Will Masai fire Casey ?

[jimmie]

I agree. The play itself was well designed, since it got a guy an open shot. I think the question is why not simply switch Amir & Novak, so that the rebounder is down low to rebound and the 3pt specialist is outside to take the game-winning 3pt shot. If doing so means the double-team never comes, then Gay is free to penetrate and either take the ball to the hoop or look for other open look options as the play unfolds.

Actually, Novak WAS being used the same as Amir, just on the right side. Both were there to draw defenders primarily, and be open if the defenders collapsed on Gay's drive secondarily. The flaw, as pointed out, was a) not just passing the ball to Demar at the left elbow immediately and letting him figure out who takes the last shot, vs. Rudy doing it, and b) having Amir there as a bailout instead of a better corner 3 shooter.

The play design and players on the floor are on Casey. Not immediately passing to Demar, and then wasting 7-8 seconds dribbling at the top of the key before driving with 3 secs left and being stuck with Amir as the only option is on Gay.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Actually, Novak WAS being used the same as Amir, just on the right side. Both were there to draw defenders primarily, and be open if the defenders collapsed on Gay's drive secondarily. The flaw, as pointed out, was a) not just passing the ball to Demar at the left elbow immediately and letting him figure out who takes the last shot, vs. Rudy doing it, and b) having Amir there as a bailout instead of a better corner 3 shooter.

The play design and players on the floor are on Casey. Not immediately passing to Demar, and then wasting 7-8 seconds dribbling at the top of the key before driving with 3 secs left and being stuck with Amir as the only option is on Gay.

True enough. I agree that if you're not going to play Amir down low to cleanup a rebound, you may as well put a second 3pt shooter on the floor to offset Novak in the other corner. Whether it's Gay or DeRozan with the ball, you need to ensure your outlet passes are going to capable shooters, since that's exactly how the defense will defend.

[caccia]

You don't fire a guy unless you have someone better in your sights.

That is exactly what Larry Bird did when he hired Frank Vogel, a guy with no previous head coaching experience and no experience as a player at a major NCAA school or in the NBA. Bird waited until the situation with Jim O'Brien became intolerable because none of the assistant coaches looked ready for the hot seat. But he decided he had to make a move, and Vogel impressed him the most in interviews. Look how that turned out.

Masai Ujiri is rapidly approaching his Larry Bird moment. The good news is that at least two assistant coaches, Mr. Nurse and Mr. Bayno, look qualified to take over.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/...of-experience/

"Bill Bayno is one of the best in the league as far as player development"

[phez]

Fire Him.

Now.

[isaacthompson]

I'm not sure what everyone is crying about.

Standard play call, Rudy with room to move left or right, penetrates, if the double comes, you move the ball to the open corner for the look. Johnson was wide open, it was a good play, it was executed well, the guy missed the shot. Its that simple.

Amir has been hitting that shot, and there is no reason to believe he wa sa poor choice to have in that spot. I liked it, and frankly, I thought he was going to make it when he got it.

If you don't like Amir, or you don't think he should shoot, than why the hell is he in the NBA, or on the Raptors.

Don't look for an issue where there is none.

That shot was the first of the season from that area. So no, he had not been hitting it.

[RandomGuy]

That is exactly what Larry Bird did when he hired Frank Vogel, a guy with no previous head coaching experience and no experience as a player at a major NCAA school or in the NBA. Bird waited until the situation with Jim O'Brien became intolerable because none of the assistant coaches looked ready for the hot seat. But he decided he had to make a move, and Vogel impressed him the most in interviews. Look how that turned out.

Masai Ujiri is rapidly approaching his Larry Bird moment. The good news is that at least two assistant coaches, Mr. Nurse and Mr. Bayno, look qualified to take over.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/...of-experience/

"Bill Bayno is one of the best in the league as far as player development"

If theyre so experienced why dont we feel their influence? This team looks worse than it looked last season.

[JawsGT]

I don't think Casey gets fired. I expect MU rides out the year, finds a coach in the offseason to run the team and resigns Casey as an assistant like he was in Dallas.

[phez]

I don't think Casey gets fired. I expect MU rides out the year, finds a coach in the offseason to run the team and resigns Casey as an assistant like he was in Dallas.

with the way his team has been playing
i think he's gonna make changes more sooner than later

[Axel]

I don't think Casey gets fired. I expect MU rides out the year, finds a coach in the offseason to run the team and resigns Casey as an assistant like he was in Dallas.

I'd be shocked to see Casey return as an assistant. Very awkward situation to demote a guy and still expect players to listen to him. Casey will have plenty of assistant offers in the league, but it won't be in Toronto.

[stooley]

Talking about coaching a team like this is pointless. Adolph Rupp couldn't coach this team to a good record. Phil Jackson couldn't. John Wooden couldn't. Bob Knight couldn't.

This team has too many bad players in its rotation. Great coaching cannot turn a bad player into a good player.

Great coaching cannot make bad players overcome good players.

To some extent, these players lack the following important qualities: size, strength, speed, and skill. They have some of it, but not enough. Great coaching cannot add those qualities where they don't already exist.

For this team to start winning, as many of the bad players as possible must be replaced with good ones. That is not the job of the ball coach.

"I can't coach screwups." -- Nick Saban

Talking in absolutes is pointless.

I guess you're trying to point out that Casey's job is made harder by the poor players on the team.

Then to determine whether Casey is a good coach, one can examine:

-is he making the most out of the players he is given?

-are they assigned roles that suit their strengths?

-is he developing young players' skill sets?

[ab7]

fire casey or bust

its official casey needdssss to go ....... poitn blank

[rocwell]

rename this thread to 'official fire casey thread'...

[yukhan1980]

And he is expertise were supposed to be defence so much for that 25 point lead and we end losing by double digits. I think before any player casey needs to go

[peanutwoozle]

If Masai doesn't fire him, I'm calling for his head, #OverratedGM

[yukhan1980]

If Masai doesn't fire him, I'm calling for his head, #OverratedGM

Maybe MU is not firing him because if a new coach come in we might start winning these games. By keeping casey MU knows will keep losing and go towards lottery