[larentont]

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=2582...=topStory_main

Sam Mitchell has been fired as head coach of the Toronto Raptors, a day after the team suffered the fifth worst defeat in franchise history, a 132-93 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
"This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take," Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo said in a statement. "We appreciate all that Sam has done for the organization, applaud him for his successes and wish him nothing but the best with his future in basketball."
In a TSN exclusive, Mitchell spoke 'Up Front' with Michael Landsberg on 'Off the Record' after the firing, and was asked if he was surprised by the move.
"When you have tough games and the expectations are high, and you're not meeting those expectations, then you can be subject to something like this happening," Mitchell told OTR. "It's not about being shocked or not shocked. It's unfortunate that it happened, but these things happen."
Landsberg asked Mitchell if he felt 17 games was a fair amount of time for the coach to put his stamp on the Raptors' team.
"I don't want to get into what's fair or not fair," Mitchell replied. "I learned a long time ago that the world's not fair and life isn't always fair. I had a great run. I have nothing but respect for the people at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. I have a lot to be thankful for. They gave me an opportunity to have a career in coaching, which is something I always wanted to do after I played."
"It's a disappointment that I wasn't going to get a chance to finish what I started, but I feel like I accomplished a lot of good things there. I think the players that played for me all got better. Even the players who moved on to other teams have gotten better, so instead of looking back at the disappointing part of it, I want to look back at all the good things that happened."
Canadian assistant coach Jay Triano will assume the position of interim head coach. Triano, the longest-serving member of the coaching staff, becomes the first Canadian-born head coach in NBA history. The remainder of the coaching staff will continue with the organization.
The Raptors are off to a disappointing 8-9 start to the season, and have suffered back-to-back defeats on their current road trip - the Denver game, as well as Sunday's 112-99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite the Raptors' slow start, power forward Chris Bosh has posted MVP type numbers this season. He's second in league scoring averaging 26.6 points per game. The six-year pro is also pulling down 10.3 rebounds per game.
Mitchell was named the sixth head coach in Raptors history June 29, 2004. He posted a 156-189 (.452) record in his four-plus seasons at the helm of the Raptors. He garnered the Red Auerbach Trophy as the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2006-07 season. In May of 2007, he was awarded a four-year, $12-million contract extension with the team.
He also captured The Sporting News 2007 NBA Coach of the Year honours in a vote among his head coaching peers. In January 2007, Mitchell became only the second coach in Raptors history to earn Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honours.
Jay Triano is in his seventh season as a member of the Raptors' coaching staff. He became the first Canadian born and Canadian trained coach in the NBA when he served as an assistant coach to Lenny Wilkens during the 2002-03 season.
A native of Niagara Falls, Triano was the head coach of the Canadian men's national team from 1998-2004 posting a 52-42 (.553) record. He led Canada to a semifinal berth in the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico and to a 5-2 record, second best to the United States, in the 2000 Olympics.
Triano served as interim head coach for one game last season when Mitchell was away for a personal family matter. The Raptors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 105-82, on February 10 at Air Canada Centre.
Triano's first game as interim head coach will be Friday when the Raptors visit the Utah Jazz. Game time is 10:30 ET. The game will be broadcast live TSN and TSN HD.

[gyjsdtuwr]

That is not an 8-9 team...he needed to go

[HawksBurnDown]

That is not an 8-9 team...he needed to go

Agreed.

Some fans are wanting Flip Saunders or the guy that just got fired from Washington I believe.

[dwestemesse]

not getting their "bang for the buck" from O'Neal.

not all his fault but he was supposed to be a difference maker.

plenty of blame to go around.

[Acciblyfluila]

Hasn't oneal been injured most of the year? He was on the downside of his career. Anything close to a double double from him is a plus with some D thrown in.


Flip saunders is terrible. I rememer arguing this point when the pistons first hired him and they were happy. He is not a playoff coach

[alex_loudermilk]

He was supposed to be able to do some of everything. He was supposed to be a presence on the Defensive Side of the court and throw in some pts and quality minutes. He's been average.

Bargnani has been......well does he even show up??? #1 overall pick.....

they have talent......

[nakeseireo]

Lets see what Jay Triano brings to the table, I'll be rooting for him.

[gtyruzzel]

not getting their "bang for the buck" from O'Neal.

not all his fault but he was supposed to be a difference maker.

plenty of blame to go around.

Right.