Kasalanan ni James at ng Cavaliers
TORONTO -- Nagtapos na ang pitong taon na pagiging head coach ni Dwane Casey sa Raptors.
Ito ang inihayag ng Toronto team kahapon.
“After careful consideration, I have decided this is a very difficult but necessary step the franchise must take. As a team, we are constantly trying to grow and improve in order to get to the next level,” nakasaad sa official statement ni Raptors president Masai Ujiri.
Winalis ni LeBron James at ng Cleveland Cavaliers ang Toronto, 4-0, sa kanilang best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series.
Pinasalamatan ni Ujiri si Casey sa kanyang mga nagawa para sa Raptors sa loob ng pitong season.
“We celebrate everything Dwane has done for the organization, we thank him, and we wish him nothing but the best in future. He was instrumental in creating the identity and culture of who we are as a team, and we are so proud of that,” ani Ujiri.
Nagtala ang Toronto ng franchise-record na 59 wins ngayong season para makamit ang No. 1 seed sa Eastern Conference.
Iginiya ng 61-anyos na si Casey ang Raptors sa playoffs sa nakaraang limang seasons.
Sinibak ng Toronto ang Washington Wizards, 4-2, sa first round bago mawalis ni James at ng Cleveland, 4-0, sa ikatlong sunod nilang postseason match up.
Ito ang ikalawang dikit na sweep ng Cavaliers sa Raptors sa Eastern Conference semifinals.
Nanalo ang Toronto sa 2-4 kabiguan sa Cleveland sa conference finals noong 2016.
Nilisan ni Casey ang Raptors bilang winningest coach sa franchise history mula sa kanyang itinalang 320-238 record.
Noong Miyerkules ay hinirang si Casey bilang Coach of the Year ng National Basketball Coaches Association.