How good are the Raptors really? Compared to last year, they are leagues better, with: a bona fide all-star; one of the best back courts in the league; ROY candidate; one of the best GM’s in the business; and depending on who you talk too, a COY candidate. At one point, the Raptors were the 4th seed in the East because they had the 4th best record. Now, they enjoy their position of privilege (home court advantage for the 1st round of the playoffs) because they lead the Atlantic by 5 games (36-31 for the season). Based on their current record, they are a half game behind Miami for 7th best record in the East. Will I take it? The short answer is yes. The long one is, well, longer…
I want to start by saying that this years incarnation has been a God-send for me. The quality of my life has increased 40% because of how good they are playing. After the last few years, I seriously have been considering shifting my allegiance to some other team, worthy of my tormented support. I was unable too; unfortunately my love for this team has not diminished with their poor performance…with the arrival of Colangelo only sinking the tight grip this team has on me further.
The last 10 games, the Raptors going 5-5, have shown us what this team is made of (or is missing, depending on your perspective). Seems like Bosh and Ford are really frustrated with something. Speculation from this lowly fan is that they are not happy with Mitchell. Mitchell has tinkered with his rotation too much. This is the time of year where you tighten the rotation, and buckle down for the playoffs. The only person to come out and support Mitchell getting a contract extension, interestingly enough, is Stephon Marbury. What does this say in terms of support, when Bosh and Ford are not singing the same verses? There seems to be some discension among the players towards Mitchell.
I suspect the way Morris Peterson has been handled is a sour spot for everyone. It seems that Morris Peterson’s production has decreased this year, but there are many reasons: he has had to split minutes between Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbasoja, Fred Jones/Juan Dixon, and Joey Graham. He is the 5th or 6th offensive option (he enjoyed 3rd and 4th status in seasons passed). Apparently his defense has diminished, but I am hard pressed to make a case for that. He is in a contract year, which historically means a player is producing the best season possible. It only stands to figure that this could be his last big pay day, before he is relegated to 2-3 million a season, so it is also reasonable to say he would be playing his balls off to land a 4/$24 type deal he is in the market for.
Mitchell’s constant tinkering with the rotation has taken its toll. The starting 5 have been in tact (injuuries aside) all season. Who comes off the bench is becoming the point of contention. After Calderon and Bargnani, and more recently Juan Dixon, seems like the rest take turns at being in the dog house. Is it reasonable to expect an 8th or 9th man to come into a game, and stop the best player on the other team for a meaningful period of time? Is it reasonable to expect that same player to play at a high level in garbage time? I know Swirsky et al talk about being ready to play at all times when you are on the bench (probably after being coached on this notion), but you wouldn’t be happy at being thrown to the wolves at the points in the game that the best on your team should be playing…would you? I know I wouldn’t.
Why is there even a Morris Peterson controversy? Minutes and roles aside, how do you go from a valuable veteran contributor, to playing behind Joey Graham (who needs a mentor from his coaching staff, something he obviously is not getting)? Can Mitchell be blamed for all of this? That is also another hard question, that I can only begin to answer by drawing a comparison to what I do. During my 9to5, I work in technology consulting. I have the dubious task of managing technology projects. Project management is not an exact science, you can plan and schedule all you want, but at the end of the day, you are executing on a plan drawn by humans…things go wrong.
The sign of a good project manager is that of one who can identify a risk (something that could potentially screw a plan up), and deal with it before it becomes an issue (something that has screwed a plan up). Mitchell has done a horrible job of identifying and dealing with risks. Simply saying that guys need to be ready to play, and come out, is not enough. Motivation, mentoring, leadership; these are all attributes that a coach must possess. Phil Jackson gives his guys books on the ‘Art of War’, and Zen Budhism.
