NBA.com UK: Blog: Mark Woods

NBA.com UK: Blog: Mark Woods
Mitchell, however, isn’t quite buying into the programme. “We as basketball coaches don’t like change and we don’t like situations that you can’t control, and right now, going with your team to another country for training camp with an eight-hour flight, in unfamiliar circumstances, doing things totally different, you’re going to have to adapt,” he said.

“Because regardless of how everyone thinks and what everyone feels and how happy they may be, my job is to try and get this team ready to play. It just makes it more difficult when you’re not in your familiar surroundings. But that being said, it’s still an honour to be picked to go so we’re going to go and do the best that we can and try and keep our players focused.”

Raps in punishing practice schedule

TheStar.com | Sports | Raps in punishing practice schedule
That explains the repetitive nature of yesterday morning’s defence-oriented workout, which preceded a scrimmage last night. All indications are that the Raptors are still going to possess a high-powered offence; the improvement necessary to move from mere playoff participants to conference title contenders is going to come on the defensive end of the floor.

Fast-food Raptors try to enjoy La Dolce Vita

TheStar.com | Sports | Fast-food Raptors try to enjoy La Dolce Vita
On the first night of their first European training camp, the Raptors decamped from their luxurious rural hotel, which is nestled among vineyards in the rolling countryside a half-hour north of Venice, and commandeered a local restaurant for a team meal.

There were appetizers of bruschetta and prosciutto, a first course of assorted pastas and risottos, and a main of beef and fresh fish and chicken. The languid pace, the slow procession of plates – it was difficult for some to endure.

Ford sees stars on horizon

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Ford sees stars on horizon
Bosh, at 23, is a two-time all-star while Ford, 24, has yet to attain that status. But in a one-on-one interview yesterday, Ford vowed to change that, predicting that this season he will become an all-star, though that is a very tall order given the fact that there are a couple of point guards in the Eastern Conference named Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade.

Still, Ford has set that as his main individual goal.

“That was my mindset going into the summer,” said the 6-foot, 165-pound guard, who believes that he has the game to be an NBA all-star.

Bargnani appears poised to flourish on centre stage

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Bargnani appears poised to flourish on centre stage
Head coach Sam Mitchell expects a heated training camp this week with two starting spots wide open.

The big fight will be at the centre position. Last year’s starter, the veteran Rasho Nesterovic, was replaced in the first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Nets by rookie Andrea Bargnani. Now it will be up to the 21-year-old Bargnani to out-perform the 10-year veteran Nesterovic this pre-season.