Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted June 28, 2004 Here it is for those who don't want to click on the link. Mon, June 28, 2004 A Confident Mitchell Just the Ticket for Raptors By BILL HARRIS CANADIANS CAN only hope the prime minister they elect today has as much self-confidence as Sam Mitchell. As first reported in The Saturday Sun, the Raptors are going to hire Mitchell as their new head coach. An announcement likely will be made tomorrow, since general manager Rob Babcock won't be back in Toronto till tonight. It's expected Mitchell will sign a three-year contract (the third year may be a team option) and will earn between $1.5 million and $2 million US annually. That's comparable to the deal Kevin O'Neill got from the Raptors a year ago. Mitchell, 40, never has been an NBA head coach before. In fact, he has been an assistant coach for only two seasons, following a 13-year playing career. He finished a distant third in the Raptors coaching sweepstakes last spring, behind O'Neill and runner-up Dwane Casey. But despite a thin resume, Mitchell -- who was set to be the lead assistant coach with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats next season -- took a strikingly bold, calm and measured stance when the Raptors came calling this year. According to NBA sources, Mitchell never formally interviewed for the Raptors' job this time around. Basically, Mitchell's way of thinking with regard to the Raptors' interest in him was this: I went through your protracted interview process last year, you know what I'm about, so if you want me, just come and get me. Otherwise, I don't want to go through another dog-and-pony show. If you'll recall, the Raptors were accused of running a dog-and-pony show during their recent two-month search for a GM. Some of the most obvious candidates expressed horror at the high number of people the Raptors were interviewing, and basically adopted the attitude Mitchell eventually borrowed: Do your homework, and if you want me, you know where I am. But if you just want to have a meet-and-greet, wine-and-cheese party, count me out. Interestingly, the two other finalists for the Raptors' coaching job this year -- Casey, an associate coach with the Seattle SuperSonics, and Mike Woodson, an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons -- did go through interviews, despite the fact they were candidates last year, too. Maybe absence makes the heart grow fonder. Regardless, Mitchell's "I'm not desperate" veneer revealed a sense of self-worth that he'll need if he's going to make the tough transition from good assistant coach to good head coach. Mitchell will be the sixth head coach in Raptors history. Besides Lenny Wilkens, the other five have been former NBA assistants working as the top man for the first time. The Raptors' success rate on this front is abysmal. Brendan Malone lasted one season. Darrell Walker a season and a half. Butch Carter two and a half seasons. And Kevin O'Neill one season. Can Mitchell snap the streak? How many of his own assistants Mitchell gets to bring with him remains unclear, although it's a lock one of them will be Jim Todd, who worked alongside Mitchell when both were assistants with the Milwaukee Bucks. Raptors director of player personnel Alex English will have a role to play on the bench, and it isn't known if incumbent assistant Jay Triano will stay in that position or will be re-assigned. Regardless, assistant coaches can do only so much if the head coach doesn't act like a head coach. Most people who have worked with Mitchell laud his ability to kick butts and pat backs, at the appropriate junctures. He'll need all his people skills to communicate with a Raptors locker room that is full of sensitive underachievers. In other words, Sam Mitchell will need a demeanour that is almost, well, prime ministerial. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted June 28, 2004 That, in a nutshell, is why the Raptors will never amount to much. Is there even ONE big thinker in the front office? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted June 28, 2004 As long as you're building your team around Vince Carter, you're never going to win shit, no matter who your coach is. (I'm not saying you as in YOU, just a general statement.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted June 28, 2004 As long as you're building your team around Vince Carter, you're never going to win shit, no matter who your coach is. Hurts to say it, but it's true. I still think Carter's a star, but he's not a guy who can carry a whole franchise - he needs another person to help carry the load. I'm thinking that the Raps should build around Bosh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted June 29, 2004 Hey, there's nothing wrong with Sam Mitchell. The guy mentored Kevin Garnett when he came into the league and KG credits him with a lot of his success and with helping him mature as both a player and a man. He's a good guy, smart, NBA vet who the players will respect. This is probably the smartest coaching move the Raptors have EVER made. As for Vince Canada, he's not all that his acolytes claim him to be, and he's not all that his detractors claim either. He's too arrogant for my tastes, but he is a hell of a scorer though, and with the right team around him there's no reason he can't take a team far into the playoffs. You can blame his injuries for Toronto's recent slide, but remember that when he was healthy he got his team to within a missed FG attempt of the EC finals. Get him some more help besides Marshall, Rose and Bosh and that team can be a contender again. What they really need is a legit center who can board and clog the lane on D, so for their sake I hope Araujo works out for them and can produce right away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted June 29, 2004 What they really need is a legit center who can board and clog the lane on D, so for their sake I hope Araujo works out for them and can produce right away. Well, since they're not looking for him to score, I think he'll be OK. Either that or he's just the latest on the list of stiffs the Raptors have had at centre - Zan Tabak, Michael "Yogi" Stewart, TAFKA Hakeem Olajuwon... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted June 29, 2004 Somebody give Chris Bosh the Ben Wallace workout routine and he'll become that legit centre the Raps need. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted June 29, 2004 TAFKA Hakeem Olajuwon... Hahahahahaha Don't forget Acie Earl! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted July 2, 2004 The good thing is that if Mitchell really messes up, it's not like he's ruining the team. They really can't get much worse with their present line up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
