Much of the frustration surrounding the Trail Blazers’ 41-41 record during 2016-17 season has been leveled against President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey and the generous contracts he handed out last summer.
But could Head Coach Terry Stotts be just as responsible for the perceived subpar performance on the floor this past season?
In his five years with the Blazers, Stotts has clearly been a fan and player favorite, avoiding blame for any poor performances or unmet expectations.
His calm and affable personality, combined with entertaining offensive gameplans, have positioned him as one of the more loved coaches in recent Blazers history—at times bordering on cult hero status (see references to “Stottsfence”).