OU connection to Thunder's chief divisional rival

[NMSooner'80]

Terry Stotts, OU Class of 1980, is the head coach of the Portland Trailblazers, who have been the OKC Thunder's main rival in their division. Stotts was an All-Big 8 forward for OU and is a member of the 1,000-point "club" at OU.

I'm definitely pulling for the Thunder to win that division and to bring the NBA title to Oklahoma. But I also think it's cool that an OU grad is doing so well lately as an NBA head coach. Stotts was my original "first choice" to be OU's coach when Capel got canned, but I'm also very pleased with Lon Kruger, FWIW.

 

[allday92]

Stotts is an offensive guru when it comes to basketball. He was Dallas' offensive coordinator when they won the finals and beat the Heat. Still the only team to beat the big 3 in a playoff series and a lot had to do with the Mavs offense.

Hopefully he wants to return to his alma mater in the future.

 

[DenverSooner]

I have never heard anyone use the term offensive coordinator in basketball before this.

 

[allday92]

I have never heard anyone use the term offensive coordinator in basketball before this.

It's pretty common in the NBA for one assistant coach to be in charge of the defensive gameplan and the other to be in charge of the offensive gameplan. Kelvin Sampson has been in charge of defense at every stop in his nba coaching career.

 

[DenverSooner]

Interesting. Other than watching a few games and more of the playoffs I don't pay much attention to the NBA. It makes perfect sense but I had never heard it referenced that way before.

 

[NMSooner'80]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/twice-fired-terry-stotts-finds-185821922--nba.html

This is a wire story that I saw this morning in the Santa Fe New Mexican. Doesn't mention OU, but it does make Terry look pretty good.