{"id":15649,"date":"2018-06-13T20:27:39","date_gmt":"2018-06-14T00:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=15649"},"modified":"2018-06-13T20:27:39","modified_gmt":"2018-06-14T00:27:39","slug":"toronto-raptors-promote-nick-nurse-to-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2018\/06\/13\/toronto-raptors-promote-nick-nurse-to-head-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Raptors Promote Nick Nurse to Head Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Toronto Raptors<\/a> front office has decided to hire from within for their head coaching search. Assistant coach, Nick Nurse, has been signed to a three-year, $10 million contract, according to ESPN. Nurse replaces Dwane Casey, who was fired after putting up 59 wins, a franchise best. The reason for Casey’s firing is likely being swept by the fourth seed Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n

Nurse has a good resume. He was the NBA D-League Coach of the Year in 2011 and a two-time NBA D-League champion (2011, 2013). He was also a two-time British Basketball League champ (1996, 2000). Nurse joined the Raptors in 2013 as an assistant coach after winning his two D-League championships.<\/p>\n

Toronto Raptors Promote Nick Nurse to Head Coach<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Raptors will introduce him as the new head coach on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Casey was hired by the Detroit Pistons for their head coaching vacancy on Monday. According to Dave Feschuk, a Toronto Star columnist,<\/a> there is no love lost between Casey and Nurse. \u201cNurse\u2019s offence-forward suggestions were never fully heard nor understood,” says Feschuk, referencing the suggested changes during the abysmal matchup of the Raptors and LeBron James<\/a><\/strong> and the Cavaliers. Nurse is an offensively minded coach who will likely look to speed things up even more in the offense for next season.<\/p>\n

The Raptors have had much success the past few years. They have finished in first in the division four out of the last 5 years. The year they didn’t, they finished second in the east. Even with a record of 263-147 (.802 win percentage) in that span, it wasn’t enough to spare Casey from losing his job.<\/p>\n

Toronto or LeBronto?<\/h2>\n

In each of the past three years, the Raptors have faced the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> in the playoffs. The results were grim. The team was swept the last two years. The season before, they went 4-2 the season before, it was decided that a change was needed in the coaching staff.<\/p>\n

Nurse will look to elevate the success the Raptors have had and hopefully get the elusive NBA Finals berth Toronto has been salivating over.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n