Golf-Gate & The Debut of 24 Second Rapid Fire

This is the third entry in as many days and I just wanted to thank everyone again for reading. I also wanted to clear something up about the Season Report Card I put up yesterday. That is by far the longest blog you’ll ever see me write so people don’t have to worry about reading mini-novels when they log onto this site. Now, things will be pretty light today. I just wanted to quickly touch on the whole “Golf-gate” thing and then introduce a new feature to the The Raptor Core.

Sam Mitchell & “Golf-Gate”

There was an article in The Globe & Mail the other day that reported Sam Mitchell and Darrick Martin spent Sunday afternoon playing golf in Orlando. Now, some of you might remember that the team was originally scheduled to practice in Toronto and then fly down to Orlando for Game 5 this past Monday but at the last minute, there was a change and the Raps flew down on Sunday instead. Rumour has it Sam was the guy who pushed for this change, supposedly to fit a day of golf into his schedule. Now, I’m going to make the assumption that this report is true and by all accounts, it seems as though it is. Mitchell’s reaction in the newspaper was to say it was none of the media’s business, which answers the question without actually answering.

Is it wrong that Mitchell ended up playing golf the day before the biggest game of the season? My take on it is the only negative aspect I can find is if it is indeed true that he pushed to have the flight changed from their original plan. Now, I don’t know enough about the inner workings of the organization to be able to confirm whether or not he has that type of pull but either way, it’s not that big of an issue. Even though Sam probably sensed the season would be over soon and he could play all the golf he wanted, he still went ahead and did so this past weekend. People that ridicule him for it have a somewhat valid argument but Sam had one as well: what exactly should he spend his time doing before the game when he’s not forming a game plan or watching film? Secondly, why is it anyone’s business if he isn’t neglecting the team? It’s not like he cancelled a scheduled shootaround or practice in order to play golf. They still got all the work in that was supposed to happen and he was just spending his personal downtime doing something he enjoys. I’m sure Bryan Colangelo wasn’t thrilled to hear it but in the end, did it cost them Game 5? No, they had leads and they gave up in the fourth quarter. Even with this knowledge in hand, BC went public with the fact he would not be making a coaching change this offseason so it couldn’t have been that bad.

Now, as some of you from Facebook may know, I’ve been working with James Borbath over at the Dino Nation Blog. We came up with an idea to do something called 24 Second Rapid Fire where we each took turns asking the other a question, which they would answer. It’s a pretty simple idea and one that I think was very successful in a similar form on Double Dribble and Pardon the Interruption. Hopefully you guys enjoy it and feel free to leave your own questions in the comment section if you have any that you’d like us both to answer (or only one specifically). We haven’t decided how often this’ll happen but we’re thinking probably weekly. You can find it over on the DNB – just scroll down on this page to the bottom and you’ll find the link in my blogroll. Leave feedback and let us know of what you thought of the first one.

24 Second Rapid Fire

1) JB: Can Jay Triano be the first Canadian Head Coach in the NBA beyond his 1-0 record?

MR: This is a tricky question. I don’t see why not, personally. Jay has worked with Lenny Wilkens, Kevin O’Neill and Sam Mitchell. Those are three very different types of people and he’s been able to mesh with them all. Now, a part of me believes he’s been able to stick on the staff because of his ties to the city and being a Canadian coach, but that would be underrating the man’s skills and talents. It’s hard for me to say how good he is as a coach because I didn’t watch the national team much and as an assistant, it’s hard to tell which teams he had the responsibility of scouting so I don’t know how well the Raptors do against them. If he’s stuck as an assistant for so long on his coaching merit, I think he SHOULD get a job somewhere.

2) MR: Will Larry Brown make a big difference in Charlotte and lead the Bobcats into the playoffs next season?

JB: Difference Yes. Playoffs I am not thinking so.

3) JB: Would the Atlanta Hawks be a top 3 team in the East had they taken Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the 2005 Draft given the success vs Boston?

MR: Yes. I’m basing this less on what they’ve been able to do against Boston and more so on the fact Chris Paul is just a born leader. Not only does Atlanta lack a true leader, but they lack a true point guard. I wasn’t a big supporter of the Mike Bibby trade because I believe his best days are way behind him in Sacramento. That’s not to say he can’t do the job but Chris Paul or Deron Williams instead? There’s no contest. I think they would’ve won the Southeast Division this season instead of Orlando had they drafted either of those stud point guards.

4) MR: Where will Avery Johnson end up next season, since his winning percentage as a head coach has been so high?

JB: Chicago should give him a chance, I think. It will really be a test of how good a coach he is no matter where he goes.

5) JB: Biggest thing people have wrong about Sam Mitchell is….

MR: That he doesn’t know how to run an offence. Look at the numbers since he’s been a coach in Toronto. The Raptors have never labored or struggled to score. Have they had some problems at the end of games with set plays? Yes, and Sam needs to improve with that because I believe Jim Todd did a lot of work in that area when he was here. With that said, don’t talk down on the pick-and-roll when teams haven’t been able to stop it consistently. The Raptors were a Top 10 team in the league in scoring this season and John Hollinger’s statistics over at ESPN.com prove they’re one of the leaders in offensive efficiency.

6) MR: Should Mark Cuban blow up the team? He is loyal to Dirk Nowitzki to a fault so is it even possible to rebuild in Dallas?

JB: Cuban is a great marketing guy and a lousy G.M. He needs to let the people he hires do their jobs.

