A muted reaction at best

Fooled ya, didn’t I? I know, you all came here in the middle of the night to see if there’d be another 3 a.m. post (it’s sort of like getting up for a middle-of-the-night feeding of the infant, no?) and this wasn’t here.

Ha ha ha.

Trip sort of caught up to me yesterday. Seems when you’re out west with the different time zones and deadlines and, oh yeah, the firing of a coach, you’re typing or putting up comments or travelling every minute of the day.

That, and the first snow-delay on a flight made me a tad grumpier than usual last night so social events were on tap, not writing.

But now? Well, it’s bright and early out here so here we go:

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When’s a reaction not a reaction? When you’re in some community centre gym trying to get Raptors to wail about how they let down their coach and they love Sam and they feel like crap and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Didn’t really happen, as I’m sure you’ve read.

Sure, some of the guys seemed to feel a little sheepish but not really as sheepish as you’d think.

But they know coaches are hired to be fired, just like they’re signed to be traded and while I’m sure there was some sadness on Wednesday, but Thursday it was time to look forward rather than back.

When I was talking to Sam the night of the deed, he sort of expressed the same expectations, that the players he’d spoken to felt bad but not terrible. He figured they’d be down for about an hour and then move on. It’s the way of the sports world.

I’m sure many of you think it’s because they hated the coach or tuned him out or whatever. I think it was more a normal reaction than anything nefarious.

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There were a couple of bristly moments, though.

Someone asked Bosh if the team had “under-achieved” and he got more ticked than I’ve seen him in a while.

“What is under-achieving? The season isn’t over, we’re 8-9, we’re one game under .500 and it’s early on. It could be a lot worse. I mean, what is under-achieving? I don’t know if you under-achieve in a couple of games, then that’s a couple of games, you can’t do anything about that. Under-achieving is on a long-term basis.”

This was about half an hour after someone had suggested to Bryan that there might be flaws in his roster.

“We’ve got a great group of players, I’m really, really tired and incensed reading about what we lack. We’ve got a lot of things that aren’t talked about. You’re not going to have an all-star at every position. Teams that do either have chemistry problems or they’re championship contenders and right now we’re building toward that championship status and continuing to evolve as a team. Is it the best team that I’ve had? Yeah, I think so.”

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Okay, I need to expose a fallacy being perpetrated, I believe, by the folks of Salt Lake City.

You know all this stuff about you can’t get a good beer or have a good time here? How you’ve got to join clubs, and etc., etc., etc? Well, they’re lying to you.

My man Rogers H of the Sun and I found a great sports bar with flat screen HD TVs in every booth (caught the end of the Leaves game and that Brian Burke’s sure had an immediate impact, hasn’t he?) with – and this is big, people – Samuel Smith’s Organic Lager.

That’s one of the all-time great adult beverages and one I’d only ever found before on the road at St. Elmo’s in Indy and some place I can’t recall in Seattle, I believe.

Then we wander down to another nightspot to meet the Fine Folks Of The Flight Crew along with Jack and Eric and Paul Elliott (the brains behind the whole organization, I believe) and there’s a great draught called Chasing Tail.

Really, this city’s got something going for it.

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Quick one from the mail (and don’t worry, I’ve read ever single letter that’s been sent this week and will have a big ol’ mailbag Sunday morning, it sort of fits best into my life to run it then this week. And, as we know, it’s all about me)

Q: Hi Doug, I love the Blog and read it everyday. My Question pertains to the Idaho Stampede's star shooting guard Coby Karl(who's averaging 24pts and 6 assists). Hypothetically speaking, would he represent an improvement upon Hassan Adams as a reserve 2/3? If so, how difficult would it be to bring him to the Raptors?

Matt N, London

A: Yes, he probably is better than Adams but that’s not really the question, is it? The question is whether he’s better than the guys who play ahead of Adams and I don’t think that’s the case. Replacing the 12th man on a 13th man roster is the last thing these guys should be worried about.

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Oh yeah, here’s what they’re saying in Salt Lake about tonight’s contest, a game that begins at 10:30 p.m. back home only because of ESPN, by the way.

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Things you see in a plane: The other day, flying from some city to some other city on a flight with no meal service, we get up over cruising altitude and this lady two seats over reaches in her purse and pulls out a tomato the size of a softball. Odd.

