Raptors Fire Sam Mitchell

[Nerf DPOY]

I just saw on an ESPN scrawl that the Raptors have fired Sam Mitchell after an 8-9 start to the season.

I'm kind of surprised.

[silvershamrocker]

Wow.

The Raps weren't really that bad, I didn't think. I'm pretty shocked.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I'm really not surprised. Raptors have always seemed to me like they've been underperforming.

[cordobes]

I'm not surprised. Since I saw how stinky was their perimeter, with Moon regressing, Caldy playing hurt and being too conservative and Parker in a scary and quick decline, especially on defense, I thought this would happen. O'Neal is not the player he once was, even when healthy, Bosh disappears in big games when facing elite defenders and an offense that doesn't offer more than pick'n'roll over and over and outside shooting is just too limited when your defense is not elite.

However, in spite of Mitchell's shortcomings, this strikes me as Colangelo covering his ass. He has been making some bad personnel moves for a while. He received a franchise with the 1st pick in the draft and tons of cap space. He's yet to make them more than 1st round fodder and they still have a flawed roster: last season they missed a defensive big to pair with Bosh, this season they miss wings and depth, and I suspect that in 2010 they are going to be missing Bosh.

[nickagneta]

I always thought Sam Mitchell was a very over rated coach that wasn't getting the most out of that group. The entire roster plays soft. It was the right move for the franchise.

[Roy Hobbs]

Colangelo has never liked Mitchell.  I'm not surprised.

Mo Cheeks should be next to go.

[Dirk]

WOW

Yeah maybe they are underperforming. Last night beating that Denver provided the Raptors sure helped Colangelo to do it.

[nickagneta]

Colangelo has never liked Mitchell.  I'm not surprised.

Mo Cheeks should be next to go.

You can add Randy Wittman to that list as well. Both are definitely not getting it done. And if I were Byron Scott I'd start putting a more impressive season than he has thus far. If this team doesn't win 50 games he should probably start looking over his back as well.

[fatherscott]

This is definitely Colangelo placing blame. Of course, their roster just isn't good enough to be more than a 45-win team, but it's easier to blame the coach.

[fatherscott]

Another thing -- I expect Toronto to be one of the most active teams before the '10 summer. It's not a viable free agent destination, so they'll take advantage and trade contracts for players that teams are unloading to get cap space. At least, that's what they'll do if they're smart.

[D Dub]

Just took a peak at the Raps board and those guys are all jumping for joy.  It reminds me of the old days when we all really believed in our precious young players and thought Doc was the worst coach of all time.  

Toronto will go no where with Calderon and Bosh.  Calderon is the worst defender in the league, and average at best on the other end.  Bosh is a classic stat-stuffing loser.  The guy plays with no fire and is as soft as they come.  Anyone remember Micki Moore eating him alive in the playoffs a year or two back?

I do not understand how so many people can think Bosh is a top 15 player in the league.  Guys like Stephen Jackson, Al Jefferson, Al Horford, and Rasheed Wallace are all better than him.  To me, Bosh plays like Blount.  He doesn't rebound or defend, and is only interested in taking the 17' jumper.  And he disapears in the clutch.

Gotta agree with those calling out Colangelo, he created a mess that no coach could lead to victory.  Toronto easily plays the worst D in the league, thanks to Bryan's euro-ball lineup.

[Finkelskyhook]

This is definitely Colangelo placing blame. Of course, their roster just isn't good enough to be more than a 45-win team, but it's easier to blame the coach.

Colangelo should fire himself for bringing that lazy malcontent O'Neal to Toronto.  

Mitchell will be back somewhere.  Agree on Cheeks.  Philly's personnel is way too good to be struggling the way it is.  Too bad.  Cheeks is one of the league's good guys.

[Donoghus]

I was in the opinion that the Raptors were underperforming.  They have a pretty good squad on paper but have been too inconsistent this season on the floor.

[cordobes]

How can Cheeks solve the spacing problem they have in Philly? Teaching Miller and Iggy to shoot from distance? Not very realistic.

They could overcome that by running - not the best option with Brand on the roster. Or by moving the ball and the players a lot, and having guys who can score all around - but in that case they probably need Speights or Williams playing in the starting lineup, not Dalembert. Are they willing to sit Dalembert's big contract on the bench and use him as the backup big?

[fatherscott]

How can Cheeks solve the spacing problem they have in Philly? Teaching Miller and Iggy to shoot from distance? Not very realistic.

They could overcome that by running - not the best option with Brand on the roster. Or by moving the ball and the players a lot, and having guys who can score all around - but in that case they probably need Speights or Williams playing in the starting lineup, not Dalembert. Are they willing to sit Dalembert's big contract on the bench and use him as the backup big?

Philly just isn't that good. Any team with Brand and Iguodala as its two best players is in trouble, they're both helpers.