Mike Elliott (Head of Medical) Leaves Utah Over Mitchell Dispute

[KqWIN]

The issue wasn’t the diagnosis to me… it was blind siding the team and also the ego I think was involved. Donovan might have been a diva but he also brought in his own trainers for a reason. He either didn’t believe what they were doing was working or didn’t feel he was being heard.

I think he probably would still have his job if the players/coaches weren't bamboozled right before a playoff game. Not entirely sure who's fault that was but someone has to take the fall for that.

I do think the situation with Donovan was pretty big though. People are saying he's right because Don was clearly not healthy, but they are forgetting that Don thought he wasn't making progress with his trainer. It's more than a "rushing him back too quick" situation. The writing was on the wall, but like I said if the team doesn't get bamboozled things probably could have been mended. Especially if they won game 1.

 

[KqWIN]

You think Mitchell doesnt have the power to clear himself off the injury report if he presses the right people? Have you see what is being done for him organizationally? Dont kid yourself. This wasnt the Miller's Utah Jazz were things are organized and done with clear power structures.

No I don't actually lol. You think Mitchell has control of the team's injury report, and not the training staff that had the power to hold him out? Besides the injury report, how about telling someone, anyone, that Mitchell might not play so they make their preparations incorrect? Might be a good thing to tell the coaches or players.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

No I don't actually lol. You think Mitchell has control of the team's injury report, and not the training staff that had the power to hold him out? Besides the injury report, how about telling someone, anyone, that Mitchell might not play so they make their preparations incorrect? Might be a good thing to tell the coaches or players.

Let me put it this way: Who do you think is able to apply more pressure to a Utah Jazz executive who is in charge of these reports: Donovan Mitchell and his team or Mike Elliott?

Clearly we saw who stayed. Of course Elliott has final say, but that is probably only because Quinn had a lot of respect for him.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I can believe how much of the BS yall have bought. Mitchell and his "team" where the ones who blindsided the team.

This is like saying we should trust people's mom's on facebook about covid. Let the medical professionals do their ****ing jobs.

I did not realize the mom's on facebook filled out the injury reports.

Its very different. The medical field is wild. I don't think Donovan was sitting there thinking... " you know I can use this injury to get more power in the organization... lets get that Elliot guy out of here". I think he disagreed with the assessment and treatment program and brought in his own professionals. While he ended up hobbled in the end it may have been that he was never going to be 100% this season... if he sits the whole post season out is that the right approach?

These calls are tough... I think it was a combo of a player being a bit less trusting that he could have been but I also think the trainer/doctor had his ego bruised by a player going somewhere else for an opinion/treatment.

My mother had Leukemia when I was young. During a pregnancy with my sister after she had recovered she was having shortness of breathe issues for months. Her very well respected doctor brushed it off even though she came to him multiple times with the concern. Said she was a "nervous mother". She had a LONG medical history that should have required further investigation. The day she gave birth she went into cardiac arrest because the treatments she received when she had cancer had weakened her heart and it was failing and had been struggling for months. She was in the ICU on a ventilator for a week. Eventually she recovered but her life was cut short several year later. The doctor flat out missed... got lazy. I was the only one at home taking care of my other sister while both parents were at the hospital... the doctor called me several times a day for updates during that time. He knew he missed he got lazy... he was a good doctor. We should have got a second opinion. Medical practice is hard... we can guess what happened but this is likely a scenario where player and team doctor both have some share in the blame.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Let me put it this way: Who do you think is able to apply more pressure to a Utah Jazz executive who is in charge of these reports: Donovan Mitchell and his team or Mike Elliott?

Clearly we saw who stayed.

Mike kept him out of the game that day.... wasn't like he was powerless.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Mike kept him out of the game that day.... wasn't like he was powerless.

Sure, but like I said earlier in a response, I'm guessing it because he had a lot of support from a guy like Snyder. The entire Jazz FO last year was on thin ice. It probably felt like give into Mitchell or risk being fired/forced out of a job the following year. Snyder the only guy who really has job security so I'm guessing he was the voice that let Elliott have his way for Game 1.

*of course this is all speculation*

 

[KqWIN]

Let me put it this way: Who do you think is able to apply more pressure to a Utah Jazz executive who is in charge of these reports: Donovan Mitchell and his team or Mike Elliott?

Clearly we saw who stayed. Of course Elliott has final say, but that is probably only because Quinn had a lot of respect for him.