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So we’re in the team hotel Wednesday afternoon in Denver and who else is there? The San Antonio Spurs, checking in for last night’s game with the Nuggets.

Just got a fleeting glimpse of Matt Bonner so I couldn’t ask him about his line of shoes and that story a couple of weeks ago about how boring he and his life is.

But I’m hearing maybe it’s not so boring.

Matt’s out for coffee with E. Smith (and I presume Smith buys ‘cause I don’t think Matt would have a coffee coupon handy) and while they’re walking on one side of the street, this high, lilting, lady’s voice calls out from the other side.

“Hi, Matt. Hi, Matt.”

They look over and it’s Eva Longoria out for a walk with her husband. Yeah, Bonner’s got that boring life indeed.

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One more question, that’s kind of fitting for the moment:

Q: Hey Doug, I was just looking at the standings and the Spurs are in 9th, putting them one spot out of the playoffs (for now). The worst part is that they have almost double the number of wins as the team behind them (9 for the Spurs and 5 for Golden State). Has this team run its course or will some tweaks to the roster and whatnot make it a championship contender again?

Ryan G, Toronto

A: Seeing how the Spurs drilled the Nuggets in Denver last night, I think any suggestion of their demise is far, far, far premature. I still think, now they’ve got Manu and Parker back, when the dust settles, they might be the team that gives the Lakers fits in the playoffs. Don’t sleep on the Spurs.

Comments

[Alex]

"Things you see in a plane: The other day, flying from some city to some other city on a flight with no meal service, we get up over cruising altitude and this lady two seats over reaches in her purse and pulls out a tomato the size of a softball. Odd."

LOL Doug you're one of a kind!

(By the way, while waiting in a barbershop once a long time ago, I saw an old man pull a potato our of his jacket and eat it like an apple... Things you see in a mall in Ottawa.)

[Pete]

Wow... the Eva Longoria story was by far one of the best you put up... that made my morning. More Eva please!!!

[Michael]

Hey Doug, who are the Leaves?

Blogger's note: NHL team

[B.G.]

Goug,
My question is... if Sam Mitchell is hired by another NBA team, would the Raptors still be on the hook for his existing Raptor contract, or would Sam's 'new' contract with another NBA Team simply nullify the Raptor's former salary obligations?
Thanks,

Guelph, Ont.

Blogger's note: In most cases,the value of any new deal would be taken off what the Raptors owe

[Cal Lowen]

Hello Doug,

Still no APOLOGY from you for your rude dismissals about readers suggesting Sam would be gone soon???

And by the way, maybe YOUR job should be on the line for telling Toronto Star readers (who indirectly pay your salary) that you wish that they rot in hell???

Your comment was utterly deplorable and you need to relax and have thicker skin. Maybe this blog thing isn't for you?

Cal Lowen

[Steve Graham]

I have to think that the extremely defensive reactions of both Bosh and Colangelo indicate that they are well aware that the players are under-achieving and there are some serious holes in this roster that a coaching change is unlikely to resolve. The other thing I thought was interesting was a comment that BC made the other day where he suggested a coaching change was necessary to determine whether the team just needed a kick in the pants to play up to its potential or whether there really were significant personnel issues requiring major changes. Obviously he's been thinking about this along with the rest of us. Given the current lack of flexibility regarding the cap and marketable assets, those potential major changes would almost surely have to involve some of the previously untouchable core players (unless they can somehow coax a major free agent or two to come north). The rest of this season and the following off season might prove to be very interesting.

[Claudio D.G.]

Hi Doug. I'm not sure you mind, but after a night of thinking, I kind of changed my point of wiew a bit. I still believe the G.M had to shake the things up somehow, and, anyway, he couldn't fire Sam without the approval of the main players (which, on the other hand, are just mercenaries!)but I'm sounding right now that a self-defence by Brian Col. had much to do with it. This is not at all a well constructed roster, and after 3-4 years of the job, the owners (and public opinion)asked B.C. to respond on it. He, obviously, had to find out a scapegoat for a season that is (and will be)a failure. No surprise, he chose to account on the coach. Honestly, only the time will say if the Raptors with a new coach will be better than the old ones.

[Mihai Negulescu]

Hi Doug,

I noticed that when NBA TV 'broke' the news that Sam was fired, they've contacted David Aldridge of the Philadelphia Inquirer for more ‘in-depth info'.

