Reader: There can be no question that it is time for Sam Mitchell to go. He has proven that last year was an anomaly and he is a 25-30 win coach. His rotations make no sense and he is ruining the promise of Andrea Bargnani by constantly benching him instead of letting him play through the defensive issues. Looking at this team, who do you think could be the next coach to get this team to where they need to go?
Mike, Toronto
Doug Smith*: Obviously, you.
*Toronto Star’s resident Raptor blogger and frequent Mitchell apologist - a stance he’s never defended with the slightest smidgeon of depth or basis.
Smarmy response. In the comments, Smith goes on to say (abrasively):
“I think I’ve made myself perfectly clear, I think he’s a good coach, I do not think they should — or will — make a change. So, to ask “who’s next?” is not going to get a legit reply. “
A legit reply or a civil one addressing the facts would convey some journalistic respect of the ‘dialogue’ the internet is predicated on. To retort, it raises the question: How (or more importantly, how on [expletive] earth) is Sam Mitchell in the Good coach pile?
Envision an opposing team’s coaching staff hunkered down at the morning meeting — frazzled, trying to second guess the Raptor’s gameplan on game day?
“We HAVE to be prepared. Anything is possible with Mitchell and his ingenious coaching staff. This is a well coached team able to handle dynamic situations much like Bellichek and Brady were able to adjust at the line of scrimmage. We are going to have to be prepared defensively to deal with that intricate Horns Up play, and watch for their cutters…wait, I forgot they don’t have cutters! Anyone want to go see a movie? I heard Semi-Pro was moderately funny!”
March 27th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I’m on again/off again with Doug Smith. I agree completely with what you said in this post. Not addressing legitimate criticisms of Sam is one thing. But responding with high school-like jabs is a joke.
But you have to give him credit for taking a stance today on the neverending TJ/Jose debate. If you didn’t read it, he admitted that he’s now become a Jose supporter, and get gave reasons why. Respect for not ALWAYS being just another Toronto media homer.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Thats classic liberal politics. Rather than responding directly in a professional manner, he demonizes anyone who would dare disagree with his obviouly superior viewpoint. That attitude is arrogant and elitist. He must work for the Star.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:51 am
What I can’t figure out, is why on channels such as sportscentre, why they never mention “Sam’s in the hotseat” or “Sam should be fired” or at the very least”Sam isn’t that good of a coach. I’ve always felt he wasn’t a good coach, even last year when he won coach of the year. I understand Gm of the year because Bryan colangelo was the one who completely revamped the roster.
Since Sam Mitchell has been the coach of the Raps, he has never been an X’s and O’s type of guy, and don’t get me started about his subsitution patterns or failure to run simple plays. I’m just tired of him and am not looking forward to the playoofs.