketball much more than the cautious, plod-it-up-the-court game that seems to suit Dame best) but there's no question that Stotts got more wins out of teams built round Dame (and CJ).
The biggest problem is posters who think they are capable of doing a job better than someone who is paid millions of dollars to do that job.
Remember how Plumlee looked like a poor man's Domatas Sabonis (so a poor POOR man's Jokic) for a while there because Stotts unlocked his passing? And then when we acquired Nurk, he was plugged into that role, and his passing really expanded? But then, perhaps because of the cost of turnovers when your defense sucks, Stotts minimized that role for him? I kinda wish we could go back to that again. I mean, Sacramento has managed to make two non-shooters (Sabonis and Fox) be the engine that drives perhaps the best offense in the league. Either that or just trade back for Plumlee (he's having a pretty solid season!)
The fact that you asked this question is hilarious. Just for example our 2017-18 roster was Dame, CJ, Moe, Chief, Nurk, ET, Meyers, Phys Ed, Zach, Layman, PatCon, Shabazz, Vonleh and Biggie.
Dame/Ant pairing: Stop putting no D chuckers next to Dame. Honorable mention to ownership who seems to care more about not going a few million into the luxury tax than getting the players we need.
