Carlos Danger wrote: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.
Remember, this isn't the first time Robson has noted Mitchell's surliness in a press conference...
Really interesting Robson article. I was listening to the post-game press conference, and shook my head when I heard the ill-informed question...honestly, I thought it was Zgoda asking the question. But I thought Mitchell's belittling answer was way out of line. I get that Sam was unhappy about the loss and didn't want to have to listen to any questions, much less a dumb one, but that's why coaches are paid millions...to win ball games while juggling a challenging PR role at the same time. Flip understood this, but Sam doesn't. It surprises me, because he was never this defensive when he was a player. But Robson does a good job of describing the difference in pressure of being a coach vs. being a player.
I don't think Robson has it in for Sam and actually agree with almost everything in his article...I think it's very fair. He admits that he has been a huge Zach LaVine detractor since his career started, and especially with him at PG, but has come around as Zach's improvement has become impossible to ignore. And he gives Mitchell credit for his development as well as the development of some of our other youngsters. But Robson's main point is well taken...Sam does the fans a disservice when his defensiveness doesn't allow the involved fan, or sportswriter for that matter, to understand the reasons for decisions he makes. Robson makes a great point...''''what were you thinking" can be either exploratory or blaming, and Sam always seems to take it as the latter.
I am obviously a big fan of Sam as a player and a coach, but I find his attitude toward the public part of his job childish. I actually watch more press conferences now than I did when Flip was coach, because I want to see what is going to happen. It reminds me of how I always watched Donald Rumsfeld when he was a guest on Meet the Press...you never knew when an innocent question from Tim Russert was going to trigger his defensiveness and set him off. I hope that Sam becomes aware of this article (I'm sure he will be) and uses it to modify his behavior. As Robson says, he's a smart guy. And I think he will get the logic that he needs to help the sportswriters become smarter by understanding what he is doing. I'll be watching the post-game tonight to see if he is any softer.
Carlos Danger wrote: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.
Remember, this isn't the first time Robson has noted Mitchell's surliness in a press conference...
[Note: He's also been quite complimentary of Mitchell at times...]
I think you guys follow him - I do not. So, I'll defer to you. But I just get the sense that their is some built up tension there. In fact, the guy was upfront in his own article that he was hoping to defuse some of that. Regardless. It's on Sam. As coach you will get ripped by media, fans and message boards like this. He's gotta do better handling it. (But I'm sure it's not easy - especially when he's working with Flip's leftover staff vs. bringing in his own guys).
monsterpile wrote: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 so, monster. And I also think it's a big reason Sam will have to have huge success on order to have the interim label removed. Flip and Glen are Midwestern guys who always want things to go smoothly. Sam is a proud southerner who won't take any crap. As I've said before, it was his attitude not his coaching that got him fired in Toronto. And he's not a very good fit with Glen here.
monsterpile wrote: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.
That's almost another (separate) thread in it's own which has been beaten many times. I tend to agree with you - Flip was never going to step aside anytime soon. But I know there were a few on here who were pretty adamant that he was holding out for the perfect guy to take over. At the end of day, all I can go by is what I saw happening....Flip coached last year and was planning on coaching this year. If it takes three years to find the right guy - you are probably not looking too hard IMO.
monsterpile wrote: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 so, monster. And I also think it's a big reason Sam will have to have huge success on order to have the interim label removed. Flip and Glen are Midwestern guys who always want things to go smoothly. Sam is a proud southerner who won't take any crap. As I've said before, it was his attitude not his coaching that got him fired in Toronto. And he's not a very good fit with Glen here.
Boy, I know he's southern, but the surliness he exhibits certainly doesn't fit the southern stereotype. New York, New Jersey, or Philly? Sure, but not Georgia.
