"Is Nate McMillan in Trouble?" Chapter Two
by Dave on Feb 19, 2012 11:00 PM PST
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PrintFollowing last week's loss to the Wizards I ran a post questioning whether Nate McMillan's job was in jeopardy. The gist was that objectively he probably shouldn't be on the chopping block. The team was within expected parameters for the season overall and a mid-season firing wasn't likely to produce enough results to justify the accompanying chaos. Nevertheless coaches have been fired before after humiliating defeats, particularly when it appears their players aren't putting out effort...certainly a concern in the Wizards game. The speculation appeared justified after such a shocking event.
Public opinion on a potential release fell all along the spectrum, from "About time!" to "No way!" to "Not right now...but soon." We didn't find a definitive answer, just more questions.
After a deep-dug win against the Warriors in Oakland, a punch-drunk and Aldridge-free narrow loss to the Clippers at home, and a weekend manhandling of the Hawks those questions appear to have been answered. The most important folks save the owner himself have weighed in. Portland's players have spoken. Nate McMillan is still the coach of this team and, barring something from left field, it appears he'll remain so at least through the season.
As we said in the earlier post, there's no way of telling how close Nate was to the brink without knowing the mind of Paul Allen and the Portland brass. Maybe firing wasn't ever a consideration. But it's not hard to imagine the possibility coming up since it was being discussed everywhere. The only thing we could say with confidence was that Nate was probably closer to that precipice than he's been in his Portland career. Even if management hadn't entertained the thought, lifeless losses to the three teams the Blazers have played in the interim would have brought the issue to a head. Any of those three potential losses could have been explained away by schedule and quality of opposition, but had the players come out like they didn't care, like they had no chance, like the losses were a fait accompli, all eyes would have turned to Nate. The atmosphere would have crackled with the accusation, "He lost them."
Granted we've heard from a couple grumpy guards in the last week but the team's on-court play has spoken for itself. Even when fatigue robbed them of the ability to execute, these players left everything on the court in each of their last three games. They've been on the floor, they've been on the boards, they were even on the rack after that loss to L.A., their anguished, exhausted eyes telling how much they wanted the game, that they felt they should have won it. Portland's response to the Washington loss was not resignation, but pride. They didn't fracture, they fought. Maybe they fought for themselves, maybe they fought for each other, maybe they fought for their coaching staff. Maybe they just fought because they're professionals. Any way you slice it, that effort was not the response of a team begging for new leadership. It was the response of a team listening to its current leaders and providing extra effort of its own on top of it.
Make no mistake, had these players--or even a significant number of them--wanted Nate out they could have accomplished it this week. All it would have taken was some one-on-one play, inattention to defense, rebounds not grabbed, picks not worked around. Maybe three players in the top eight looking out for their own interests--bailing out on their coach--would have made these last few performances look as dismal as the Washington game. Even those inclined to play would have no recourse but to throw up their hands in disgust as the team disintegrated around them.
That's not what happened. Not even close. Instead we saw three hard-fought games. The team showed more sustained drive than they have at any point since the opening of the season. The schedule wasn't easier. The opponent weren't easier. This team just dug down deeper and it showed.
That's not all on the coaching. It's on the players. But that's exactly the point. They saved this stretch from disaster and took their coach's name out of hot seat speculation by playing their hearts out. Whatever the intent, that's what you want to see from your team. That kind of unity shows things are going well just the same as the Tuesday night debacle showed things were going poorly. Whatever the reasons for that loss, it wasn't a referendum on the coaching staff in any sense bigger than a single game...or at least not in any sense meriting a mid-season change.
Unless that changes--meaning we see players giving up in droves, losses piling up from inattentive play, and rebellion fomenting around every corner--I'm satisfied this question is answered. The burden of proof necessary for an in-season change hasn't been met. The Wizards game was, if not a false alarm, at least an isolated incident. This team has plenty of losses left in it but it doesn't appear that those losses correlate with a team that's given up on its coach, nor a coach who has lost his players. Whatever the issues with the Blazers, they're not solvable by a headsman's ax, at least not without the kind of reflection and planning that only an off-season affords.
--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)
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I’d just quit if I was Nate and go find a new coaching job. The Blazers are snake bit and if it that wasn’t bad enough, having to deal with all the neurotic crybaby Blazer fans.
"How you gonna fire a ninja Paul?" - Rich Cho
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Feb 19, 2012 11:10 PM PST reply actions
local media has to be a major pain too
Quick and friends always wanting to push coaching changes at Nate and ask players “the tough questions” after they have a rough game. One minute they’re writing up a warm, fuzzy story about a player’s home life and the next minute they’re trying to get Nate to give a rookie the poor guy’s minutes.
"I’d just quit if I was Nate and go find a new coaching job."
Why would Nate McMillan pull a Jim Riggleman by quitting mid-season? Pulling a stunt like that would be a good way to never get another NBA head coaching job.
"neurotic crybaby Blazer fans"
Really? Blazer fans are what every franchise would kill to have. Blazer fans are loyal to a fault. They tolerate all kinds of misbehavior and underachievement. Blazer fans tend toward the Soccer Mom model, of loving the players to death, even when they fail to produce. Watch some NBA games in other arenas. How many non-contending teams fill up their arenas? How many teams that are contenders consistently get the support that the Blazers do from their fans?
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
It seems when a coach is axed during the season it is for fabulously poor
coaching. IE: Vinnie Del Negro. Or maybe it is due to showing up inebriated at games…
hmm…I think some head coach had that reputation. Nate is neither. However, I’d like to see some changes after the season, including a new GM. Or at least a GM who isn’t “acting”. And I’d like this GM to make changes in the coaching staff, the scouting staff and the roster.
