Raptors coach takes leave
| TORONTO (AP) -- Raptors coach Sam Mitchell is taking a leave of absence so he can fly home to Atlanta following the death of his father-in-law. A team spokesman said Monday that Mitchell left Toronto and will not rejoin the Raptors until after the All-Star break. Toronto's first game after the break is at home against Orlando on Feb. 20. Assistant coach Mike Evans was to take charge of the team for Monday's game against San Antonio, because the Spurs are one of the teams he scouts. Fellow assistant Jay Triano will serve as head coach for Wednesday's game against New Jersey. A native of Niagara Falls, Ont., Triano will be the first Canadian head coach in NBA history. Evans served as Denver's head coach for the final 56 games of the 2001-02 season after Dan Issel was fired. He said he's aware of the differences that come with being in charge. "The decisions rest with you," Evans said. "It's easy to sit there and make suggestions to the head coach about what you think we should do, but when you're actually the coach for the night, then you realize just how difficult it is to please everybody." Mitchell didn't offer Evans much advice on how to handle the team. "He said do what you do," Evans said. "That's Sam. We practice and we're all on the same page, so there's no mystery to what we're trying to do on the court." Mitchell won the NBA's coach of the year award last season, leading Toronto to a 47-35 record and the team's first Atlantic Division title. Toronto was 27-22 heading into Monday night's game. |
