The AltRaps Blog

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/278017The Mavericks, in other words, are expected to partake in some self-policing this season, calling each other out for, say, missed assignments or lazy shot selection. And yesterday Sam Mitchell, the Raptors coach whose team will face the Mavericks tonight at the American Airlines Center, said he has been encouraging his players to do at least some of the same.

“We should hold each other to a higher standard,” said Mitchell.

For Mitchell, of course, it’s wishful speaking, at least for now. The leadership hierarchy among Toronto’s on-court employees is a work in progress, to put it kindly.

“Who’s that guy? It hasn’t been established yet,” said T.J. Ford, the 24-year-old starting point guard. “That’s not me.”

Indeed, while Dallas has the luxury of a veteran-laden roster, Toronto’s veterans aren’t prototypical sages in knowledge sharing. Rasho Nesterovic, the centre who played on a championship San Antonio squad, is too soft-spoken. Darrick Martin, though, is by far the most coach-like player on the roster, but he isn’t likely to play much this season.

“It has to be someone who’s out there on the floor,” said Mitchell.

The natural candidate for the job is Chris Bosh, the 23-year-old all-star. But while he has grown more assertive en route to his fourth NBA season, he isn’t in any danger of going hoarse chastising teammates.

“I try not to say too much, so it’ll still be kind of special when they hear it,” said Bosh. “It’s just like a market. You saturate the market, it’s not going to be worth anything. If I say something, I want it to be worth something.”