Lots of this and some of that in here. And some Sam

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

We got up early for this?

Okay, how about a little poll: How many if you would like ‘em to shut it down for the last 69 games? Just put a lid on this season now, go on home, hope Bryan can fix this mess and get ready for the lottery?

After all, it is 13 games in already and the Raps are, what?, a game under .500? It’s over, right? Done. Kaput. In the toilet.

But if you want to stick it out, we’ll be around.

To wit:

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Action: A conspicuous absence

Reaction: Where’s BC?

Notably, or maybe not, the general manager wasn’t in his usual post-game spot going over the day’s affair with the coaches following that Boston debacle.

Maybe he had a family gig, maybe he had a Grey Cup party to get to. Maybe he was so ticked at the boos and the performance of his players and coaches that he knew it wouldn’t serve any usual purpose to be around.

Only he knows for sure.

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Here’s a little aside for all the Fire Sam, Hire This Big Name Unemployed Coach mob:

You can put out of your mind any thoughts of Jeff Van Gundy and Avery Johnson and Flip Saunders and whatever out-of-work familiar name you can pull out of your hat showing up here in mid-season.

First off, two of them are enjoying a year off from the grind spending money owed them by their former employers and one has just signed a long-term TV contract.

Secondly, no ex-coach with a big rep who’s worth his clipboard is going to come here without a lucrative long-term contract and I don’t see Bryan handing one of them out and limiting any options he’d have next summer.

Thirdly, I wonder if the frugality that seems to be sweeping Maple Leaf Sports these days would come into play when the bean counters realize they’ve got to pay Sam something north of $7 million to go away while bestowing a deal worth something like $12 million on one of the big names being bandied about.

So, not only do I not think it’s time to fire a coach (it’s 13 freaking games into the season!), there are other practical reasons to consider.

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Action: Bosh’s petulance

Reaction: Understandable but not necessary

Yes, Bosh was frustrated and mad and all that other stuff when he slammed the ball and took the timeout off.

But, really, that’s showing up teammates and coaches and does nothing and is entirely out of character.

If he’s pissed, go in the huddle and yell at someone. Yell at Sam. Yell at a teammate. Yell at a trainer. Yell at The Chicken.

Don’t let 19,800 fans, 50 media types, a nation of television viewers (if any of ‘em hadn’t clicked to Grey Cup preview by then) and the Celtics see that.

Being pissed is good. But there’s a right way and wrong way to send that message.

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Some mail:

Q: As one of our broadcaster friends said to me during halftime: "I got up early for THIS?". Anyway, during this outing I noticed a couple of non-play things: Kevin Garnett's bio lists him as 6'11". Standing next to the true 7-footer Bargnani, he appears taller than him [and Andrea was featuring some gravity-defying hair]. Is he REALLY 6'11"? [Perhaps his championship ring improved his posture?]. And, on the bright side, Andrea's hair looked really nice today.

Katrina W, Toronto

A: Glad to know someone’s got the lowdown on the hirsute needs of the team.

Garnett’s 7-feet tall if he’s an inch, I have no idea why they’d list him at 6-11. Vanity? Tomfoolery? Typos?

Oh, your broadcaster friend spoke for many of us.

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Oh, what’d they say in Boston? Here’s what they said in Boston.

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Action: First basket

Reaction: Troubling sign

You knew it was going to be a long, long day when Boston’s first bucket came off a wide-open three-pointer by Ray Allen in the corner. I know for a fact the game plan was, at the start at least, to let Jermaine O’Neal single cover Kendrick Perkins in the post and it was rather, um, disheartening to the coaches and players, to see Anthony Parker race over to double the aforementioned Perkins whilst Allen, who I believe is known as a shooter, settled in his favourite spot on the court.

Went downhill from there, didn’t it?

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One more from the mail bag:

Q: Doug, at what point do you shut José down a couple of games and give him a solid week off to mend his hammy? Me, I say now. Take your lumps with Roko and Will and let José get back to at least 85 per cent. Right now, you have the worst of all possible worlds: José hobbling, not getting better, and Raps losing. We need a healthy José for the entire season. Short term pain for long term gain. Hell, sign some development league stud to a 10-day to fill out the roster. Might have to do the same with J.O.

