Indiana Pacers: 3 coaching candidates to avoid if Nate Bjorkgren is fired

Coach to avoid for the Indiana Pacers if Nate Bjorkgren is fired: Terry Stotts

Speaking of coaches on the hot seat, current Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts is on the verge of being forced out of town if Rip City once again finds itself dwelling after the first round.

While Stotts has led the Blazers to eight straight playoff appearances starting in 2013, the franchise has never truly flirted with a title despite having an MVP candidate in Damian Lillard. But more than his inability to guide Portland over the hump, it is his questionable principles that continue to force him on a tight rope.

If Gregg Popovich is basketball’s preacher of ball movement, then Terry Stotts is his complete antithesis. While Portland has routinely deployed high-octane offenses, no opposing team will be caught off guard by the way they do things. The Trail Blazers reek of isolation plays, for better or for worse, and are completely allergic to assists, ranking dead last in dimes in three of the last four seasons, including this year.

The thought of him manning the Indiana Pacers is counterintuitive, especially with the Blue and Gold’s newfound identity as a team predicated on ball movement, finishing 2nd in assists this year. He’s also not the best defensive coach, with Portland ranking 27th and 29th in defensive rating for the past two campaigns.

Despite being known as a player coach, his shortcomings and unwillingness to adjust ultimately prevents him from being an ideal fit with the Blue and Gold, notwithstanding his relatively fruitful tenure in Rip City.