Hooped Up

All signs point to Raptor coach Sam Mitchell being named the league’s coach of the year for 2006-07 and being honored before Game 2 of Toronto’s Eastern Conference playoff series against the New Jersey Nets , the Toronto Star writes.

The league announced last night it would announce the coach of the year winner tomorrow and the league likes to allow the various winners their moment in the sun in front of a home crowd.

In a straw poll of writers and broadcasters who vote on the award, Mitchell had a slight edge on Utah’s Jerry Sloan and Avery Johnson of the Dallas Mavericks .

In the past, the league has made sure the winner of any significant post-season award has been honored before his team plays.

Neither the Jazz nor the Mavericks play tomorrow night.

Toronto Star