Over the past 2 years Sam Mitchell lead the Raptors to the playoffs and won the NBA’s Coach of the Year for 2006-07.  Other then that Sam Mitchell has yet to really prove anything with the Raptors.  This year he had the team off to a 4-0 start.  They have fallen since to a 4-9 record, due to some injuries.

Last night was the final straw for Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors lost to the Nuggets 132-93.  They allowed Denver to shoot 60% from the field and the Nuggets’ 37 assists were the most by an NBA team in regulation this season. The 39-point difference marked the fifth-worst loss in franchise history.

Obviously, last night’s game was just an absolute kick to the gut,” Colangelo said. “When you look back, it’s a culmination of things. Expectations are high. We want to win.”

Sam Mitchell had a few words for the media after being fired,

“I have a lot to be thankful for, they really gave me the opportunity to have a career in coaching, something I always wanted to do after I played,” Mitchell told Canadian sports network TSN. “So yeah, it’s a disappointment that I really wasn’t given the chance to finish what I started, but you know what, I feel like I accomplished a lot of good things. I think the players that played for me all got better.”

Sam Mitchell is the thrid NBA Coach fired this year so far with more to come.  Oklahoma City fired P.J. Carlesimo and Washington dismissed Eddie Jordan last month.

Rumors are already swirling in Toronto that Jay Triano will remain as head coach for the rest of the year.  Other notables that have been mentioned in the Toronto media have been Flip Saunders ex coach of the Pistons, and Avery Johnson ex coach of the Dallas Mavericks.  Well just have to wait and see what Bryan Colangelo has hiding under his sleave for this one.