As the 2016-17 season wraps up for the Portland Trail Blazers, it is time to review the year that was for head coach Terry Stotts. The captain of the ship dealt with turbulent waters, but he showed why he is still the man for the job.
The Portland Trail Blazers started the season 7-4, which pleased a fan base that hoped the momentum from the prior season carried forward. But this was the lone bright spot in the first half of the season, where the Blazers entered the All-Star break 23-33.
This was in the heat of the period where some Blazer fans thought that the front office and ownership should consider a coaching change.
Coaching Evaluation
How do we evaluate a coach’s effectiveness? Win percentage? But doesn’t talent play a part in that? How about chemistry? Strength of schedule?
One way we can look at head coach Terry Stotts’ job is how they ranked during the regular season and how he adjusted. How did he pivot and how did it play out?
They ended up finishing with a 41-41 record and went 18-8 after the break. They had the 11th-best offense (107.8 points per 100 possessions) and the 21st-ranked defense (107.8).
During March, they boasted the third-ranked offence (112.6), ninth-ranked defense (104.2) and the second-highest net rating (plus-8.3).
March Madness
Their league-best 13-3 March record is where the Blazers made their imprint on the league. The deadline addition of big man Jusuf Nurkic played a major factor in their success — offering them an inside presence to balance with their backcourt scoring.
The smooth integration of “Nurkic Fever” into Portland’s lives was a thing of beauty that Stotts’ does not get enough credit for.
Another adjustment Stotts was able to make was understanding the limits of their backcourts defence. He would consistently pull C.J. McCollum halfway through the first quarter, insert a wing and split the time Damian Lillard and C.J played together as much as possible.
Besides the starting and closing five minutes of halves, he split their workload most of the time.
The ability for Stotts to manufacture balance at all times between an All-NBA caliber backcourt was a catalyst in their success. Plenty of coaches find it difficult to adapt during the regular season grind.
Some teams have not quite figured out the staggering of their stars minutes, but Stotts discovered the formula.
The Bright Horizon
Some of the aspects that Stotts was able to cultivate over time was the trust of the players. He managed to figure out the kinks during the season, and found the right balance. Players were able to be called upon and knew they were in their natural element.
Getting the most out of 21-year-old Noah Vonleh, moving Al-Farouq Aminu to shore up the bench defense and getting the most out of wings such as Maurice Harkless, Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe.
These wings each brought their own specialty — ET’s being his handling, defense and playmaking. This was utilized in lineups with either Dame or C.J. off the court, maximizing his attributes.
The last note to finish on is something that proves very encouraging. The starting lineup that played the most after the All-Star break was the Nurkic-Vonleh-Harkless-McCollum-Lillard unit. They ranked among the top 15 lineups in the league and had a net rating of plus-5.5.
This included a top-seven offense and defense. The Blazers’ starting lineup has been their advantage in seasons past. But with guys such as Ed Davis, Aminu, Crabbe and Turner off the bench, the combination of strength and balance could prove deadly down the road.
Next: 2016-17 Player Review: Allen Crabbe
Stotts was able to get the right mixture during the last 26 games, and for Blazer fans, this may mean a VERY exciting 2017-18 season.