Shem wrote:BNM wrote:Shem wrote:I swear most people think that the NBA is played like a video game and the coach has the controller. So switching coaches is just changing how is holding the controller and making players do what the need to do.
I swear some people think coaching makes ZERO difference. That coaches aren't responsible for implementing an actual modern NBA offense, of developing young players, making offensive/defensive substitutions when appropriate/needed, calling a timeout rather than let the opponent go on a 24-4 run, judiciously using their coach's challenge. The very basics of coaching that anyone with any experience knows how to do.
I swear those same people are more than content to continue to employ the worst coach in the league, who has shown ZERO improvement well into his 4th season as an NBA head coach, rather than part ways with him and hire a coach that will actually develop the young talent we have endured three seasons of losing to acquire through the draft lottery. Everyday Chauncey Billups remains the Blazer head coach is day of player development wasted. The only thing Chauncey is teaching our young players is how to lose and how to acquire bad habits.
Still doesn't change the fact that the Blazers just beat a 7 win team and a Dallas team missing 3 members of its starting lineup which includes Luca. What I saw out there in those two games is similar rotations based on who's healthy running the same offense and defensive schemes. This wasn't some coaching change in the sense of a real one when they put in their own system. Nate Bjorkgren just ran Chauncey's system to the best of his ability. That's what assistant coaches do they that have to step in.
Meanwhile, you're arguing as if they made a coaching change and the coach put in its own offense and defensive schemes for these last two games against the worst team in the west and another team missing 3 starters and that proves to you that our team is talented enough to make a playoff run and the ONLY reason we don't is because of Billups. 
Ah yes, the obligatory Chauncey apologist Shen strawman. I am not saying ANY of the things I bolded in your post. I already said the Bjorkgren post was a joke and I have been calling for Chauncey to be fired going back to that all star break during Dame's last season in Portland - when POR led the league, by a wide margin, in blown double digit 2nd half leads at 15. This, when they were a veteran team, with the goal of making the playoffs and keeping Dame in Portland. Chauncey didn't just suddenly become a bad coach - he's always been one, whether the goal is winning now with a veteran team or developing young talent. He is not, and never was, the right guy for either scenario and the (lack of)results speak for themselves.
No one on this forum expected the Blazers to make the playoffs this season, or last. What we expected is developing the young talent we have acquired during the last three draft lotteries. Instead of developing the young players, Chauncey gives the bulk of the minutes and shots to Grant, Ayton and Simons - known commodities that won't/shouldn't be around past the trade deadline. I'm fine with this team missing the playoffs, in fact I prefer it - as long as we are developing the young talent.
Coaching/system does make a difference. There is a very wide range of coaching ability between the worst current coach and the all time greats. Given the state of the roster and a disinterested owner, I don't expect Portland to land a top 10 coach if they fire Chauncey. What I expect them to do is land a coach, likely a current assistant, that would at least be in the top 15 active coaches at developing our young talent. Given that 20 teams are going to make the playoffs/play in, that should be a lot easier than hiring a proven winner. Most of all, don't bid against yourself and give a 4-year guaranteed contract to someone who has zero real coaching experience - and then refuse to fire him, no matter how poor the results because your lame duck owner is checked out and doesn't give a ****.
