Raptors coach lauds James

Raptors looking for the upset against the Cavs, again

With his team about to play the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Toronto coach Dwane Casey was asked if he could look back on the Raptors’ 2016 playoff loss to the Cavaliers in the Easter Conference finals.

“Do I have to?” Casey said, smiling.

Cleveland won that series, 4-2, taking the last two games after the Raptors pulled even at two games apiece with victories in Games 3 and 4.

The question was posed to Casey in the context of getting his read on where the teams stand going into their second playoff showdown in as many seasons.

Both teams have lost and added players in the year since then. What hasn’t changed, Casey noted emphatically, was the presence of four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James in the uniform of the opposing team.

“LeBron in Cleveland, LeBron in Miami, LeBron in Cleveland. He changes the dynamics,” Casey said. “He’s the hub of everything. He plays every position. He’s seen every defense.”

Korver, on J.R. ‘Swish’ Smith

Veteran shooting guard Kyle Korver joined the Cavs in January in a trade with Atlanta. A long-range shooter of considerable repute himself, Korver said he alternately scratches his head and marvels at the shot choices made by J.R. Smith, the team’s starter at shooting guard and a 14year veteran.

“He still shoots unbelievable shots,” Korver said. “I always tell him he’s a better bad shooter than he is a wide-open shooter. You see some shots he takes, you think, that’s a terrible shot and, swish, it goes in. Always the nickname. He’s always had a real flare to his game.”

Confident, with reason

Smith was asked if he thought the Raptors believe they can beat the Cavs in this series. After beating Toronto in the 2016 playoff series, the Cavs took three of four games in the 201617 regular season.

“I would hope so. That’s what makes it good. I think they do,” Smith said. “Growing up, playing with Kyle (Lowry), I know that’s how he thinks. I’ve seen (DeMar) DeRozan since he was about 14, 15. I know he wants to win. For those guys to be their leaders, if I was them, I’d like my chances.”

Praise for Pierce

James was asked for his reaction to Paul Pierce reaching the end of his 19year NBA career. Pierce and the Los Angeles Clippers were beaten by Utah in Game 7 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Pierce finished with 26,397 career points, 18th in all-time scoring. He spent 15 years on the Boston Celtics before finishing his career with stops in Brooklyn, Washington and L.A.

“He put his mark on this game,” James said. “He is somebody I had a lot of battles with, somebody I’ve always respected and competed against. He pushed me in the Eastern Conference for quite a while. His numbers speak for themselves. Obviously, his next stop is the Hall of Fame.”