Or a prima donna player doesn't like him
a la Westphal. Then again maybe he is a bad example, I think Westphal has been fired from every head coaching job he has had…
"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."
I think this is true of 99% of all coachs ...ever
I think Westphal has been fired from every head coaching job he has had…
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 8:16 AM PST up reply actions
His job was never in doubt.
Media speculation does not mean it was. Everyone gets frustrated after a loss, but most of it was directed at Raymond Felton. A guard who wasn’t playing great. There are people who think McMillan is a bad coach, and jump at any opportunity to try and prove themselves right. A struggling stretch of the season, a tough loss or two while our star player goes down with an injury, people gloss over all the little things to try and paint it as a big thing. Chicken little or something, could be used to describe some Blazer fans.
Who could possibly do better with this team than Nate? What free-agent coaches do you like better than Nate? I am seriously confused every time the anti-Nate talk comes up. Quit speculating. Worry about the real issues, like what is wrong with Raymond Felton? Or is Jamal happy?
Nate is not the problem. Ridiculous.
Trade John Canzano
Fun Fact: Crash has not lost to the Lakers since 2005. 8-0 since.
Technically
we don’t know whether his job was in doubt or not. I am inclined to think that had the Blazers blown these games before the All-Star break, discussions would have been brewing at Blazers HQ. That’s just opinion, of course, but events like that tend to precede dismissals. Thank goodness we won’t have to find out.
I tend to agree that even in his imperfections, Nate is far less of a problem than the roster itself. I can’t think of anyone who could coach this group to a high playoff seed.
—Dave
This group has it in them to be better than they are
Felton, Wallace, and Mathews – each has plenty of room to elevate their game to complement LMA and Batum.
If Mac can get all three to overcome their inconsistent play, it would be the coaching coup of his career.
Only a game and half separates Portland from the 5th seed – and only 3 games separates them from the 4th seed. I think the second half is going to be very interesting.
That said, I don’t think McMillan is coaching next year unless management thinks this team has a championship core.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 20, 2012 12:23 AM PST up reply actions
If management really thinks this is a championship core
Then we’re doomed to years of mediocre basketball. I’d also say they’re delusional or, more likely, unwilling to tell Paul Allen the truth for fear of losing their jobs.
Back to the original point, I think his job could def have been in jeopardy
If PDX had laid an egg in the last three games. At a minimum the players need to put out a solid effort regardless of results, and that was in question a week ago.
Now it looks more like roster limitations are the issues. Not a surprise, but it takes the immediate heat off Nate.
"unwilling to tell Paul Allen the truth for fear of losing their jobs"
That’d be my guess, which is why I, unlike others, don’t hate on Larry Miller for kowtowing to Paul Allen and Bert Kolde. If Miller wants to keep his job as team president, then he’ll have to lick boot now and again.
A dichotomy, here
On one hand, the roster isn’t really good enough. On the other hand, Nate is largely responsible for the roster.
However, the dichotomy isn’t that Nate is responsible for the roster (at the very least – he motivated a lot of the decisions) – but that management provided Nate with a very short window roster.
This roster has been designed to both win right now (accommodating McMillan) and retool (reality requirement).
If McMillan doesn’t win right now, he made his own bed and has to sleep in it (or at least told management that he wanted a canopy bed with silk sheets, mosquito nets, feather down pillows and ultra soft, ultra thick comforter). Management certainly made McMillan’s bed – but they used grandma’s patchwork quilt, hand me down cotton sheets – and while they did give the feather down pillows – only one pillow got a silk pillow case. Worst, management kept the same old pee-stained spring mattress and dilapidated box springs.
Management did this knowing they were gonna replace the bed this season, anyhow – with promise to keep only one pillow and potentially replace everything else.
Question is, why keep McMillan beyond this season if the plan all along was to retool? Why give McMillan this roster for one last shot at sleeping in the palace?
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 20, 2012 8:16 AM PST up reply actions
"Management did this knowing they were gonna replace the bed this season, anyhow"
Are we sure that ownership and upper management is aware of that yet? It could very well be that they’re still fumbling around in the dark and, much to our dismay, as clueless as ever.
“Question is, why keep McMillan beyond this season if the plan all along was to retool?”
Retooling isn’t the answer. Enough tinkering around, as it just pushes back the real problem like some dimwitted middle class couple with compounding debt. With this roster, it’s time to declare for bankruptcy — figuratively speaking, of course — and rebuild in full.
Too many expiring contracts to believe anything but retooling was on the agenda
Wallace, Felton, Crawford, Batum, Camby, Smith, etc….with those having player options likely to exercise them.
Also, retooling isn’t just the likely approach, it is the right approach.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 20, 2012 9:59 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
"Also, retooling isn’t just the likely approach, it is the right approach."
Retooling just postpones the inevitable, with the inevitable being rebuilding.
Thank you for not lumping Batum in with Felton and Matthews.
Wallace has been somewhat inconsistent but he also has had a torn finger ligament. I also think his style of play may lead to exhaustion on the road( when no audience adrenaline is available)..esp toward the start of the season when not completely in game shape…esp. game after game after game.
I think it’s hard for anyone to play high level NBA games this season. I disagree MANY times with Canzano, but he did have a point about the NBA “product” this year.
I think there are games this year that may just be…like the Wizard game..the players are just not that up for the competition and were freaked out about losing LMA at the start of that game.
"This group has it in them to be better than they are"
How much better?
Or, more importantly, would that “better” be good enough?
To me, a flukey run to the WCF ain’t gonna be good enough. Wasn’t good enough for Utah in 2007, Denver in 2009, or Phoenix in 2010. Where’s Deron Williams today? Where’s Carlos Boozer today? Where’s Carmelo Anthony today? Where’s Amar’e Stoudemire today? Where’s Steve Nash today?
