Raptors unfazed by jokes

CLEVELAND — Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey told his players to stay off social media before the NBA post-season even began.

If they ignored him, he’s hoping they will use Friday’s onslaught of memes and jokes at their expense as a motivational tool to dig themselves out of a 2-0 deficit in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Basketball fans have been ruthless in their mockery of the Raptors following Thursday’s disastrous 128-110 home loss to LeBron James and the Cavaliers, showing off their creativity with a photo of the Toronto sign at downtown’s Nathan Phillips Square being altered to read “LEBRONTO” and videos of dinosaurs going extinct being widely shared.

“If our players are reading that, that should motivate you,” said Casey. “We’re professional people. We should use execution, physicality, toughness as our motivation. And I’m not making light of what they’re saying. I don’t know how to use social media. What happens on the court should motivate us.”

As they prepared to head to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 in danger of being swept by the Cavs for a second straight year, the Raptors were unfazed by the online mockery.

“I’m not paying attention to it,” guard Fred VanVleet said. “I don’t think most guys on the team are really paying attention to social media right now. We’re locked into the playoffs.”

C.J. Miles, one of the Raptors leaders coming off the bench, claims he doesn’t follow social media. He’s more concerned with stopping James, who led Cleveland with 43 points and 14 assists Thursday.

“You’ve got to put some pressure on him, you’ve got to put some pressure on everybody,” said Miles.