Mr_B

April 28, 2008 -- While Mark Jackson is expected to talk to the Bulls Wednesday, Sam Mitchell may soon pose the largest threat to Jackson's lead candidacy for the Knicks New York Knicks ' job.

Tonight, Mitchell's Raptors are on the verge of being bounced out in the first round by Orlando in five games. Speculation in Canada is GM Bryan Colangelo could have an itchy trigger finger. Colangelo has not hired his own coach in Toronto and could want to bring in Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni if he loses his Suns' job.

Although Jackson is the huge favorite among current available Knicks candidates after interviewing with Donnie Walsh on Thursday, Mitchell is someone Walsh would consider.

When it appeared Mitchell's contract would not be renewed after last season, Indiana was poised to interview him. Mitchell played three seasons for Walsh's Pacers in the 1990's.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04282008...ell_108432.htm

NeoSamurai

Only if D'Antoni is available would I fire Sam. Sam gets a lot of flack from fans, but really theres only so much a coach can do for his team to win. We want to be a better defensive team, but have Bargnani and Bosh projected as a future interior pairing - two guys who dont scream defensive stopper to me and probably the rest of the NBA. Really, a coach can only do so much with the talent he has around him and if you look at the 8 playoff teams in the East, I think the only team we can beat in a 7 game series is Atlanta (and even they are giving Boston some trouble). All the other teams have at least 2 or 3 stars that they can lean on for big performances - we dont have that type of depth.

I would invite D'Antoni only because he seems like a good, charismatic coach who has had success while working with BC and also may be able to get Bargnani going in the right direction considering their ties from Euroleague.

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RX

Sam isn't the reason we lost the series...although he has missused Kapono like crazy.

D'Antoni is a terrible coach...his offense involves letting Steve Nash freelance and P'n'R the other team to death...plus he likes to play his starters 48 minutes a game

Mr_B

I don't like D'Antoni either hes not a X and O's guy and does not preach defense which is what this team lacks

dirtybird

Hopefully, the Knicks ask the Raptors permission to talk to Smitch and that would end that. Sam may not have had a great roster, but he turned what he got and made it worse and without any sign of development. Guys still don't show a clue how to rebound, how to rotate defensively, how to play with a clue on D, and they get into a habit of settling for contested jump shots.

cram

I am a big fan of Sam. He has done his job better than any raptors coach in the franchise's history with the exception of butch carter, who lacked Sam's integrity/character/longevity.

He's not a great x's and o's guy, but as a motivator and team unifier....i really like him, and would be bummed if he were gone next year.

Also, can anyone name 10 coaches (or even 5) they'd rather have?? Seriously.....

Boob-No-More

Translation: Colangelo is looking for a scapegoat to blame for the fact that the roster he has assembled is ill-suited to winning in the NBA play-offs.

Defense and rebounding wins in the play-offs. Toronto lacks both - big time. That's more of a personnel problem than a coaching problem.

BNM

P.S. That doesn't mean I think Sam Mitchell is a great coach. Starting Bargnani at small forward in games 1 and 2 was a blunder. However, he can only do so much with what he's been given. The team with the superior roster won this series. If Mitchell would have coached better the series might have lasted a little longer, but the better team would have still won in the end.

HKF

Agreed with the above post.

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Mr_B

BC has nothing to worry about his job more than safe right now if you would watch enough raptor games you would see why Mitchel catches alot of heat it goes beyond this year playoffs..its hard to discuss things with non raptor people cuz you guys are on the outside looking in its like the VC situation folks think one way when its really another

DWADE4

1) Larry Brown
2) Rick Carlisle(sp)
3) Rick Adelman - I know hes not available but the question was who would we rather have
4) Rudy T- Ex Houston coach, forgot how to spell his last name
5) Pat Riley

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RX

Screw Larry Brown...

Rick Carlisle though...would be good

SkywalkerAC

I personally like Sam as a man and as a coach. I don't think BC sends him packing this summer.

Sam will get another shot next season with a revamped team. If things are atill not clicking around the allstar break, look for BC to let go Sam, along with our vets (expirings) and risk missing the playoffs in an intermediate (re)building year.

Sam has value and he's already getting paid so you might as well see if he can take the team to the next level. He's got a great handle on the media and his multicultural players. I respect him and BC probably does too. Respect has value in this league.

I want him to be used as a team building catalyst and selling him off this summer would gain us very little.

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AC

Boob-No-More

I'm not talking about the regular season. You can build a team that wins a lot of games in the regular season, but fails miserably in the post season. To win in the post season you need rebounding and defense - those are your two biggest barriers to advancing past the first round of the play-offs. I've watched all but about 2.5 quarters of the Raptor's last two play-off series. Your roster simply isn't built for post season success. Yeah, Sam isn't a hall of fame caliber coach, and he definitely makes some questionable line-up decisions. Still, no matter who you hire to replace him, it won't fix your current problems unless there are major roster moves made during the off season. This roster has gone as far as it's going to go. No matter how much you polish a turd, it will never be a diamond.

That doesn't mean I think Colangelo's job is in danger. But, I do think his personal pride is on the line - and that might cost Mitchell his job. Let's face it, Mitchell wasn't a Colangelo hire. It's easier to fire him that to retool the entire roster. Firing him will deflect attention away from the real issue and buy Colangelo some time with the fans while he tries to sort out the roster issues.

BNM

cram

Larry Brown is oh-so-good, but with his SERIOUS lack of integrity, i don't want him on our team. Mitchell may have his flaws, but you can't question his character. Brown? Could you imagine having him as a next door neighbour? Dating your sister? I absolutely do not trust the guy.

Carlisle - love him, and mostly agree, though have to say he is weirdly not gobbled up by every team in the league despite being available so easily/often

Rudy T - maybe. Hadn't thought of him. Doesn't he have a health issue that keeps him from coaching?

Riley - dream on...he's GM of the heat, and not even coaching t here.

Mr_B