Which brings me back to the lack of support from his players who have the loudest voices. What does that tell you? As much as he is liked by whoever is around him, and as much as his work has been appreciated, his time seems to be over with this organization.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
You know some might wonder whether Toronto fans can ever be happy. Sam, you clearly discuss the fact that the team is better, your life is better, but as fans we are searching for perfection. What gives me hope is that we are moving in the right direction, what scares me is that Mitchell could actually get a contract extension. The guy is a firecracker, his interviews with the media fit more into a talk radio show on 640 then they do discussing sports and I can’t imagine its any different in the dressing room. I just hope he doesn’t do more damage than possible in the last few games of the season. As I’ve stated time and again, you can’t give players excuses, top notch gm, top notch coach, both proven…. the players have to perform.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Swirsky needs to get off the radio. Please, all I want is a peaceful afternoon listen on the radio with someone who knows what hes talking about and isn’t lining up to bob the next player, executive, or water boy for mlse.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
I wouldn’t say perfection, but you are on the right track. and mitchell getting a contract extension scares the hell out of me too. it wouldn’t make sense right now. for so many years, we underpaid gm’s and brought in cheap coaches (lenny wilkens aside, but he took us to two playoffs). with colangelo in the picture, all that is left is a premier coach, be it larry brown, rick adelman (my choice), iavaroni (probably the next coach). If we sign a coach that no other organization is considering for head coach, or resign mitchell, i reccomend a revolution. thats just me though, i don’t know how everyone feels about it.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:37 am
what’s happening to mo pete is no mystery . from the start , i felt that sam is biased against raptors in the like up before he joined the team . except for chris bosh, a 2nd year raptor then , he has ‘disrespected’ ‘em all - carter,rose,marshall etc. sam wants to coach young players only and his own vets like d. martin . to sam, mo pete has ‘outlived’ his usefulness as a raptor !
March 20th, 2007 at 11:16 am
I personally like what Mitchell has done with the Raps. if you look at what the raps have done this season, then as a true raptor fan you should be excited and have nothing bad to say. Mitchell may not be the best coach for the Raps, but right now he’s has a winning team with playoff asperations and he should be repected for what he has accomplished. as far as an extention goes…wait until the offseason, if Colangelo wants to take the team in another direction that doesnt include Mitchell then so be it, but if he resigns him then he is the future coach of the Raps. Plain and simple, the Raps are better this year then last year, they are going to make the playoffs and any negative press should wait until the off season.
March 20th, 2007 at 11:24 am
wow, i had a suspicion about that, but since i am not in the ‘know’, i didnt really know, lol. it seemed as though productivity of the players all dropped once mitchell became the coach, other players would start off strong, but fade into oblivion - but my dumb ass never put two and two together.
as far as your point juddi, you are right, mitchell is the coach until he isn’t. i think the frustration comes from what seems to be up and down progress. there is no reason to take dallas to the last possession of a game, lose by 2 points to phoenix, but then on the other hand to get blown off the floor against new york (who were missing quinton richardson, david lee AND jamal crawford) at this point of the season. this should be the time of year everyone is happy, and playing hard - not with dissention in the ranks, your best players fading into the background, and getting ran off the floor by an inferior team. something is clearly wrong, dont you think?
March 20th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
by fading into the background, i didn’t mean bosh is falling off. at times, far too often for my taste, he is a non-factor. that is all i meant.
March 21st, 2007 at 9:54 am
if the raps were in the west then I would be worried about them losing to inferior teams (not to say i wasnt upset), but because they are in the East (more specifically the Atlantic) I dont fret so much over a lost to the Knicks. I dont like it at all, especially getting blown out by a deplated team, but on any given night I feel the Raps can win and teams like Jersey and the Knicks can lose. I’m just happy that we have a team with a winning record and possilby home court advantage first round. GO RAPS GO.
ps isnt it funny that the heat isnt on the raps really right now because of the Leafs drive to the playoffs? if the leafs fall short, i expect the vultures to be all over the Raps come playoffs.
March 21st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
it is funny actually. belak put down last night man, hes a tough dude. i really enjoyed that game.