Larry Brown Giving Mad Props to Blazers

My guess is that Nate will end up being the coach other teams covet. As for Brown, of course he’s a great coach. But he’s also a needy head case. And I’d DIE if I had to hear him using the phrase “play the right way” every post-game interview.

im going to have to disagree with you there.

theres a number that a fair number of people quote when referring to good defensive players over a season: 100 blocks and 100 steals.

i feel honestly that LMA can have that particular number every year, in fact i remember jordan/pippen used to get it quite regularly when they made the all defensive teams.

the only gripe i have about LMAs defense is his rotations and his defensive rebounding, everything else is good in my book. hes a 6’11" guy who can play good perimeter defense to some degree, and also play decent post defense.

if LMA has 100 blocks, 100 steals and 7-8 defensive rebounds per game i guarantee he will be up for all defensive team.

but I don’t get it.

Could he get more rebounds? Yes. Could he get better position (on both sides of the court)? Yes. But a bad defender?

I’m not saying he’s the greatest defender in the league, in the West, in the division, or even on the team… but he’s not a bad defender.

What’s the beef with his D? Where’s the numbers (seriously, I haven’t found anything that says he’s a statistically weak defender)? Show me, Sophia.

but only because I’m a fan of piling on

LMA has some good defensive skills but those rebounding and rotation (esp. when Oden/Joel helps – I can remember at least a couple of plays from the game vs. Bobcats where LMA should have rotated to cover the hoop and missed it) pieces are pretty key… my mom is ALWAYS talking trash on his defensive skills

 besides for that.. I think most of his defensive shortcomings during games are because of the flaws in our wing defenders..

I don’t think that anyone has much doubt as to what I think about LMA so I wont write too much here. What will say is that even I have had my moment of doubt as to why he seemed to falter from time to time, but never let there be any doubt as to what I believe about him in the long term. He will soon fully develop into the PF that this team needs him to be. Someone closer to a “Sheed” in playing style as opposed to a low post bruiser. Fortunately we have Oden to perform that low post bruiser role.

Thanks again Soph!

no homerness here.. but you haven’t put out a single bit of evidence that would suggest that the Blazers would be any different of a team with LB than Nate..

Are you a Larry Brown homer?!?!

It’s not Blazer “Homers” saying Nate is a good defensive coach, it is NBA coaches, Players, and GM’s, so please don’t accuse us “Homers” of such things.

Nate connects with his players, he hangs out with his players, goes to dinner with his players… Nate KNOWS his players. That is the difference between Nate and Larry Brown as far as what they bring to the table.

Larry Brown is doing a great job with Charlotte, but they need the discipline that he brings to the table, and the respect he demands. He would not be a great fit in Portland, he might work, but Nate is better for this team. Period.

That list starts with Red, includes guys like PJ and Pops. (Jackson, not Carlesimo). And Jerry Sloan, even though he’s never won a title.

Nate? He’s got a long way to go to join that elite company. Could he get there? Sure. Is it guaranteed? Not in the slightest.

Brown? A damn fine coach—but he’s kinda like the Ron Artest of coaches. Artest has the talent to be a top 5 NBA player on both sides of the ball, and on some nights he is. But his personality issues get in the way of his aptitude.

So, no to Brown—at least for now. At best, he’s like that sports car you rent when you want to impress a real hot date; but he’s not reliable transportation.

in NYK, but he was campaigning for other jobs while he was with Detroit and undermining Mo Cheeks in Philly when he came back as a special adviser under Billy King. I agree he has a good coaching past, but he is turning into a bridge burner and a power grabber, which are 2 things we dont want in Portland. Charlotte seems a good fit for him as Micheal Jordan doesent want and shouldnt have real resposnibilites so it is fine if Larry takes it all there, but I dont want the trainwrecks that he leaves behind.