http://www.torontosun.ca/Sports/Basketball...992182-sun.html<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell issued a friendly warning for his rookies yesterday, particularly first overall pick Andrea Bargnani. Beware of the Joey Graham syndrome. Last year, as a rookie, first-round pick Graham had success in the pre-season, but then crashed when the regular season started. "He thought (playing in the NBA) was easy," Mitchell said, as his prepared for the team's first pre-season game of the season last night at the Verizon Center. "And then, the regular season hit, and all of a sudden Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson came to play and it was totally different than what he experienced in the pre-season." Mitchell doesn't want the same thing from NBA newcomers Bargnani, Jorge Garbajosa and Uros Slokar. The Raptors play eight pre-season games and Mitchell expects his rookies to play well, but not to the point where they get too sure of themselves. The Raps open the season on Nov. 1 against the Nets in New Jersey. "Then it's for real, for keeps," the coach said. "I tell our guys, (veteran players) play a certain level at pre-season and then they play at another level for the regular season, and then, after the all-star break, they play at another level and then for the playoffs, they even take it to another level -- the focus and concentration.</div> nice to see Mithcell adressing his problems early on.
What a great coach, I actually believe this, rookies may think the NBA is easy but it's not. Getting dunked on is really embarrising, so Andrea better be ready.
