http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23471720/toronto-raptors-fire-head-coach-dwane-casey-7-seasons Casey could quickly become a top candidate for the jobs available, including Detroit. Former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer is expected to get a close inspection for the Raptors opening, league sources said. Budenholzer met with Milwaukee on Tuesday, league sources said.
Did Karl receive his award though during that first round series with the Warriors? Casey could have to walk up on stage to accept a COTY award while he's temporarily unemployed. One of many reasons they need to ditch that stupid show. As for Casey's firing itself, I have no problem with it. Getting swept by the Cavs despite having home court and being well-rested for Game 1 was inexcusable. And the players appeared to quit in Games 2 and especially 4. That's at least partly on the coach. Toronto, given their cap situation, has two realistic choices this offseason: blow up the roster and start over or fire the coach and make a few minor tweaks and give it another shot next year. They couldn't just stick with the status quo and expect a different result next season.
The problem with firing Casey is the problem of replacing him. You look at Budenholzer and say... "ok"... isn't that basically like having Casey?? Raptors were 2nd in ORtg and 5th in DRtg in the regular season. Is there some magic pill coach out there that will somehow get them to play to their regular season level in the playoffs? Phil Jackson... lol!! Maybe just go ahead and hire Jerry Stackhouse who runs their G League team...
If the Raptors get Budenholzer, you really can't question their move to fire Casey. Maybe this was a done deal before the firing was announced.
I would of fired him too if Mike Budelholzer was available. He's had his chance to make things work. The contracts they've handed out are more than likely untradeable so might as well give an elite coach a chance instead. Sucks for Casey.
Sometimes a coaching change does the trick. Were the 2004 Pistons all that different from their 2003 counterparts aside from the midseason acquisition of Rasheed Wallace? Yet they went from getting swept by the Nets in the Conference Finals in 2003(despite having home court) to beating the Nets the following year in the Semifinals 4-3, defeating the Pacers 4-2 in the ECF, and destroying the heavily favored Lakers 4-1 in the Finals(despite not having home court). All because Joe Dumars fired 2002 Coach of the Year Rick Carlisle and replaced him with Larry Brown.
Yup, i don't think Casey is a good coach tbh, but the main problem there are the players, Derozan, old Lowry and 40 years old Ibaka are just not good enough.
The Van Gundian Monks are already doing chants ('er rants) and will form a ficking wall to defend brother Casey in his time of need.
Why would you call it a circus? Why should it take long to evaluate? They cannot afford to dither. It's best to get it over with quickly and try to be at the front of the line for available candidates.
Um... kind of hard to overlook the Wallace acquisition as just a random mid-season acquisition. It was hugely important. The Pistons finished the season 17-5 after acquiring Wallace. That's a 77% win%. And they lost the first 2 games with Sheed. Maybe adjusting. So they finished 17-3 their last 20 games. If you told me the Raptors added someone of Sheed's caliber and IMPACT to the team either this offseason or in a mid-year trade, that will be way more meaningful than a coaching change.
It was important. But the Larry Brown effect cannot be understated. Before he went nutz and started inexplicably eyeballing the Knicks job while he was still the Pistons' coach, he'd been successful everywhere he went. He even got the Clippers to the playoffs(and damn near upset the Rockets in the first round in 1993). That was back when Donald Sterling wasn't even trying to win. He'd come close to the Finals twice with the Pacers and got the Sixers there. He just needed the right opportunity to get over the hump. I don't know if there's a similar coach out there right now, but I do think a change in leadership on the sidelines could be beneficial for the Raptors organization.