Don’t you think it would have be more appropriate (not to mention more informative) to contact on of you beat grunts that actually cover the Raptors? I mean David just made a few general and obvious points that any NBA fan would know anyways… it was definitely not an in-depth information.

What is your take on this?

Thanks.

Blogger's note: It might have been but they use their own people, no big deal.

[Peter Z]

Oh Doug, weak weak attempt to diss Brian Burke and the Leaves. Stick to b-ball, please :)

Re: the Spurs, no one should be sleeping on them, that's for sure. They might be on their last legs but I got a feeling they'll be playing the Lakers in the Western Conf finals again.

And good to see Bosh getting riled up at being labelled underachievers. Yes, it's too early to call them that... but let's hope this agitation translates onto the court tonight!

[Tree]

I agree with (Bryan's quote? - the second one) that this is a better team then its record suggests and that you can't have all-stars at every position. I think between Bosh's play, Caleron's play, Bargnani's slow improvement and JO giving the Raps what they hoped for, this is not a below .500 team. Champs? Don't think so, but chumps? Definitely not. On to a question unrelated to this week's happenings:

Doug - I've come to notice that you and Feschuk seem to have a different take on the team (or at least how you cover the team). It seems as though you're more positive ans supportive, while Feschuk can be negative and focus on the flaws of the team. Is this by design? Are you our level-headed grunt, while Feschuk is the guy feeding (as ESPN's Sports Guy says) the "Raptors Truthers"?

Blogger's note: No design at all.

[kelsie]

Hey Doug,

I had a chance to catch Bosh's take on the firing. Maybe it was just me but he didn't seem too pleased and was rather curt with the media. What do you think he's really feeling right now cause I'm worried?

Blogger's note: He was curt but, frankly, I wouldn't read anything sinister into it at all. I think he's thinking the season isn't lost at 8-9, like a few of us are.

[Chris C]

I was really upset watching Kenny Smith's reaction to the Raptors on the pregame show the other night. The smirk on his face while doing the interview and the ripping of Jose is crazy. Maybe he hasnt watched enough Raptor games to see what Jose brings on a nightly basis. Jose will never get the respect that come to Chris Paul, Tony Parker or others. I am glad to see that the ESPN game of the week will be the Cavs Raptors so the rest of the people like him can see that we do have some good players. Yes there are holes to fill but like BC says, we are building into contenders and while we are a few years away without a doubt, there is no reason why this team cannot turn the season around and be a team that no one wants to face opening round of the playoffs.

[Pipit]

Doug, who do you think of all the Raptors players are much more affected (emotionally and in terms of playing time) with the loss of Sam?

Blogger's note: Can't tell you about the minutes until we see what Jay does but I figure you may see less Jamario and more Joey; more Kapono, too. Emotionally? None. It's business. Things happen, you feel bad for a minute and move on.

[Darren (Halifax)]

Hey Doug, I was watching a bit of the SAS @ DEN last night only to notice that the Red Rocket has somehow made his way onto the Spurs starting lineup!?! Is this due to an injury plagued team or has his game really developed that much? Dude's got a ring and is hanging with Eva, well done good sir!

[Pipit]

Doug on your own opinion, did Bryan consulted first Bosh regarding the firing of Sam before he pulled the trigger?

Blogger's note: No, he absolutely did not

[Terence G]

I would just like to point out that:

A. Doug isn't a punching bag -so just MAYBE- his blog shouldn't be used as a forum for throwing around insults and attacks?
B. Doug is not God, so yes, he actually does get it wrong sometimes.

[Darko Dubajic]

Even though I was never big on Sam's X & O's, he was very good in some other areas. Probably the best at getting them to play hard and compete almost every game. And that in itself in today's sports is accomplishment, unfortunately. Here is why.
At the time, budy of mine was playing for the Pistons and I drove to Detroit for that famous Chris Childs game. After the game I am vaiting for my buddy and few Pistons came out and not at all pleased that they just won the plaoff series??? Quite a few of them had booked private jets to go and enjoy their holidays and this stuppid thing (2 nd round of playoffs ) got in the way. So, whoever can make these guys play hard and acctualy care, all the power to him. I wish Sam would have got assistant coach who is strong in X&O's to help him out a bit.
Sam will be back soon somewhere, no doubt in my mind. He is a smooth dude, he did not have much talent yet he played 13 years. He was lame duck, GM's "Excuse" coach since the day BC came onboard and he managed himself 2 more years and nice little contract extension. Between Sam's philosophy grind and defence and our GM's Phoenix-GS style shoot in 7 sec.or less (which is a joke and insult to game of basketball, and never did nor it will ever win anything) give me Sam any day of the week.
I would like to thank Sam for what he's done in Toronto and wish him all the best.

