Posts Tagged ‘sam mitchell’

Sam Mitchell, coach of the year… FIRED!

Saturday, December 6th, 2008

That’s right Sam, that’s the way out. As I figured, Sam Mitchell was fired from his position of Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors.  It’s no surprise to me that he was let go… I mean with troubled financial times and all.

Like I mentioned in my previous post on this subject, it always comes down to the coach, when a team starts to lose.  And if you know anything about sports, you know that the coach is not always the problem.

The Raps have always been an under-achieving team in the grand scheme of things, and with the delusion of grandure with their European picks & drafts, things just keeps getting worse and worse.  But as I have told many of my friends that always try to argue with me about the Raptors is that people that leave the Raps, are most better off for it.  Other than the likes of Damon Stoudamire (his star has never shined as bright as when he was in Toronto) and Keon Clark, (a sad case of a brother now incarcerated).   So maybe it will be a good thing for Sam to move on.

People seem to forget that these are grown men, making big bucks to play basketball.  At that level, I don’t think it is a requirement to hold hands and breast feed these guys… okay, maybe for some of the rookies.  Sam knows the game, he gave them the plan and they haven’t executed and I don’t think it’s because Sam Mitchell is a bad coach.  The Raptors player acquisition and roster managers have a vision.  And that is the vision of creating a losing team and eventually, their key players will run for the hills.  Yes, CB4 (Chris Bosh) will be leaving the building as soon as it’s possible and keep your eyes open for any other boneheaded trades that the Raps will be making down the road too.

I just find it funny that a guy could be coach of the year in 2007 and get fired in 2008.  Quite ridiculous, but I’m sure there are people that think he should have never been given that accolade, those individuals and their lack of basketball knowledge must be happy now.  But it will be short lived, trust me on that one.  The Toronto Raptors need a shake-up from way higher than the coach to change their destiny.

I’m sad to see Sam go, but hopefully it’s a move forward for him and I know it will be a move backwards for the Raps.

Good Luck Sam!

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Don’t blame Sam for the Raptors mess.

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Sam Mitchell wins Coach of the Year 2007I am so tired of hearing people that know little to nothing about basketball, trying to blame coaches for a teams shortcomings. I primarily blame the media for this. Because in game 2 of the Raptors vs Magic series: had Chris Bosh made that last second jumper and won the game, there would have been a whole different type of press coverage. Probably about Stan Van Gundy’s lack of preparation, but that’s how it goes with the media. Just to confirm here: a coach prepares his team to go into battle, on the court, field, ice… wherever. When the players take the stage, it is up to them to put those plans and strategies they have been taught, into action. If Sam Mitchell was as bad as he is being portrayed right now, the Raptors would have started brushing up on their golf games around mid-season, with 5 or 6 wins, like the bad-old-days in Raptors history. Not to mention, has everyone forgotten that Mr. Mitchell won coach of the year in 2007! Rewinding back to that last second shot in game 2. Why didn’t anyone crash the boards in case of the miss? Bosh was nicely boxed-out by Dwight Howard, but the other 4 lumps on the court just stood and watched the shot clank off of the rim and gently cascade into the hands of an uncontested Magic player. Sam doesn’t need to coach that kind of thing at the NBA level. My middle school kids? Yes, they need reminders to crash the boards and box-out, but not the big boys in the NBA.

Who is to blame? Without a doubt I hold players responsible. Orlando is a better team than the Raptors, but there is no way the Raps should have taken a 4 to 1 beating, they way they did. But the people most responsible in my book are the ones making the decisions (Owners, GM, Upper Management). Going with the dream that they had acquired the next Dirk Nowitzki, was just that… a dream. The Raptor management always kill me with some of the trades and acquisitions they have made in the past, present and I’m sure their will be more in the future. With their track record, I’ll be looking for a Bosh for Mutumbo trade in the near future, unless of course they can bring Patrick Ewing out of retirement! LOL!

Good Luck next season Toronto!

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