<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise:</div><div class="quote_post">What I really don't understand is the constant view of change with all the fans. If you get rid of the foundation over and over again, you wont be able to build the house. </div> I totally agree with this, however, there is one thing to consider. The Raptors have changed SOOO many aspects of the club since the 2000 playoffs. All with similar results. With all the player, coaching changes especially over the last few years, we still are a team who doesn't have a winning culture. Every year it seems to be the same 'ol thing, the same 'ol team regardless of the changes. When Vince Carter was traded, he became the last answer. He has really been the final link to all our problems the last few years. We can now see that the culture is beginning to change (we have been in so many games, the Raps never say die attitude is a huge relief, though we couldn't pull out more wins) however there is still that 'something' there. Mo Pete and Alvin William are the only remaining Raps of those times, but I would not ever think that they are part of the problem at all. With Carter gone, the final link to our disfunctional past, fingers must be pointed at Peddie and Tanenbaum. With Grunwald and Carter gone, if things still do not change we must assume the our problems lie much deeper then player personal, coaches, or General Manager. We have change those other 3 aspects with little to no results. The worst mistake Peddie and Tanenbaum ever made was allowing Carter to attend his Graduation ceremonies. Since then, we never saw the playoffs with Carter on the roster. It turned Carter into a spoil basketball star, changed the culture of the team, and propelled us into this losing funk. I don't think that it is fair to throw Babcock to the lion's just yet. He has made some questionable decisions thus far, however, we cannot say that those decision won't be good for the future of the Raptors. The Raptors must be dedicatd to Babcock for at least 2 full seasons, however Peddie and or Tanenbaum need to go. Also, let's not forget, we really have 3 GMs. Rob Babcock, rookie GM, his brother Pete and Wayne Embry. It doesn't make much sense to me to question Rob Babcock's decisions when his right and left hand men are both accomplish GMs. Perhaps we don't know all the details of the all the decisions that have been made. What I do know is that I have never been a GM of a professional basketball club. Three of them have. Sure I can make some dandy trades on the computer from the comfort of my home, but that won't land me a job with an NBA club. In retrospec, sure the Vince Carter trade looks like it sucked, but what if we draft 4 Vince Carter calibre players over the next 2 years. Babcock would win exec of the year and the fans of Toronto would jump on the Cockette bandwagon. Just look at the genius of John Paxson in Chicago. He rebuild the Bulls through the draft. I am sure the fans of Chicago wanted his head over the last few years, but now the Bull are playoff bound. Rebuilding won't happen in one year. Give Babcock a break.
I'm not against a performance review for all three of them. It could help them realize their mistakes and improve on them for next year. I find nothing wrong with firing Peddie. His job can be easily replaced with someone who doesn't feel that they need to get in the newspaper. We can't fire Babcock. A GM's job isn't like a coaches. Firing a GM after their first year is probably the dumbest move the Raps could do. You have to give Babcock the oppurtunity to go through with his plan and then decide whether he should stay. That's what they did with Grunwald. He tried the Carter plan. It didn't work out. He lost his job. I think they need to get Babcock to rely more on his staff. He seems to think that he can control the team, but the only reason we hired him in the first place was because he was surrounded by professionals who could help him out. Sam Mitchell shouldn't even be considered to lose his job. He's done a good job of being flexible and firm at the right time. He's the balanced coach that his franchise has been looking for.
I am all for firing Richard Peddie, but he is CEO for both the hockey side and basketball side for MLSE, right? I think the MLSe, in the future should implement a different season preventing things from this from happening again. Or something. But Peddie has meddled for too long and I think he should be out right now, and hsould have been when we were hiring a new GM and a new Coach just before this season. As for Mr. Babcock, I am no fan of his brother being involved and think somebody should have a talk to Rob about it. I am not against firing him, but I think we should take alot of thought into this. With that Carter trade, and drafting Hoffa(even though he looks like he'll be a consistent...not a star, but a role player on our team), it doesn't leave Babcock much room to move with. I think he can obviously do the job, but a change - if its the last one for a hwile - wouldn't be bad. As for Sam Mitchell, I totally agree with those who say he shou;dn't be fired. "Wrestling" with Carter? From what I understand, that was all play and Carter's mom puttinng that out of perspective to give some hate to Mitchell. And his little scuffle with Woods and Alston? He was disciplining his players and I think that was totally right. He, Rose and Alston talekd aobut the little "alston, rose" mini-feud that was goingo on, aso don't think the relationship between Alston and Mitchell are that bad. Mitchell deserves to stay, Peddie should be fired and Babcock, well Babcock should smarten up, maybe hire some consultants for him or something. Is Pete on the payroll? If he is(even if by contract), I think we should get him off, right away. On the issue of stability, it is the key, but Peddie has had alot to do with the bad decisions(I think), and if firing him means firing what he brought here(despite the timing) I think, if its necessary, we should go for it.
