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Why Terry Stotts is the Portland Trail Blazers’ version of Erik Spoelstra

By Austin Carroll

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 2: Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers and Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat are seen before the game on April 2, 2016 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 2: Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers and Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat are seen before the game on April 2, 2016 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Both the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers have made the decision to stick to their guns with their incumbent head coach and see how things pan out.

Following the Portland Trail Blazers‘ decision to extend head coach Terry Stotts’ contract back in May, Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat also received a re-up with his current franchise.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was the first to break news of Spoelstra’s contract extension.

Spoelstra is the second longest tenured head coach in the league, with Stotts coming in at fourth. Although we have yet to see Stotts attain the hardware like Spoelstra, there are undeniable other parallels in their coaching careers.

Spoelstra has worked alongside Pat Riley to mold Miami into a workaholics paradise. Stories of the Heat’s practices and locker room culture have long been the subject of great stories. From fining players for putting their hands on their knees during practices to documenting body fat percentages, the Heat are serious about their players being focused on getting into the best shape of their lives.

And who could blame them? This type of culture is probably the perfect cure to fighting back all the distractions a city like Miami offers.

Portland on the other hand, has developed a player’s culture unlike any other in the league, due in no small part to Terry Stotts.  The Blazers have excelled at developing young talent and unlocking new facets of player’s games they never dared to try under different regimes.

Stotts has also encouraged his players to pursue their other passions in life, emphasizing the importance of becoming the happiest and most well-rounded version of yourself that you can be. We have seen Damian Lillard hit it big in hip-hop, while other players like Meyers Leonard and Mario Hezonja have dove straight into the professional gaming and streaming industry.

But even on the stat sheets, both Spoelstra and Stotts have mysteriously similar track records. Spoelstra has coached in 886 games, winning 59 percent of them. Stotts has coached in 857 games total, and posted a winning percentage of 59.6 percent since implementing his system on the Blazers back in 2013. Spoelstra has won eight Eastern Conference Coach of the Month awards. Stotts has won seven of the Western Conference variant.

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Most importantly, both coaches have weaved themselves into the identity of the city, becoming something larger than life. Their presence and impact on the people around them is something that will be felt for a very long time, even after they retire.

Let’s just hope Stotts sticks true to this comparison and grabs a pair of NBA championship rings before that day ever comes.