Posted by bobs3304:

good move.


bout damm time he made a smart move.

Posted by djsunyc:

first off, i call BS. but just to give you the heads up...

smitch has trouble dealing with the press in toronto. he gets easily put off by their questions and responds in a somewhat dismissive manner, and at times, confrontational. he appears to get very ticked off at any tough question.

translation: he would HATE dealing with the press here and would not be obliging...which will feed into a bigger media frenzy for smitch...and NOT in a good way.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 05-08-2007 4:10 PM]

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by djsunyc:

first off, i call BS. but just to give you the heads up...

smitch has trouble dealing with the press in toronto. he gets easily put off by their questions and responds in a somewhat dismissive manner, or confrontational. he appears to get very ticked off at any tough question.

translation: he would HATE dealing with the press here and would not be obliging...which will feed into a bigger media frenzy for smitch...and NOT in a good way.

Do you think he would fight any Knick player if necessary?

Marbury gushes over Mitchell
MICHAEL GRANGE

Globe and Mail Update

Stephon Marbury came to appreciate Sam Mitchell as a teammate when the talented point guard broke into the National Basketball Association with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Now that the New York Knicks star is trying to catch the Mitchell-coached Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division standings, Marbury appreciates him even more.

"I think they're a really well-coached team. I think Sam Mitchell is doing a great job," said Marbury, who hopes his Knicks will be able to eat into the Raptors 5.5-game lead in the Atlantic Division as the teams square off tonight at the Air Canada Centre and Sunday at Madison Square Garden. "He's allowed them to understand how to play a finesse game but at the same time be mentally tough. I know that because I've played with him, so I know how he is as a player."

While the Knicks have improved this season — enough that Isiah Thomas was given a multi-year contract extension earlier this week — the Raptors are the most improved team in the NBA so far.
Marbury believes that should be enough for Mitchell to earn a contract extension as well.

"I mean he basically has a team that's playing well," said Marbury. "They've gotten over that hump since Vince [Carter] left. They've solidified Chris [Bosh] as their star. And now it's time to grow and build. To take that away from him, you wonder what kind of direction the team is going in as far as for the future.

"Everyone has confidence in Sam; as far as his coaching ability, he's bringing to that team everything they need to win."

Marbury, it should be noted, may be biased. He was a 19-year-old rookie when was drafted by Minnesota, where he played two-and-a-half seasons and veterans like Mitchell and Terry Porter sought to school him in the nuances of professional basketball.

"I loved playing with Sam. He was tough," said Marbury, whose strong play has helped the Knicks rebound this season. "He didn't take anything. He was a true pro . . . and he was a good dude, especially for me coming into the NBA and playing with him as a rookie.

"Knowing all the things I know as far as being a veteran and this being my 11th season, I can see I learned a lot from him."

Posted by EnySpree:

People want a tough coach cuz isiah is too "soft" on his players right? Sam Mitchell is what the doctor ordered for those that think the knicks need a ball bustin intense coach.