Do Toronto Raptors Fans Still Hate Lawrence Frank?

This is a question that is on top of many Raptors fans' minds with news breaking that the Raptors head coaching search has been whittled down to Lawrence Frank and Dwane Casey of the Dallas Mavericks.

We, as Raptors fans, have a long and tumultuous history with one Lawrence Frank and I, for one, like many others in Raptor land, still have a severe distaste for Frank and the VC-Jefferson-Kidd New Jersey Nets.

Yes, some will argue that it is way past time to forgive and forget, especially considering that Frank and Carter have not been with the Nets for years, but it is not that easy.

I analogize this particular situation to the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring detested goaltenders Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour; two goalies who continuously gave the Doug Gilmour-led Leafs problems in and out of the playoffs.

Even when they became Leafs, many, including myself, just could not look past the past, so to speak.

Lawrence Frank is a good coach and is a terrific candidate for the Toronto Raptors head coaching job; his tenure with the Nets will not be held against him in the hiring process.

His so-called defensive acumen will be a welcomed change in Toronto and he will, one way or another, get the most out of his players.

If there were ever any coaches I hated in the NBA, they were always Scott Skiles and Lawrence Frank.

I have never been a fan of his demeanor and I am not sure that he can do much with a non-playoff team like the Raptors as he missed the playoffs with a better team in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 before being fired after a 0-16 start in 2009-2010.

A lot of coaches can look good with Jason Kidd as their point guard.

In my mind, there is every reason for the Raptors to wait, as they are, for Dwane Casey to be available for interview after the NBA finals have been completed.

Casey just may be the better man for the job.

He comes from a better system and a better franchise and has been credited with the defensive showing of the Mavs these NBA playoffs.

Casey is a better defensive coach than Lawrence Frank and that, along with this history with the Nets, should be enough for the Raptors as it is more than enough in many hardcore Raptors fans' eyes.

Dwane Casey is the man for the job—Frank is a good choice, but a bad fit in Toronto.

How do you feel Raptors fans? Do you still hate Frank?

This article and other off-season Raptors talk can be found at Raptors Digest.