Rip City Project
Fansided

Stotts builds another winning Trail Blazers lineup

By Matt George Moore

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 01: Head coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on January 1, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 01: Head coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on January 1, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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How Has Stotts Done It?

Which brings us to the now.

The 2017-2018 Trail Blazers are led by three-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard and former Most Improved Player award-winner CJ McCollum. The rest of the starting lineup includes a mostly steady Al-Farouq Aminu and two players who have underperformed: Turner and Nurkic.

After that, the Trail Blazers have what can only be described as a ragtag team of role players.

Stotts has used 11 different starting lineups this season. And he’s adept at utilizing players so as to squeeze the maximum performance out of them.

With a rotation that includes rookie Zach Collins, Pat Connaughton, Ed Davis and Shabazz Napier, it’s rather amazing that he has this team playing so well.

And yet here they are, five games above .500 and playing their best basketball of the season.

In fact, for much of the 2017-2018 season, the Trail Blazers have ranked among the best defensive squads in the Association. And since January, their offense has been just as good. I contend that the list of NBA head coaches who would have this same team performing as well as it has is short, indeed.

Next: What the DeMarcus Cousins injury means for the Blazers.

And let’s not forget how much the players like Stotts. (We do, too.) Lillard defends him from critics, as does Nurkic. Other players, such as Leonard, have also expressed how much they appreciate Stotts.

Long story short: Terry Stotts can flat out coach. Rip City is fortunate to have him.

And the rest of the season should be fun to watch.