11/05/24
June 29, 2004
Sam Mitchell.: Raptors coach. Sam played mentor to KG and he turned out pretty good. I can't wait to see what he does with Vince. Does Sam fit the franchise? Should the Raptors gone after a more tenured assistant? Is there anything to the George Karlian notion that longstanding assistant coaches are better than "new" player coaches?
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 12:17 PM - 10 comments
I think it's great. Mitchell was such a leader and mentor for KG here in Minnesota and I know most Timberwolves fans were quite upset when we had to let him go. I really hope he suceeds.
posted by emoeby at 02:04 PM on June 29, 2004
To expect the Craptors to go more than one round into the playoffs with their current lineup is vinsane. I think making the playoffs would be a significant improvement. Remember, if you can qualify for the playoffs, you have just as good a chance as anyone else of winning it all (especially in the east).
posted by lilnemo at 02:09 PM on June 29, 2004
...mentor for KG... There is no denying that Sam has had a positive impact everywhere he has been. Hopefully he can help Vince find his potential. Let's all keep in mind that the veteran influences on this team so far have been Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis. Not the most positive role models. Hopefully Sam can help right the ship.
posted by lilnemo at 03:34 PM on June 29, 2004
Sam Mitchell, huh? Sure why the hell not; this team can't get much worse.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:37 AM on June 30, 2004
How many head coaches are currently on the Raptors payroll?
posted by gspm at 01:02 AM on June 30, 2004
I don't know. Are they still paying Brendan Malone?
posted by chicobangs at 10:34 AM on June 30, 2004
Amazing, this topic couldn't even make it past the first post without a Vince Carter criticism. Maybe he needs to chase his fiance with a gun or get charged with rape to get an easier time of it. I'd like to point out that out of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, Allen Iverson and Vince Carter, Vince was the only one to increase his points per game production last season - and he did this while playing on the worst offence in the NBA. Plus, he played in more games than all of them except Pierce. Lay off the guy. Sam is a good choice for this team. He was a mentor to Kevin Garnett and maybe he can have a similar influence on Chris Bosh. Bosh's potential is probably not at KG level but it's worth nothing that their rookie seasons were quite similar statistically.
posted by Scott Carefoot at 12:07 PM on June 30, 2004
Vince Carter's a nice guy and that's fine, but his game reminds me of Allen Iverson without the scoring. Which is to say, the refs let him get away with anything but he still can't produce.
posted by yerfatma at 04:26 PM on June 30, 2004
I agree Scott - Vince is an incredible pussy (I was actually embarassed when he ran into Stan Van Gundy's elbow last year and went down), but he's hardly an ineffective player. How many 20-5-5 guys do you think this league has?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:59 PM on June 30, 2004
Mitchell, who played in the NBA for 13 years, was an assistant coach for the expansion Charlotte Bobcats for the past month. During which, IIRC, they went undefeated. Look. The Raptors won't do kaka next year, but it'll have nothing to do with Mitchell, who I have no reason to not believe in. It's that I've lost faith in Vince Carter as an effective leader and driving team force. To expect the Craptors to go more than one round into the playoffs with their current lineup is vinsane.