I'm going to start of with the disclaimer that I'm a Nate fan.  That said, as umbiased as I can be, I think this guy is our coach.

I've been reading through the various articles out there on the team and Nate at the beginning of the season. I've attached the links below for your own enjoyment.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/10/lakersblazers_preview_we_are_t.html

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/10/blazers_banking_on_a_highyield.html

I've noticed a couple of things.  First off is that nate has changed from year to year as his players have changed.  He earned the knick name Sarge because he was tough on his team.  He was demanding.    He ran tests at the beginning of the preseason to figure out where players were at and to FORCE players to come into camp in shape.  This is the last year they'll be held because players are doing what they need to do, without Nate forcing it.

Nate has also focused on building leadership within the team.  The article about dinner at Nate's house, showcases this.  Roy, Aldridge, and Oden are the anchors of this team.  They're going to be the guys that carry us through thick and thin and they'll be setting the emotional tone and psychological tone of this team.  Nate gathered them together to get them to communicate, get on the same page, and then he set the tone for what he wanted over the year and gave them a chance to speak up as well.   This shows a HUGE understanding of how to lead.   Additionally Nate recognizes the need for motivation.   Coaching isn't just about X's and O's.  It's about getting your team motivated to go out there and play your best.  Motivation comes from within, but it's also inspired by other factors and Coach recognizes this.

I believe that Nate is a good X and O guy, but the fact that he's so concerned with building the chemistry and leadership, that speaks volumes for me.  Frankly, i think Phil's success is based almost exclusively on his motivation and leading as opposed to the X's and O's which i think he delegated more to his assistants.

Another point that I've made through the year is that Nate learns.  Yes, he's slower than some; but haven't we, as fans, been upset with past coaches who throw people in and out and so you never see what we have and no chemistry can build?  Sure Nate may not sub right away, but he's showing trust in players and giving them that chance to sink or swim.  When they're pulled out, they KNOW it's because they need to be pulled out.  Do you yank Roy or Kobe on a bad day?   I don't think so.  Nate gives that bad day.  I also believe part of it was because this is the first year in a while that ISN'T about building and seeing what we have.  We know what we have and everything else needs to fit in or get out.  I believe Nate was also coaching with that mentality.   Either way, I didn't disagree with him not pulling out players right away all the time.  He sees them more, he knows what they can do, and frankly... that guy wants to win as much as we do.

It's the start of the season.  We're still a young team.  As in every year in the past we've made some significant changes to our line up.  We have two starters that are rookies.  We have the sixth man as a rookie.  We have a player 10 down that is a rookie.  On most other teams you'd call that a revamping of the team.  Unfortunately, this means we're going to be up and down.   Unfortunately, this also means that Nate's head will be called for when we go on our first losing streak.

I actually become angry over this because I don't believe it's remotely fair or even based on the realm of reality.   This guy has adapted and changed over the years to FIT what our team needs.  He's shown great thought, great insight, and consistently manages to get teams to over achieve.  Evidence shows that his teams do the best out of a time out.   He has the respect of ALL the players.   who in the world else do you want?

This Blazer franchise is no longer taking the year view.  They're taking the long view over the next 10-15 years, and I believe Nate fits that.

So if you disagree, if you become frustrated, if you jump on that lovely emotional bandwagon and call for Nate's head after a bad loss, I want you to think about two things.  

Look at the tools Nate has.  Look at how he manages to get the most out of them.  Let's look at cooking, as It's something I love to do and Nate apparently doesn't do when he can order from Claim Jumper.  When looking at tools in teh kitchen, you NEED that knife to be the $400 knife when you're racing to chop that carrot against other cooks.  If you're also racing to sharpen it, then the cook with the sharper knife is going to generally going to beat you out when all things are equal.   Nate has some of the nicest tools around.  We all agree on that, but he's also racing to sharpen them.   He's gaining ground, but that race is still going on and we're not as sharp as we can be yet.  Patience sucks, but we still need to have it.

Secondly, take a look around the league.   What other coach do you want?   What coach could do as well as Nate does?  What coach was chosen to coach the Olympic team?  What coach has as much POTENTIAL as nate does.  He's still a young coach and that's something to consider too.  When I look around the league, two names call to me.  Byron Scott (also unproven, but manages to get a lot out of his teams) and Phil jackson.  I think we're still too young for Phil and I really don't want him anyway, and Scott is not leaving New Orleans anytime soon.  So if you hate Nate so much, who's better and who would fit our team and culture better?

I realize that  in the heat of the moment people are goign to lash out.  We've almost arrived and people want us to "FREAKING ARRIVE ALREADY".  Still, I wanted to make one last call and one last statement about Nate to the loud minority of passionate emotional fans, and also to the bandwagon fans that may have hopes higher than this team can jump just yet.   you're definitely welcome fans, but try to keep these things in mind before you go screaming for a new coach.

That is all, I hope you enjoy the articles.  I thought they rocked.