7) JB: Why has T-Mac never advanced past Round 1?

MR: Not to take a pass, but it’s a variety of things. T-Mac has mostly been a victim of circumstance throughout his career. In Orlando, I don’t think he had much of a supporting cast. Those were his best years in the NBA scoring-wise and with Grant Hill out more than he played, McGrady’s hands were tied. He’s a prolific scorer and contrary to popular belief, he does step up in the playoffs. His statistics are historically better than what he puts up in the regular season. I can’t fault him for that. Last season he played his behind off – I just think he’s got some bad luck and needs to assert himself even MORE.

8 ) MR: Will both the 76ers and Hawks be in the playoffs next season?

JB: Sixers, yes. Hawks, no. The reason being the Hawks still don’t have a point guard. To me, Bibby is not the answer.

9) JB: What odds did you seriously think Cabbie had of making his $100,000 shot?

MR: Considering he made one the entire time he was practicing, I thought he had less than a 1% chance. Those shots are difficult even for the pros, who take them for fun every day after practice. Cabbie still put up a decent effort, though.

10) MR: What free agent would you target for the Raptors if you were Bryan Colangelo?

JB: Everyone knows this one that reads my blog. Eric Smith and I share the same crazy dream: Ron Artest as a Raptor.

11) JB: We both are on the Net a lot funniest Post you ever saw not your own?

MR: Someone saying Chris Bosh needed to be traded because he was soft. Enough said.

12) MR: Of Carlos Delfino, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon and Jason Kapono, who do you expect to see in a Raptors uniform next season?

JB: Moon and Kapono. Parker is good enough to trade but not good enough to start. Delfino was good at times but I now know why we got him so cheap.

13) JB: Chris Bosh says East is getting better do you agree?

MR: I think so. The West is powerful with all the established superstars but the East is growing from a youth movement. Look at Orlando, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, Charlotte.. they’re rebuilding in different ways while the other Conference is in an arms race.

14) MR: Do the New Orleans Hornets have a chance at beating the Spurs in a 7-game series?

JB: I don’t like the Spurs. I do like the Hornets. But if I am putting my Blogger hat on, sorry Hornets: the answer is NO.

15) JB: Who – past or present – would you most like to have on your blog from the Raptors for an interview?

MR: I’d have to give this a fair deal of thought but in the end, it’d be Sam Mitchell. I’ve heard a lot of stories on the conversations he has with the media that have nothing to do with basketball. He seems like the type of guy you could have a good talk with and pick up some things.

16) MR: Can the Orlando Magic avenge their first-round loss to the Pistons last year in the second round this year?

JB: Yes, Detroit is finally looking like they are starting to fall off a bit. Well rested Magic(THANKS TORONTO) is big trouble for older Pistons.

17) JB: The Chuckism that drives you nuts is…

MR: “Get out the salami and cheese mama, this ball game is over!” It may be a staple of what he does but I sure don’t like it..

18 ) MR: What do you think will become of the Phoenix Suns in 2008-2009, considering it’s the last year of Steve Nash’s contract?

JB: No Idea. Steve Kerr is not exactly a great G.M., it would seem. No, Suns, Bryan Colangelo is not for sale. Nash is not getting younger and you have to wonder what becomes of him. Raptor fans will dream of a run in Toronto but how good can he be? Unclear to me.

19) JB: If the Raptors trade T.J. Ford, what concerns you most about the point guard spot assuming they don’t get one in the trade?

MR: Just how will you fill in the 8-13 minutes that Jose won’t be on the floor for the Raptors? That’s my main concern. Jose was great as a starter playing the majority of minutes but it was only for about a 30-game period. Can he handle triple that load in a season and maintain his productivity? I hope so.

20) MR: Who has been your top playoff performer up to this point?

JB: Mainly cause I watched him so much of him – Dwight Howard. The numbers were massive and so is he.

21) JB: Larry Brown is now coach of the Bobcats – how long will he last?

MR: Two years, maximum, in my opinion. I think he’ll get them on track, instill a winning attitude and then give the team up to a younger coach who won’t necessarily have to teach them a lot because the main guys will have more experience, i.e. Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton, Adam Morrison, etc.

22) MR: Of the Jason Kidd and Shaquille O’Neal trades at the deadline this season, do either of them have a chance of being successful moves NEXT season?

JB: No. These were desperate moves by desperate teams. The Dallas move was really shortsighted. The Suns need a new coach and new offensive system to get the maximum out of the BIG CACTUS.

23) JB: I mentioned in my Blog yesterday to have NBA player compete in pro game of HORSE. Good idea and would you watch it?

MR: I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or if I’d watch it. The greatest trick shots happen in the flow of a game on adrenaline and in the spur of the moment. If you start playing HORSE, you might as well join the Harlem Globetrotters. I wouldn’t watch.

24) MR: Should the Denver Nuggets make major moves in order to revamp a very talented – but defence-deficient – roster?

JB: Denver is a team you like but they never get anywhere. If you had a 3 or 4 year younger Camby, I’d like them a lot more. I am not a George Karl fan as a coach. I think he is the reason they can’t play defence. Jeff Van Gundy in Denver makes more sense to me as opposed to Toronto.

You probably won’t hear from me again until Sunday or later.. I might drop a line to let everyone know what’s coming next but it’ll most likely be a Playoff Review/Preview to this point. As always, feedback is encouraged and welcomed. Until next time…

-Mark R.