DeBlazerRiddem wrote:My eye test was that the rotations were tighter, there were fewer possessions wasted on hero ball type antics, and late game clock management was better. Also IIRC we won a coaches challenge, I feel like Chauncey is particularly bad about using those.
Not that Nate is the answer or anything, but almost nothing seems to be lost by Billups not being there.
I do like to point out that a significant part of the HC position is political in nature, with much of the work going on behind closed doors. How the coach interacts with players, how they work with the front office, the way they manage team dynamics and set expectations etc. Its more than calling plays, it comes with a lot of other paperwork off-court, metaphorically but probably literally as well. I could see a situation where a coach is maybe not the best in-game coach but they build a phenomenal lockerroom and environment for the players, a Ted Lasso type, and find success that way.
Of course I don't think that is Billups, as a former player and point guard he is expected to have exceptional game management instincts, which is an expectation I don't think he has lived up to.
By nearly every account that I've come across, Chauncey is well-liked and respected by the players and staff. He gets a lot of credit externally for keeping players "motivated" despite huge loss seasons.
Personally, I question the value that he's brought as a "motivator" and mentor for the younger players...as I feel that almost any coach is able to do that. Ultimately, winning solves most everything and if a coach is losing you games--what's better, a "motivational" coach that is losing you games, or a less "motivational" coach that's helping with Ws?
Of course the big division here is whether Chauncey is actually perfect because the Blazers need to hard tank, and it's still up in the air whether the Blazers have any future franchise cornerstones in place.
It will be very interesting if we see similar results tonight vs. Philly, and Sharpe, Scoot and Deni show out in larger minute roles.