NBA – Raptors sack Mitchell, appoint former Canada boss Triano as coach
TORONTO (NBA) - The Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday and replaced him in the interim with former Canada national team boss Jay Triano. Mitchell, the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2006-07, was shown the door following the team's 39-point defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. That loss has left the Raptors with eight ...
TORONTO (NBA) - The Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday and replaced him in the interim with former Canada national team boss Jay Triano.
Mitchell, the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2006-07, was shown the door following the team's 39-point defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
That loss has left the Raptors with eight wins and nine defeats.
In announcing Mitchell's sacking, Raptors president and general manager Brian Colangelo said: "Obviously, last night's game was just an absolute kick to the gut.
"When you look back, it's a culmination of things. Expectations are high. We want to win."
Italian Ettore Messina, the coach of European champions CSKA Moscow, has been linked with the Raptors in the past.
Messina has also been linked with a move to Barcelona, an issue he addressed in Thursday’s La Stampa newspaper.
"Regarding the rumours of going to Barcelona, I can only say that I don´t know what I will do at the end of the season," Messina said.
Wednesday's NBA results: Memphis 95 Atlanta 105, Oklahoma City 97 Charlotte 103, New York 82 Cleveland 118, Portland 98 Washington 92, Minnesota 89 Orlando 100, LA Lakers 114 Philadelphia 102, Indiana 96 Boston 114, Chicago 90 Milwaukee 97, Phoenix 91 New Orleans 104, LA Clippers 96 Houston 103, Miami 93 Utah 89.
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