Raptors’ Golden Years With Dwane Casey | Raptors Show Clips

Raptors’ Golden Years With Dwane Casey | Raptors Show Clips

[ ♪♪ ] >> Will: WELCOME BACK TO THE RAPTORS SHOW ON THE SPORTSNET RADIO NETWORK, I’M YOUR HOST WILL LOU CONTINUED TO BE JOINED TODAY BY JD BUNKIS. I SAID BEFORE THE BREAK WE DON’T HAVE DWAYNE CASEY TODAY. THAT MEANS I DOUBTED MY PRODUCERS. THEY GOT IN TOUCH WITH DWAYNE

ICY, FORMER HEAD COACH OF THE TORONTO RAPTORS AND PISTONS. HOW YOU DOING? >> GOOD, HOW YOU DOING? >> Will: REAL WELL. APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME CHECKING IN THE TORONTO MARKET AGAIN. WE SAW YOU ON THE RAPTORS BROADCAST I THINK ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS BACK NOW, BUT I

THINK IT LED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS DWAYNE CASEY DOING RIGHT NOW? IT’S GOOD TO SEE HIM AGAIN. I WANT TO PUT THAT QUESTION T TO YOU. WHAT ARE YOU UP TO? >> I’M IN THE FRONT OFFICE WITH THE PISTONS, STILL HERE IN DETROIT.

I WAS THERE IN TORONTO VISITING FRIENDS FOR CHRISTMAS. THAT’S SOMETHING YOU’RE ABLE TO DO WHEN YOU’RE IN THE FRONT OFFICE, MAKE YOUR OWN SCHEDULE INSTEAD OF GOING BY THE 82 GAME SCHEDULE. SO WE WERE THERE, STILL HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THERE IN TORONTO. ENJOYED OUR TIME THERE TREMENDOUSLY.

HAD, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME TOO PASCAL WAS STILL THERE, WAS REALLY CLOSE WITH PASCAL AND ALREADY TRADED OG. SO PROBABLY PASCAL IS THE ONLY KID THAT WAS THERE I’VE COACHED THAT WAS STILL — WELL JAKOB WAS THERE ALSO. BUT ALWAYS LOVED GOING BACK THERE. HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT A MASAI

AND SAW BOBBY. REALLY ENJOYED GETTING BACK THERE, CATCHING UP WITH EVERYONE. >> Will: YEAH, YOU KNOW DWAYNE, I WANTED TO START WITH THE BEGINNING IF THAT’S OKAY A LEAST IN TORONTO. TORONTO IS IN A SIMILAR POSITION AS WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK OVER, RIGHT. THERE’S A COUPLE OF TALENTED

YOUNG GUYS BUT ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES FOR DARKO BIG PICTURE IS HOW DO YOU PUT AN IDENTITY IN THE GROUP, THE GUYS WHO PLAY TOGETHER, ESTABLISH A DEFENSIVE IDENTITY. THEY’RE NOT A STRONG DEFENSIVE TEAM, WE SAW IT AGAIN LAST NIGHT AS THEY BLEW THE LEAD. GETTING THAT CULULTURE IN, THATS

THE BIG PICTURE AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT YOU CAME TO TORONTO, THAT WAS AT LEAST TO ME AT THE TIME JUST BEING A FAN, THAT’S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD YOUR JOB AND MISSION WAS. CAN YOU TAKE US THE WHAT YOU DID TO ESTABLISH THE CULTURE THAT’S LASTED IN FRONT A LONG TIME?

>> DARKO IS DOING A HECK OF A JOB. HE’S A GOOD YOUNG COACH. HE’S A GUY THAT HAS BEEN AT EVERY LEVEL, AND AGAIN, YOU’RE EXACTLY RIGHT. ONE THING WE DID WHEN WE GOAT THERE TO START THE PROCESS AND ANDTHE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISH THE DEFENSIVE IDENTITY.

