McMillan hired Ociepka in part because he reminded him of an assistant coach during his playing...

McMillan hired Ociepka in part because he reminded him of an assistant coach during his playing days in Seattle, Bob Kloppenburg.

"In our interview, I just liked Bob’s intensity," McMillan says. "He was a guy who paid attention and wanted to work at the defensive end of the floor, and what I was running, he was running, it seemed."

Ociepka downplays his role with the Blazer defense.

"Nate knows what he wants," he says. "I can have input; the rest of the staff can have input. That’s why I say this is my favorite stop. It’s our defense, not my defense."

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story_2nd.php?story_id=130393945355942000

11 months ago AK1984 10 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I hadn't caught this article -- which was published on April 28th, 2011 -- until now, but it's no surprise to me.

That piece of crap SOS pressure defense — for which y’all can find information of here: http://hooptactics.com/Free_Area_Basketball_SOS_Defense won’t go away until Nate McMillan is fired.

The sooner McMillan is fired, the sooner the Portland Trail Blazers can get itself in order and hire somebody — preferably not an incompetent boob like McMillan — who’ll install a principled man-to-man defensive scheme.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Jun 27, 2011 1:28 AM PDT reply actions

I agree...

I have wanted Nate out since before we lost to the Rockets in the Playoffs.

The time is ticking on this team and they want to fix everything but the real problems.

Coach. Training Staff. Shooting Coach.

by loyal_blazer on Jun 27, 2011 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

EXACTLY. REC!!!!!!!

by Natsthecat on Jun 27, 2011 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Ugh, here's a link to the quote that's not broken.

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story_2nd.php?story_id=130393945355942000

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Jun 27, 2011 1:37 AM PDT reply actions

"It's out defense, not my defense."

i can’t tell if he’s being humble or just spreading the blame.

by DefenderOfPants on Jun 27, 2011 9:37 AM PDT reply actions

Who would want to take credit for the Blazers defense...It Sucks.

Besides they aren’t winning the title this year anyway so by default they avoid the only other definition of "waste" that matters.

—Dave

by TheOdenator52 on Jun 27, 2011 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions

If an elite D coach like Thibodeau got a hold of the talent on this team, watch out. They would be league leading.

Can’t wait until everyone quits buying the illusion of Nate. It’s fools gold. BIG TIME.

by loyal_blazer on Jun 27, 2011 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Yup, I estimate Portland would immediately be a top-three defensive team under Tom Thibodeau.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Jun 28, 2011 4:46 AM PDT up reply actions

it doesnt suck

it is just an average defense with above average defensive talent

Felton will make a lot of people have selective memory on their reaction to draft night

Trade for Iggy

by thomasikehara on Jun 27, 2011 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

That's the problem, though.

It’s made even worse when watching a true defensive-minded coach like Doug Collins turn lemons into lemonade with the Philadelphia 76ers, which finished 7th in defensive rating last season.

What I wouldn’t give to see Nate McMillan replaced with a coach like Mike Fratello or Jeff Van Gundy.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Jun 28, 2011 4:43 AM PDT up reply actions