Oh yeah, that’s right … Poor Nash, man. Poor, poor Nash.
Y’know, if the Blazers make a flukey run to the WCF this year, then I’m sure that same question will be asked of LMA in 2015.
Good point
We don’t have a star player who is looking to join the latest version of the “super friends”….so we would probably avoid that particular fate
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 7:36 AM PST up reply actions
Utah, Denver and Phoenix were in very different situations than we are currently.
Utah & Denver had unhappy players with zero intent of re-signing with their clubs. Those teams didn’t re-tool as much as they decided to get value before they lost players. Phoenix was all about salary cap problems and Sarver not wanting to go into lux tax area.
Efforts to equate their situations to the Blazers current situation is a failed effort. LMA is signed for several years and happy. We have cap space next year and it will be PA’s choice how financially he wants to build this team, but we don’t have to rid ourselves of our best player to a be in a sound financial position.
I’m not saying your position doesn’t have merit. Becoming really bad by trading current players for future assets may be the best approach to becoming elite. We sure know lots of teams that have tried that approach, most failed but it is a fair position to take. I just don’t agree that the teams you mention here give any real insight into the Blazers current options. In fact, Utah, Denver and Phoenix are still in the “perpetually stuck in mediocrity” mode that you want the Blazers to escape.
by 52therim on Feb 20, 2012 10:03 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I actually agreee with you
I think I misread AK’s take on LMA…I doubt he will flee ala Amare or LBJ
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 10:11 AM PST up reply actions
"In fact, Utah, Denver and Phoenix are still in the 'perpetually stuck in mediocrity' mode that you want the Blazers to escape."
I’d argue that Utah is technically on the upswing in the midst of a rebuild, while Phoenix has yet to bottom out post-Nash. Denver, by the way, still has two future first-round draft picks coming to it from New York. In addition, Utah has got a nice future first-round draft pick coming to it from Golden State via New Jersey through the Deron Williams trade.
I'd take a fluky run to the WCF this season
as long as we don’t bring some awful contract on to do it and screw up flexibility next season.
Hehe
If it brings a WCF run it is, by definition, not a bad contract
(personal opinion)
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
"I can’t think of anyone who could coach this group to a high playoff seed."
Exactly, which is why Nate McMillan’s greatest failings as Trail Blazer head coach will always be blowing it big time in Game 1 of the 2009 Western Conference Quarterfinals series against Houston — as Joel Przybilla should’ve been fronting Yao Ming from the get-go — and, moreover, getting outcoached by Alvin Gentry in the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals series against Phoenix.
McMillan, without a doubt, should be dismissed as head coach at season’s end, but not necessarily for what’s happened this year. For me, I’d view it as a better late than never type dismissal.
Plus, this franchise needs to rebuild and, well, McMillan probably wouldn’t want to stick around for that. If a full-on rebuild was ordered, he’d bolt Portland as quickly as he did Seattle back in 2005.
In fact, it’d be very unhealthy for McMillan to stick around through a thorough rebuild. In the NBA, well-run franchises don’t usually retain head coaches when rebooting the roster. As it is, Jerry Sloan staying with the Jazz during the mid-2000s is the only recent example that comes to mind.
“Thank goodness we won’t have to find out.”
To be frank, this franchise should bottom out for the benefit of its long-term health. Better now than later, too, although I’ve got a feeling that it’ll be put off until 2015 after Paul Allen and co. trudges through a few more years of LMA led mediocrity. Just postponing the inevitable, but oh well.
I personally believe we have lost to better, more playoff ready, teams that hit the playoffs playing well.
People can choose to pin those playoff losses on Nate. I don’t see it that way.
by 52therim on Feb 20, 2012 10:10 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I agree
Houston was probably our best bet but the Suns series…pushing that to 6 games was probably as good as it was going to get. It’s a minor miracle we even ended up in the playoffs with as much injury trouble as we had.
so Dave do you just save your stories ?
So you only have to insert the new guards names each year ? I would. Save yourself some time ;)
just win baby !
by FrenchieFan on Feb 20, 2012 2:47 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
not his fault
If the Blazers didn’t have bad luck they wouldn’t have any. Can’t blame Nate for the hits they’ve taken as far as Players going down he gets the most out of the players he puts on floor. Who else is out there that’s any better suited to coach this team, and would realistically come to Portland? The pickings are slim to say the least.
by P.N.Westernboysfan on Feb 20, 2012 12:39 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
My understanding
Is that Nate’s always been a “player’s coach,” a guy whose skill is managing competing egos. As opposed to an Adelman or Jackson or Sloan, who have definite systems they expect players should adhere to. Nate’s way is best for getting the most out of a talented group learning to play with each other; the “system” guys are best at getting the most out of mismatched parts.
If that’s accurate, then Nate is not the best fit for the Blazers right now. He was hired to guide the awesome rookies, and they’re never going to play again. A “system” coach would probably be more appropriate, but the ones with enough credibility to get players to buy into the system all have comfortable contracts.
If Nate gets fired (and, if the Blazers fail to win a playoff series, I expect he will), the replacement will either be another “player’s coach” or a “system guy” nobody trusts. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not a Nate fan. When he miffs a late-time-clock foul-to-give scenario, I want to scream. (My SO forbids screaming about sports, so I don’t. I am officially SO-whipped.)
But if he’s fired, and replaced, what does that solve? The story of the TrailBlazers right now is they picked the wrong rookie, and that’ll haunt them until Durant retries. I’m not sure how a coaching change, or anything else save tanking the roster and hoping for lottery luck to bring them the next superstud, will change that.