Lee Z, Ottawa

A: It’s as plain as the stain on my shirt that Jose’s not even close to 100 per cent. Yes, he’s got his defensive issues and Rajon Rondo’s quick but there’s no way in the past that he’s blown by Calderon with such ease and I can only chalk that up to the sore hamstring.

But shutting him down? I don’t know about that this week. I think the Charlotte and Atlanta games are virtual must-wins and 85 per cent of Calderon, or even 75 per cent, is going to be needed against Ray Felton and Mike Bibby.

I can’t imagine Calderon, O’Neal or even Bosh will practice much today and tomorrow so maybe that’s enough to have them ready for two pretty big games.

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A mystery uncovered.

Remember last week when someone asked about the patch that O’Neal’s wearing and we got suggestions that it was everything from a heart monitor to a heat patch to some mystical thing hook up to some weird machine in the back?

Well, the word from the man himself is that it’s an “energy patch” that emits small doses of stuff like amino acids and other things I know nothing about. O’Neal said he’s been wearing one for about three seasons and “some guys think they help, some guys don’t. I do.”

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Action: Kapono 0-0 FG in 12 minutes.

Reaction: This one’s on the coach

I know there are many, many moments when Jason passes up shots that he should take, or drifts into traffic rather than the corners but I know there are ways to at least get him a touch and a shot because we’ve seen them this time.

Not sure why those plays didn’t get called yesterday but with things going so terribly awry right from the start, Sam should have pulled something out of his hat for Kapono, just like he tried with the Jose-Roko backcourt.

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And, finally

Q: Teams sometimes have games (like Sunday) where they are being beat so bad they just can't wait for it to be over. Pre-season aside, do you and your fellow reporters likewise have games where you are just waiting for it to end or do you try to find the interesting story within the terrible game?

Hugh M, New York

A: Do we want some of these to end? Oh yeah. There have been games where we’ve hoped they’d forget to play the fourth quarter. Or go with a running clock. Or anything.

But the thing is, because we have bosses and space in the paper and gigabytes or whatever they’re called to file, we still have to find an interesting angle. Thankfully, you get guy having a tantrum or a good quote or a nice anecdote that gets you through the day and that stinging feeling in your eyes from having watched such garbage goes away.

Comments

[Dan]

What is the deal with Parker lately. Unless he gets streaky from three he can't hit a shot. On the other end any player he covers has a breakout game. I don't see them resigning him at 33 and obviously on the decline. Chances are he goes back overseas. With a 5 million expiring contract and a pick is there nobody they can get. What about Barbosa who is struggling in the new system or Martell Webster. They have Rudy F now and won't be able to keep all that young talent anyway.

[Mauro]

I understand your points on replacing SM now. But, to be fair, if the coach of the winning champion ( and winning of the Coy some times ago) does receive help coaching defense, why our own COY doesn't deserve a cheap X&O guru outside for the offense ?
He will be then able to focus on the defense...

[George]

They have figured the Raptors out. It might have been Leo who said it, maybe it was Devlin, I don't know. The whole game and everything that surrounded it just turns into one big convoluted mess of blow bys, dunks and three pointers... A Groundhog Day kind of experience. But I distinctly recall someone saying that the scouting report on the Toronto Raptors is out and they can't keep their men in front of them and make a mess of things when they rotate on defence. Who is to blame for this? Sam or the players? It will definitely be interesting to see what happens in the next few games. Calderon and O'Neal played at less than 100%; O'Neal probably played at 10%, which he shouldn't have. We can debate whether Sam should have even put him in, especially after seeing him wince in pain after each jumper. Like you said before Doug, two more games and we are off to the west... Things will probably get worse before they get better and I wonder how Bosh is going to deal with that.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I'm not looking at where the Raps stand 13 games into the season--I'm looking at a losing record 13 games into the season after last season's disappointing run and first round play-off exit. I think the perspective has to be cumulative. And I think the central question is whether the players have started tuning their coach out. It happens all the time--it's why Larry Brown and George Karl have worked for so many franchises. Change for change sake might be necessary for the Raps to succeed this year. Or not. I think Sam is a hoot and it would be great if he can turn it around, but 13 games turns into 30 pretty fast. As a fan I'm rooting for Sam and all the rest of them, but there is no denying that something is very wrong right now. Improvements over last year don't seem to be happening. And if I'm BC, I'm not happy just letting it fester.

