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[C4]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpYTg2ZTBwBF9TAzk1ODYxOTQ4BHNlYwN0bQ--?slug=ap-raptors-benchings&prov=ap&type=lgns



Alston says he needs time to think about return; coach agreesBy JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer
December 3, 2004

BOSTON (AP) -- Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell benched Loren Woods and Rafer Alston after each was charged with technical fouls against the Boston Celtics on Friday night, and Alston said he might not want to come back at all.



``We were playing well, moving the ball, and we had semi-control of the game. Then two of our players' immaturity showed up,'' Mitchell said after the 91-89 loss at Boston. ``I didn't even want to look at them. It was inexcusable how they conducted themselves.''

Toronto led by nine points at the start of the third, but Boston had cut it to six when Woods was called for two quick fouls in the final two minutes of the quarter. Alston objected by throwing the ball downcourt, resulting in the first technical.

Woods chimed in and got a technical of his own. Paul Pierce made just one of the technical foul shots, but Boston continued to close the gap and took the lead early in the fourth, with Alston and Woods out of the game.


``We could have used them both, but I wasn't going to let either one of them back in the game,'' Mitchell said. ``These guys cannot conduct themselves like that in front of 19,000 people and get rewarded by playing. You cannot do your coaches and teammates like that.''

Woods was repentant, saying, ``I let the emotions get the best of me. I lost it, and I lost the game for us.''

But Alston said he wanted to take some time to think about his career.

``It's tough right now for me,'' he said. ``I'm going to talk to Sam and (general manager Rob Babcock). I think it's time. I'm tired of getting into it with my teammates and my coaches. I don't know if I'm a good fit for this team and I don't know if I'm a good fit for this league.

``I'm going to take some time off. I might not even play the rest of the season.'' Mitchell said neither would start Saturday's game against Cleveland, ``without a doubt.'' ``I don't know when they will be back in,'' the coach said. ``We are supposed to be professionals. Nobody has the right to do that in a close game. They embarrassed themselves and the Toronto Raptors.''
___________________________________________________________

 

[Mad D]

``It's tough right now for me,'' he said. ``I'm going to talk to Sam and (general manager Rob Babcock). I think it's time. I'm tired of getting into it with my teammates and my coaches. I don't know if I'm a good fit for this team and I don't know if I'm a good fit for this league.

i saw this part on ESPN and kinda felt bad for him

 

[KingKong]

Yeah I saw it too, I guess it's safe to say things aren't too peachy in Raptorland.

 

[Bricklayer]

i saw this part on ESPN and kinda felt bad for him

Felt bad for him because he's an idiot?

Problem with an immature streetballer is that sometimes they just won't ever grow up. Skip is one of those players. He had no discipline when he was younger, and seems to be taking the remarkably slow boat to maturity.

Not really buying his "woe is me" bit either. Best hope for the Raptors is that he comes out of this with some sort of self-awareness and decided to try to be a better Skip in the future.

 

[6th]

Okay, admittedly, I did not see the infraction that caused a T by Alston. The report says that he got angry and threw the ball down court...not into the stands, nor did he kick it....just threw the ball. Okay, that is a justifiable T by the officials. However, even if it is immature, Mitchell is making a much bigger thing of this than is warranted...IMHO.

1. How many coaches yank a player for getting a stupid T...not many. And, even those that do bench a player, don't keep them out the rest of the game; or, refuse to start them the next game; or, publicly dress them down that badly. Sorry, but it sounds to me that Mitchell is using this as an excuse to over-punish players because there is trouble in Raptorland. That makes him just as immature in my book.

2. The T's resulted in 1 made FT. They lost by 2. So, did the T's cost them the game. NO!! However, benching 2 of your starters when the team needs them on the floor......now, that could cost a game. Sounds like Mitchell, and all of his own pettiness, cost the Raptors this game (every bit as much as the T's...and more).

3. Alston's response that he may not play the rest of the season is very melodramatic. I saw him on SportsCenter. Actually looked as if he was about to cry. He needs to grow up...no doubt.

There are obviously some serious problems in Raptorland. I think Mitchell is part of the cause. I would like to hear from some of our Toronto Kings fans. They must know more of the situation there than I do.

 

[Bricklayer]

Mitchell is, and has always been, a class act.

However he is clearly frustrated by the rampant lack of maturity and professionalism on that team, between guys who don't care enough, and guys who care too much about themselves over the team he may not have a solid pro on the whole roster.

 

[HndsmCelt]

That the Skip I remember. Sad to see his dark side rear it's ugly head, I really had hoped he was shaping up into a decent NBA palyer. One more former Bull Dog doing what Tark's punks did best... self destruct. Oh well at least he has not shot anyone.

