Mitchell Approval Barometer - @Jan-9-2008

[supersub15]

Haven't had one of these in a while, so let's see where most of you think of our dear coach.

Personally, I like him as a motivator, but his lack of adjustments within games, his refusal to take advantage of matchups, his willingness to play small ball when we are getting killed on the boards, his baffling rotations, and the complete lack of intricate plays for easy scores are all a negative for me.

However, I'd still take him over half of the other coaches in the league.

6

[AbC?]

I don't mind him for now. If at some point we have the pieces to be a real contender, then you drop him and get a better, more experienced coach.

[deknow]

This team hasn't been healthy enough to give him a true assessment.

[Cassius]

I think that about 18 teams have a better coach than we do, depending on your preference.

Considering that Skiles, JVG and Larry Brown are not coaching, there are a number of people I'd rather have than Sam.

deknow, I actually think that Sam's lack of ingenuity given the changes to the roster is his most damning fault.

[ruckus]

I gave him a 7.

I think the fact that we're 17-17 with all the injuries and changes that we've had shows pretty well on Smitch.

He's not a perfect coach, not by any stretch of the imagination but, from day 1 to now, I think that he's improved by quite a bit.

He's still the right coach for the group of guys that we have.

I wouldn't even touch Skiles, JVG or Brown. Skiles couldn't even hold the Bulls together. Our offense, as bad as it is now, would be worse with Van Gundy and Brown will not work with a young-ish team.

[C Court]

Sam's a 7 based on the Rap's .500 record and his mishandling of Bargnani and Kapono (not all Sam's fault, but a factor).

Overall, I like Sam.

[Los Manos]

With all our injuries this year, we're at .500 - 'nuff said.

[torontoaces04]

I gave him a 6. Similar to the Raptors record, he's around .500

[CrookedJ]

I gave him an 8, I think overall hes very good:

Pros:
- makes it clear what he wants from players and pulls them (generally) if they aren't doing it
- the guys clearly respect him and play hard for him
- tries to give leeway at a rate appropriate to the players ability/importance IE Bosh can fok up a play and stay in, Graham can't.
- willing to use bench guys over stars in clutch if they are playing well ( ie Humphries over Bosh in a win last month)


Cons:
- When his standard rotation isn't working due to injuries or ineffectiveness, he often ends up with some wierd combinations and he takes too long to realize they aren't working.

- Doesn't use Rasho enough. Its fine to start Barg's but give Rasho 20 minutes off the bench.



His plays are better this year, we have had some nice after timeout / start of quarter plays.

[The_Critic]

I gave Sam a 7. Overall I feel that he's a good coach. He's fair. He doesn't play favourites. He handles pressure unlike anyone I've seen as a Raptors' head coach. His overall running of the team is great.

My only gripe with Sam is his lack of plays which promote movement on offense. I'm not talking merely moving the ball, but the players themselves moving. Too many times the players just stand there waiting for what the ball handler is going to do. No one is moving without the ball and that's what prevents us from getting to the line and getting easy baskets.

We have so many weapons on this team that we should be one of the better FG% teams in the league and we should be getting to the line more. This team should be exploiting back door cuts with moon's athleticism and AP's explosiveness.

Many people have suggested that we need a slashing SF but I have been one of those to point out that it's a matter of running a more dynamic offense. Instead of making a trade for a high priced player..why not hire Tex Winter to help our offense the same way we hired Dave Hopla as our shooting coach last season?

[supersub15]

So far

Code: Select all

Date          Ranking
06-Dec-2006    5.93
23-Feb-2007    7.24
09-Jan-2008    6.70

[tb40]

I like a coach who is on the ball at all times, one who can adjust and re-adjust to any situation that may develop.

I like a coach who blames himself more often than his players, or even at least once during his tenure.

I like a coach who plays his players to their strengths, while improving on their weaknesses through practice and during games in small doses.

Basically, I don't want my coach to be out-smarted the majority of the time during any game they play.

Unfortunately Smitch falls short on all of the above imo, and I give him a 4, tops,...... and only because I'm a nice guy

[LLJ]

I don't think the current problems with the team are really on him. He's made a few mistakes, and probably lost us a game or two, but overall he's been solid.

[doctaJ_92]

Still makes his hockey line change in the 1st half that always burns us, and still doesnt make defensive adjustments throughout the game. The only thing he changed in the 4th was switching the screen to put Calderon on LBJ. Even his franchise player questioned not doubling Lebron at the top(and no, I'm not just basing this on the CLE game, it's the entire 3 yrs). 2 at the most.

[RapsVC15]

I gave him a 7.

- Stupid rotations, Baston/Rasho go from starting to DNP-CD's.
- Playbook, whole offense consists of pick and rolls.
- Use of Martin, no explanation needed.

Probably some other blatant things I'm missing. Overall, he's good.

[LightingTheRafer]

I gave him a 7.

- Stupid rotations, Baston/Rasho go from starting to DNP-CD's.
- Playbook, whole offense consists of pick and rolls.
- Use of Martin, no explanation needed.

Probably some other blatant things I'm missing. Overall, he's good.

I give you a 0.

Complaining about Baston going from a patch starter to DNP? Honestly now, he filled in one or two games due to injuries and went right back to where he's supposed to be, warming the bench in case of injuries. You fault Sam for proper use of the 15th man?

Sam tried to get what he could out of Martin, and when he realized he needed more, he went to Dixon. Check around the league to see how other teams deal with losing their starting PG, not just who replaces him, but who replaces the one who replaced him.

What most people on here don't give Sam credit for are the things you take for granted. Would this team have tuned out another coach when we started 2-14 last year? Would some of the players development be what it is without Sam. I see mention of your Van Gundy's, Skiles, etc, are replacements. Maybe they are better X's and O's guys but they've had multiple teams tune them out and just quit on them. A team will never quit on Sam as long as he's a coach in this league.

[Reignman]

7

With all our injuries he's one of the reasons we've stayed afloat.

BUT he has room to improve, and should be judged accordingly when TJ comes back healthy.

[Harry Palmer]

Between 5.735690 and 7.4199532.

[ruckus]

Between 5.735690 and 7.4199532.

So about 6.5778216?

[Harry Palmer]

-= original quote snipped =-



So about 6.5778216?

It's hard to be more specific than I was, but yeah.