I still like watching guys in the NBA’s coolest unis play ball, tho’.
Steve Goodman lives.
Yup.
Doesn’t mean the team necessarily has to be mediocre or worse until then. But that’s going to be a sting in the butt all through Durant’s career, just like passing on Jordan was. Nobody who watched Jordan torch Drexler in the (92?) finals was happy that the team picked Bowie because they thought picking Jordan would tread on Clyde’s toes. Nobody watching them today can be happy they picked Oden because they thought picking Durant would tread on Roy’s toes (keeping Roy happy might also be the reason they traded Miller for Felton.) That move is the elephant in the room. Nate isn’t a genius, but he’s not the reason the team’s mediocre.
Steve Goodman lives.
by twinsbrewer on Feb 20, 2012 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
This team was put together in a desperate stab of stability
Losing Brandon Roy to injury retirement, had to be dealt with, by acquiring Jamal.
Getting some back-up bigs with the doubt of Greg’s return this year had to be dealt with by getting Thomas and Craig.
LaMarcus not being available doing the shortened training camp and not knowing his pending release from the doctors, set some scary thoughts into the coaching staff.
Then of course the onslaught of game after game in a short period, takes a toll on the players and coaches alike. Nate get critiqued for not coaching, but I ask, When does he have time to coach. He has to adjust to different teams play while flying to the next game or at shoot around. He can’t discipline players for poor play and poor execution, if he hasn’t time to show them better ways.
Most of the Media and the fan’s, me included forgets what this season is really about, we just want our quick fix.
If anybody stops and thinks of what has happened this year, in lost to injury, replacing players to better fit the future, having to use amnesty on our Leading player and try to replace him with limited funds and finally settling on a make shift crew to manage this year and salvage, not to win all, but just salvage this scrambled season, would not be up in the arms to get rid of any stability that we have this year.
I can’t even imagine putting in a new coach with new ideas with a bunch of players that doesn’t know anything about their neighbor and is trying desperately to find answers to their own game.
Coaching change hasn’t even entered my mind, but personal changes by trade dead-line has been brought to my attention quite a bit.
hg
by BBK on Feb 20, 2012 4:58 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Poor Nate. If he didn't have time to coach
he certainly had time to criticize his players who deserved it the less, e.g. Batum.
I guess...
I haven’t been paying attention, but you can put me retrospectively in the evidently minority camp that never thought McMillan’s job was in danger.
I never witnessed what I would define as a coach that has lost his team.
Without naming names, I think a lot of the local media is a little too anxious to start coaching from the sidelines and applying definition. A coach that is coaching a team that is struggling ALWAYS is an easy target.
Recent years would suggest to me that Blazer Management would be very hesitant to make a knee-jerk or sudden change, and I’ve felt for years that when McMillan leaves, it will probably be his own decision.
I think we shall see if McMillan still wants to be Blazer coach this summer.
I would have to think the only wild card is Paul Allen. He has demonstrated that if he suddenly decides he wants to make a change, concievably because his priests have slaughtered a chicken, read the entrails and told him it’s time, then that change will happen suddenly and with no explanation.
Otherwise? Guess I’ve been out of the loop on it, but I haven’t even really been worried about McMillan status.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
by Krang on Feb 20, 2012 5:45 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
How good of Nate to grace us of his coaching.
You totally changed my point of view.
Huh? ...anyone know what this means?
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 7:42 AM PST up reply actions
Care to share ?
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 7:45 AM PST up reply actions
I gathered that he wants Nate gone
I even got as far translating the typo…I guess what i am not sure of is what biolb’s response has to do with Krang’s opinion that Nate will probably not be fired…but instead voluntarily leave if the He and the Blazers part ways. It didn’t seem to warrant the sarcasm as it wasn’t particularly decisive….nor was it a response to some comment of biolb’s that needed defended.
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 7:53 AM PST up reply actions
I see what you mean
I guess it was already a frame of mind. Maybe Krang’s first sentence triggered it.
Even that seems a pretty mundane sentence
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 9:24 AM PST up reply actions
huh huh
must have been this:
I think we shall see if McMillan still wants to be Blazer coach this summer.
Thus ‘grace us with his coaching’
Evidently
It just seemed to contain a whole lot of snark for a pretty reasoned comment
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
my guess is
these comments
“and I’v’e felt for years that when McMillan leaves, it will probably be his own decision.
“I think we shall see if McMillan still wants to be Blazer coach this summer.”
implying that Nate is actually a really great coach, Krang’s (and possibly Paul Allen’s) opinion of Nate is that he is the only part of the Trailblazers machine that is working well? So basically, Nate has decided he WANTS to coach the Blazers, and the only way he won’t be the coach is when he decides he doesn’t want to anymore.
People can have whatever...
opinion they want. I guess if you were “hoping” or looking forward to McMillans demise as Blazer Coach then the opinion that someone never thought he was close to losing his job, might be upsetting to you?
Full disclosure from myself would say, I am a fan of Nate McMillan. Given the challenges and circumstance that he has succesfully coached this team through since becoming Blazer Head Coach, I would say it has been very good of Nate to grace us with his coaching.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
by Krang on Feb 20, 2012 10:34 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
It isn't just the media either...it is also the fans
“I think a lot of the local media is a little too anxious to start coaching from the sidelines ….”
I at least some of it is just boredom …Nate hasn’t lost the players attention …he has lost the public’s
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 7:40 AM PST up reply actions
"concievably because his priests have slaughtered a chicken, read the entrails and told him it’s time"
When in the blue blazes did Pedro Cerrano become owner of the Portland Trail Blazers? For Pete’s sake, no one sent me the memo.