AG, Toronto

[BF]

BC was in the house yesterday, but spent much of his time in his 6th floor office. Maybe he wanted to keep away from the stench, staying as far away from the court (the 6th floor is as high as you can go at the ACC) as possible?

[Uncle Zeke]

Garnett's approx. 7',1" and has been since his 2nd-3rd year... It's known that he doesn't want to be listed as a 7-footer because he doesn't want to be looked at or considered a center...

Oh and Sam Mitchell has to go.... Glad to see you're finally coming around...

[Sean Smith]

I hate to continually slay the sacred cow, but when does Bosh eventually get taken to task for his play in certain games? A big part of the reason that the Raps struggle against the Celtics and Pistons is that Garnett and Rasheed have OWNED Bosh since he came into the league. There is no other purported "MVP candidate" who gets so thoroughly shut down time and time again by the same guys.

In this case, add injured Calderon and O'Neal, and brain-dead performances by some people we've come to expect better from, and wasn't yesterday's blowout about expected?

[Matty-Pix]

I remember reading years ago that it was KG who didn't want to be listed at 7 feet, or refered to as a "7-footer" ... didn't want to be thought of as a centre or some rubbish ... but rather a Power Forward; well at 90 pounds, nobody is calling you a centre KG.

Maybe Roko's slicing through the lane will help create some looks for Kapono in that 2nd unit ... I sure hope so.

[Dagomar Degroot]

Someone over at ESPN did an article on the height thing a while back. Apparently players like Duncan or KG are often listed at 6'11" rather than 7' because there's a notion that seven-footers have a limited skillset. The more skilled players at that height want to be seen as below seven feet to emphasize the many things they can do. Weird? Yes. But perhaps understandable.

As for Bosh: it does not matter if he did something appropriate or inappropriate. The bottom line is that the Raptors are not improving, that he still doesn't have a superstar (or even obvious all-star) to play with, and that this team still has the sort of holes that will keep it from getting to the second round. There's little hope of that changing this season. That means next season things had better change really, really fast or Bosh is gone in 2010, and this team rebuilds around Calderon and Bargnani. That's not a future I'd like to contemplate. So Bosh's anger was not channelled properly, but the bigger concern is that it exists in the first place.

[Jason]

Doug,
Here's your quote: "This one’s on the coach"
You have said this quote or one similar 3 times in the last couple weeks. I can't remember you even saying this more than maybe once or twice in a whole season before. I believe the "Fire Sam" cries are are starting to get to you.
Anyways, if Sam goes, the Raps have a more than capable guy on the bench (Jay Trinano) that could fill in for the balance of the season so they would be fine.
Why would you make the arguement that they would need to bring someone and therefore it would never happen? Perhaps you don't agree he's a capable interm coach?

Blogger's note: Perhaps you missed this:
So, not only do I not think it’s time to fire a coach (it’s 13 freaking games into the season!), there are other practical reasons to consider

[Matty-Pix]

I know a $7 million buyout sounds rough ... but if at some point BC decides Sam is a main problem in getting the club to win, I think it's something he would do ... lots of folks here are getting paid lots of millions (like the Toronto Grunts) and if a few more million would equate to more winning ... giddy-up!

[aditya]

why not hire marc jackson? i am pretty sure he would be affordable and hes a former PG who would be a good X's and O's guy (sam mitchell is not a good X's and O's person)

Blogger's note: Mark Jackson has never, ever coached a single professional basketball game in his life, to suggest he would be a good Xs and Os guy is a stretch.

