February 3, 2007
The Summer of Sam?
Lang wrote this today:
Long time readers of our site know that I have never been a fervent Sam Mitchell fan, and barring an incredible championship run the likes of which Toronto has never seen, I likely never will be. That being said, the Raptor’s recent surge into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference demands critics to sit up and take notice.
Amid the recent hushed cries for the coach’s head, following a Coach Of The Month award, a false sense of cautious confidence has fallen over Sam’s chair. Let’s not forget that the roster that registered 10-5 for the month of January was the very same lineup that started the season 2-8. Don’t overlook the broken plays and poor late-game coaching decisions just because opposing teams are gift wrapping games. And bear in mind that the Raptors, and more importantly the coaching staff, are entering totally unfamiliar territory.
Reaching the playoffs is one thing. Winning in the playoffs is battling an entirely different beast. No one beats the big boss in the last level of a video game the first time. Thus, the best approach for a young and inexperienced team is to maintain consistency and play extremely comfortable together. Know the controls, practice your best plays, and charge up your secret weapon. When the time comes to make a run into the playoffs, play the game in second nature.
In that sense, Sam Mitchell has succeeded in one aspect. In stark contrast to the musical chairs approach at the start of the season, Sam has stopped shaking the bottle and allowed players to settle into their roles. And not surprisingly, 9 new players have finally been able to integrate themselves into the system and play as a focused team.
The month of February will throw a litany of winning teams at the Raptors, and many NBA pundits are eager to see the team prove their pre-season predictions. With a solidified roster approach, a commitment to defense, and a patch of good luck, Sam may very well keep his job next year.
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Filed under: Raptors Forum
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Regardless of Sammy, over a series, I think the Raps have as good a chance as anyone in the East to come out on top in the end…and then, more than likely, get absolutely destroyed in the finals.
TT