Which playoff series do you think we had the better roster and should have won but we didn't?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021.

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  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Which playoff series do you think we had the better roster and should have won but we didn't?

    Memphis?

    New Orleans?

    One of the complaints about Stotts is that he hasn't coached a team to the finals but I don't see a finals level roster during his tenure.

    What do you think?
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
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  2. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    The only series we were "supposed to win" was New Orleans. But they were only a 6 seed because Davis had been injured so much. He was healthy in the playoffs, and when he was healthy they were one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league.

    Probably should have been better against Memphis, but Aldridge was so checked out that series was over before it started.
     
    Phatguysrule, Apr 2, 2021
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  3. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    none. Portland may have had better talent (debatable) than the Pelicans, but the Pels roster was better because of how the pieces fit together

    Portland's roster construction under Olshey has always been questionable. I know Stotts is in the hot seat, and he certainly deserves that heat, but Olshey is the one who should be accountable for playoff failure, especially if it happens again this season
     
    wizenheimer, Apr 2, 2021
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  4. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    The answer to this loaded question is a bit nuanced. I think the 2015 roster was better but not without Wes and with LaMarcus playing the way he did (if it was injury or because he was checked out or a combination of both). So the answer to the second part of the question, which series should we have won but didn't is New Orleans in 2018. That team didn't have the excuses the 2015 team did. They got out coached. The Pelicans had a crushing solutions to our strengths and we let them run rampant with theirs.

    I have never said that Stotts has had a finals level roster... I want Olshey fired first but make no mistake about it, Stotts should have been fired after that Pelicans series and just like he refuses to get a better fit in return for CJ, Olshey failed to do his job and fire Stotts back then. The fact with Stotts is... no coach in the history of the NBA has been retained for a ninth season in a row with the same team, not having won a conference finals game. Those aren't the kind of records I want my team breaking.

    Edit: You know what it is a loaded question and I didn't answer it correctly. Maybe we shouldn't have won against the Pelicans but we sure as shit shouldn't have been swept.
     
    blazerkor, Apr 2, 2021
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  5. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Quality well thought out answer! I think you answered it just fine.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
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  6. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    You fell right into @SlyPokerDog's trap!
     
    Minstrel, Apr 2, 2021
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  7. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    Sometimes it is 'how' you play and not the final result. The problem is, they keep getting swept (or gentleman swept) whether the opponent is better or not.
     
    TBpup, Apr 2, 2021
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  8. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    The questions in this thread isn't meant to be loaded or in defense of Stotts.

    IMO it's talent that wins in the NBA, not coaching. Especially in this current era of super teams. I think the only RECENT example of coaching beating talent is the 2011 Dallas Mavs. But it took those players playing out of their minds to achieve that.

    You could argue that Pop's has consistently outcoached talent but even the rosters he's had have had HOF talent.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
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  9. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, like the question about clutch defense in the other thread, the team is not disciplined. They don't put out consistent effort. They give up. That is a problem with coach for sure and most likely personnel as well.
     
    blazerkor, Apr 2, 2021
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  10. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    I'm with TB. Not sure if we were necessarily supposed to win those series, but the fact that we were completely embarrassed is the main issue.
     
    Natebishop3, Apr 2, 2021
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  11. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    How about examples of players who left Stott's coaching and became better players?

    LMA?

    Meyers?

    Aminu?

    Harkless?

    GTJ?

    Connaughton?
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
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  12. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    My answer: Lillard makes the players around him better.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
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  13. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    Pfft. Trick question:

    [​IMG]
     
    e_blazer, Apr 2, 2021
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  14. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Meyers definitely picked up some new lingo after leaving Stotts.
     
    Natebishop3, Apr 2, 2021
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  15. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Stotts clearly can't teach hate speech at all.
     
    Minstrel, Apr 2, 2021
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  16. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

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    Been saying for years we need a hate speech coach.
     
    RR7, Apr 2, 2021
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  17. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

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    add Plumlee
     
    stampedehero, Apr 2, 2021
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  18. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Better after he left Portland?
     
    SlyPokerDog, Apr 2, 2021
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  19. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

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    Yea. He has been playing with intensity, lately.
     
    stampedehero, Apr 2, 2021
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  20. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    I don't think intensity was ever his problem. The dude couldn't hit a jumpshot to save his life.... and from what I can tell, that hasn't changed.
     
    Natebishop3, Apr 2, 2021
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