From today’s Toronto Star:
“It would be nice if I didn’t have to point (everything) out all the time, if they’d do it for each other,” said the coach. “Right now I’m the guy who has to push. They need to learn to push each other.”It’s debatable whether the players are precisely sure what Mitchell is proposing.
Said Ford: “I think (Mitchell) is looking for somebody to (yell) constantly, to establish that role. I’m not someone to yell every day.”
Two things, TJ:
1) I’m not sure you understand what Sam is saying. Sometimes, I’m not sure Sam understands what Sam is saying, but in this case he’s crystal…I’m sorry, Cristal clear. He’s tired of being the ONLY motivational force on the team. It shouldn’t be entirely up him to keep players competitive, keep players accountable. And for the second time in his coaching career, I completely agree with Sam. Being a leader doesn’t mean yelling. Do you think Steve Nash screams at his teammates? (not that you’re anything like Steve. Hear that Nellie, he’s NOTHING like Steve.) It takes a look, a gesture, sometimes even just silence will work. But screaming? Like wasabi, it’s most effective when used sparingly.
2) If you don’t want to be the vocal leader on the court, then play the 2-guard and let Jose get out there. With a more established role on the court, it’s conceivable that Calderon would develop into the vocal leader, the on-court general for this team.
Meanwhile, for all this talk of ‘team leader’, who’s team Captain? It’s gotta be Bosh, right? Can’t he assume this role?
OVERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR:
“He’s a handful,” Golden State coach Don Nelson said of Ford. “He’s as close to (Steve) Nash as anyone I’ve seen.”
Enough TJ…he gets too much airtime as it is.
On to tonight’s ‘game’:
The Mavericks are undefeated at home, and since the Raptors haven’t won in Dallas since the pre-Cuban days (Dec. 30, 1999 to be exact), calling this a tall task is about as much an understatement calling the Hiro/Young Hiro conversation in last night’s “Heroes” contrived (Seriously, that show’s a mess.)
So what’s up with the Mavs? How did they react to their first round loss to Golden State? Out of the gates this season, Jo-Ho is playing out of control, Jet V.2 is averaging over 20 ppg, thriving in his new 6th man role, and DeSagana Diop is anchoring the defence. that’s right, DeSagana Diop.
The Big Nobody is averaging 5.2 pts on 57% shooting, 2.5 blocks, and 8.9bds per game. (His career averages are 2ppg on 41% shooting, 3.8rpg, 1.2bpg). This game has double double written all over it for him.
And that’s all without mentioning The Big Sauerkraut. (Best Photo Ever, by the way. No wait, this one’s better.)
Tough matchup for the Raptors. But that might be exactly what they need. After all, they hung in against the Jazz and the Celtics. Maybe tonight’s the night Bosh re-emerges as the team’s leader. Or, maybe we get crushed like a ritalin pill by a smart, skilled, team that knows how to execute. At the very least, Sam should be taking notes. And so should TJ. Because on a team with David Robinson and Tim Duncan, it was Avery Johnson who was the leader.
P.S. At least the Bobcats are 6-4. Are they starting to click? Or are they just beating bad teams?
