Raptor coach Sam Mitchell, whose club will play almost half its pre-season games against non-NBA teams, would rather not face the likes of Lottomatica Roma, Real Madrid and Zalgiris Kaunas.

While those games may be great for marketing and "growing the game" it's not an ideal way for a team to get ready, Mitchell said yesterday.

Toronto faces Lottomatica Roma today, plays Real Madrid in Spain on Thursday and hosts Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania in Toronto on Oct. 17, giving them three of seven pre-season games against teams they very likely will never see again.

European teams tend to play different styles than NBA teams and the rules are a hybrid of NBA and FIBA, which rankles Mitchell.

"I would prefer to play against other NBA teams just so our guys can see other NBA personnel, but the schedule is what it is."