WE WERE IN THE LATE 20s AS FAR AS DEFENCE WAS CONCERNED. THAT’S SOMETHING WE HUNG OUR HAT ON WAS THE DEFENSIVEVE APPROACH, AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT DARKO’S TRYING TO DO AGAIN. IT TAKES TIME WITH YOUNG PLAYERS TO UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES ESPECIALLY AGAINST A TEAM LIKE DENVER, TO UNDERSTAND THE NBA

SYSTEM, BUT AGAIN, IT TOOK US A COUPLE OF YEARS TO REALLY ESTABLISH OURSELVES. I THINK WE WERE IN THE TOP WHATEVER DEFENCE IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN THE OFFENSE CAME AROUND. TO START A REBUILD, YOU HAVE TO START WITH A FOUNDATION OF DEFENCE, A FOUNDATION OF PLAYING

HARD, COMPETING EACH AND EVERY NIGHT. NO MATTER YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GO OUT YOU WILL BE OUTMANNED BY SUPERSTARS SO TO SPEAKER WHEN YOU’RE REBUILDING UNTIL SCOTTIE GETS TO THAT LEVEL. BUT I DO KNOW THAT’S THE ROUTE YOU HAVE TO GO TO BUILD IT THROUGHH DEFENCE, DISCIPLINE, HARD PLAY, AND PLAYING TOGETHER.

SHARING THE BASKETBALL AND I SEE THAT COMING WITH THE RAPTORS AND THEIR PLAYERS. >> Will: FOR SURE, YOU SEE THE BALL MOVEMENT, THAT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD UNDER DARKO. DEFENSIVELY IT WILL TAKE TIME. I GUESS, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO GET YOUNGER PLAYERS TO REALLY BUY

INTO DEFENCE AND PLAYING AT A HIGH INTENSITY BECAUSE TO ME IT FEELS LIKE A LEARNED SKILL, THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY HARD, IT IS A SKILL UNTO ITSELF. HOW DO YOU DEVELOP T THAT WILL D IDENTITY TO REALLY LOCK DOWN A PLAY DEFENCE? A LOT OF DENSE IS MORE THAN

ANYTHING ELSE EFFORT AND COMMITMENT TOWARDS PLAYING IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> NO QUESTION, THAT’S A GREAT POINT, AND ONE THING IS HOLDING GUYS ACCOUNTABLE. UNDERSTANDING ONE OF THE NONNEGOTIABLE IS TRANSITION DEFENCE. IF YOU DON’T GET BACK AND GET MATCHED UP, ARE YOU COMING OUT OF THE GAME?

IF YOU DON’T BOX OUT, ARE YOU COMING OUT OF THE GAME? EVERYTHING CAN’T BE A NONNEGOTIABLE, BUT CERTAIN THINGS GUYS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND. AND I’M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE RAPTORS, I’M TALKING ABOUT TEAMS IN GENERAL. THEY HAVE TO HAVE NONNEGOTIABLES AND THAT’S SOMETHING I TRIED TO DO HERE.

WE STARTED THE REBUILD HERE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THINGS THAT HEY, IF YOU DON’T DO THIS, YOU’RE NOT PLAYING. IFIF YOU DON’T CRACK DOWN, IF YU DON’T TALK, DON’T WHATEVER THE RULES AE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THREE OR FOUR THINGS THAT ARE NONNEGOTIABLE. AND I THINK THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT GETS GUYS’

ATTENTION. THEY KNOW IF THEY DON’T DO THAT, HEY, COACH DOESN’T CARE IF YOU ARE THE FIRST PICK, SECOND PICK, THIRD PICK, WHATEVER YOU ARE. YOU’RE COMING OUT OF THE GAME IF YOU DON’T PERFORM THAT ACTION. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A WHIP AND CHAIN GUY, DON’T HAVE TO DO ALL

THAT BUT PLAYERS HAVE TO KNOW THAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I THINK DARKO’S DOING THAT. I THINK WHAT’S HURTING THEM DEFENSIVELY NOW IS JAKOB, THEIR CENTRE POSITION, YOU’RE SMALLER IN THE CENTRE. I THINK THEY MISS HIM PROTECTING THE RIM. AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE RIM PROTECTION, SOMEBODY BACK THERE

