Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 12 June 2018
Pistons land ex-Raptors coach

Dwane Casey with 5-year deal

By LARRY LAGE team had not announced has the pieces in place to
AP Sports Writer the move, which was first compete at a very high
DETROIT (AP) — Dwane reported by ESPN. level," Casey said. "There is
Casey lost his job in Toronto Casey led Toronto to a lot of talent, a solid core
because the Raptors a team-record 59 wins and some exciting young
wanted to advance further this year and helped players eager to get better.
in the playoffs. the franchise earn the We're getting to work right
In Detroit, it would be an top seed in the Eastern away on the things that will
accomplishment if Casey Conference for the first make us all successful."
can simply get the Pistons time, a performance that Casey certainly has work to
into the playoffs. won him coach of the do.
The Pistons hired the NBA year honors from his peers The Pistons have made In this May 7, 2018, file photo, Toronto Raptors head coach
coach of the year finalist at the National Basketball the playoffs only once in Dwane Casey gestures during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA
basketball second-round playoff series against the Cleveland
Monday, hoping he can Coaches Association. He nine years after advancing Cavaliers in Cleveland.
help the three-time NBA had one year remaining at least to the Eastern Associated Press
championship franchise on a three-year, $18 million Conference finals six
regularly reach the dollar extension when straight years, winning the said. "He's an outstanding five years of coaching
postseason and eventually he was fired shortly after 2004 NBA title and falling a man with impressive experience in Japan and
compete again for titles. Toronto was swept by victory short of repeating as character. He embodies has spent time around the
"Dwane is one of the most the Cleveland Cavaliers. champions in 2005. They do our culture and will be a game in Europe.
successful and highly He was 320-238 in seven not appear to have much great representative for our Under Casey, the Raptors
respected coaches in our seasons and is Toronto's flexibility to make significant franchise." won four Atlantic Division
league," Pistons owner winningest coach. changes this offseason. The 61-year-old Casey is titles and advanced
Tom Gores said. "He's a The Pistons said Casey Detroit acquired Blake getting his third shot to lead to the playoffs in five
great communicator and has already started Griffin in a blockbuster an NBA team. consecutive seasons. But
a leader who will connect work, including meetings trade this past season and He coached the Minnesota Toronto couldn't get past
with our players and with players, and will be that wasn't enough to push Timberwolves for a little Cleveland, losing to LeBron
accelerate their growth. introduced at a news Detroit into the playoffs. An more than one season, James and the Cavs in
Having spent many hours conference next week. injury to point guard Reggie going 53-69. He also has each of the past three
with Dwane over the last Detroit had been looking Jackson derailed what experience in the league playoffs, getting swept this
few weeks, I'm confident for a coach for more than looked like a promising as an assistant with Dallas year and last year.
he is the right person to get month since firing Stan season. If healthy, the and Seattle. Detroit moved into a
us to the next level." Van Gundy , who was also Pistons do potentially have Casey, who is from new downtown arena
A month after being fired its president of basketball an intriguing nucleus with Morganfield, Kentucky, last season, but with the
by the Raptors , Casey operations. Michigan Griffin, Jackson and Andre played for the Wildcats exception of some brief
agreed to a five-year deal coach John Beilein was a Drummond. and helped them win the success after trading for
to become head coach finalist for the job before "In our meetings he 1978 NCAA title and began Griffin, the team didn't
of the Pistons, two people withdrawing his name from displayed great insight his coaching career the create much buzz. The
familiar with the situation consideration last week into what this roster can next year as a graduate Pistons are still looking to
told The Associated Press and San Antonio Spurs accomplish, and great assistant under Joe B. Hall. hire someone to head
on Monday. The people assistant Ime Udoka also passion about our city and He later back to campus basketball operation. They
spoke on condition of was a candidate. the team's role in bringing to work as an assistant did bring in Ed Stefanski as
anonymity because the "I'm confident that this team people together," Gores for Eddie Sutton. He has a senior executive.q

Diana Taurasi scores 25 points,

Mercury beat Aces 72-66

66 on Sunday. the opening basket of the the fourth to build to their
The Aces had a 10-1 run to third quarter to reach their largest lead at 69-45.
close to 68-64 with about largest lead at 52-37. Nneka Ogwumike added
three minutes to go, but A'ja Wilson had 17 points for 16 points and eight re-
Griner had two blocked the Aces (1-7). Kayla Mc- bounds, and Chelsea Gray
shots to give the Mercury Bride added 16, and Kelsey scored 10 of her 15 points
(7-3) back-to-back defen- Plum had 12. after the break for Los An-
sive stops, and Taurasi hit a SPARKS 77, SKY 59 geles. The Sky (3-5) made
baseline 3-pointer to push LOS ANGELES (AP) — Can- 21 of 74 (28.4 percent) shots
Atlanta Dream guard Tiffany Hayes (15) celebrates making a the lead back to seven dace Parker scored 24 from the field and hit only
shot and drawing the foul during the second half of a WNBA
basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Sunday, June 10, with 1:05 left. points on 10-of-14 shooting one of their first 21 3-point
2018 in Seattle. DeWanna Bonner added and blocked three shots in attempts before mak-
Associated Press 14 points and seven re- Los Angeles' victory over ing the last two when the
bounds to help the Mercury Chicago. game was out of reach.
By The Associated Press points, 15 rebounds and win their fifth straight. The Sparks (5-2) never Cheyenne Parker had 17
PHOENIX (AP) — Diana seven blocked shots and Phoenix had an 11-2 run trailed and went on a 17-3 points and 12 rebounds
Taurasi scored 25 points, the Phoenix Mercury held to close the first half with run starting late in the third to lead Chicago. The Sky
Brittney Griner had 19 off the Las Vegas Aces 72- 13-point lead and scored quarter and extending into have lost five of six.q