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ESPN’s Kevin Pelton noticed something unique about Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts strategizing for game two of the team’s playoff series against the Thunder — Stotts tasked an assistant coach with trying to anticipate Oklahoma City’s strategy.
Thought it was interesting that Terry Stotts said they have one assistant watch the film of Game 1 as if he were part of the opposing coaching staff to anticipate possible adjustments. He said they've done that in the past but this is the first I remember hearing that.
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) April 15, 2019
Pelton said that this level of attention to the opposition’s strategy is not necessarily the norm for other NBA teams.
To clarify here, anticipating adjustments is something all coaching staffs do during the playoffs, but dedicating a specific assistant to the task is not necessarily common, as @MoDakhil_NBA notes:https://t.co/zXSgpcyB17
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) April 15, 2019
The Blazers lead the best-of-seven series with the Thunder 1-0; the next game is Tuesday at 7:30 at the Rose Garden.