via www.cbc.ca
Since 1995 the Toronto Raptors have seen their share of highs and low. They have seen star players come and star players go. Like every team in the league this is a common occurrence. Equally as common as the constant player changes are coaching changes. Since the Dinos first touched down in 1995, we have seen 6 coaching changes (Triano being our 7th coach). Some of them we would sooner wish to forget, others were there to lead us and bring us to more wins and respectability ... but which coach was your favorite? (more after the jump)
Now I am by know means a basketball X's and O's guy .. that's not my thing. Ask me the ways to beat a cover 2,3 or 4 and I got I covered. I do know that basketball is not really that diverse when it comes to playbooks from team to team, but you can't argue the importance of the man calling the plays. Like I mentioned before the jump, not all of our leaders deserve a right up andto be honest with you is anybody REALLY going to miss a Kevin O'Neil write up?? So I chose the 3 coaches which have lead us to our most successful seasons (forgive the chart layout, I am new to this) ....
LENNY WILKINS
Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | Win % | Finish | W | L | Win % | Result |
TOR |
2000/01 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2nd in Central Division | 6 | 6 | .500 | Conf. Semifinals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TOR | 2001/02 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 3rd in Central Division | 2 | 3 | .400 | 1st Round |
TOR | 2002/03 | 24 | 58 | .293 | 7th in Central Division |
BUTCH CARTER
Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
TOR | 1997-98 | 5 | 28 | .152 | 8th in Central Division | ||||
TOR | 1998-99 | 23 | 27 | .460 | 6th in Central Division | ||||
TOR | 1999-00 | 45 | 37 | .549 | 3rd in Central Division | 0 | 3 | .000 | 1st Round |
3 seasons | 73 | 92 | .442 | - | 0 | 3 | .000 | - |
SAM MITCHELL
Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TOR | 2004–05 | 82 | 33 | 49 | .402 | 4th in Atlantic | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
TOR | 2005–06 | 82 | 27 | 55 | .329 | 4th in Atlantic | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
TOR | 2006–07 | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 1st in Atlantic | 6 | 2 | 4 | Lost in First Round |
TOR | 2007–08 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 2nd in Atlantic | 5 | 1 | 4 | Lost in First Round |
TOR | 2008–09 | 17 | 8 | 9 | .471 | 4th in Atlantic | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Career | 345 | 156 | 189 | .452 | 11 | 3 | 8 |
Now it is easy to simply judge your favorite Raps coach by simply letting the numbers do the talking for you, but where is the fun in that? All of the above coaches have brought us to the playoffs and none were short on personality. From the Jimmy's and Joe's coaching style of Sam Mitchell. To the lovable ol' Lenny Wilkins.Of Course love him or just think he was crazy, Butch Carters success was undeniable. Sooooo he tried to secure his place in our organization by promising a Vince signing as long as he could replace our GM .... BIG DEAL . He brought us our FIRST winning season and our FIRST playoff appearance. Yes we lost to the New York Knicks but NBA playoffs north of the border?? REALLY??? I could almost hear Jim Mora, "PLAYOFFS???, PLAYOFFS???" back then we were happy to simply win games.
Yes love him or hate him ... even Sam Mitchell brought results. Were his post game press conferences thought provoking and riveting?? NOPE. Did he bring a perspective to the game you never knew existed?? NOPE. Did he care much for the media?? NOPE. Do you think Sam cared?? NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. Mr "we just missed some shats" would probably not be invited over for dinner, nor would he invite you. He won games though. He managed the personalities on our squad. Hell he won coach of the YEAR? Did he deserve it? Well that may be debatable and I am sure many of you will, but if it wasor wasn't .. I actually miss the guy. I do believe it was time to go though ... Enter Jay Triano. I will hold off on judging a man who has yet to play a full season, but who knows .. a few years from now it may be his name on the list of Raptor coaches who brought us some great success ... LETS HOPE RAPTOR FANS!!! So have at it RAPTORS FANS ... WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE RAPTOR COACH AND WHY???
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