The Raptors’ beleaguered head coach speaks on the Fan 590 for the first time since their year-end presser.
Casey opened up about the playoffs, the Wizards and his job security.
First things first. His job security:
“I wasn’t worried about my job, never have been, never will be,” Casey said (via Sportsnet). “Masai has every right to look at the entire organization, [like] the coaching staff, and evaluate everything that we’ve done as a staff and as a team but I think, if we’re all honest with ourselves and look where we come from and look how the growth process is going, we’re going in the right direction. I think that’s what the evaluation process shows.
“Did we make mistakes as a coaching staff? Yes. Did we make mistakes as an organization and players making mistakes as players? Yes. We all do. We all are accountable for everything that goes on, but again, big picture, we’re going in the right direction from where we started last year.”
Then, on what changed between last season and this one:
“One thing you learn, if you’ve been in this long enough, is that to get somewhere, you have to go through something.
Last year was a great story. We overachieved and surprised everybody. We started out the regular season and guys did an excellent job of staying together, the chemistry, and playing together.
And then, this year, as the year went on, we hit bumps in the road, faced adversity and we went through something. And unfortunately — believe me — it went into the playoffs. But again, it gives us something to measure ourselves by, something to motivate us this summer, to get ready for, when we start preaching about, ‘we’re doing this for playoff basketball’, during these drills, to get ready for the playoffs.
Guys now understand the level that you have to get back to, to play playoff basketball. So the embarrassment and the hurt we felt this year in the playoffs, every organization goes through it to get to that ultimate goal.”
On the Raptors’ core:
We have to get better, we have to improve. Experience is a huge thing in this league. … Size, length, toughness, rebounding. Some of those things we have to address with our team.
Again, is this the team we’re going to have for the future? I don’t know. I think some changes will be made to get better, to improve.
There’s a style of basketball played in the playoffs that is totally different than the regular season. And, y’know, playoff style, game personality, the way we play in the regular season has to be consistent with how the way the game is played in the playoffs. It’s something I know, going into next season.
On the assistant coaching search:
Chemistry on the staff is important. Consistent philosophy, coaches that are energetic and positive, that are willing to work with our young players, to get them better.
Not saying that the guys who left were ‘that’ as far as putting the blame on anyone. The buck stops with me as far as that is concerned.
A positive approach, fitting into our culture that we’re building is huge.
I have two takeaways from Casey’s interview.
First, it’s abundantly clear that the Raptors will not rebuild. Casey stressed on multiple occasions that there’s something to be salvaged, something to be built upon. Obviously, he couldn’t say anything definitive, but Casey sounds confident in the current group. If anything, any minor changes will likely come on the frontcourt (probably small forward) based on Casey’s “length, toughness, rebounding” comment.
Second, the organization seems to be extremely high on character, chemistry and experience. That’s nothing new; Ujiri loves to talk about club culture. But it’s a bit of a stretch to think the team’s issues can be entirely remedied with a fresh outlook and some kumbaya attitude. There are very real issues with the way this team defends and it extends beyond just effort.
Anyway, looks like Casey’s here to stay. That’s what everyone wanted, right?