[firesammitchell.com]

Solution: Fire Sam and hire Jay Triano to be the interim coach, for the rest of the season.

Solves your frugality conundrum, leaves next summer open and doesn't ask of a lucrative multi-year contract.

Triano may not have his NBA teeth cut but 1)is a Canadian) hall-of-fame coach 2) would be the first Canuck coach and most importantly, 3) isn't Sam Mitchell.

Blogger's note: I love Jay but you're proposing they hire someone who has not cut his NBA teeth simply because he's Canadian and not the guy they fire? And that's going to fix what's wrong?

[Chad Nunn]

I've never said it before. I've heard it but haven't believed it, but Sam has got to go. It doesn't have to be a big name coach. Just someone who can get Jamario to the cup and get Kapono 3-5 3pt. attempts a game.
Boston should beat us. But nobody should beat us the way Jersey did.

[Mike D]

Doug,
I nearly had my head spontaneously combust on the play where Andrea hit his three just before he picked up his 3rd foul. JK got the ball in the corner and instead of steadying his feet and taking what would have still been an open three, he passed off to Andrea.

Yes the shot went in, but the end does not justify the means. The transition three is about the only time JK feels "open" enough to get off his shot; now that he's passing those up, whats left ? Sorry but I can't put it on the coach that we have a three point specialist who is terrified of taking 3's. But I can congratulate Sam for limiting JK to 12 minutes and I hope he doesn't see the floor Wednesday.

[Eric]

Hey Doug,

I beleive this is a mess the Raptors have themselves created. The team has been a bunch of pushovers and were again on the weekend, especially after JO left. Bosh is frustrated but I'll tell you what, if he wasn't so terrified of KG and letting him have his way for some ungodly reason every trip downcourt, maybe the Celtics wouldn't have been riding that stretch of superconfidence that we saw yesterday!! Just watch the first q again and tell me that Chris looked ready to play- because he was coasting like I do after 6 beers! It's not a coincidence that teams feel confident vs the Raptors. It's easy to feel confident when you feel you can get your way any time you want without so much as any resistence from your opponent.

I'm even more perturbed by the fact that Bosh and Mitchell looked pretty much the same way they looked when they played in Boston weeks ago- i.e. White flag waving! Is that acceptable? Are they that scared to acknowledge how easily they get pushed around by the C's that they have to pretend like it's not happening?

I agree about the practical things that would prevent the Raps from finding another coaching staff. But that's also the team's own doing. Is it not clear that this roster has had enough of Sam Mitchell? Either the players are not listening to him anymore or he's not communicating well. It's one or the other (and it may have always been like this) but the future looks bleak and the only recourse is to change the staff. This stage happens at the end of almost every coaching tenure! Unfortunately for the Raptors, they can't even do that because they have so much money tied up in him. Maybe if they'd seen the symptoms before they wouldn't have found themselves in this position today. Now they're just wasting time again- the same way they were wasting time when they lost to the underdog Nets in the playoffs, or when they kept TJ Ford around 8 or 9 months later than anyone else would have, or when they're waiting idly by for Andrea Bargnani to do something more, or when they're waiting to get another star post player to help Kapono find an open three (tell me, what happened with that?), etc. The culture around this team is to waste time and avoid change!... And they've brought it upon themselves every time!

I would honestly rather be 16-66 again because at least there'd be some hope. There's no hope like this. Stuck in the middle again. And their own doing!

- E

[Victor C]

Doug, you give some good, logical reasons why Jeff Van Gundy, Avery Johnson and Flip Saunders may not be interested in a vacant job as head coach. But what about newly unemployed Eddie Jordan?

Blogger's note: What little I know about people who've been just fired, it's that they want some time away from the fray, not to jump right back in it in the next little while.

[Kevin]

Jason: I hope Jay Triano gets a shot one day but is an assistant with limited experience (Olympic program) the answer when many seem to be screaming for immediate improvement? I question Sam's ability to get his players to do fundamentals while at the same time I question the players and their abilities to learn and then implement those skills.
I guess it goes back to Colangelo's doorstep but I am also aware that he was left with some expensive but bare cupboards when he got here.

