What if Thibs is available?

Thibbodeau is a psychotic workhorse. Great basketball mind, but again, he's a psycho.

 

Stotts has NEVER played his starters up to the final minute of a game that's been decided. Nope, never.

 

Probably never pushed them as hard as Thibs though. He'd be the kind of guy to look at a guy injured and think to himself "what a little bitch".

 

"I hate Stotts, he's too rigid in his substitutions, favors vets to rookies, and rides his players too hard, plays them too long"..."Let's replace him with Thibs!"
Makes sense.

 

was talking about Thibs saying that. Phil Jackson would let Rodman go to Vegas during the playoffs to clear his head.

 

lol

I think Thibs brings something similar to the table that J Sloan brought and Gregg Popavich brings. Except he's younger. Defense and toughness. I think that's really missing right now on this club.

 

I'd take Thibs or Lue over Stotts right now.

That being said, Thibs is the defensive minded Stotts. We need a guy who will be more flexible in rotations.

 

I don't get the whole "Stotts doesn't do defense" shtick. We went from the bottom of the list his first season to close to the top of the list last season (until injuries to Rolo and Wes) with essentially the same roster...

 

I didn't say he doesn't do defense, I'm just saying his defense is comparable to Thibs offense.

Statistically our defense was good, in reality we have a very flawed system. We give up a lot of open shots, we switch bigs on to smalls on the perimeter too much and we can't defend the most used play in basketball very well.

 

Too bad it cant just be about money because I love for PA to make history by making him the highest paid assistant coach in league history but that would also be kind of awkward when he was getting paid more than Stotts I guess.

 

LOL, that would be funny. Can't see Thibs wanting to be as assistant even with a lot of dough when he can be a head coach with his likely pick of a few jobs and get more than 5 mil per

 

There has to be some middle ground, but I am not sure you can give the necessary energy that Thibs requires on defense and still have the legs in the 4th to play offense. I can't help think what Snapper used to emphasize about the need in figuring out what type of team your are. What is your identity.

This current Blazer team is built to shoots 3's. Can they play the defense Thibs wants and still have the legs to make those 3's in the 4th. Or are they better off improving their team defensive strategy for the whole game, but kicking the energy level up a notch in the 4th when the game is on the line?

I think SA is the bench mark. They have a very good fundament defensive strategy but they don't seem to exert the same amount of energy as the bulls do all game long. Thus they remain fresher at the end. But their bench seems to kick it up a notch when they come in.

Doc also does a pretty good job. He seems to kick it up a notch in the 4th as well. When Thibs was his assistant in Boston , didn't they do the same?

 

The Spurs are the model we want, but like you said their bench comes in and kicks ass more often than not. The Spurs create chaos on defense at times, something we don't do. We really need to hire a defensive coordinator. Maybe Mike Brown? Pay him and let him solely focus on defense.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Carlisle fired and Thibs hired in Dallas. I don't see Thibs in Rip City at all. I like Stotts just like I like Steve Kerr...no panic attack in those guys. Thibs is an elite defensive coordinator but might not be a good head coach because he lacks FO political savvy. Thibs is high strung and grates on players and GMs. Chemistry is everything moving forward.

 

I would be surprised to see Carlisle fired. For anyone.

 

Notice who is #9.

It would be interesting to see the reverse of this list. Most losses below preseason statistical expectations.

 

So when does Stotts get the red flag?