Sam Mitchell coaching thread

[Monster]

One of these articles have been posted in other threads already but It seems like having a dedicated thread for Mitchell makes a lot of sense. Both of these articles seem balanced to me I have defended Sam at times because I see some rationale to some of his moves but I am not bought into him as the answer. Anyway here are a couple well written takes on Sam.

http://www.awolfamongwolves.com/2015/12/trail-blazers-109-timberwolves-103-the-good-and-bad-of-sam-mitchell/

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2015/12/sam-mitchell-was-right-call-me-out-his-postgame-press-conference-hes-wrong-be-dismiss

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Oh another Sammich hate thread, i'm gonna get my popcorn and easy chair and watch :thumb:

[TAFKASP]

There are legitimate questions regarding Sam's coaching, buy like awow article let said, he doesn't get enough credit for what is being done well. His petulant attitude with the press is counterproductive no matter what perspective.

[Carlos Danger]

IMO, both "authors" (bloggers) appear to have an ax to grind with Mitchell. I think they both made a feigned attempt to show balance. But (to me) it's pretty obvious to me what's going on. They don't like Mitchell or think he's a good coach. I don't read either of those guys, but I'm going to go waaaaaaaayy out on the limb and assume they've written a few unfavorable things about Sam so far. And that's their right. But I can certainly understand why Mitchell doesn't want to give them any ammo to shoot him with in their next blog. Still - Mitchell clearly needs to handle it better as he's the one coming off as a prick. Even if the team performs better than expected, he's going to have to polish up his public relations side to keep his job.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I was skeptical of Mitchell as a long-term answer because of my perception of him as an "old-school country club" guy who's averse to adjusting to an evolving game. That was all based on perception.

I figured he'd be good at teaching young guys accountability. And would struggle with the more intricate parts of the on-court product... basically a Mark Jackson type. We'll see where it goes... but nothing has changed my opinion.

I don't see him long in the job. And it doesn't seem much fun for us if he gets it.

[Monster]

IMO, both "authors" (bloggers) appear to have an ax to grind with Mitchell. I think they both made a feigned attempt to show balance. But (to me) it's pretty obvious to me what's going on. They don't like Mitchell or think he's a good coach. I don't read either of those guys, but I'm going to go waaaaaaaayy out on the limb and assume they've written a few unfavorable things about Sam so far. And that's their right. But I can certainly understand why Mitchell doesn't want to give them any ammo to shoot him with in their next blog. Still - Mitchell clearly needs to handle it better as he's the one coming off as a prick. Even if the team performs better than expected, he's going to have to polish up his public relations side to keep his job.

I think Brit has given Sam a fair shake in general. He has had the same frustrations with Sam as he did with Flip (Playing Lavine at PG and wanting other lineups playing together) on the other hand he has given Sam credit for some of the good stuff too and in this article gives some big props to him for Lavine. The reality is its hard for these media guys to have happy fuzzy feeling and staying entirely objective towards someone that treats you poorly when you are just trying to do your job and some of these guys are pretty solid at what they do. The only guy Sam interacts with on a regular basis he seems nice to is Allen Horton and while Horton really is pretty good it's also just one on one.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

IMO, both "authors" (bloggers) appear to have an ax to grind with Mitchell. I think they both made a feigned attempt to show balance. But (to me) it's pretty obvious to me what's going on. They don't like Mitchell or think he's a good coach. I don't read either of those guys, but I'm going to go waaaaaaaayy out on the limb and assume they've written a few unfavorable things about Sam so far. And that's their right. But I can certainly understand why Mitchell doesn't want to give them any ammo to shoot him with in their next blog. Still - Mitchell clearly needs to handle it better as he's the one coming off as a prick. Even if the team performs better than expected, he's going to have to polish up his public relations side to keep his job.

I don't read enough of Lowe to comment on his bias against Mitchell. Robson, however, is a grizzled veteran at covering the Wolves and generally gives well thought-out and nuanced takes. I doubt he has any particular ax to grind with Mitchell other than asking the questions everyone else has raised.

I agree with you on Mitchell's need to lighten up. You would think after his prior experience as both a coach and analyst, he would have developed more patience and understanding of the media. You only get to act like an asshole if you're wearing a ring or three, and even then it's still bad form.

[Monster]

Just thinking out loud here but could Sam's handling of the media be one of the reason's Flip wasn't interested in Sam as the long term guy?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Just thinking out loud here but could Sam's handling of the media be one of the reason's Flip wasn't interested in Sam as the long term guy?

I think Flip wasn't interested in him as the long-term guy because he already picked himself. Seriously, did anyone really think Flip was going to give up the coaching position anytime soon? Any outreach Flip allegedly did with the likes of Izzo, Hoiberg, etc. always seemed half-hearted.

[Monster]

Just thinking out loud here but could Sam's handling of the media be one of the reason's Flip wasn't interested in Sam as the long term guy?

I think Flip wasn't interested in him as the long-term guy because he already picked himself. Seriously, did anyone really think Flip was going to give up the coaching position anytime soon? Any outreach Flip allegedly did with the likes of Izzo, Hoiberg, etc. always seemed half-hearted.

I guess here is another way of looking at it...let's say Flip was actually looking...everyone that said Flip offered them the job sounds more interesting than Sam Mitchell right?