[Kelsie]

I'm curious when I hear the Sam has got to go stuff from "Raptor" fans. What will be accomplished by doing that? Who will replace him and what will a new coach do that Sam can't?

If you think that Van Gundy, Saunders, Triano or whichever coach you think is dying to jet over here is going to come in here and make Calderon, Moon and Kapono better defenders and prevent dribble penetration I would pay to see that.

If you think that any of these retreads can make our swings find their long lost handle and get to the rim consistently, I would pay to see that as well.

If you think a new coach can come in here and get consistent performances from all of our bench guys on a nightly basis, then I will be the first guy to jump on the fire Sam bandwagon.

Until you can prove that can be done (which it cannot), it's game 13 people and it may seem like it's doomsday but it's not. Give them some more time to find themselves and then start the fire Sam campaign.

It's easy to suggest firing him but until you realize that you're only as good as your talent and the teams like the Celts beating us, have considerably more talent, then I suggest going back to rooting for the Leafs if you want to whine and complain about everything when things are rough.

[JW]

The past two games have been significantly frustrating to watch. In the fourh quarter/OT against NJ and the start against Boston, they just looked stagnant - almost terrified to make a mistake, which they end up making anyway.

I love Graham for the intensity/energy he brings off the bench, but the talent just isnt there. Would the raps be better off having that intensity level in place to start and finish games rather to bring it on in small spurts. To that end, would it be worth it to go over the tax level to bring in a player like Barbosa who can bring that intensity to start and finish games, but also have the talent such that he can be trusted to be on the floor in those situations?

Thanks, great work as always

[Rob]

Doug, I'm not sure how you read through all of the comments without wanting to pull your hair out. For every "fire Sam Mitchell" comment posted I imagine there are 10 others that don't get posted.

People, they're 6-7 not 6-20. It's great to see that the bar has been raised with Toronto Basketball fans and that .500 is no longer acceptible however that's exactly where we finished last year 41-41. Things are not looking so great right now however this is a looong season. There is plenty of time for Jose to heal, Jermaine to get back to 100% and the Raps to finish a few games over .500 this season.

All of our core players have become "better" players under Sam Mitchell i.e. Bosh, Calederon, Bargnani (this year). Are there concerns, yes, did they play horribly yesterday,yes. Have they tuned the coach out, I dont think so.. they typically play hard for him every night.

Now is NOT time to fire the coach.

[Amanda]

Well, apparently Eddie Jordan just got fired (which I don't understand) so maybe he'll be available?

I mean, I know the Wizards are 1-10 or something like that, but really, fired already? He was given so much praise last year for keeping the Wizards afloat and into the playoffs given their injuries. What do you think of it Doug, were they too quick to give him the axe?

Blogger's note: Yes, they sure were. I just said to someone here at practice that they should have erected a statue of him for dealing with Agent Zero all those years instead of firing him

[Drew L]

Any comments on Eddie Jordan being from the Wizards??? I knew that PJ was going to be fired from the Thunder sooner or later, but not Jordan....

Blogger's note: I think it's too early and an absolute act desperation and a front office covering its butt. But then again, I'm not around that team every day so that's a relatively uniformed opinion.

[Jake the BBall Fan]

The Raptors did not appear to be ready against the Celtics. They always fall short when it becomes a tight game like against New Jersey which the Raptors should have won if only Sam Mitchell assigned a bigger body like Bosh against Carter who was almost expected to take the last shot. Their play is so predictable (pick and roll or post up then kick out to a shooter when there is a double team). Sam makes a lot of money coaching in the NBA and he should take personal accountability when his team does not bring IT. He's always outcoached especially during close games, last year and consistently this year. Rewind those game tapes and see...

[Zack]

I've got to agree with Andrew Gregg. As much as I like Sam, maybe the team needs a fresh start. I would love to see the Raps go on a tear and renew the fans faith in the team and the coach but as we have seen on many teams before, sometimes a coaching change can bring a new and fresh mentality to a talented yet stagnant group.