After dismissing head coach Dwane Casey earlier today, Raptors president Masai Ujiri spoke to reporters this afternoon about the decision, calling it “the hardest thing I’ve done in my life” (Twitter link via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca).
While Ujiri acknowledged how difficult it was to part ways with Casey after the head coach’s seven seasons in Toronto, he also indicated that sometimes relationships need to come to an end. “We’ll figure a way to move on,” Ujiri said (Twitter link). “New voice.”
While it’s hard to place the blame for another disappointing postseason performance against Cleveland entirely on Casey, he made several questionable calls during the Raptors’ four-game sweep at the hands of LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Toronto struggled all series to contain James and his supporting cast, and Casey kept returning to certain defensive matchups that weren’t working, letting the Cavs exploit constant defensive switches. Additionally, an ill-fated decision to bring in Lucas Nogueira during Game 4 for the first time in over two weeks may have been the dagger in the Raptors’ season — Nogueira was a -10 in less than two minutes of action as the Cavs built a big lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Still, as many observers have pointed out today, firing a head coach for being unable to beat James in the playoffs doesn’t seem fair. After all, no Eastern team has been able to get past a LeBron-led squad in the postseason since 2010, and the Raptors don’t exactly have a superstar capable of matching up with the NBA’s best player.
Casey is coming off a 59-23 regular season, having established a new Raptors record for wins in a season. He hasn’t had fewer than 48 victories in a season since 2012/13, and his club won four playoff series in the last three years. Casey was even recognized by his peers as the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year earlier this week.
It’s a strong résumé, and one that has many NBA fans questioning whether the Raptors can really find a coach who will be an upgrade on Casey.
What do you think? Did the Raptors need to move on from Casey after its latest playoff defeat, or is this the wrong move, and one the team will regret? Vote below in our poll, then jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!
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No. The roster just isn’t good enough. Not against Lebron. If they could add another star next to derozan and Lowry, if you call him an Allstar anymore, I think they would have an ok chance. But anyone who watches nba somewhat could tell that the series was over even before it started. It’s not anyone’s fault but Lebron’s. But I thought he had them going in the right direction. Too bad. He is a great coach no doubt.
This exactly. The team needs improvements more than anything.
It’s the right thing, not for anything he did, but this is the first step in the Raptors realizing it’s the players, not the coach when the next one can’t get by Bron as well.
They should have kept the coach. LeBron is gone next year Toronto could have owned the east. Add another player get a little better would have been the right thing to do.
They don’t have the assets to get another key player. They owe too much to Ibaka 44 mil over two more years and Valanciunas 34 mil over two more years. Without any salary cap room or assets to trade I’m not sure if they’ll be able to keep up with other rising east teams like Philly/Boston.
“Owned the East”? I think that Boston and Philly might have something to say about that. LOL!!
They wouldn’t have gotten past Philly or Boston this year, let alone next year with a healthy Boston team.
Gary. Where did you read that LeBron said he’s gone next year? He might be, but for now he’s still in Cleveland.
My crystal ball at home. Bought it at a Gypsy flea market back in 1977. Works like a charm. Let me know what you need for information and we’ll see what I can do. First order of business, LeBron is gone.
I’m not sure where the raptors can really go from here. In all honesty with an aging Lowry and DeRozan and no salary cap room or draft picks it might’ve been better to blow up the team rather than fire the coach.
Anyone that thinks this wasn’t the correct decision. I advise you to go watch the BBALLBREAKDOWN video on YouTube about this Cavs series. The commentary in that video shows (I think correctly) just how much of the Raptors problems in this series were due to coaching. Dwane Casey is not a good coach. Anyone who watches the Raptors knows that somewhere deep down. The Raptors has always played incredibly stupid basketball under him, it was his assistant that revamped this offense this year into something other than mostly isolation.
The raptures based their entire philosophy to beat the cavs roster last year and got swept by the remaining players. Which was the bench. Safe to say they failed miserably and need to tear it down and restart. 6ers and celtics will be 2 steps ahead next year and wherever bron goes will also beat them so they are now the 4th team in the east with their current roster
*Cavs roster from last year
I mean can you really coach 2 max players with head cases to victory over LeBron?
Maybe the new coach will teach Lowry to count to 5 so he doesn’t hold onto it and turn it over with 3 min left and a 4 point lead
At least it was only a 3 year deal.
Of course he deserved to be fired. Raptors aren’t as talented as the Cavaliers, but to be outplayed by them for three years and the lack of in-game adjustments. He had to go. Regular season and postseason are two different things. Raptors should go after Budenholzer or consider promoting Nick Nurse. Jerry Stackhouse to me isn’t ready. Gotta trade either Lowry or DeRozan and build up a stronger squad for years to come.
He needed to go. He’s a product of the team and its talent, whereas his coaching skills failed again in the playoffs.
Does,not the onus belong to Usuri,he is the one who finds the players,if the players are not good enough why fire the coach.Usuri should have fired himself
Bring in Coach Bud and move DeRozan for Kawaii…
Something had to change. This roster/cap situation is pretty much locked in and difficult to change and get equal value. That leaves making a change of voice/philosophy at the top.