Following a tough 102-98 loss in game three of this best-of-seven series between the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey gave a pretty great post-game press conference— one that not only described this particular game and first round series up to this point, but this record setting Raptor season as well. The team still has some growing to do, but you’ve got to appreciate the “never back down” approach that they’ve taken to every game— even in instances where the whistle seems to favor the opposition. In such moments, much of the Toronto fan base seems to look in the direction of the referees because of the league possibly preferring certain winners. Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy recently stating that the Raptors are up against the Nets and the officials has added fuel to the fire.
In game three, the reality was that the Toronto Raptors shot themselves in the foot prior to a pretty impressive run of hero ball late in the final frame. Overall, Toronto had too many turnovers and not enough defensive stops to come away with a victory in a hostile playoff environment. Still, it can be argued that the calls that helped the Nets escape with a win down the stretch were questionable at best. It would be foolish to lay all the blame on the officials, but in the heat of the moment, the 50-50 whistles seemingly leaning in one direction can really hurt. Dwane Casey’s raspy-voiced comments in his post-game interview show just how much of a fight this matchup has been.
“I love the fight from my team. This team [Brooklyn] tried to throw haymakers at us and go at us, and we did a good job of battling back and staying in the game.”
“I like my money [hoping not to get fined by the NBA], but I’ve got to go back and look at the tape. Those kinds of calls [referring to a late-game personal foul and then technical foul on Greivis Vasquez] broke our back. It was the difference in the game.”
“They’re a great team, we give them credit. We respect them, but let’s let the game be dictated by that.”
In his post-game interview, Patrick Patterson – who missed two huge free throws with 16 seconds remaining in the game – not only echoed the coach’s sentiments, but was mature in his analysis of the officiating situation as well.
“Is that something new? As far as calls not going our way, or us feeling a certain way about referees, that’s happened all year along. For us to think that’s going to change in the playoffs, we’re fooling ourselves. We have to battle through it, we have to fight through, we have to concentrate on ourselves rather than things that we can’t control as far referees, or even Brooklyn, or the fans. We have to concentrate on ourselves and playing Raptors basketball.”
What are your thoughts on the officiating so far? Can the Raptors bounce back in the series despite having to fight somewhat of an uphill battle?