He seems more military to me, for what it's worth. I have no idea if he has any military in his background or family.
longstrangetrip wrote:Really interesting Robson article. I was listening to the post-game press conference, and shook my head when I heard the ill-informed question...honestly, I thought it was Zgoda asking the question. But I thought Mitchell's belittling answer was way out of line. I get that Sam was unhappy about the loss and didn't want to have to listen to any questions, much less a dumb one, but that's why coaches are paid millions...to win ball games while juggling a challenging PR role at the same time. Flip understood this, but Sam doesn't. It surprises me, because he was never this defensive when he was a player. But Robson does a good job of describing the difference in pressure of being a coach vs. being a player.
I don't think Robson has it in for Sam and actually agree with almost everything in his article...I think it's very fair. He admits that he has been a huge Zach LaVine detractor since his career started, and especially with him at PG, but has come around as Zach's improvement has become impossible to ignore. And he gives Mitchell credit for his development as well as the development of some of our other youngsters. But Robson's main point is well taken...Sam does the fans a disservice when his defensiveness doesn't allow the involved fan, or sportswriter for that matter, to understand the reasons for decisions he makes. Robson makes a great point...''''what were you thinking" can be either exploratory or blaming, and Sam always seems to take it as the latter.
I am obviously a big fan of Sam as a player and a coach, but I find his attitude toward the public part of his job childish. I actually watch more press conferences now than I did when Flip was coach, because I want to see what is going to happen. It reminds me of how I always watched Donald Rumsfeld when he was a guest on Meet the Press...you never knew when an innocent question from Tim Russert was going to trigger his defensiveness and set him off. I hope that Sam becomes aware of this article (I'm sure he will be) and uses it to modify his behavior. As Robson says, he's a smart guy. And I think he will get the logic that he needs to help the sportswriters become smarter by understanding what he is doing. I'll be watching the post-game tonight to see if he is any softer.
LST you have been Sam's biggest supporter here and so for you to be this frustrated with him says something. Unless Sam has some calculated reason for the way he has been acting (which I wondered early on if it was a little calculated) and he doesn't soften up you have to wonder who else he is belittling or will belittle. I just read a little more about Mark Jackson being fired. The owner said he didn't get along with a number of people in the organization. Will Sam end up having that problem in addition to the media? Who is gonna make the call if that happens? It's gonna be real interesting to see how things pan out.
Carlos Danger wrote: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.
Remember, this isn't the first time Robson has noted Mitchell's surliness in a press conference...
[Note: He's also been quite complimentary of Mitchell at times...]
I think you guys follow him - I do not. So, I'll defer to you. But I just get the sense that their is some built up tension there. In fact, the guy was upfront in his own article that he was hoping to defuse some of that. Regardless. It's on Sam. As coach you will get ripped by media, fans and message boards like this. He's gotta do better handling it. (But I'm sure it's not easy - especially when he's working with Flip's leftover staff vs. bringing in his own guys).
I recently came across an old SLAM magazine interview with Britt Robson from 2008 (don't ask me how). Anyway, here's an excerpt where Robson touches on his relationship with Sam Mitchell.
"I developed a lot more respect for coaches. Part of that is because coaches have to talk to me. Sam Mitchell, Terry Porter, K.G., there's also some players that have taught me about the game. But coaches, Flip Saunders taught me a lot about this game. Just listening to him after games talk about things. Even Wittman, who I don't consider a very good coach, I listen to how he analyzes a team and why he says what he says. When you say access, Phil Jackson or Red Auerbach, I can read their books. But if you can go to practice and ask the coach whatever you want, you can have a theory. Sometimes I used to run things off Flip like, "This is what I'm thinking about this particular team..." and he'd say "No, this instead...." or something. And even if I didn't buy into his argument, his argument was at least a viewpoint that helped me figure out my viewpoint. Having that kind of access. Or even Sam Mitchell telling me stuff, Sam used to love to really needle people. If he thought you were wrong he'd press it through the ground. He would not let anything rest. What that had the effect of doing was you got to know his philosophy extremely well about some things he fervently believed in. And the things he fervently believed in, well, he's the one who basically taught me, "There's no shortcuts". If people are screwing around, eventually they're toast."
Don't know exactly what that tells us other than Sam Mitchell and Britt Robson have known each other and have talked to each other over the course of many years (decades)...
