Casey’s Raptors remain work in progress
Will draw either Bucks or Pacers in first round
• Another game in a long and gruelling NBA season, one of 82 is how coaches approach i t, no more important than any other, no opponent ever taken for granted, regardless of record.
So goes the theory unless you’re the Toronto Raptors, a team that will go into the post-season as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, the opening round of the best- of- seven to tip off this weekend in Toronto.
The Raptors’ playoff foe has been established well before the NBA’s season-ending tips Wednesday, becaue Atlanta beat Charlotte 103-76.
The Milwaukee Bucks, an athletic and relatively inexperienced team, will draw the Raptors.
“We’re preparing like we do the other 81,’’ said Raptors coach Dwane Casey of Wednesday’s game in Cleveland. “It’s one of 82 games and we’ve got to in and work on our habits, offensively and defensively, and go into the weekend with some momentum. Everyone is going to play.”
Not so for the Cavaliers as LeBron James will sit it out. James, along with Kyrie Irving, sat out Monday’s game against the Miami Heat.
For t he Raptors, Kyle Lowry will get his fourth and final opportunity to better familiarize himself with Serge Ibaka and P. J. Tucker before the playoffs.
Casey has insisted for the last two weeks that his players need repetition, time to get on the same page, improve communication, tighten defensive rotations, ensuring the ball gets to the right player in the right spot.
Come playoff time there won’t be much time outside of film sessions and practice gatherings to prepare.
“The rest, rust, it’s a huge issue,’’ said Casey. “All I know is that we’ve struggled going into that first ( playoff ) game ( losing to Brooklyn, Washington and Indy, all at home the past three springs). We’ve rested guys and it didn’t help.
“We’ve got a lot of issues to work out, combos that haven’t been together, different things we want to do with those combos. Whether it’s 15, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, we’ve got to get a little work in.”
There’s no doubt the Raptors have the pieces to go deep, even if it means having to go through Cleveland in the second round, but Casey isn’t fixated on any matchup other than addressing deficiencies on defence and offence.
One player who can’t wait for the playoffs to begin is P. J. Tucker, the modern- day version of Charles Oakley, tough as nails, a true leader, defensively strong, high basketball IQ with a nice jumper.
Tucker has never appeared in the post-season.
“I’m starting to amp up,’’ said Tucker. “Starting to focus, starting to prepare, especially for potential match- ups, starting to dial in, getting the mind ready.”
Tucker believes it’s incumbent on the Raptors to key on their own responsibilities and roles.
“As a team, you focus on yourself and mentally you’re ready for any team,’’ he added. “And then you’re ready to go to battle.”