We have a first rumor of possible coaching change... https://basketball.realgm.com/wiret...On-Hot-Seat-If-Nuggets-Disappoint-In-Playoffs If Portland could scoop up Malone - that would be a home run!
If Malone can't make deep playoff runs with a 7'0" walking triple double MVP, what would the expecations be in Portland?
Chauncy should not be fired before the last game has been played, there is not a better TANK commander in the league!
17 blown double digit leads, and counting. If Chauncey comes back next season, unless it’s to tank, we have no shot from the jump
Haven't said anything about coaching until now. I really had high hopes for Billups. But at this point in the season we should be seeing a more cohesive and creative offense and the defense should know what they are doing. We should not be hearing Lamar Hurd every night saying "That's a correctible error" on defense. Also, why is a player like Sharpe regressing instead of progressing? Are they putting him in places where he can succeed and build his confidence?
Did you guys hear the postgame interviews from Dame and Billups? Highkin asked both the same question of why we keep losing leads. Billups said something along the lines of us losing focus and not sustaining effort when teams start getting aggressive. He attributed it to youth. Dame said we don't make adjustments when other teams change their tactics. His answer was a lot more insightful about the actual reason. Feel like he unintentionally threw shade at Billups.
I don't think the players and coach are in on the tank, yet. Both seemed to be fighting desperately last night. I think they realized they really needed that game for a chance for the playoffs. They may begin giving up very soon.
Making Trendon Watford our 4th qtr go to shooter is another pretty clear sign even though he'd been bricking shots all night long and whenever he made one he immediately fouled somebody afterwards sending them to the line....if he's our future, we're in trouble.
I think part of why the Blazers have given up so many big leads is that other teams don't worry about getting behind to the Blazers. They know they have a level they can go to that we can't. The same thing happened when we faced the Warriors in the WCF, we got big leads and they ran us down every time. I don't think those big leads are the major positive some fans think they are. If we were better those teams would ratchet it up earlier. I don't think Chauncy is a good coach but I also don't think the Blazers should be much better than they have been. I think we were a .500 talent team when the season started. After the trade deadline we aren't anymore. Management gave Chauncey a roster that has no hope on defense.
Cronin filling the lineup with inexperienced players is a safety valve for Billups to utilize in post game pressers. we don't know if Billups is a good coach, because look at the lineup he has to work with Teamwork is in the Front Office, not just on the court
He was barely over .500 in 33 games with Nurk, Grant, Hart, Ant, Dame He is a shitty coach that does not make any adjustments in game