http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...le&cid=1107989413734&call_pageid=970599119419 I couldn't stop laughing when I saw this. He's Eric Williams! He's a role-player! A very good role-player, granted, but the fact remains that he is one. Role-players don't demand trades...
Mitchell will get run and hopefully never get another coaching position. Personally, I would like to see him and Danny Ainge fight to the death with both people losing.
man is that situation a mess. heads are going to roll and it's amazing that they haven't aside from VC getting blamed and traded. like the article states eric williams has been a class act. i remember when he was a celtic, just seemed to be a hard working, hard-nosed player.
It seems like the whole Toronto situation is a fiasco between Alston, Mitchell, and their GM, Babock. Babock hired Mitchell, and gave Alston a large contract for a player that had formerly only ever been a backup PG. Alston and Mitchell have proven they can't co-exist (And I wouldn't place the blame entirely on Mitchell, since it seems only Alston is constantly going nuts.) Now Babock is left to pick his side, the journeyman point guard he overpaid for and won't be able to trade or the easily firable rookie coach... Can see how this is going to end up...
I would like having him on the Rockets. He could backup the 3 or 4 (in certain matchups). Good defensively, can rebound and can hit some shots. He would be a better option than Bowen backing up TMac, that's for sure.
I was campaigning for the Rockets to go after Williams in FA last summer. I thought his defense and hustle would be a good fit on this Rockets team. Williams is a solid player. I am sure he could help a number of contending teams giving them depth and hustle.
i'm studying in canada and so i get to see alot of raptors game and the team coverage in news and the first thing that strikes me is that sam mitchell LOVES to talk to the camera and hes not shy about making snide comments about his players. some of them like saying so-and-so players need to quit. he wouldnt say who to the camera but it cant be good to have the locker room wondering who he's talking about. i remember the first rafer alston case where he and loren woods got technicals each, and they were sitting on the bench and sam mitchell just yelled down at them and told them to go to the locker room. And the thing was alston and woods didnt do anything worse than other players do when they get technical calls. after the game coach went on a tirade to the press about not mouthing off to refs and how he's tough with his players and those that cant handle it should quit. at that time the raps record was really bad and all this guy was talking about was how great his generation of players were and they never disrespected the ref and dont question their calls. the thing is he's not a really good X and O coach, the raps dont run any spectacular offensive or defensive plays. His teams best streak was after the vince trade and chris bosh excelled when he was put into a more demanding role on the team. my opinion of sam mitchell is that he's a mediocre strategy coach (at best)and a horrible people person, cant motivate his players for ****. The raps actually do have a good group of players. chris bosh is extremely talented on both ends of the court and will be a legitimate franchise player. mo peterson, jalen rose, rafer alston, alvin william (IL - out for season), donyell marshall, matt bonner. but right now, their best bet might be to clean house and build with chris bosh. maybe get a high pick for next years draft and hope to have a young player to grow along chris.
The irony is that Sam Mitchell paid his dues in the NBA. He was a role player for years and years, and never complained about minutes or playing time. Sometimes starting, sometimes playing a key role off the bench, sometimes not sniffing any meaningful PT. He was in Eric Williams' shoes, except without the attitude. The NBA would be better with more professionals like Mitchell and fewer babies like Williams.
Williams signed with the Nets because New Jersey was his home state. Then he gets traded to Toronto where he's A) away from his family, B) racking up DNPs and C) forced to endure the Raptors' disastrous season. I hope he gets his trade wish.
*puke* He may have been quiet and professional back in the day. The current Sam Mitchell is nothing like that.
Umm.. you'd hardly say Alston was overpaid in the current scheme of things...... Mitchell has to go! He's causing the problems, and there's no sense tearing your team apart to accomodate him - if they manage to keep the core they currently have, and add a significant piece or two then they should be fine personnel-wise. And I would take Williams off their hands! But not in exchange for anything meaningful
