It is pretty crazy how a week can erase all of the goodwill built up during a 82 game season.
After finishing at 49-33 and earning the No. 3 seed in the western conference, the Portland Trailblazers were riding high and it seemed like they could be a contender, fast forward 8 days into the 2018 NBA Playoffs and they have been eliminated and swept by the No. 6 seeded Pelicans and the series wasn’t really that close.
That kind of playoff disappointment irks fans and ownership and because of it Terry Stotts went from coach of the year candidate to seriously on the hot seat.
From Marc Stein of the New York Times:
The mumurs have already started In coaching circles that 10 consecutive playoffs defeats will cost Terry Stotts his job in Portland, but league sources say Orlando would register immediate interest in Stotts if he becomes available
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 22, 2018
From a purely observational perspective: Frustration with the Blazers’ playoff sweeping is understandable … but pinning all this on the coach who helped a team with the frontcourt issues Portland has secure the West’s No. 3 seed strikes me as an incomplete picture
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 22, 2018
While Stotts was clearly out coached by Alvin Gentry, can you really pin the majority of the blame for the series on Stotts when their MVP candidate had the worst series of his playoff career?
The Blazers worked themselves into a top 10 defense team this season with the same crew that was 23rd in defense last season, despite an underwhelming front court rotation, that is coaching.
There very well could be some changes with the Blazers this off-season both on the roster and in the front office, but they would be foolish to let a good coach like Stotts walk.
If Stotts is let go, you can be assured he will find another job this off-season, Orlando reportedly would be interested if he is on the market.