The training staff, because the training staff makes the reports lmao. This isn't even debatable in my mind. How can you have power to sit someone out, but not enough power to even list a players as "probable"? No power to tell Quin or any of the players that Mitchell wasn't a 100% go either? I guess Mitchell put pressure on them to not say anything until the most inopportune time possible. Yeah that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think he probably would still have his job if the players/coaches weren't bamboozled right before a playoff game. Not entirely sure who's fault that was but someone has to take the fall for that.

I do think the situation with Donovan was pretty big though. People are saying he's right because Don was clearly not healthy, but they are forgetting that Don thought he wasn't making progress with his trainer. It's more than a "rushing him back too quick" situation. The writing was on the wall, but like I said if the team doesn't get bamboozled things probably could have been mended. Especially if they won game 1.

Its also a scenario where Donovan may know its never going to be perfect so its time to go even if it is not going to be great.

Even if its just Donovan's team that clears him Mike can still put him on the report... can still tell management that he won't clear him if he doesn't feel great about it... the players can plan appropriately. If he's in the dark and has the final call he can always say "not so fast guys". The messaging after was that everyone was blindsided.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I did not realize the mom's on facebook filled out the injury reports.

Its very different. The medical field is wild. I don't think Donovan was sitting there thinking... " you know I can use this injury to get more power in the organization... lets get that Elliot guy out of here". I think he disagreed with the assessment and treatment program and brought in his own professionals. While he ended up hobbled in the end it may have been that he was never going to be 100% this season... if he sits the whole post season out is that the right approach?

These calls are tough... I think it was a combo of a player being a bit less trusting that he could have been but I also think the trainer/doctor had his ego bruised by a player going somewhere else for an opinion/treatment.

My mother had Leukemia when I was young. During a pregnancy with my sister after she had recovered she was having shortness of breathe issues for months. Her very well respected doctor brushed it off even though she came to him multiple times with the concern. Said she was a "nervous mother". She had a LONG medical history that should have required further investigation. The day she gave birth she went into cardiac arrest because the treatments she received when she had cancer had weakened her heart and it was failing and had been struggling for months. She was in the ICU on a ventilator for a week. Eventually she recovered but her life was cut short several year later. The doctor flat out missed... got lazy. I was the only one at home taking care of my other sister while both parents were at the hospital... the doctor called me several times a day for updates during that time. He knew he missed he got lazy... he was a good doctor. We should have got a second opinion. Medical practice is hard... we can guess what happened but this is likely a scenario where player and team doctor both have some share in the blame.

I'm not sure if Mitchell is the one explicitly thinking about the power structure, but I bet you anything his agent/team are using that approach whenever they can.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The training staff, because the training staff makes the reports lmao. This isn't even debatable in my mind. How can you have power to sit someone out, but not enough power to even list a players as "probable"? No power to tell Quin or any of the players that Mitchell wasn't a 100% go either? I guess Mitchell put pressure on them to not say anything until the most inopportune time possible. Yeah that makes a lot of sense.

OK, so you are a member of the medical staff.

Do you want a job next year? Do you listen to your team leader (Elliott) who you know is going to be on the hot seat because of his willingness to go against Mitchell's desires, or are you going to go for job security and appease the star's wishes? You have to understand this **** can get political and not everyone on a medical staff is going to be on the same political team. People are going to look after their own careers and do what they think is in their best interest. Elliott clearly is highly respected. He knows he can get a job elsewhere. He can probably get damn near any professional sports job he wants. Jazz let one of the best in the business go over some BS. Really sucks we let someone go who wasnt scared to stand up to the pressure a star like Donovan can put on someone. I'm sure the Jazz will get someone good, but will they ultimately just be a yes man?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Sure, but like I said earlier in a response, I'm guessing it because he had a lot of support from a guy like Snyder. The entire Jazz FO last year was on thin ice. It probably felt like give into Mitchell or risk being fired/forced out of a job the following year. Snyder the only guy who really has job security so I'm guessing he was the voice that let Elliott have his way for Game 1.

*of course this is all speculation*

Right its all speculation and that's why I'm handing out blame pie to both sides... the issue is if there is blame to be handed out you don't want to be the head trainer... you want to be the star player. Star players are much harder to find even though it seems Mike was very good at his job. It sucks it had to come down to this but after the blow up I saw no other way around it.

 

[KqWIN]

OK, so you are a member of the medical staff.

Do you want a job next year? Do you listen to your team leader (Elliott) who you know is going to be on the hot seat because of his willingness to go against Mitchell's desires, or are you going to go for job security and appease the star's wishes?

You do realize that they sat out Mitchell right? There is no world were I don't have the balls to list him on the injury report but also sit him out without warning him, the coaches, or the players.