 

[Gargamel]

Boo hoo. Go back to Rucker's. Either way, you'll still be seen on NBA TV.

And he'll probably play that "they didn't understand me" crap when he gets back to the streets.

 

[Variant]

Ditto Brick & Garg. You're making $2.5 million a year to play basketball and your ego can't handle a benching by your coach for acting like a spoiled child?

Good riddance.

 

[peja16]

--

 

[peja16]

Mitchell is, and has always been, a class act.

However he is clearly frustrated by the rampant lack of maturity and professionalism on that team, between guys who don't care enough, and guys who care too much about themselves over the team he may not have a solid pro on the whole roster.

Donyell Marshall and Alvin Williams are solid pros, as was JYD, and Chris Bosh was on his way, but his experience here might have jaded him. The air is poisonous.

Matt Bonner has become the sole righteous player on this squad, I hope he gets traded to a contender where he's appreciated.

 

[peja16]

As for Mitchell, you have to like his work ethic and competitiveness, but blasting your players after every game gets tiresome. It worked once when they lost and then blew oput the Knicks the next night, but it's not going to work every time.

He's also made eveyr effort to deflect blame from Vince, the same guy who'll be gone in the coming weeks. Not the best side to take.

EDIT - Here's anothe Rafter quote I found:

"This is my fourth team and the only time I've really had fun was last year when I was on a team with a bunch of people where we just played hard together, we enjoyed being around together, and we didn't worry about who shot the ball"

 

[Kev.in]

I caught some Raptors games earlier this year and Rafer looked like their best player and their heart. He was the reason they got off to a 4-1 start and his slumping play is a big reason they're struggling now.

Vince is a joke, I think he's the main problem and that they have got to trade him ASAP for whatever they can get. It kind of cracks me up that Mitchell is talking about Alston and Woods' immaturity when you've got a "star" player that loafs around and throws up about a dozen soft/garbage shots a game. People complain about Webber hurting the Kings, but if they could only see how Vince plays they'd see what a real team cancer looks like. It's disgusting and if I was in Rafer's position it would wear on me too. He came here to help a team win and look at what he has to play with.

I don't remember Rafer having any problems with coaches or teammates at any of his other NBA stops. He's worked hard to go from a non-guaranteed 2nd round pick to a solid starting point guard over the last 6 years. I think it says something about the franchise when a guy feels like considering retiring in the prime of his career off of something like this.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

... This franchise is a MESS. No FA will ever want to sign here, Damon left and Tracy left, and it wasn't just about basketball. Neither of them enjoyed their experience here. The management staff is a joke. Rafael Araujo?!

Hopefully today was the turning point. Skip has been their most passionate and best player up to now, and last night he frequently ran the floor, and none of his teammates followed. You could see the frustration and isolation on his face.

The article didn't mention the quotes about him being tired of looking like an *******, and the bad guy, for trying to motivate his teammates. He questioned the heart of some of his teammates...

Do you feel the need to defend every head case in the NBA?

 

[peja16]

--

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

My knowledge of Alston at the time was confined to what I had seen of him with the Miami Heat; I have since changed my mind about him.

And you want to talk about "poisonous" franchises? Try the Hornets.

 

[Stojakovic]

Why headcase ?

Rafer (as far as I know anyway) has never been a cancer in the lockerroom, nor has he said too many controversial things. Sure...he could have handled this issue more professional, but he reacted in a human way.

So he's disappointed with the NBA and the way things are done...doesn't mean he's a headcase.

I'd say that Rafer is one of the good guys in this league.

 

[RaY Z]

Is It True Alston Was In AND 1 before?

 

[HndsmCelt]

While I am not sure I woujld call Skip a "head case" he is problematic. I have been watching this guy a LONG time. In some ways he was THE typical Tark recruit. The guy barely got out of HS and had really bad scores, upon admision many of the instructors at State were convinced he was functionaly illiterate (oh well like that is news) On the ocurt his street ball game was fun to watch but he failed to work with in any reasonable team offense and when eligiblity issues reared their ugly head Skip did what many guys do... he entered the draft. Drafed in the second round (big disapointment) by the Bucks, he then played in the CBA where he excelled untill The Bucks needed a back up PG and he got the call. The reason he saw very little court time in his stint with the Bucks was not about tallent, his problem has never been about not being good enough to play in the NBA it has been about his ablity to transition from streetballer to organized play... same old song and dance. After His contract with the Bucks expired he tried to make the Warriors roster but could not make the squad. (To be fair the 2002-2003 Warriors were loaded with gaurds) Played in Tornoto and once agin was not able to to stick to the play book. This is where the illeteracy becomes an issue as more than one person complained that he did not seem to have read the book, and some people questioned wheather he could. He landed in that mess in Miami and all of a sudden plays are not important in a freeeflwoing offense and it looks like he might be the first street baller to successfully break into the NBA as a success. Now why toronto wanted him back in their more structured offense is not clear, but again his play was good but we are now seeing the street baller "tude" comming to the front. It's all aobut respect. Skip feels "disrespected" and may not be able to function. The words suck it up seem to mean nothing to him and so he may well blow him self out of another team. At this rate his only hope for any real NBA career is to get a gig with so called player's coach who will let him play his game and not get on him in the old school way. He might be able to make it in Dallas, which is where he may well end up. Think of Rafe as a slightly less tallented and compleetly less coacable JWill and I think the picture becomes clear. PS in a game of chess between JWill and Alston the dam pieces would win.

