Clippers sources confirm that Dean Demopoulos is under heavy consideration to join the coaching staff as a top assistant.
Demopoulos boasts one of the strongest defensive pedigrees in the league. From 1983-1999 he was an assistant at Temple under John Chaney before heading off to the pros to work as the lead assistant under Nate McMillan in both Seattle and Portland. Demopoulos has earned praise for developing strong defensive game plans and is credited with the institution of Potland’s vaunted “black zone” defense. Demopoulos is widely regarded around the league as one of the finest defensive minds in all of basketball.
Perhaps most important is Demopoulos’ ability to adjust defensive game plans based on personnel. Under Demopoulos and McMillan the Blazers were the 13th most efficient defense last year despite being absolutely decimated by injuries and playing a lot of young, inexperienced players.
That experience alone should lend itself well to Vinny Del Negro and a young Clippers team.