Maybe is it minor league baseball instead
Larry: [Larry jogs out to the mound to break up a players’ conference] Excuse me, but what the hell’s going on out here?
Crash Davis: Well, Nuke’s scared because his eyelids are jammed and his old man’s here. We need a live… is it a live rooster? [Jose nods]
Crash Davis: . We need a live rooster to take the curse off Jose’s glove and nobody seems to know what to get Millie or Jimmy for their wedding present.
[to the players] Crash Davis: Is that about right? [the players nod]
Crash Davis: We’re dealing with a lot of [stuff].
Larry: Okay, well, uh… candlesticks always make a nice gift, and uh, maybe you could find out where she’s registered and maybe a place-setting or maybe a silverware pattern. Okay, let’s get two! Go get ’em.
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 8:24 AM PST up reply actions
As a Seattlite I love Nate McMillan.
I don’t know enough about basketball to comment on his sets or defensive strategy so I understand that critism of him, and that’s fine and justified. What I do know is that under Nate players have consistently had some of their best years, especially mid level players, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, Reggie Evans even Jerome James. Sergio Rodriquez, Jarryd Bayless and Rudy aren’t exactly tearing it up not that they’re not under sarge. So in that Nate deserves some credit. It’s hard to overachieve in the NBA, there’s a big talent gap between Lebron and the last guy on the roster. Usually the team with the most talent wins and I don’t think there has been a year where the blazers had the talent(or were healthy) to advance deep into the playoffs. So keep Nate as long as the players perform.
by kengriffey on Feb 20, 2012 5:56 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Memphis went further in the playoffs that
the Blazers had all these years. Golden State too. The Blazers have been decidedly average. They have underperformed the Houston Rockets (also a team who had its fair share of injuries). In this respect Nate’s performance is not that good.
While I understand this viewpoint I have a hard time with it too.
Mavericks beat blazers – Blazers the only other team besides the Cavs to beat them twice in a series. – Championship.
Lost to phoenix – Roy went down with major injury and rushed back for series, but blazers lacking all star player.
Houston beat blazers – Fell to LA after Yao went down with injury. LA won the championship.
So I get your point but if the Blazers are not healthy they simply are not the better team than other teams out there and the teams that beat us in the play-offs (except phoenix) are not weak teams.
With yao out, I’d have gladly put the blazers against houston. I would happily have Golden state play the blazers in the play-offs. while they may have gone further, I would have penciled in a win for those contests if the blazers had played them.
"The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Volunteers and officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net."
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=5509394
And the Seahawks beat the Super Bowl winning N.Y. Giants this past season.
Remember, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, then every day would be Christmas.
To be the better team in those series
we would have needed to be an actual contender. Not really possible with a bunch of guys playing their first series or rolling into the playoffs down 2 or 3 starters.
Got to agree with ratbastird. The deck was stacked in those series. Best bet was Houston.
They went one round further.
And neither has been a consistent playoff team. Also how much of those wins is due to matchups or injuries as opposed to good coaching? I’d say that Memphis has more talent than an old injured spurs team. Houston was the only time the blazers had a healthy Roy. They didn’t overachieve in the playoffs which I don’t know many coaches who get their team to do that(again playoffs not regular season)
by kengriffey on Feb 20, 2012 10:48 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I never got the feeling that McMillan would be fired.
All the bad press was flaring up because of losses but they have no idea what Paul Allen is thinking. McMillan signed a two year contract in Mar 2011 where as he was only on a one year contract previously. He had said he liked one year contracts because it allowed for evaluation at the end. They must have wanted some continuity for some reason to agree to a two year contract. How is this season different from last season numbers wise that would call for his firing at this point? He signed that contract before the play-offs last year so that doesn’t seem to be a factor. I would be very surprised if he is fired before his contract is up.
If the rot had spread after Washington game
It could have killed attendance.
If his team starts filling only 2/3s of it’s seats and concession and parking sales collapse,I would imagine PA would have to consider changes.
What scares me the most is the thought that Nate's isn't in danger...
No, I don’t think much of Nate as a coach. That said, I think he’s a symptom of the Blazers’ problems, not the root cause. However, like a un-healthy condition BOTH the cause AND the symptoms need to be dealt with. The cause, IMO, is either inattentive or incompetent ownership and management. If Allen was more like say, Mark Cuban, I think Nate would have been gone quite a while ago. I’ve said again and again that not hiring a GM is a really bad indicator of just where Allen’s head is at. We’ve all speculated about just where than might be, but all we know is what the result is. Mediocrity.
Dave’s view seems to be that a coach is only at risk if his players quit on him or he’s “lost” them. I disagree. A coach should be gone if he’s out-coached at crucial times by other coaches, consistently puts the wrong player in the wrong position, doesn’t show trust in his players, publicly criticizes them, and is generally so stuck in his ways that he can’t or won’t change until it’s too late. I think most of the players like Nate enough to continue to play hard for him. However, I doubt many of them thinks that his “system”, whatever that is, will ever get them to the promised land.
The Bulls players never quit on Vinny Del Negro
but we saw how much of an improvement it made to have a real coach.
That's a good point
And with a strong roster I’d agree with this.
Our roster is not strong so I want a coach who can get the most out of a little. After we have a strong and healthy roster he has one year and then he’s gone.
"The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Volunteers and officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net."
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=5509394
Larry Miller.....speaking for PA said........
We have confidence this coach can get it done. Really?……….or does it really mean…..why worry, we’re still SOLD OUT! Chad loves Bab’s,Miller loves Nate, Nate loves his mind,and PA loves being PA. So when do we see a change?… A GM,? a coach?.. a ship on course? Not until we no longer can see…..SOLD OUT.
