Portland Trail Blazers: Looking ahead to the offseason, Part 2 – Terry Stotts
This is part two of a three-part series on possible changes to the Portland Trail Blazers during the offseason. Today we look at head coach Terry Stotts.
Editors note: I’ll ask the question for you: Why are we looking at the offseason when this season isn’t close to over? Answer: Because it’s obvious the Portland Trail Blazers have plenty of work left to reach the NBA’s elite teams.
As the Portland Trail Blazers season continues its downward spiral, we look at possible changes the team could make in the next offseason.
Now we come to what I think the Blazers will do about their head coach, Terry Stotts, in the offseason. Many fans blame Stotts as responsible for the defensive problems in the backcourt. If the team decides to trade CJ McCollum, they also throw the towel in on Terry Stotts. Maybe Stotts deserves a little more rope than that, but not much.
It seems that Terry Stotts has been on the hot seat for years. It may be unfair to judge a coach who rarely had a healthy roster, not to mention high-level talent outside of the guard positions in his last six seasons leading the Blazers. Despite the constant short-handed roster, Stotts has often had the Trail Blazers finishing with a better record and seed than most pundits have predicted.
Portlan’s missing “D”
Then again, how can the team’s continued defensive struggles be overlooked? It’s not as simple as having a roster with proven defensive players. Sometimes it’s schemes, play-calling, the combination personnel on the floor, etc. Whatever is causing the problem, too much time passed between seasons without enough progress to continue ignoring this situation.
Dame Factor
I’ve often wondered if the team is afraid to move on from Terry Stotts because they worry that bringing in a new coach would affect the organization’s relationship with Damian Lillard? After all, Terry Stotts is the coach that initially gave Lillard the freedom and green light to shoot 30-foot jumpers. Outside of Steve Kerr, there aren’t many head coaches that would give their star player so much offensive freedom.
I’d be cautious, too, if losing a coach might strain the relationship with the best player in franchise history. Maybe I’m misreading the situation. It’s just a possibility I’ve thought about.
Wrap up
The end of the 2020-21 regular season and playoffs will determine Terry Stotts’ fate in Rip City. Not only will the Blazers have to finish in the Western Conference’s top six, but they also have to win a few playoff series. Anything short, and he’ll be looking for a new job.
If Stotts does manage to enter next season as Portland’s head coach, it will be due to their playoff success. Either that or because he made significant enough changes to the assistant coaching staff to convince upper management, the defense will greatly improve.
Related Story: Looking ahead to the Blazers offseason – Part 1 GM Neil Olshey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXxcpdIh004
Do you think Terry Stotts returns as the Portland Trail Blazers head coach for the 2021-22 season? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.