Raptors' Casey thinking 'a lot' about lineup changes for Game 3
One of the criticisms often leveled at Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey is a perceived inability to make adjustments on the fly. But, with the Raps down 0-2 to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Game 3 going Saturday night, he has had some time to think about things.
When asked by Sportsnet's Michael Grange how much thought he’d given to making lineup changes, Casey replied: "A lot."
The bench boss wouldn't specify the adjustments he'd make, but there's a sense the Raptors need a jolt one way or another.
Toronto has stuck with its usual starting lineup throughout the playoffs, but power forward Serge Ibaka has been virtually in absentia. Since a strong first two games against the Washington Wizards, he has averaged 5.2 points on putrid 28.6 percent shooting in six contests. In Game 2, he played a season-low 12 minutes.
Beyond the starters, Casey has been outmaneuvered by Cavs coach Tyronn Lue at times. With the Raps going small in the third quarter of Game 2, Kevin Love returned to his bread-and-butter in the post when presented with favorable matchups against the likes of C.J. Miles.
Raptors rookie OG Anunoby did an admirable job of staying in front of a tired LeBron James in Game 1, but as LeBron demonstrated in Game 2, there is no real way to contain him. And, after having some success in keeping him from finding open 3-point shooters in the first half of Game 1, the Raps have allowed the Cavs to shoot 41 percent from deep.
Getting back into the series is a tall order for Toronto, which is 1-28 on the road against James in the last 14 years, and there's an ominous sensation the Raptors' record-breaking season is going down the drain.
"(Raptors players) should be pissed off," Casey said Saturday, per TSN's Josh Lewenberg. "I tell them not to read or listen, but a month ago everybody was crowning them and now everybody is burying us ... that's sports. It hurts, but the only way you can do something about it is to come out here and do it on the court."