PROTECTING THE RIM, AND ERASING MISTAKES OUT ON THE PERIMETER BECAUSE GUYS ARE SO GOOD AND ATHLETIC. EASTEVEN WHEN I STARTED WITH THE RAPTORS, OFFENSIVE GAME CHANGED SO MUCH. GUYS ARE SO SKILLED AT ALL FIVE POSITIONS, SHOOT THE THREE, PUT THE BALL ON THE FLOOR. YOU’VE GOTTA BE ON OUR Ps AND

Qs ON THE PERIMETER AND HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY AT THE RIM PROTECTING IT. >> Will: >> I WAS GOING TO STAY, WHEN YOU TOOK OVER, IF THE RAPTORS GAVE UP 120, YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVEE BEEN MAD AT THE GUYS. CERTAIN NIGHTS THESE DAYS IN THE LEAGUE, IF YOU HOLD A TEAM TO

120 YOU MIGHT SAY GREAT JOB DEFENSIVELY. >> I DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD SAY SAY THAT. [ Laughter ] THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE, IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN THE 120 NIGHT BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE QUALITY SHOTS. I KNOW WHEN WE WERE THERE,

2017-18, WE WERE TIKE TOP FIVE IN OFFENSE AND WE THOUGHT WE WERIC COOKING AND PROBABLY NOW WE WOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK. BECAUSE THE SCORING HAS GONE UP AND SHOOTING HAS GONE UP. TEAMS ARE BEING DISCIPLINED WITH THE ANALYTICAL GAME. SO MANY THINGS OFFENSIVELY TEAMS ARE DOING NOW.

BUT AGAIN, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE NONNEGOTIABLES DEFENSIVELY TO MAKE SURE THEY KEEP UP TO STAY WITH THE GAME PLAN. >> Will: DWAYNE, NOW THAT WE’RE ON THE SUBJECT AND I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO ASK YOU THIS, AND I CAME INTO THE MEDIA GAME LATER ON, I’M NOT DOUG SMITH, I

CAN’T WALK UP AND ASKING ANYTHING. I WANTEDTO ASKSK YOU OF THE STOY OF THE ROCK. WE KNOW THE ROUND POUND THE ROCK PHILOSOPHY, THE ORIGINS FROM THE SPURS OR THAT’S WHAT I ASSUME, BUT A PHYSICAL BOULDER IN THE BUILDING. TELL US ABOUT THAT, HOW DID YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> MASK A FACT YOU’RE RIGHT, WE’RE ALL THIEVES. I DID STEAL IT FROM COACH POPP, KANSAS HAD IT. WE WANTEDOUR ASSISTANTS TO GO OUT AND BRIAN TO GO OUT AND GET A A ROCK. HE WENT TO A ROCK QUARRY OUTSIDE OF TORONTO AND BROUGHT THIS BIG ROCK IN.

AND AGAIN, IT’S REALLY WHERE WE WERE AT THE TIME. YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY YOU HAD TO CHIP OFF AT THE ROCK, WORK HARD. AT THAT TIME WE DIDN’T KNOW HOW GOOD WE COULD OR WOULD BE, BUT WE KEPT CHIPPING AWAY. THAT POUND THE ROCKK IMAGE AND MANTRA REALLY, REALLY FIT OUR

TEAM AT THAT TIME. JOSE CALDERON, JAMAL, HARD WORKING, HARD HAT GUYS AT THE TIME. DEMAR DEROZAN WAS A YOUNG PUP AT THE TIME. SO WE HAD TO HANG OUR HAT ON SOMETHING AND THAT JUST STUCK. WE GOT IT, WE PUT IT THERE IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE COACH’S