We must endeavor to persevere.
When did Paul Allen become Donald Sterling ??
Paul Allen has always valued winning ….in fact most people who feel PA is making a mistake fell that he is trying to win too much …they criticize him for not tanking and getting into the lottery. I think you are off base
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 8:15 AM PST up reply actions
True, if anything Paul Allen is flawed as a NBA owner like how Dan Snyder is flawed as a NFL owner.
Allen wants to win, but keeps going about it the wrong way. It’s why I’m thankful that Allen is a hands-off owner with the Seattle Seahawks, ’cause it allows the personnel staff to do their jobs without any heavy interference.
Like Allen, Synder will likely once again forgo rebuilding — which the Redskins are in desperate need of currently — and probably throw a bunch of money Peyton Manning’s way this off-season. It’ll sell tickets, but not get the ’skins any closer to winning its first Super Bowl in two decades.
The way that Allen treats Seahawks GM John Schneider compared to how he treated former Blazers GM Rich Cho — who, no matter his ludicrous infatuation with Bismack Biyombo, deserved a longer leash — exemplifies the difference in how he runs his respective franchises. Rather than fire Cho, Allen could’ve just told him no when it came to Biyombo — or had Larry Miller do it — and worked around that.
Of course, I’ve got nothing against hands-on owners. It’s just a hands-on owner should be a competent individual who knows the sport, which is the case with a couple of guys in Dallas, Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones, who have the track record to justify their ownership style. With Cuban, it also helps a ton that he’s remarkably well-versed in quantitative analysis.
cuban
Cuban doesn’t exactly have a perfect track record. He had Jeremy Lin and cut him.
Mavs offered Lin a 1 year contract
And wanted to let him grow in the d league. Golden state gave him two years. Giving an undrafted guard a one year contract makes perfect sense. Lin took the larger contract which also makes sense. Blame golden state and Houston for cutting him. Not Dallas when they never did.
by kengriffey on Feb 20, 2012 10:53 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
"PA loves being PA."
Well, to be fair, I’d likely love myself if I was a multi-billionaire.
Wait a minute … scratch that … I’d probably still hate myself.
But, uh, at least I’d have all that money as a lovely distraction.
Money is definitely a nice distraction.
"The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Volunteers and officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net."
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=5509394
I fixed it
Money is buys nice distractions
Its not Just Nate, It starts with Paul and trickles on down to Larry, Chad and everyone else...
I get the impression that our owner, mngt, and coach are not, and have not been on the same page for quite some time as to what style and type of team they are building.
"Its as natural as a gorilla thumping its chest"
I'm tired of making excuses for the Blazers and for Nate McMillan.
Injuries, fatigue, personnel, whatever the excuse for mediocrity, we’ve all heard it. Every team has its share of bumps in the road and the Blazers have had more than their share in recent years. However, I see great coaches for other mid/small-market teams with injuries over-achieving while the Blazers tread water and collapse in the playoffs every year.
Personally, I think Nate is a very good coach… but not a great one. He has kept the team from tanking during tough times and turned them into a force at home. However, great coaches win on the road and in the playoffs. Nate’s teams have never been close to either.
McMillan won’t be fired during the year, barring a complete collapse, because the team is competitive and the Rose Garden is full. But if the Blazers can’t sniff a 2nd round playoff game again this year, they better consider a coaching change during the offseason. Nate can always keep this team afloat… he has never shown any signs that he take the team next level though.
Another thing. If the Blazers move one from McMillan, their are only a few coaches out there who would be an upgrade. I’m not sure that I trust the suits to pick the right guy as his replacement.
"I’m not sure that I trust the suits to pick the right guy as his replacement. "
I’m wary of that, too. However, everyone probably has his or her own list of preferred post-McMillan coaching candidates — which for me is Mike Fratello if the front office stays the course or, perhaps, Michael Malone if the front office wants to rebuild — and candidates we’d avoid at all costs.
Lack of appreciation by portland fans
Nate is not perfect. I freely admit he has flaws in his coaching. All that said he gets a lot from a little.
Portland fans tend to overestimate how good their players are. Look back at how past players are playing. They never broke out. I think Fatty said it best in that we don’t remember what real all stars are and so every player is a potential all star. Aldridge is awesome, but he’s still no clyde. Batum has great potential but you can’t argue he’s in the same league as Clyde.
We have players with a strong desire to win, but they simply lack the talent to really get it done. If we had Roy and Aldridge healthy… I’d be singing a different story and a healthy Greg, Roy, Aldridge… only the cavs might have had a better talent level and Nate should be booted out with rockets.
Given that overestimation I think Portland fans expect more from Nate. How many teams have their all star player go down, their number one draft pick forever out of the mix, and weak spots in at least one position if not two and they STILL make the play-offs.
I’d love to see what nate could do with a talented and healthy team. Aldridge and Batum are the only ones that make my list. Wallace is up there but Crash has always had some issues. That’s three players I consider solid starters and one still working on an all star level but with flaws in his rebounding. Is it any wonder that Aldridge goes down and we start losing?
Add on to all that, that we’re playing a shortened season where there seems to be a game every night… and dear god people.
"The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Volunteers and officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net."
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=5509394
I miss fatty
Rest in peace fat man :(
dinasour type of guys choir boys
by mittsabishy on Feb 20, 2012 10:57 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
oh yeah
The other comment I have is that Nate has a little talent, but he gets that talent to play hard.
Other teams have a lot of talent, and they don’t try as hard.
Play—offs come and teams suddenly play hard, where the blazers have been all year. The blazers simply don’t have a higher level they can play as they were already maxing out their talent.
