<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Mike D'Antoni could wind up in Toronto with former Suns exec Bryan Colangelo should Phoenix make him the designated scapegoat for its playoff failures and Sam Mitchell be fired by the Raptors. Both men have two years left on their deals. Money owed is a major concern or complication. Once alleged imperfections start to leak out in the local media, which is the case in both circumstances, time is about to expire. The whispering campaign regarding Mitchell is supposedly he's not a hard worker or on top of the league's current events. A few months ago, before the Raptors were to play the Lakers, he addressed the team by telling them, "We'll worry about the guy who got 81 in a second, but first I want to talk about Andrew Bynum and how he killed us last time." A hush engulfed the locker room. "Hey, coach," Chris Bosh interrupted. "Bynum's been out for weeks with an injury."</div> http://www.nypost.com/seven/04272008/sport...8339.htm?page=2
I can see it happening if the Suns lose tonight, of course he'll get the blame. (which he doesn't deserve) Its all Kerr's fault. But that would be great for the Raps and their young team.
I don't think D'Antoni would've fared much (ten games?) better than The Smitch with the flawed roster we have now. It will take more than a good coach to get us anywhere.
D'Antoni is a slight upgrade, only because he actually calls one more play than SMitch. SMitch's play is "get the ball in the basket". D'Antonio at least knows how to call a Pick 'n' Roll
The Raptors need a defensive coach, not one who doesn't know how to spell defense. SMitch at least tries to get defense across cause he played it, but Mike, he is all offense all the time. If you're going to bring in a coach, make SMitch and assistant at least and bring in a defensive minded coach.
Well, if you guys are willing to pay enough and willing to root for our team, we'll sell you our defensive assistant to be your head coach.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Apr 27 2008, 07:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, if you guys are willing to pay enough and willing to root for our team, we'll sell you our defensive assistant to be your head coach. </div> We don't want your sloppy seconds. We're not the Nets.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Apr 27 2008, 08:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Apr 27 2008, 07:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, if you guys are willing to pay enough and willing to root for our team, we'll sell you our defensive assistant to be your head coach. </div> We don't want your sloppy seconds. We're not the Nets. </div> Thibo is really good.
I actually would really like Thibodeau. That's an assistant that's really payed his dues and worked under some good NBA head coaches and had his fair share of experience. We'd probably need an offensive-minded assistant, but that would be the kind of coaching staff that could put our team in the position to win games. I still think we missed out on Iavaroni this past offseason. That was a defensive-minded coach who had spent time under one of the better NBA offenses in recent history. It had allowed him to become a more well-rounded prospect. Of course, I haven't had the chance to watch Memphis this year, so I have no idea how he's turned out. As for D'Antoni, I'm undecided. The common complaint, about his inability to make in-game recognitions and adjustments is the exact same problem that's plagued Sam Mitchell for the past three years. btw, that Bynum anecdote is a perfect representation of Mitchell's coaching tenure.
I personally despise Mike D'Antoni. I think he's a terribly overrated coach that doesn't know how to do anything but play pick and roll offense. I realize it's effective, but when that's all you can do, it's pathetic. Aside from that, I don't think he's ever heard of the word defense. The Suns are the 2nd worst defensive team I've watched all season (next to the Nuggets). And quite frankly, the type of play he does is just not good enough to win in the playoffs. All offense and only offense can only work so much. At some point you need a stop, and he doesn't seem like the kind of coach that can figure out how to get a good defensive gameplan to get a stop in the waning seconds.