Shams: Blazers hire Billups for HC

[DusterBuster]

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[DeBlazerRiddem]

Not too surprising, a bit disappointing maybe. I'm not expecting him to really change much for better or worse to be honest though. It does show they are taking Damian's requests seriously, there wasn't much more he could learn from Stotts but maybe Chauncey has some wisdom to impart.


Wonder if he will at least finish the post-season with the Clippers?

[monopoman]

I was hoping for Becky Hammon but Billups was in my top 3 potential candidates out there.

I will be livid if Becky gets hired by another team in 2-3 years and becomes an incredible coach.

[Norm2953]

I hope he has negotiated some real say on personnel

[wco81]

Interesting choice.

Thing I hadn't realized is that some time ago, he gave up the TV gig to become an assistant. Not sure how long he's been an assistant though.

Can a first-time assistant coach in the NBA make more than a TV analyst? Certainly head coaches can make a lot more.

But it seems Billups has had a pretty short path to HC job, compared to someone like Stackhouse, who's been toiling in the CBA or G-League now for several years, with a lot of successes in winning games and developing talent. Really surprised Stackhouse isn't an assistant at least or a candidate for some of these jobs.

[Village Idiot]

I'm not that excited about this hire. Like Steve Nash I hope Chauncey brings in some highly qualified assistants. Who he has on the bench with him will tell us a lot about him.

One thing that I do like is how Ty Lue is making tactical and line-up adjustments. Batum at center in the corner against Gobert was brilliant. It's the kind of thing Stotts never did. He played the exact same line-ups pretty much all the time, never tried CJ as 6th man and never adjusted to exploit mismatches. I really hope Billups had a hand in the Clippers tactics and that is how he coaches.

[red_power]

I have no idea what kind of a coach Billups is, but at least he was known as a well respected dude during his tenure as an NBA player.

He might be the guy who will make our players do what they should, and not only what they like. Could finally be a step in the right direction, in comparison with Stotts.

Might end up as a big disappointment too, but you never know that in advance.

[kumquat]

I like the hire. Good to get in early on Chauncey, the rest of the options weren’t taking us anywhere. Might as well take a flier on Chauncey before anyone else does.

[Sinobas]

Can't believe all these sniveling woketards wanting us to hire Hammons, they probably call themselves "male feminists" as well. Pathetic.

[skywalker33]

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Can't believe all these sniveling woketards wanting us to hire Hammons, they probably call themselves "male feminists" as well. Pathetic.

This is what is pathetic, upset because a women was *gasp* considered for the job and *double gasp* people liked the idea!! The absolute horror you must have felt is palpable.


She is totally qualified and the only reason you dislike her is because she is a woman. Misogyny is not acceptable here. Goodbye.

[DusterBuster]

Not too surprising, a bit disappointing maybe. I'm not expecting him to really change much for better or worse to be honest though. It does show they are taking Damian's requests seriously, there wasn't much more he could learn from Stotts but maybe Chauncey has some wisdom to impart.


Wonder if he will at least finish the post-season with the Clippers?

This is where I’ve always landed on it too. I guess it’s good he’s had at least one season on the bench as coach… did Nash or Kidd (w Nets) have that ever before becoming Head Coaches for the first time?

Who knows if he has any noticeable impact, but it’s clear this was Dames call in the end. According to Woj, Dame and Billups have been in contact the whole summer and Dame was in the mtg with them. I think Dame just wanted someone who has a feel for modern game flow that could see players struggling and try adjustments. That seemed to be the crack between Dame and Stotts. He probably thinks an explayer who’s not that long out of the league will have a better feel for that than a coach who hasn’t played the game in 20-30 years.

[PDXKnight]

Not too surprising, a bit disappointing maybe. I'm not expecting him to really change much for better or worse to be honest though. It does show they are taking Damian's requests seriously, there wasn't much more he could learn from Stotts but maybe Chauncey has some wisdom to impart.


Wonder if he will at least finish the post-season with the Clippers?

This is where I’ve always landed on it too. I guess it’s good he’s had at least one season on the bench as coach… did Nash or Kidd (w Nets) have that ever before becoming Head Coaches for the first time?

Who knows if he has any noticeable impact, but it’s clear this was Dames call in the end. According to Woj, Dame and Billups have been in contact the whole summer and Dame was in the mtg with them. I think Dame just wanted someone who has a feel for modern game flow that could see players struggling and try adjustments. That seemed to be the crack between Dame and Stotts. He probably thinks an explayer who’s not that long out of the league will have a better feel for that than a coach who hasn’t played the game in 20-30 years.

cow towing to a superstar rarely wins titles but i’m willing to give billups his shot. i hope he can bring his championship pedigree as a coach as he was one of my favorite players. But i can’t help but wonder if carlisle went back to indy i bet we could’ve swayed him to a fresh start in pdx..