Coaching is a part of that, but I think it’s smaller than people think. Also, I just don’t see a replacement I like with a roster that isn’t going anywhere without changes.
"The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Volunteers and officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net."
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=5509394
"The other comment I have is that Nate has a little talent, but he gets that talent to play hard."
Hmm, I don’t have Nate McMillan in that category of coaches who can get something out of nothing.
For me, the coach who headlines that category is Scott Skiles. While Skiles has his own set of problems — which, oh boy, are a doozy — he can nevertheless take a absolute crap roster and somehow, someway turn it into a .400 club.
Like any other private sector organization, Nate's job is dependent upon the indepedent and dependent indicactors
1. (Dependent) Nate has been significantly out coached during the playoffs the past 3 seasons. Getting worked over by Rick Adelman who had 2 of the best 4 perimeter defenders to cover Brandon is excusable. Getting worked over by Alvin Gentry is not.
2. (Independent) Like a couple other posters have mentioned above, Nate has significant roster input. Chiefly, Felton, Nolan Smith, and Jerryd Bayless. How are these working out?
-Finally, looking at the empirical, the fact that 5 of the 7 top players are essentially in contract years and only one is posting above personal average numbers is simply the icing on the cake.
Right, but it was no secret Nate really liked JB
Regarding Pritch, I find it very, very telling that the only reason he has an NBA job is because he knows Larry Bird.
by KevinRileyFTW on Feb 20, 2012 9:16 AM PST up reply actions
I have never bought this meme
Getting worked over by Rick Adelman who had 2 of the best 4 perimeter defenders to cover Brandon is excusable. Getting worked over by Alvin Gentry is not.
Andre Miller, LMA version 1 and Batum ….do not equal Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Grant Hill…let alone exceed them
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 9:22 AM PST up reply actions
Talent discrepany wasn't an issue, this series made that pretty clear.
by KevinRileyFTW on Feb 20, 2012 9:26 AM PST up reply actions
talent discrepancy in that series absolutely was an issue imo
Andre Miller was the best thing we had at the time. Aldridge was no beast, Batum was still timid. That was a roster built around Brandon Roy that had to compete in that series without him moreso than any other playoff series we’ve been in. Out of our 3 first round exits the last 3 seasons, that one bothers me the least due to the circumstances.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Really? Losing to the world champion mavs and a Houston
team that had Aaron Brooks/Kyle Lowry, Scola, Battier AND Artest, Yao, Mutumbo, and Adelman bothers you more?
by KevinRileyFTW on Feb 20, 2012 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
yes
absolutely. That Rockets team was a nightmare matchup with Yao, who is literally a tree, but we were healthy that year. We had Oden-Roy-LMA. We had youth and size and a perimeter star and the future looked bright. It was our toe in the playoff water and we were getting ready for a long swim in the coming years, which has still yet to come due primarily to injuries.
The Mavs doesn’t bother me too much either. I’m bothered by the fact that we haven’t been out of the first round in a billion years in general far more than I am with the specific instances of first round failure.
But you gotta bust through sometime, and with the way we were trying to ride a crippled Roy in that PHX series, much moreso than in the Dallas series, I never expected us to win it…it was all gravy. Game 1 was fun, but it wasn’t sustainable. Nic was too young to take advantage of the Nash mismatch. Aldridge wasn’t LaMonster. Andre Miller was our spearhead, and as much as we all love and respect the guy, that shouldn’t lead anyone to expect playoff success (since it has never resulted in playoff success). Also, that Suns team was the last of the Nash-Amare-Hill-Richardson group that was not only talented and balanced, but experienced. Plus Jason Richardson is a Blazer killer.
If we had a healthy Roy and lost it like we did, completely different story. But we didn’t have a healthy Roy, not even close, and back then this was still Roy’s team. It wasn’t until last year that they learned to get along without him.
Based on our roster Houston was our best shot, followed by Dallas, followed by PHX. If we stay healthy and things come together this year, with Nic blossoming(and who knows what the deadline could bring), I may slot this roster right behind the roster we went into that HOU series with and an inch ahead of the one we had last season. That’s my hope anyway.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Feb 20, 2012 10:19 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
completely agree
rec. Houston was our best bet. Same thoughts on the roster too assuming Ray and the back court can find a way to play at a consistently decent level.
If they do a lot of people are going to be surprised. Having a back court makes a difference. Just ask the Lakers.
Really
In that series …was Dre better than Nash? Was LMA better than Amare? Was Batum better than Grant Hill? Was Richardson better than Injured Roy? …and on and on and on …you have go down the roster a pretty long way until you get a matchup that we win
I think if Roy stays healthy , we have a good shot …but without him it was would taken tremendous reach from everyone…and it just didn’t happen…it was hardly exclusively Nate’s fault
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 9:33 AM PST up reply actions
If Roy stays healthy we win? You're in the minority on that one.
And if you’re top 4 players are all that you are measuring, Miami would have slaughtered Dallas last year.
by KevinRileyFTW on Feb 20, 2012 9:38 AM PST up reply actions
"Your"
That is inexcusable considering it happened post-coffee.
by KevinRileyFTW on Feb 20, 2012 9:43 AM PST up reply actions
I stopped after 4 because it was too tiring and too much of a bummer
You have to win at least a 1 or too of those .
PS I too think the Houston series was the best shot ….but that team was really young …had virtually zero playoff experience and a bad match up
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 9:47 AM PST up reply actions
it's debatable if anyone was better than Dirk in that series
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Feb 20, 2012 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
talent was THE issue
pick and rolled to death by Steve Nash and Amare while we had Dre repeatedly crashing into the paint for 40 mins a game trying to get something going.