 

[Stojakovic]

Is It True Alston Was In AND 1 before?

Not only was he in it, he was the main attraction. He has some of the best moves on the tapes.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Why headcase ?

Rafer (as far as I know anyway) has never been a cancer in the lockerroom, nor has he said too many controversial things. Sure...he could have handled this issue more professional, but he reacted in a human way.

So he's disappointed with the NBA and the way things are done...doesn't mean he's a headcase.

Would you prefer the term miscreant? How about malcontent?

I'd say that Rafer is one of the good guys in this league.

Grant Hill is a good guy. Tim Duncan is a good guy. Rafer Alston is... something else.

 

[VF21]

I just dumped him from my fantasy line-up as I feel his future with the NBA has now become quite cloudy...

And yes, IMHO, he is definitely a headcase, as in someone whose brain isn't wired properly to function in their current environment. Ron Artest is also a headcase. Alston apparently doesn't realize the difference between streetball and the NBA - and it will probably never be clear to him.

This talk about "being disrespected" is a crock of bulldooty. People truly worthy of respect generally get it and they don't have to demand it...

I'm also pretty tired of reading about some of these guys who didn't handle things properly but they reacted in a human way. WRONG! In this case - and in some others - it was a situation of reacting without any thought to future consequences. His actions were childish, immature and plain dumb. There are TONS of guys sitting at home with ALMOST enough talent to make it into the NBA who would give everything for just ONE of the chances Alston has blown.

 

[bojan_pecanac]

Looks like both Skip and Loren are playing.. Go Raptors!!

 

[Ryle]

I agree with Celt. Being a former Bulldog myself and having followed his career this does not surprise me. I should look back in my posts because I know that when he signed his contract I said it was only a matter of time before something happened.

 

[Parni Valjak]

Rafer .. what the %^%$ are you doing ?

wow .. i didnt expect this from him .. he just embarrased the Raps.

..

 

[bojan_pecanac]

Skip played but didn't start and so did Woods but they lost 105 - 97. Their "main man" who I can't stand, Vince Carter, didnt play because of food poisoning. Raptors are REALLY disappointing me now. They choked in the last 3 minutes of the game.

BTW - I like ur sig Parni Valjak, it was a crazy game.

 

[iheartBrad]

Okay, admittedly, I did not see the infraction that caused a T by Alston. The report says that he got angry and threw the ball down court...not into the stands, nor did he kick it....just threw the ball. Okay, that is a justifiable T by the officials. However, even if it is immature, Mitchell is making a much bigger thing of this than is warranted...IMHO.

1. How many coaches yank a player for getting a stupid T...not many. And, even those that do bench a player, don't keep them out the rest of the game; or, refuse to start them the next game; or, publicly dress them down that badly. Sorry, but it sounds to me that Mitchell is using this as an excuse to over-punish players because there is trouble in Raptorland. That makes him just as immature in my book.

2. The T's resulted in 1 made FT. They lost by 2. So, did the T's cost them the game. NO!! However, benching 2 of your starters when the team needs them on the floor......now, that could cost a game. Sounds like Mitchell, and all of his own pettiness, cost the Raptors this game (every bit as much as the T's...and more).

3. Alston's response that he may not play the rest of the season is very melodramatic. I saw him on SportsCenter. Actually looked as if he was about to cry. He needs to grow up...no doubt.

There are obviously some serious problems in Raptorland. I think Mitchell is part of the cause. I would like to hear from some of our Toronto Kings fans. They must know more of the situation there than I do.

yeah i agree

i actually thought that Alston would be a good fit in Toronto...thats too bad cuz he had a pretty good year in Miami last year....hey ya gotta do what ya gotta do...if he wants to leave let him...not a huge deal....but its easier for me to say seeing as im not a toronto fan