[GM]

While Colangelo obviously has to be held responsible, one way or another, for the make-up of the team, I simply don't get those that think he should be gone. Half-decent GMs are even harder to come by than coaches, who basically are interchangeable. Look around the league, how many really good GMs are there? A few. If he goes, who replaces him? And also, Colangelo haters (I refuse to call him BC because in my mind that will always be Big Country!), keep in mind Mitch Kupchak and Danny Ainge, two GMs who were thought to be utterly useless until one big trade turned their teams around.

Oh, and Cal Lowen, Smith wasn't telling all, or even most, of his readers to rot in hell; he was just reacting to idiots who took personal jabs at him instead of sticking to neutral facts and opinions.

[sean]

It's 17 games into the season. 17 / 82 games. Fan should calm down. I agree with the BC's move; the way they lost to Denver signals a change.

[Tim M.]

Has anybody seen this? Dave Berri of _The Wages of Wins_ fame doesn't think firing Sam is going to do much to improve the team:

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/sam-mitchell-learns-that-bad-shopping-can-get-you-fired/

It's an interesting read. I found it via Truehoop.

[Archie gillespie]

Hey Doug, really looking forward to the game tonight. What's lost in all of the goings on are impacts and reactions from the other assistant coaches, whom I'm guessing spent more "intimate" time working together with Sam than the players did. Haven't read or heard any reactions from Evans or English. Initial shock then business as usual?

Blogger's note: Business as usual.

[Slovenian Sensation]

A) For those of you who are critiquing DSmith for getting upset at some of the reactions probably aren't realizing that DSmith likely censored the truly nasty obscene stuff that he gets. This is the internet, and a lot of people can be jerks when they think they are acting anonymously.

B) I think Mitchell was a pretty good coach. I also think that this team is better than its record. A few times this season, when everything is clicking, they look deadly.

C) The team was under performing, Mitchell has probably exhausted everything that he can say to get them to play with more passion. I think a big part of this change was made for the sake of change and to see if someone else could get something out of them.

On a side note, Moon has been frustrating. The guy is in a contract year and about to make some real money, but he just seems content with where he is now. All the talent, but no burning desire...

[Kendal]

Hi Doug -

This is a follow up to one of the previous comments. I think some readers need to relax themselves and open their eyes to the 21st century. There are no apologies in blogging - this is your outlet for divulging your OPINION on the Raptors. If someone can tell you to "relax" and have "thicker skin" in the same sentence as calling for you to be fired, maybe they are the ones who need to relax and/or stop reading the blog.

Cheers,
Kendal

[SY]

I just don't understand why some Raptors fans are already abandoning the season given a 8-9 start. I totally agree that the Raptors is far from a flawless team but they are definitely better than a .500 team. We have 3 high-percentage 3 pt shooters (Kapono, Parker and Jose), 3 good bigs (CB, JO and Andrea), 1 legit point guard (Jose) and 2 extremely athletic guys (Graham and Jamario). I am fully aware that Jamario is on the downhill but I have high hopes on Graham and I think he should be given more minutes on the floor. He has potential to be the next Iguodala and he should certainly set his goal towards that direction too. If I were the head coach, I would probably assign an assistant coach on Joey just to work on his defense and hold him responsible for defending the best guy on the opposing team nite in and nite out. I even like our point guard situation - Jose is a good floor general and Ukic (though still a bit raw but has lots of potential) has size and speed - with opposing point guards like Rondo and Billups, I would probably use more of Ukic (Just give him some specific instructions while he's on court - keep up with those guys, avoid turnovers and just run some simple offense) and with opposing point guards like Fisher, for sure I would use more of Jose.....

Basketball is a game about match-ups. You can put a lot of effort on the court but with a poor match-up, your effort would probably be wasted.

-SY

[Rahulan S]

Doug,

I know its only been one practice, but do you see any changes forthcoming in Triano's rotations to what we've seen so far from Sam. I think the rotation in today's game could clue into what his feelings are on certain players ie, Graham vs Moon vs Kappono, Roko vs Soloman.