We shouldn’t have even been in that series. We ground it down to try and even things out but getting to game 6 was an accomplishment.
by poorwebguy on Feb 20, 2012 10:37 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I think Nate got the players he wanted this year (within the Blazers posibilities), and that put more pressure on him.
He got a PG who can run, attack the rim, defend and space the floor, although he´s doing neither, but turning the ball over. He got a six man of the bench who can create his own shot, although he´s been more of a chucker. He already had length and athleticism and defense. IMHO, this is his whole basketball project, without a GM bothering him,and it´s not working. That´s a big concern.
Yep. Unless the tempo tempo tempo offense is flowing, like it was the first 9 games, Felton
is a horrible fit for Nateball.
by KevinRileyFTW on Feb 20, 2012 9:17 AM PST up reply actions
nate
I think the bigger question is how big a body of evidence of dubious coaching performance do you need before it becomes prudent to fire a coach.
I would not fire Nate based on this year’s games. Especially not the Wizards game. In fact, I don’t fault the team much for that particular loss. Washington was shooting out of their minds. There are other losses this season that bother me quite a bit more.
Bottom line as I see it: Nate has had a tough coaching challenge this year. He has plenty of talent to work with (enough that blazers were getting ranked as high as #3 in the NBA early in the season), but it is not an even distribution of talent across the positions.
It seems like what Nate faces is a team that one of the top 5 or so coaches in the NBA could get to play at the level of a championship contender, but under a lesser coach, the team would struggle .
Conclusion: He is not one of the top 5 or so coaches in the NBA. Is that grounds for firing him? Not unless you could replace him with a much better coach.
What is the basis of this conclusion?
It seems like what Nate faces is a team that one of the top 5 or so coaches in the NBA could get to play at the level of a championship contender,….
This team doesn’t really look like a champ to me…not even close
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 9:27 AM PST up reply actions
that's my point
92, that is what I am saying. A top 5 coach could get this team playing at the level of a contender. Nate is not achieving that. Ergo he is not a top 5 coach.
or
Sorry, I guess I misinterpreted your comment. You are saying this team doesn’t have the talent to be a contender even if they had one of the best coaches in the NBA?
Right
"What began as a credible protest against bank bailouts, crony capitalism and the like has, in large measure, been hijacked by crazies and criminals,"
by 92wastheyear on Feb 20, 2012 9:34 AM PST up reply actions
yup
given the guard play we’ve seen this season, the geriatric frontcourt, and the lack of a consistent #2 scoring option that can create for themselves…no coach would turn this roster into a contender the level of the Bulls/Heat/Thunder
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
As much as I love the guys...
…and want them to be… No, the Blazers do not have top 5 type talent.
We’d need a serious upgrade at the 1&5 and more depth up front from our bench to reach that level no matter who the coach is in my opinion.
#7... GO BLAZERS!!!
things to watch
Note that there are 11 teams vying for the 8 playoff spots in the West.
What if Blazers don’t make the playoffs? I think that would put Nate in pretty hot water.
Right now they are the 8 seed by a tiebreaker.
On the plus side, because this team does have a lot of talent, if Nate can somehow get things clicking who knows, they could be right up there as a contender like they were early in the season.
Playing well the first 10 games doesn't make you a contender.
- This team certainly has the talent of a playoff team… but no where hear the talent of a title contender.
by B_B on Feb 20, 2012 9:47 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
don't fret here's the plan:
McMillan’s record:
2005–06Missed Playoffs
2006–07Missed Playoffs
2007–08 Missed Playoffs
2008–09 Lost in First Round
2009–10 Lost in First Round
2010–11Lost in First Round
Projected:
2011-2012 Lost in Semi
2012-2013 Lost in Semi
2013-2014 Lost in Semi
2014-2015 Lost in WCF
2015-2016 Lost in WCF
2016-2017 Lost in WCF
2017-2018 Lost in Finals
2018-2019 Lost in Finals
2019-2020 Lost in Finals
2020-2021 CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
so we're gonna 3 peat?
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Feb 20, 2012 10:21 AM PST up reply actions
by then LaMarcus would be 36 years old
just reaching his prime?
"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."
by then 36 will be the new 25
and Oden will have robo-legs
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Feb 20, 2012 11:31 AM PST up reply actions
Maybe since Kareem likes aldridge so much
He teaches him the secret to super-productive 20 year NBA careers. Basically a whole lot of Yoga and some training with bruce lee mixed in there.
"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."
Dave's solid reasoning and logical thought doesn't apply to Blazers management
Blazers management has it’s own murky agenda, completely opaque to the public. But I will bet you $10,000 the real unifying principle at work for Vulcan and TrailBlazers Inc. is the almighty dollar. Right now is Vulcan tearing through spreadsheets applying really complicated What If formulas trying to find the most profitable scenario; to wit they would sell their own mothers if the price was right.
it's a business after all
I’m sure PA wants to win but it is a business. There has to be some balance financially. They’ve spent into the red season after season with nothing to show for it.
Run through the spreadsheets and make some smarter decisions…by all means.
Nate does his best under pressure
It seems when the media and fans put pressure on Nate about Batum – Batum was named a starter. I wondered long ago why the management and Nate didn’t bring Batum into a more prominant position. He was told by Nate publicly that , " this isn’t the Euro league this is the NBA" Well now Nic is proving he can be an all around player in the NBA when given the chance. Last year it was similar with Miller & Blake. After and uproar and media/public outcry Miller became the starter. I’m sure Nate was trying to maintain a level of respect and control in both these situations but he wasn’t ahead of the curve in neither case. He is doing a fine job lately and let’s see where we go but he should not be given a free pass!
After the L*ker game
I am looking forward to chapter 3 in this series
Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. ~Aaron Levenstein
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