Raptors coach letting results speak
TORONTO — Kyle Lowry was in a great mood on Wednesday.
In speaking to media, the point guard deflected praise in all directions — to sophomore swingman Terrence Ross for his inspired play, to the team’s big men for their excellent rim protection and even to his coach for his single-minded focus on improving the team’s defence.
That would not have happened last year. Lowry and Dwane Casey did not have frequent screaming matches in their first year together, but there was an absence of trust on both ends.
“Me personally, I’m just an extension of him,” Lowry said on Wednesday. “I know what he wants. And he knows that I’m going to do what he wants.”
There has been plenty of discussion about why Lowry has bought in, as his contract expires. There is little doubt it will result in a more lucrative deal.
For Casey, the situation is less clear. Casey’s contract expires after this season. General manager Masai Ujiri is tight-lipped. As always, Casey is letting the results do the negotiating for him.
“I promise you, I don’t even think about that,” Casey said. “That’s one thing I can’t control. The only thing I can control is preparing this team each and every game.”
The results are decidedly pro-Casey. Since the trade of Rudy Gay on Dec. 8, the Raptors rank fifth in defensive rating and ninth in offensive rating. How good is that? For the season, only four teams rank inside the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating. Three of them are championship contenders from the Western Conference: Houston, Oklahoma City and San Antonio.