LST you have been Sam's biggest supporter here and so for you to be this frustrated with him says something. Unless Sam has some calculated reason for the way he has been acting (which I wondered early on if it was a little calculated) and he doesn't soften up you have to wonder who else he is belittling or will belittle. I just read a little more about Mark Jackson being fired. The owner said he didn't get along with a number of people in the organization. Will Sam end up having that problem in addition to the media? Who is gonna make the call if that happens? It's gonna be real interesting to see how things pan out.
That's just it... who's making the call. As I've said before, I'm more worried about that person than the coach at this point in the rebuild.
As for Mark Jackson, that was an odd situation. Assistant coaches taping things on the sly. Another assistant coach being banished for questioning Jackson. Where there's smoke there's fire.
Jackson's relationships with ownership AND assistant coaches seemed to be part of his undoing.
longstrangetrip wrote:Really interesting Robson article. I was listening to the post-game press conference, and shook my head when I heard the ill-informed question...honestly, I thought it was Zgoda asking the question. But I thought Mitchell's belittling answer was way out of line. I get that Sam was unhappy about the loss and didn't want to have to listen to any questions, much less a dumb one, but that's why coaches are paid millions...to win ball games while juggling a challenging PR role at the same time. Flip understood this, but Sam doesn't. It surprises me, because he was never this defensive when he was a player. But Robson does a good job of describing the difference in pressure of being a coach vs. being a player.
I don't think Robson has it in for Sam and actually agree with almost everything in his article...I think it's very fair. He admits that he has been a huge Zach LaVine detractor since his career started, and especially with him at PG, but has come around as Zach's improvement has become impossible to ignore. And he gives Mitchell credit for his development as well as the development of some of our other youngsters. But Robson's main point is well taken...Sam does the fans a disservice when his defensiveness doesn't allow the involved fan, or sportswriter for that matter, to understand the reasons for decisions he makes. Robson makes a great point...''''what were you thinking" can be either exploratory or blaming, and Sam always seems to take it as the latter.
I am obviously a big fan of Sam as a player and a coach, but I find his attitude toward the public part of his job childish. I actually watch more press conferences now than I did when Flip was coach, because I want to see what is going to happen. It reminds me of how I always watched Donald Rumsfeld when he was a guest on Meet the Press...you never knew when an innocent question from Tim Russert was going to trigger his defensiveness and set him off. I hope that Sam becomes aware of this article (I'm sure he will be) and uses it to modify his behavior. As Robson says, he's a smart guy. And I think he will get the logic that he needs to help the sportswriters become smarter by understanding what he is doing. I'll be watching the post-game tonight to see if he is any softer.
LST you have been Sam's biggest supporter here and so for you to be this frustrated with him says something. Unless Sam has some calculated reason for the way he has been acting (which I wondered early on if it was a little calculated) and he doesn't soften up you have to wonder who else he is belittling or will belittle. I just read a little more about Mark Jackson being fired. The owner said he didn't get along with a number of people in the organization. Will Sam end up having that problem in addition to the media? Who is gonna make the call if that happens? It's gonna be real interesting to see how things pan out.
I'm not a psychologist, monster, but I suspect Sam's defensiveness doesn't come from "smartest man in the room" syndrome, but rather from insecurity. I think he knows he has a good basketball mind, but I also think he is flummoxed by how to work his rotations. I'm sympathetic. Rotation decisions are pretty easy on some of the more established teams, but the wolves have some really interesting questions. And despite the certainty you can read over at rubechat as to how the rotations should work, they're much more nuanced than the typical fan thinks. I think coaching the wolves is one of the most challenging coaching jobs out there today, but also potentially the most rewarding. I think that's why this board is so interesting this season, because there are so many different ways for this team to line up and most of us have fairly strong positions on what is the correct direction. I think Sam also has a clear vision of what he should be doing, but also understands the complex situation he is in and that he is going to be challenged regularly. And that's where his defensiveness doesn't serve him well. He needs to take a deep breath, be confident with his answers but not demeaning, and give the public what we deserve to know.
