Poll: How hot is Nate's seat?

by EngineerScotty on Nov 4, 2009 4:44 PM PST Comment 20 comments

The Blazers are 2-3, and lots of heat is falling on dear old Coach Nate--who has had his critics in town for years, but until recently hasn't provided them with any REAL ammunition. (Complaints about mishandling guys like Telfair or Sergio nonwithstanding--what have these guys done since leaving the Blazers, after all?) We've had at least one player (Miller) call McMillan out during the pre-season, albeit over a personal roster issue, and the team isn't meshing.

The justification Nate's defenders use--"this is a young team, he's teaching them the game"--is becoming less available, as the only rookies on the roster don't get any PT (2 of them being injured), and the team appears to now be well-scouted. 29 other coaches have the book on how to beat the Blazers, and the Blazers haven't yet adjusted.

So.... how hot is Nate's seat?

Poll

The Blazers are 2-3 and have looked baaad. How hot is Nate's seat right now?

He sits in a nice comfortable thrown, with a cupholder that is filled with whatever beverage he wants. He has more job security than Jerry Sloan or Kim Jong-Il

14 votes

He sits in a La-z-boy in front of a nice high-def TV with a fridge full of beer, but if the wife comes home and the trash isn't out there will be trouble. He has plenty of time.

85 votes

He's sitting in the seat of a stock Honda Civic, stuck in traffic, 90 degrees and no A/C. No immediate trouble but the seat is getting warm

75 votes

He's sitting on a hard metal bench in a C-130, not knowing if he'll land or if gunny will order him out the side

9 votes

He's tied to a kitchen chair and the building is on fire--he's toast.

13 votes

196 votes | Poll has closed

1 recs | Comment 20 comments

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Comments

IMO, he's in the Honda

But not due to this cold start in particular, instead due to philosophical differences. I get the feeling he and KP haven’t seen perfectly eye-to-eye since at least the middle of last season, but KP believes Nate is good for the team even when they disagree.

If Nate shows he can integrate this team, and they gel as the season progresses (which should happen!), that A/C will start blowing some air. If the team stays lackluster through game 21 or so, with no signs of coming together as a unit, he might get downgraded to a C-130.

Just guessing, of course.

by Timmay! on Nov 4, 2009 4:50 PM PST reply actions 3 recs

very well put

by jksnake99 on Nov 4, 2009 5:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well said

I went with the La-z-boy for similar reasons. The wife “comes home” after the playoffs next year. If in 2 seasons the Blazers are still a first round playoff team and nothing beyond, there will be issues.

I hate Comcast.
Card carrying member of Team Bayless
I believe in Greg Oden

by blazeraddict on Nov 4, 2009 10:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Your best poll ever.

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Nov 4, 2009 5:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Kim Jong-Il...

The owner likes to watch young PGs develop, the GM is a PG, and Nate is a PG.

When Paul Allen dies, Nate starts to worry…

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Nov 4, 2009 5:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hans Brix! Hans Brix!

I am Spartacus and I approved this message

by EngineerScotty on Nov 4, 2009 5:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hate to say it but Paul isn't looking too well lately

and I don’t think it’s entirely due to the way the Blazers are playing.

I figure Nate’s sitting in his Honda, with no A/C, but with an ice chest of cold ones. He needs to stay hydrated but is haunted by the spectre of a motorcycle cop approaching his car with taser drawn.

by CatMan2 on Nov 4, 2009 6:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't Tase Me Bro!!

Aut disce, aut discede; manet sors tertia, caedi

by Occam's Blazer on Nov 4, 2009 9:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Since Pual Allen likes point guards so much

he should hire Terry Porter

by TPforprez on Nov 4, 2009 5:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

is Porter even a good coach?

I don’t seem to remember him lasting long anywhere. And i’m very against bringing guys in just because they were once Blazer players. I really can’t think of any currently unemployed coaches i’d rather have than Nate.

Delonte West: Zombie Hunter

by In Walks Rudy on Nov 4, 2009 5:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Avery Johnson

Trade players for picks and draft Cole Aldrich 2010

by jlarose78 on Nov 4, 2009 6:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm...

If for no other reason than I don’t want to ever hear his voice again, i’d say no to Avery.

Delonte West: Zombie Hunter

by In Walks Rudy on Nov 4, 2009 6:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

the VOICE is really pretty hard to listen to

I can’t imagine hearing it ebefore and after every game all season long.

ignacio

by ignacio on Nov 4, 2009 7:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Why do I feel like this is

Way too heavy a topic.

Way too soon.

This is the year of Oden (finally!). He alone will determine the fate fo this team. Can he shed the H1N1 “foul” flu?

That’s the bottom line for tha fate of Nate, signed sealed and delivered.

The Oden Era, Day 865

by Heymoe on Nov 4, 2009 6:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

i don't think it's very hot

pritchard is just not a rash guy nor comfortable with the idea of making major mid-season changes. i think dumping his coach mid season would qualify.

wouldn’t be surprised to see nate not asked back, but doubt he’d be fired.

by colinmarsh on Nov 4, 2009 9:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

To this point Nate really has not done anything bad with this team. Yes, there are lots of people that dislike his substitution patterns and all that (me included)… but we have improved every year. Firing Nate for a few bad games with a bunch of new players is not the solution, and shouldn’t even be considered.

Didn’t Nate specifically say he’s only signing one year extensions to keep pressure on himself to do the best job possible? Regardless of how this year goes, Nate should be our coach.

Delonte West: Zombie Hunter

by In Walks Rudy on Nov 5, 2009 8:03 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs