Trail Blazers firing Terry Stotts would be a major overreaction

By Tre LyDay | Apr 21, 2018

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 19: Head Coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers speaks with the media before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Portland Trail Blazers ended up with the No. 3 seed in the West and were immediately swept by the Pelicans. Now Terry Stotts could be fired.

The Portland Trail Blazers have a lot of roster deficiencies, and those shortcomings have been surely noted. Nevertheless, they ended up with the third seed in the Western Conference, finishing with a record of 49-33.

That No. 3 seed was great until they had to play the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round. They were swept in the series…and they looked bad the entire time. Damian Lillard had probably the worst four-game stretch of his life, and Anthony Davis had his way with Jusuf Nurkic.

The Trail Blazers have now lost 10 straight playoff games, and head coach Terry Stotts may be on the hot seat heading into the offseason. While getting swept as the No. 3 seed is never a good look, firing Stotts may not be the right move.

The mumurs have already started In coaching circles that 10 consecutive playoffs defeats will cost Terry Stotts his job in Portland, but league sources say Orlando would register immediate interest in Stotts if he becomes available
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 22, 2018

Rumors have started swirling that 10 straight playoff losses may have cost Stotts his job.

Nobody wants to lose 10 straight playoff games, but the front office should probably take into account that six of the 10 losses have been to the Golden State Warriors. Let’s be honest — who haven’t the Warriors swept during their current four year stretch of dominance?

Stotts has actually done a fantastic job with a roster that isn’t the greatest, and the front office really hasn’t done him any favors. Outside of Lillard and C.J. McCollum, they don’t have much else. Yes, they made a good move trading for Jusuf Nurkic, but other than that it’s a bunch of passable guys trying to help two superstars.

Next: Pelicans sweep the Blazers right out of the playoffs

Not to mention, the Trail Blazers have some of the worst contracts in the NBA. Not too long ago, they had probably the worst offseason ever. In 2016 they gave guys like Meyers Leonard and Festus Ezeli $41 million and $16 million, respectively.

Getting swept this season is definitely a failure, but Stotts has done the best with what he’s had. The Blazers need to construct a better roster both skillset wise and financially before placing the blame on Stotts.

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