Now Or Never For Raptors

Sam Coaching For His Future?

His team is down 3-1 and on the brink of elimination. There has been much speculation that his own future with the team is in doubt. Monday’s game in Orlando many feel could be Sam Mitchell’s farewell performance as Raptors coach. If his team can live another day and extend this series will it be enough to save him? That is what many are thinking out there. But is Bryan Colangelo thinking that way. Larry Brown recently left his position with the Philadelphia 76ers. Jeff Van Gundy brother of Stan is working as a television analyst. These are two big names that are out there should Bryan pick up a telephone. The question is will he and should he. I think you can not question the Raptors effort in this series as far as how they have played other then 2 quarters of this series. Even in the 4th quarter collapse of yesterday it was not because of lack of effort.

Sam Mitchell could easily get a new job as well if Toronto showed him the gate. Charlotte and Indiana would be at the top of the list of Sam Mitchell suitors as they were last year. The bigger question is does Bryan Colangelo blame himself or Sam for the teams lack of success. If Bryan Colangelo feels the mistakes are his more then Sam’s fault, Mitchell firing talk is likely not valid. It is a hard choice if you evaluate it honestly. Mitchell has had great success with some of his players and with others he has not. You can point to the development of Chris Bosh and say Sam is a part of that. You can point to Andrea Barganani’s lack of development and say Sam is a part of that. You could do the same on many issues.

 

But no one is brave enough to ask the question to Mitchell yet about his job status. Knowing the man the answer you would get would likely not get you much of anything. The Sam answer for that would go something like, There are 30 coaching jobs in this league everyone is on the hot seat all the time. All I can do is control how my team plays in it’s next game. Having listened to Sam over the years that is my best guess at his answer to that question. But he was asked about his team being down 3-1 and what they had to do to focus as far as Game 5:

 

Sam Mitchell “Well, I mean the focus is go into Orlando and win a basketball game and try to get back home. I mean it’s just that simple. There is nothing brilliant I can tell you other than we have got to focus and remember that we came within a shot of winning down there in game two, so we know that we are capable of playing well there. We have got to fight like the Dickens. We’ve got to go out kicking and screaming and so everything we’ve got we got to put into it.”

 

The problem with that as far as I can see was they did that in Game 4. The Raptors were fighting hard yesterday and it seemed just ran out gas down the stretch. There best player was the best player on his team and you can have a debate on who played better him or Dwight Howard. Bosh if he knows more then we know about the future of Sam Mitchell I think will lay out everything he has to save Sam Mitchell job in Toronto. He feels Mitchell has helped make him the player he is today. Kevin Garnett  also gives Sam high praise for his help when Mitchell was a player at Minnesota. Chris Bosh will give every last bit of effort he has to help Mitchell’s cause. I honestly believe that. Not to say you don’t get 100% out of Bosh every night. But with his team’s season and possibility of his coach having his job on the line may get that magical 110% out of Bosh. My father hated that expression but if there is any extra in reserve Bosh will empty the tank.

 

In fact if there is any advantage to being down 3-1, the fact that you can just play loose and free and just leave it all on the floor. Some teams will do the opposite and get all tight and fearful. But that usually is a team that was expected to make a long run and is failing like last year’s Dallas Mavericks for an example in the series with Golden State. T.J Ford who has his own future in Toronto some what up in the air had the right approach in his post game comments:

 

T.J Ford:”It’s not over yet. It’s the first one to four. We got ourselves in a hole and we just have to continue to stay positive. We still have to believe. We still remember the games in Orlando, especially game two where we had a chance to win. We’ve got to keep the same mentality going to Orlando and get a win. That’s the only way we can come back and keep our season alive.” .

 
Ford played well yesterday and Jose did not. I have seen far to many times this happen where one of Ford or Calderon do not play well to think the Raptors can afford to be without ether next year. People talk about the amount of money that will cost but seriously everyone in this league talks a lot about the importance of point guard play so is it not important to keep it when you have it regardless of cost? I think it is personally

You may notice I am a fan of throwing in quotes here and in my podcasts. Well today we look to the cinema classic ROCKY III. Apollo shouts at Rocky “What’s Wrong With You Man” after Rocky responds he’ll do better tomorrow. Creed responds ” THERE IS NO TOMORROW”. The Raptors have reached the point that they are out of tomorrows unless they can win. So get out there and WIN. Because if the Raptors are to win this series it will take something a long the lines of a Rocky movie plot to get it done.

Tags: Bobcats, Chris Bosh, Jeff Van Gundy, Kevin Garnett, Larry Brown, NBA, Pacers, Sam Mitchell, Sixers, T.J Ford