Nate's the new best coach

by hobobob on Sep 3, 2008 12:23 PM PDT

Sean at O-live posted this link to Fox Sports http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8519894/Which-NBA-coaches-make-biggest-impact?

Pretty sweet. I'm not sure how much I like the Jackson stuff, but saying that Nate's the next coach to win with a dynasty sounds nice. Here's my favorite quote (it's from the Byron Scott section), "He ranks just behind McMillan as the probable heir to the championship legacies of Jackson and Popovich." Take that Hornets.

So, how about it? Is it time to start valuing our coach as much as our players? If Nate's really that good, shouldn't we start trumpeting him as a reason we're going to have a dynasty? Some people say LA only opened their window when Jackson got there.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Most coaches would say their players make them look smart

though I doubt Phil Jackson shares that sentiment.

Tom’s right, if the Blazers lose more than two games in a row this season, some fans will be calling for Nate’s head.

I shoot layups like they're jumpers.

by MiledAnimal on Sep 3, 2008 1:07 PM PDT reply actions

I'm calling for his head right NOW!

How the hell do we lose two games in the summer league?, and how the hell does the US basketball team only win by 11 in the Gold Medal game. That is all his fault! Fire Nate NOW! and bring back KP as the head coach, he deserves a second chance!

by ggassen85 on Sep 3, 2008 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Our head coach in summer league was our assistant ;-)

And the head coach for Team USA still was Coach K (who at first didn’t like the way Nate wanted to defend pick and rolls). Plus they had Mr. Seven Seconds or Less as offensive coordinator. Nate can’t crush the competition just with defense.

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Sep 3, 2008 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I heard Gavin say that Nate isn't the coach to get the Blazers a championship

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?

by tominhawaii on Sep 4, 2008 5:47 AM PDT up reply actions

That's just because he's not going to play Rudy and Roy together!!!!!! Snap

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Sep 4, 2008 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Nah, it's cuz he's soft

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?

by tominhawaii on Sep 4, 2008 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

A previous Rosen quote from 2007.

“The Trail Blazers are in good hands. Nate McMillian has apparently domesticated Zach Randolph. LaMarcus Aldridge is for real. As are Travis Outlaw (eventually, that is), and Juan Dixon. Too bad Brandon Roy and Martell Webster are flops, Jarrett Jack is really a backup, and Darius Miles will be (at least physically) healthy next season. The center position also needs work. Joel Przybilla is overpaid and overweight, and Jamaal Magloire is overrated (but only by himself).”

(Fox Sports conveniently took the column down, but this except is still about, including at the BBF)

Let’s not take Rosen too seriously. He’s got a reputation for making up stories on minimal knowledge of the team in question.

by Timmay! on Sep 3, 2008 1:09 PM PDT reply actions

NO this time he is right!

I don’t care if I said Rosen sucks and is an idiot before, this time I agree so he is a genius!!!

Honestly I do think Nate McMillan is a terrific coach and his teams always do better than expected. Even our horrible 21 win team won more games than they deserved. By reputation, by statistical measures, and by the development in the youngin’s that we see, Nate and his staff have done a great job and the lion share of the credit for the success thus far on the court SHOULD go to Nate…

…plus KP and Monty and Dean and Bayno and etc etc. But according to them, Nate allows them to actually coach and develop players, and listens to what they have to say and will use their ideas and suggestions without needing all of the credit. That’s a sign of a smart dude in charge, if ya ask me.

Rosen is often an idiot, but I think saying Nate is a great coach has been obvious to most, and any issues some of us have with his coaching before are minor rotational issues. I don’t add more weight to something Rosen says over something any of us say, but it is nice that Nate’s reputation is so highly regarded nationwide.

We aren’t the only ones who see that Nate is great, but I think some of us might take him for granted.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Sep 3, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

The seeds for Nate receiving COY are being planted now...

I shoot layups like they're jumpers.

by MiledAnimal on Sep 3, 2008 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions

If we win 50 games

And someone crazy like the Bobcats don’t win 58 games or something, I think Nate could walk away with it.

He won’t have done much different of course, and our improvement will be because of the players and Oden improving/actually getting on the court, but that’s not what the winds of universal agreement will say. “He gets teams to overperform!”, “he got the youngest team in the league to over 50 wins, a feat never accomplished!” and etc.

The wave of agreement will peak at just the right time, as everyone is voting. He walks away with COY because Nate is such a coy boy!

It could go that way. Like you say, we’re seeing the foreshadowing of everyone agreeing on Nate is Great.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Sep 3, 2008 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions