Is Sam Mitchell the Right Coach for the Toronto Raptors?

I think you read my mind exactly, except explained a tad bit better :). If there is a play to be made for D'Antoni then do it (not looking possible), otherwise, let a year pass so a buyout next year does not look as ridiculous to the folks of MLSE. Also, as you stated, Mitchell will have to listen to BC's instructions on how to utilize the players.

It pains me to know the smitch will be back...

I've always thought that the blame for this underwhelming season lies more on the players than on the coach (let's say 60% to 40%). However, I favor taking the risk of changing the coach.

Keeping Mitchell next year would likely mean more of the same (with a likely first or second round exit), so I would roll the dice with the arrival of a big-time coach bringing a whole new scenario where players would be more pressed to react. Ideally it would be D'Antoni, but I would not mind a defensive-minded coach as long as he has had some notable success at times (I'm thinking Avery Johnson or Van Gundy).

By the way, Carlisle has just signed with the Mavs

I really wish D'Antoni could come to TO

Franchise, great article.

I agree with your thoughts but have to disagree with point #2 - ie. Sam's leadership skills. I think this has certainly been one of Sam's greatest strengths in the past with this team - getting his players to play hard. But, as I have said before, I think he has lost respect from a number of his players - particularly because of how he dealth with the TJ issue - in not sitting TJ or pulling TJ from the game when he played 1 on 5. I think how Sam handled that issue sent the wrong message to other players who thought why can TJ do this and not get reprimanded by Sam and yet if players like Humphries, Kapono, Graham etc. don't follow Sam's direction, they get yanked immediately. Its a double standard and players perceived this as unfair.

I am convinced that Sam lost respect from some of his players because of how he dealt with that issue. I don't think he has as much support as he once had from his players - as evidenced by his star player (Bosh) calling Sam out in the playoffs on things like line up changes and changes in the offensive system.

I think Sam may have lost the room - and that in part explains why the team played so poorly down the stretch when they only won 1/3 of their last 25 games - many of of those losses were against the weaker teams in the league
like Charlotte, Clippers, etc.

I think that most people would agree that Sam is on a short leash for next year. If that's true, does it really make sense to wait until the team struggles to make a coaching change. Who would BC then put in as a coach - 1 of the assistants on an interim basis? If Sam is truly on a short leash, I would be much more inclined to fire him now and make the move for D'Antoni now. Its hard to forsee a better coach being available the following summer if Sam is fired.

D'antoni is reportedly going to knicks:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3389987

Atlantic is only going to get tougher in the years to come.

I weep as I read your post LAs Only...... I truly believed the starts were aligning...oh well!

^^^

I meant "stars"...like it matters...

another angle i'd like to hear your thoughts on Franchise are what you think of Mitchell's assistants. Or rather if they are tactical or player-first coaches?
Imo, both Alex and Mike strike me more as p-f coaches and Jay kinda in the middle. If true, seems a p-f coaching staff would breed complacency.
Doc has Thibo. Smitch had Todd. He needs to admit he needs a true replacement.

I am not as high on Sam as I have been the previous seasons.
Agree he is on a short leash.
Agree he handled the TJ situation incorrectly, but do not know how I would of handled it. Prior to TJ's injury 98% of the teams were envious of our point guard situation. Question to ask is are we better with TJ as a starter? With the exception of him post injury, the answer is probably yes.
Last post someone brought up racism in the TJ/Jose question. Its a subject that makes us all cringe in this day and age but I have to ask - does Sam give the Afro-American(PC) more leeway? Who are his favourites? Bosh, AP, Moon, TJ, and you can even say Joey Graham would of been long gone with another coach.
Curious to hear comments on that- sorry if its a sensitive subject.

A poster asked in a previous thread what a "Sam Mitchell" type player is.

Here's what comes to mind
(IMHO of course)

I remember prior to last season when he kept stating that he wasn't worried about the offense, and was focused on defensive stats like amount of shots challenged. In this particular category the guys who came out ahead were Garbajosa and Parker. These two players also chalked up a respectable amount of steals and assists. They both logged major minutes that season.

This year's equivalent in my eyes were Carlos Delfino (rebounds, steals) and Jamario Moon (rebounds, blocks, steals). These aren't perfect players, but they have qualities that Sam values above others.

I can see BC and Sam having differing views of Kapono, however I don't know if it was as much mismanagement on the part of Sam, as it was refusal to use. He's been harping on athleticism, rebounding, defense, and hustle since he got here. I think that's his idea of "Sam Mitchell Bball", at least as far as role players go. A player that can't pull his weight in those areas, is a liability.

This being his first coaching gig, I think he's trying to establish a trademark "style", something to hang his hat on and have people associate him with when he joins the NBA coaching carousal. I also think part of his way of "motivating" his troops is a play how you practice, everybody has a shot at minutes attitude. This works to the detriment of someone like Kapono, and to a lesser degree to Bargnani.

There is no way I think Sam was fully on board with drafting Bargnani. I can see him thinking, "as long as he turns out to be the star BC thinks he'll be, I'll game plan around his deficiencies. BUT, if he falls short of that ideal, he's gonna have to scrap for minutes like everyone else, according to standards I set"

If we know Bargnani isn't going to be a SAM Mitchell player, can the coach find a place for the player, instead of trying to turn a square peg round, then resenting the fact he can't?

And can Sam be flexible enough to use a player like Kapono EVEN IF he doesn't have the personal (shot blocker) to help wipe out the defensive miscues?

I just don't know, and if after 3 years with the team, it comes down to "have faith he will", then could we already have our answer?

Sergi P make a good point about getting a head start on a new vision, if you think the alternative is treading water for a season with Mitchell, THEN firing him.

Take a look at Don Nelson, and the effect he had on players like Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis. Conversely, look at how fast Mike Dunleavy was run out of town. Even more conversely (if that makes sense), look at how well Dunleavy has played for Jim O'Brian in Indiana.
Was there a lack of flexibility on the part of players, coaches, a bad fit or a combo of all three?

I know I'm going out on a limb with most of these thoughts, I can't say I've paid enough attention to coaching in general to know what diffentiates great from good, good from mediocre with any degree of certainty.

However, I will say I appreciate the viewpoints on both sides, since there's the potential to learn something, or just see an issue from another angle.

It is my opinion that Sam Mitchell's decision to barely utilize Morris Peterson last season, and his ridiculous justification for this decision by repeatedly emphasizing Peterson's "lack of physical fitness in training camp" was nothing short of a personal vendetta. It was also extremely stupid, as Peterson will always be remembered as aw Raptor who never complained, always gave 100% on the court, and had a fairly good all-around skill set. In contrast, Mitchell is a petty person, who often makes unintelligible decisions as a coach. Best of luck Hornets!

Life is about making the best decision at the time, given all the available experience and information. I don't want to be railing against Sam Mitchell all next year, and having the same discussion at season's end. He should be replaced.

Franchise,thanks again
Sam and his staff regarding up coming season...If the organisation is so strongly behing Bargs,get the coaching staff some help and hire a big man coach for the kidd...obviously Sams support staff did not cut it...

It's been brought up before that Sam may take a shine to players who came up the hard way, like him. I also wonder whether his affection for players who play hard in practice may mean he thinks the unathletic guys don't seem to be putting forth the effort he desires. I can imagine that helps explain why guys like TJ and Moon may have longer leashes, as Graham may have had in the past. It also may be that he thinks of defense as primarily an individual desire combined with athletic ability, and perhaps that's why we haven't seen a really good team defense set-up that allows him to hide defensively -deficient guys like Kapono and Jose (I'd put Bargs in there too but it's not like he was brilliant on the offensive end this year). It's not a stretch to believe Tom Thibodeau had a big effect on Boston, especially guys like Pierce, combined with leadership from Garnett and Rivers' Ubuntu message. Maybe, as someone stated before, that's where the Raps lack - keep a good players coach in Mitchell but find a defensive-specialist gem to be top assistant. Jeff Van Gundy's available. :)

Obviously D'Antoni's record speaks for itself but it didn't seem like he developed his young talent much. He would stick with a 7 player rotation, and not use his bench. I wonder how successful that strategy would be in Toronto

As you mentioned, replacing Mitchell only makes sense if you bring in somebody better. If we could get Popovich (no chance I know, just making a point) I'd pack Mitchell's bags myself. However we know that MLSE isn't going spend big bucks on a coach, especially after the contract they gave Mitchell, so any replacement is likely going to be an assistant or former player first time coach or a re-tread that failed elsewhere, or possibly a euro-coach (or maybe a college coach) who would have a steep learning curve. All would be rolling the dice. Further a new coach would bring in new offense and defensive schemes and new terminology which would most likely lead to a slow start next year, when wins will be at a premium. Mitchell at least has continuity on has side. Having said that I feel that Mitchell should be given the chance to coach this team next year due to the fact that there's no surefire replacement for him, and if he can't get the job done, it's time to look somewhere else.

Execellent article as usual. BTW the Maestro comment - too funny!

As for mitchell. I dislike his coaching style. A very poor basketball IQ (From x's and o's). I think the players like him to an extent because of the 'he was a former player' mentality. BUT, I think he has lost alot of that with his team now, that they realize they are getting outcoached/prepared on a nightly basis.

No one has mention Paul Westphal at all? Excellent player in his day. Has both NBA and college coaching experience. Former player, worked under a great coach in cotton fitz. Anyone else's thoughts??

I agree with the comments that mitchell on his last legs. I couldn't agree more with him and his assistants adapting to the talent on the team and coming up with a better strategy than what is looks like as mitchell coming up with his own plans and trying to fit what players he has into that plan.

I've always defended Sam Mitchell. Being honest, truthful, and being a good communicator means more than
having 500 plays in a play book. Sam always struck me as blunt and to the point which I think is good.

However this year I think Sam went off the rails.

You hear rumours that Bargnani's work habits weren't good this year. That's on him but as the coach Mitchell needs to take the lead and head that obstacle off at the pass.

When you brag about not talking to your number one draft pick to teach him a lesson I think that's 100% wrong. Good communication is the key.

It should have been the exact opposite. Explain what you want in clear and concise terms and then stay on Bargnani's a$$ everyday. Not talking just sends the message that you don't care.

For a player who doesn't speaky the English, and is away from home, and might be a bit of a mama's boy that's the worst thing you can do.

If the GM goes out and gets Kapono, the best three point shooter in the league and you don't use him or run any set plays to get him open looks until the playoffs something is getting lost in translation.

If the GM signs Joey Graham and Humphries to extensions and then you don't use them off the bench, something is getting lost in translation.

If you give everybody else a short lease but turn around and let TJ turn into Me J jacking up 10 shots in a row how can you talk to the rest of the team about fairness and sharing the ball? You have to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Something gets lost in translation.

If you want North American bangers and post up players and your GM gets you finesse Euro players something is getting lost in translation.

Old school coaches believe in hard work, discipline, boxing out, hustle back on D, share the ball, help on defense etc. Those b-ball principles worked decades ago, they work now. But that doesn't mean your communication style has to be stuck in the 1970's.

I coach youth b-ball. The number quiestion the kids ask me is "What's my role, where do I stand on this team?".

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for the exit interviews for the Raptors this year cuz I betcha those same questions had very unclear answers at the end of this season.

Usually I find the criticism on this page more informed. But in this case, it amounts to pure fantasy to suggest that Mitchell erred by not playing Garbajosa more this year. Mitchell didn't play Garbajosa because he was still injured, and only a shell of the player he was before his injury.

I do agree with your general sentiment, however. Mitchell seemed to want to coach a more defensive style this year and we don't have the players to win games 89-85.

The most important shortcoming, however, is the identified failure to improve Bargnani et al. It was also the first season you could make an argument Bosh regressed.

This was always Mitchell's trump card. Bosh improved every year. Bargnani improved over the course of last season. TJ had his best year last year. Same with Jose and AP.

But this year? Only Jose stepped forward in a significant way. Every other player either stagnated or regressed. Not good.

But Mitchell has been here for 4 years, and for the first 3 I thought all the young guys improved and played hard. Hopefully we can get back to that.

dileroscoe: Great question and a tough one to answer. I wanted to get into the assistants a bit but without being around them 24-7, it's much harder to judge. Mitchell is the one you see, hear and can study a bit so makes an easier subject. I like the assistants, especially Triano who was always a good tactician with team Canada (and someone obviously highly regarded internationally since Team USA recruited him to help with the Olympic prep-work) but I'd like to see a more seasoned NBA assistant with the group. Someone who has been around the game strictly in a coaching role for years, something like Phil Jackson's assistant crew.

Sucks about D'Antoni, I really thought he would have been dynamite here. But I think now that all but confirms that Mitchell will be back for at least one more year. I was baffled yesterday as to why he'd take that job but read an article this morning about him being the great contratrian. When people said "you can't have a team of strictly athletes taking shots every seven seconds," he did it. So now everyone is saying it's a big mistake to take the job and he's out to prove them wrong. I actually respect that...although he's in for a rough ride unless they can buy out half of that team. Kudos to the Knicks though, they're ever so slowly starting to try and dig themselves out of things.

Bball. Good point. I almost got into this as well but wanted to leave it for discussion. Towards the end of the season it did look like some of the players (Bosh etc) were questioning his decisions.

I think that's his idea of "Sam Mitchell Bball", at least as far as role players go. A player that can't pull his weight in those areas, is a liability.

Yardly, this is a great point and echoes that philosophical difference. It's a little scary too considering things like the Kapono signing and Bargnani draft may not have been things Sam agreed with. Perhaps we'd have James Posey and Rudy Gay right now instead...

And Tim, another interesting point and Mitchell's treatment of Delfino might back up your hypothesis. Remember early in the year Sam didn't know what to make of him and didn't play him much. Then he realized how athletic a player he was and he just gave off a nonchalant attitude, even though he did play hard.

Finally...this just looks weird:

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/swirsky_080508.html

i make no claim of being an expert by any stretch. however, i will say that i think blaming the coach and/or management is the easiest thing to do. i honestly feel that the raps woes this season lie solely at the feet of the players. kapono, to me, simply lacked the aggression in the regular season that he showed in the playoffs. his three point shooting in the season (no, i haven't looked up the stats) i do not feel was indicative of what he displayed at the all stars. humphreys and graham, while they offer something within a set structure, seem to be lacking in any making any sort of appropriate decisions of what to do on the court when they end up with the ball outside of these set schemes. They are what they are. What is Sam supposed to do with Bargs? Tuck him in bed every night. This guy was supposed to a winner, a star. He was given opportunities but was inconsistent and sometimes frankly looked lazy. what else can the coach do except tell them and use minutes as an incentive??? Second guessing the coach is easy but they players (like cb does) need to take some responsibility. It is entirely up to Sam how or whether they get along or what their chemistry is. They're big boys and they need to figure out what's important and how to make it work.

It is true that good communication with people like Bargs is key. But, honestly, can you think of two more opposite people than smitch and bargs??? Was this not considered when they draft him? I expected Mauritsio (sp. sorry) was going to mentor him and ease his transition. wasn't he, "the father figure" for bargs? likewise, i don't think the tj situation is on anyone but tj. it is not bc's fault or sam's. you cannot predict how every individual is going to behave under every circumstance. who would have thought this injury would have happened and jose shone as bright as he did. he further would have known that tj would behave so utterly immaturely after this? this is no one's but tj's fault and whoever he has advising him.

now, sorry guys, i fully disclose that i have no idea what i'm talking about but nonetheless feel the need to talk.

with d'antoni going to NY and nash's statement that, "mike's my coach", could one you, who know so much more about these things than me, comment on the possibility of a possibility of a possibility of nash coming to TO for his twilight years? how great would it be to have him and jose? is this possible or pipe-talk?????? i must confess, even the possibility in my mind makes me absolutely giddy. if if if it is technically possible or possible in any way, i have absolutely no doubt that the person who could pull it off is bc. or, friends, should i just put this dream to rest?

oops excuse the numerous typos ... hopefully you get my drift ...
cheers all ... great blog

If we had a snowball in hell's chance of contending next year, Mitchell would be out the door.....but now that we are a peg below the Sixers, Hawks, etc.....Mitchell will get one more year to hang himself....sink or swim.

Should Mitchell be the coach? NO.

Would I keep him on? No. Jeff Van Gundy, G. Karl, somebody tactical.

Your title though is the best for THIS team, and unfortunately folks , all things considered (i.e.contract status), get ready for one more year of Sam.

Good article, great points above too. Mitchell favoured TJ, and that would worry Colangelo a bit. I think Jose has become Bryan's guy. (sorry Rob Babcock, wherever you are....I hope you are suffering a long torturous after NBA life massaging Eric Williams bunions...or taking Zo's kids to the park.)

Lots of great points as usual and great write up once again.

Couple things: my coach of the year vote would go to a guy who often gets overlooked, Nate McMillian (except when Portland went on that amazing run). The Blazers had a similar amount of talent level as the 76ers. However they finished at .500 while Philly was below and then they played in the Western Conference which I believe means they would play some of the powers in the west much more often while the 76ers got to play a weaker sched. since they playd the teams in their division and conference more often.

Just imagine if Oden comes back healthy....and they win the lottary again lol. Oden, Rose, Roy and Aldridge.

Sam did do a lot of things wrong this year. The TJ situation, starting a brand new lineup that never played together for the most important game of the year, andrea's regression, not using kopono effectively and so on. However you cannot blame Sam for the first round exit. The Magic had 3 allstars on their team and the Raptors only had 1.

However if next season is a disaster Brian has a nice way to explain it....Sam wasn't the right coach. Then he fires Sam and adjusts the roster.....

WTF,I hear you about the 3 all stars for Orlando....but Atlanta was playing a team with 3 all stars and 3 hall of famers and took them to game 7...We need more athletes who arent scared of playing over the rim,and some toughness...good example Utah has some big boys,and the Lakers arent just cruising through the key...and not even thinking of 81...

I agree there is not a single rotation guy on the raptors that you could categorize at tough.

None of the guys even have any attitude, spike or cockiness to them.

But in fairness although the Hawks only had one allstar in Joe Johnson.....Mike Bibby, Josh Smith, Al Horford and maybe even Williams and Childress would compete for 2nd best player on the raptors with Jose.

Utah also has 3 guys who have played on allstar teams and Deron Williams is going to be a 4th in no time.

This lack of talent, rebounding, toughness should make for an interesting offseason

Franchise,
You make the point that Cheeks changed his team strategy to suit the team that he has. Well, they improved and gave Detroit a scare, but they didn't really get any farther along than the Raps and there is no guarantee that they will. What they do have is some better athletes. And this is more of a reflection against Colangelo than Sam. You see, while Philly clearly has some legs and should run, I'm not sure what Toronto's personale is really meant to be. Ford was brought in to be the little engine of a running offence, but they aren't that. Bosh is their only inside threat, and he's really more of a face up guy. The team has been built to "open the floor for Bosh", meaning a bunch of 3 point shooters leaving Bosh to do all of the inside scoring against double teams and interior zones while the rest of the opponents patrol the 3 point circle. With no one inside to clean up the glass, espicially with Bargnani standing around waiting for a 3 pointer, the offence is a lot of missed contested jumpers followed by doing our best running trying to get back on defence to defend their fast break. We get killed in the paint and those 33% 3 pointers don't add up to much in terms of second chance points and wearing the other team down by making them work on defence. No one slashes to the basket. Moon stopped after being dumped on his head 3 games in a row. What does this team do well? We will see after this year, but BC may not be doing his job all that well at present.

^ I agree with some of your points. Kapono and Bargnani definitely caused many of their own problems on the court. Kapono especially drove me crazy all year; every time he would pass up an open 3 so he could take a wild runner in the lane over two or three defenders, while Chuck and Leo responded by saying that he's such a "smart player" and that he "always takes good shots", I would yell and throw something at the TV. But in the end, who's job is it to keep guys in line? On a veteran team (Pistons, Spurs, Celtics) you can rely on the locker room to police itself, but not so with a relatively inexperienced team like the Raps. A player like Bargnani who is learning

the ropes needs both boundaries and freedom to make mistakes every once in a while. He gets neither from Smitch. Sometimes he will get beaten once or twice on defence and be yanked for the rest of the game, while Jamario Moon, an absolutely horrendous man-to-man defender, and TJ are getting killed off the dribble all day and Sam Mitchell does nothing. The problem comes down to the fact that there's no system of reward and punishment. Playing well doesn't guarantee you PT, and playing poorly doesn't guarantee you'll be benched. Basically, it's as though Sam is trying to spite someone (BC?) by saying "you don't think I can play my favourites all game, no matter what they do? Just watch me!". This is well past being a double standard. It's just stupidity and pettiness at this point.

The Swirsky thing is GOLD! Amazing how someone can completely change loyalties on a dime! Literally!

Regarding Chuck's loyalties !!!!! I e mailed Chuck on SUNDAY yes Mothers Day,to congratulate him ,and to wish his family the best of luck...not expecting a reply,but within the hour,I indeed received a response indicating,that it was one really tough week.He also said that he will always love T. and the Raps.At the end of the day folks ,its a job .Pro athletes change teams,like I change socks,why cant a play by play guy?

Franchise,

I have to disagree with you on your "player development" section. The examples you use of Sam not being able to "developing his individual pieces" are Kapono, Bargnani, Nesterovic, Humphries and Grahm. OK let’s be fair here…

Nesterovic’s playing time and role earlier in the season were based entirely on the organization’s (read: Colangelo, not Sam,) decision to start Bargnani and give him big minutes no matter how terrible he was.

Bargnani, Hump and Grahm: OK, it is true we have seen little to no progress with these three and even, in some cases, some regression. But how much is that the fault of Mitchell, and how much of that falls on the players? Hump has an inflated sense of self worth and tries to do way too much, so Smitch is forced to limit his playing time. Grahm, just doesn’t get it, and is a marginal NBA talent plus he is playing behind like 8 other small forwards. As for Bargs, since the end of the season we have heard rumours that his work ethic and desire have left a lot to be desired. So can we blame this on Mitchell? No, with these three, the blame lies a lot more with them as individuals than the coach.

I agree that in the case of Kapono, his role could have been better managed. However, the fact remains, this guy couldn’t guard a toddler so how much of a role can he have?

I also challenge you to look at the development and growth of players like Bosh and Calderone. Especially in Calderone’s case, he has grown leaps and bounds under Smith’s leadership., when it wasn’t clear his first year in the league if he would be successful at all at the NBA level.

In regards to Chuck: Chuck decided to leave the raptors and give up a lot of money due to family issues.

not sure if i agree with the mo cheeks point. weren't the raptors last year's sixers? didn't mitchell do with the raptors last year what cheeks did with the sixers this year? i think so.

Stumbled on this and I thought I'd share.....looks like it takes a city to win a playoff series lol

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52476/20080512/boston_bar_liquored_up_the_hawks_before_game_7/

Franchise:
Interesting but useless comment on Mitchell. Quote from Bryan Colangelo via M.Grange. Sam Mitchell and Bryan Colangelo are on the same page. From Bryan:
"I met Sam and it was a normal, end of season meeting" "We discussed a lot of things-the season,the off season, the state of the team, our relationship, everything. It was a good meeting and we both walked out of the room on the basis that he was coaching the team moving forward. We have no intention of making a coaching change period."

I think this is all a question of this franchise growing up. The best thing that has happened here is getting Coangelo. Before that the GMs stumbled around playing second fiddle to the Leafs. Now the Leafs are wondering if they can get a GM as good as the Raps have. Mitchell has been good for the team, and he will be a good coach in the league, probably for a long time, but also, probably not here. There is no question he didn't have decent rotations and didn't understand half his players.
When you have only only two guys that could start for a winner elsewhere, you have to reach deep down the bench every night. You have to know what to expect from players 6-12 and they have to know what is expected of them. So when Kapono does nothing all season, gets fed up and shoots the lights out during the play offs, you've got to wonder whose fault it is. When Humphries gives the team a jolt of energy every time he makes an appearance during the regular season, but fails to see the floor against the Magic--and when TJ Ford gets rewarded for his petulance, you have to wonder what's going on. A grown up team coached by a Popovich or a Sloan or a Jackson would find away to get past those problems and soap operas and utilize everyone. Can Sam?

We already thankfully lost our small market announcer (oddly, to a large market, but on radio). Coangelo has big ideas and Sam better rise up to meet them.

Ok, so the biggest informed criticism of Sam seems to be that he wasn't on the same page as BC and he didn't play people enough. The first part happens with almost every team. GM's sign people and envision them doing this or that while coach sees things differently. The other issue of Sam not playing people enough is ridiculous. Franchise you complain that He didnt play Bargnani enough and didn't play Rasho enough and he didnt play humpty enough and he didnt play Maceo enough. One question, did you want Bosh to sit in that equation? They all essentially play the same position. Bosh is going to take up about 35 or so minutes leaving 61 minutes for the other 4 guys. Then throw Joey G in there and things start to get complicated. Think about it, you are talking about 12 minutes per player, someone has to sit. Realistically, I think Sam and BC had an understanding about Maceo (wouldn't play unless disaster struck). The other three guys though is where there was a breakdown (and don't forget that technically Garbajosa would have been in the mix as well). I believe Sam wanted to play Rasho (consistent Vet who works hard vs young inexperienced player with all the upside). It kind of reminded me of the first year when Damon was the starter and Isiah wanted Brendan Malone to play Jimmy King more (not saying Bargs sux as bad but the comparison is basically accurate). Sam wanted to play the guy who he knew what he would get from him every night over the guy with the upside but who was wildly inconsistent. BC looking at the long term picture believed Bargs should get more minutes (I seem to recall a point last season where they butted heads over that one as well).
As for the Ford fiasco, you can't blame Sam for that either. Dixon and Chubby, I mean Martin, both showed they couldn't carry the team in a back up capacity. When Ford was out and Calderon was playing sick minutes, it became evident that he was wearing down. When Ford Came back, he had to play as there was no one else to give Jose a rest (I know some will argue that Delfino could have played the point but lets get real for a second, he may be a decent ball handler but he is not going to play the point for 20 mintues a nite and not kill them). As I stated at the trade deadline, this team desperately needed help at the point, someone to give Sam another option and keep TJ's ego in check (don't want to pass the ball, TJ meet Pine, Pine meet TJ, hello third string PG). Instead we got an expiring contract named Beaker. I guess Sam blew that one (stated sarcastically).
My whole point here is, Raptor fans need to get their heads out of their asses and stop trying to make this team into a championship team that failed because of bad coaching. This team was playing over their heads for the last season and half then went into the tank due to teams figuring them out and exposing their lack of talent. I agree that if BC gets Sam the talent and he still can't get this team to the next level you have to fire him. But drinking the Raptor Fandom coolaid and pretending that this team should have beaten a superior Orlando team (with 1 Superstar and 2 other stars) and would have done so with a better coach, yall are crazy.

One last thought, I find it Ironic that guys mentioned as the best coaches are also guys who have been coaching in the NBA for over 20 years. I realise that it isn't a coincidence (great coaches are going to get to stick around longer than crappy ones) but it also helps that they have been given a chance to become great coaches. From what I have seen Sam may never fit into that catagory but he has the ability (in my opinion) to slide into the group just below those guys). He has gotten better every year, and to pull a Sam Vincent on him (firing him for a big name) is a little premature. You can accuse me of being an apologist but I remember the last time that the Raps brought in a "Big Name" coach. He slowly destroyed the franchise by being way to soft on his superstar. The point here is that the grass isn't always greener.

McGateway, well thought out post but you didn't prove in there anywhere why Mitchell should continue.

Kapono creates his own situations off accidental picks for Christ's sake.....half the threes he managed to hit this year weren't even off Mitchell designed plays. He's a tactical hack that has used his charisma to needle his way into the coaching club, following a trend of late.

What occured in the playoffs this season was quite frankly one of the biggest farces in franchise history.

Mitchell should be gone, in my humblest of non pc opinion. Except that we owe him a 10 million buyout which would be fine for Alonzo Mourning, but not fine apparently here.

I would hire Van Gundy all the way; hopefully next year.

PS. Gee, seemed to be a smooth transition for the Swirsk.

Couldn't have been planned months in advance by any chance could it?

Honestly, I noticed a little more nastiness in Chuck's content over the last couple of months....Getting P-whipped into submission will do that to a man.

Gotta love the off-season.

John19 - That quote you mention is prior to BC then coming back later and admitting that the two weren't always one the same page. In fact, I don't know how you can possibly argue that both were on the same page given what transpired this year, especially the Jason Kapono situation. Saying BC and Mitchell were seeing eye-to-eye on all matters means BC paid top dollar for Kap-One so hoping that he'd play 9 minutes a game near the end of the year and not be a factor for Toronto during the majority of the season.

McGateway - I'm not saying that Mitchell should have played all 12 guys equal minutes ha ha...but doesn't it strike you as curious as to the lack of development from various key players, regardless of playing time? Or how about just the fact that they weren't used in certain situations more often? Not to keep going back to Philly but look at Louis Williams. Here's a player who almost never saw the court his first year, didn't get much chance his second, yet still kept improving to the point where he became an integral part of the club. We just haven't seen that under Mitchell for the most part. Now yes, some of that falls on the players for sure...

Larry Tanner - Yep, in many ways Philly was last year's Toronto. I think that echoes the point then that EaseMyPain is making...this Toronto club seems to have lost its identity. It just didn't play to its strengths and I'm not sure anyone, Mitchell included, knew what the team's strengths were by the end of the season with the rotations being so convoluted.

"Ok, so the biggest informed criticism of Sam seems to be that he wasn't on the same page as BC and he didn't play people enough."

McGateway - I assume that you are kidding here. In the last month, numerous (the majority) of posters have eloquently broken down in detailed fashion just why Sam Mitchell needs to be removed from his position (i.e., player rotation, player development, favoritism, refusal to study and become a student of the game, lack of play calling, misusing his lineup...etc) and the list goes on and on. I am not going to repost the numerous essays that I have written on this site or other bloggers who have stated the same. Smitch WAS a good motivator and that was about it. He no longer is. Can any one of you Mitchell apologists actually state what it is that Sam does well...it isn't easy is it?

"Ok, so the biggest informed criticism of Sam seems to be that he wasn't on the same page as BC and he didn't play people enough."

No, the biggest informed criticism of Sam is that he is one of the worst Xs and Os coaches in the NBA.

This is ridiculous. You make the philly example... Who picked the raptors in 06-07? That being said, the whole discussion and judgement of Sam Mitchell is excessively superficial. First of all the criteria seem wholly arbitrary. Plus There's not much beyond the simple, he's a leader but not Xs and Os cliche. Your breakdown, although sizeable, is nothing but a summary of the disappointing season. And to the charge that the team is soft (which is an equally superficial charge by the simple raptor's faithful), who would be more likely to amend it that problem: Sam or D'Antoni? This article and the raptors faithful are a joke. Settle down, look forward to the off-season moves and move on.