NBA’s Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has urged his players to DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry to believe in the process and mumped with them to be patient.
The Raptors concluded a trip to Utah, and the star players were not yet very comfortable with the new style of play, focused on more passes.
Casey asked them to be patient and this spring, the club pays the fruits. Toronto gets to Washington 2-0 in the series against the Wizards in the first round, in the East. Matches 3 and 4 will take place on Friday and Sunday.
“It was early in the season. About the meeting mentioned earlier. They had not acclimated to the new style, they were not sure of the impact on the number of shots they could try. They were not sure if it would help for their contributions in attack.” Casey said.
“I begged them to give the new system a chance, to make good faith efforts. They have fully embraced it and it has been huge for us, to allow us to change a style that has been proven the season before, in terms of numbers. It made a difference.”Casey added.
Casey was asked if one of his players was more reluctant than the other, but the American head coach said no. The Raptors had lost by 18 points in Denver but in Salt Lake City, they prevailed 109-100. Their 59 regular season wins, a team record, earned the club the first position in the East.
Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. (Sumber:www.s.com)
At the pass level, the Raptors went from fifth to fifth in the NBA, from the previous season to 2017/18. The organisation turned to multi-pass basketball and three-point shots, wanting to move away from solo footage against a rival.
It’s going well in this chapter for now, in series. Lowry and DeRozan had 15 assists in Game 1. In each of two games, six Raptors provided at least 10 points.
Casey expects the Wizards to fight fiercely at Capital One Arena. Three years ago, Wasington swept Toronto in the first round.
“It has not been easy here for us in the past, let alone in playoffs, has it? But the place and the opponent, it’s not important.” Casey said.
“We have to take care of our own business: to be well prepared, to play the games and to keep the thirst for winning. The Wizards are going to be tough.” he added.