[PDXKnight]

Can't believe all these sniveling woketards wanting us to hire Hammons, they probably call themselves "male feminists" as well. Pathetic.

This is what is pathetic, upset because a women was *gasp* considered for the job and *double gasp* people liked the idea!! The absolute horror you must have felt is palpable.


She is totally qualified and the only reason you dislike her is because she is a woman. Misogyny is not acceptable here. Goodbye.

neither she nor billups have the NBA hc experience i desired but indeed she was more experienced than billups as a coach.

I think hammond will be a good coach, i’m not gung ho on her as much as others but i see how she’s so popular as she did have a great mentor. I wouldn’t be shocked if sa is her first hc job as i bet pop retires eventually with the team in seemingly constant transition/ mediocrity after the dynasty team

[Waynearchetype]

Billups was in my top 3 of the 3 remaining finalists..

[Soulyss]

I don't mind the hire, I also would have preferred Becky H. simply due to her time as an assistant under Pop and the glowing endorsements she gets...

That said, I am fine with the hire... I am concerned about his bench experience, but I am going to guess the Blazers vetted the crap out of his x's and o's because of his lack of bench experience. He should be able to manage a locker room. Obviously time will tell if he can scheme and coach the improvement we need. His assistants will be very important, it would be nice to see Vanderpool come back under Billups.

NeO used his get out of jail free card when he fired Stotts... Neil is a canny survivor. I don't think he would waste his last bullet in his gun on someone who can't get the job done.

So... predictable hire (He was a "Neil's guy" hire) but I am optimistic he can build the staff and install the scheme that moves the needle.

[skywalker33]

Can't believe all these sniveling woketards wanting us to hire Hammons, they probably call themselves "male feminists" as well. Pathetic.

Wow, someone still living in the 1800's

[Norm2953]

It was never going to be Hammon for it certainly does appear NO, Dame and Billips have talked about
what they wish to see this off season and it will be up to NO to get that done. Presumably Billips will
have more say than Stotts ever had or else he would have not taken the job and whoever comes to
Portland to be the assistants will be acceptable to Dame. Team needs to sign Powell before any CJ
trades happen and I'd expect that to get done.

I'd be fascinated to see what Dame/Billips see as needed changes for the 2021-22 Blazers could certainly
use a Ben Wallace or a Rip Hamilton and would think Billips would prefer his 21-22 team to be much
tougher and more physical than the 20-21 Blazers which finished the season playing small ball with
three guys 6-3 on the court at all times and only one player taller than 6-8 getting any real minutes.

[DusterBuster]

It was never going to be Hammon for it certainly does appear NO, Dame and Billips have talked about
what they wish to see this off season and it will be up to NO to get that done. Presumably Billips will
have more say than Stotts ever had or else he would have not taken the job and whoever comes to
Portland to be the assistants will be acceptable to Dame. Team needs to sign Powell before any CJ
trades happen and I'd expect that to get done.

I'd be fascinated to see what Dame/Billips see as needed changes for the 2021-22 Blazers could certainly
use a Ben Wallace or a Rip Hamilton and would think Billips would prefer his 21-22 team to be much
tougher and more physical than the 20-21 Blazers which finished the season playing small ball with
three guys 6-3 on the court at all times and only one player taller than 6-8 getting any real minutes.

I think there’s definitely a hope that Chauncey brings that Detroit defense mentality to Portland… but again… who knows

[GEE]

I don't mind the hire, I also would have preferred Becky H. simply due to her time as an assistant under Pop and the glowing endorsements she gets...

That said, I am fine with the hire... I am concerned about his bench experience, but I am going to guess the Blazers vetted the crap out of his x's and o's because of his lack of bench experience. He should be able to manage a locker room. Obviously time will tell if he can scheme and coach the improvement we need. His assistants will be very important, it would be nice to see Vanderpool come back under Billups.

NeO used his get out of jail free card when he fired Stotts... Neil is a canny survivor. I don't think he would waste his last bullet in his gun on someone who can't get the job done.

So... predictable hire (He was a "Neil's guy" hire) but I am optimistic he can build the staff and install the scheme that moves the needle.

+1. This is how I feel as well. Not my first choice by a long shot, not the least bit surprised by the choice, and willing to remain optimistic. Great points made about the need to surround Billups with high quality assistant coaches.

Solid points by Norm as well. I too am beginning to think about what effect this hire will have on our roster, and will we become a tougher team because of it? Simmons(the Aussie) is a pretty tough guy vs. the wine making/tasting CJ. Just sayin'. Would be a great first move, and a doable one IMO, but I doubt it happens. Dame and Olshey would need to think that it wasn't just Stotts' fault, and believe in what some of us believe is the problem: Going 6'1 & 6'3 at the guard spots. I hope Chauncy isn't such a fan.