OFFICE THERE AND GUYS WOULD SEE IT AS SOON AS THEY COME OUT OF THE LOCKER ROOM AND GO OUT. SOME OF THEM WOULD TOUCH IT AS THEY WENT OUT AND I THINK THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT GOT SOMOME POUND THE ROCK MINIATURE ROCKS. IT CAUGHT ON PRETTY HARD AND WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY, AROUND

CANADA PEOPLE SAY POUND THE ROCK. IT CAUGHT ON, BUT I THINK THE BETTER WE GOT, THE LESS IT STUCK, AND WE MOVED ON FROM IT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD, YOU KNOW, ONCE IT DID CATCH ON. >> Will: WIGHT, I GOTTA TELL YOU, I STARTED A PODCAST AT A

DIFFERENT COMPANY AT THE SCORE AND TRYING TO NAME THE PODCAST, AND I I NAMED IT POUND THE ROCK — >> NO. >> Will: IT STARTED AT LIKE 2017 I THINK, AND THAT WAS THE NAME THAT WE LIKED TOO. IT’S A GOOD PHRASE. I’M HAPPY THAT PLAYERS INTERACTED WITH IT — I DON’T

KNOW IF ANYONE WAS LIKE HAMMERING THE ROCK, BUT THE FACT PLAYERS AND COACHES WERE TOUCHING THE ROCK, I LIKE IT. >> EXACTLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL. TO BE HONEST, I DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD CATCH THE WAY IT DID, BUT I WOULD GO SPEAK IN WINNIPEG, GO SPEAK IN VANCOUVER, AND PEOPLE

COME UP TO ME AND SAY HEY, POUND THE ROCK. THAT WAS REALLY COOL AND MADE YOU FEEL GOOD THAT WE DID HAVE AN IDENTITY, THE TEAM HAD AN IDENTITY THAT FIT THE COUNTRY, THAT FIT WHERE WE WERE AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS A TEAM, AND IT HELPED US KIND OF WORK HARD

EVERY DAY AND WE DID WORK HARD. I LOOK BACK NOW AND PROBABLY I WOULD SAY 80% OF THE PRACTICE WAS ON DEFENCE. AND OF COURSE WE WERE CHALLENGED OFFENSIVELY JUST BECAUSE OF THE PERSONNEL, BUT THE ONE THING I KNEW WE COULD DO, WE COULD DEFEND, AND GUYS STUCK WITH IT

AND ONCE WE GOT BETTER OFFENSIVELY WE TOOK OFF. >> Will: SO DWAYNE, WE CAN’T TALK ABOUT YOUR TIME WITH THE RAPTORS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT KYLE AND DEMAR, THEY ARE FOUNDATION PIECES. WHAT WERE KYLE AND DEMAR LIKE IN THE BEGINNING? RIGHT NOW WE SEE THEM AS BEST BUDDIES, CLIMBING AROUND — I’M

SURE YOU’VE SEEN IT MORE THAN LITERALLY ANYBODY ON EARTH HOW MUCH THEY LIKE TO CLOWN AROUND. AT THE START OF IT WHAT WERE THEY LIKE, AND HOW DID THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM GROW? >> IT DIDN’T START OUT, YOU KNOW, ONE THING WAS WHAT KIND OF WAS TOUGH WAS KYLE CAME IN, AND

I THINK RIGHT AFTER THAT WE GOOD RUDY GAY, AND RUDY WAS I THINK KYLE’S — ONE OF RUDY’S GOD FATHERS OR I CAN’T REMEMBER WHICH WAY IT WAS, THEY WERE REALLY C CLOSE. SO AUTOMATICALLY KYLE AND DEMAR WEREN’T CLOSE OFF THE BAT. THEY WERE CORDIAL AT PRACTICE,

BUT I THINK THE YEAR WE REALLY TOOK OFF THEY GOT CLOSE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE RELATIONSHIP GREW. NOW THEY’RE LIKE BROTHERS, TEXT ALL THE TIME. I WOULD BE WITH DEMAR AND HE’LL FACETIME WITH KYLE AND KYLE WITH DEMAR. IT TOOK TIME TO TAKE OFF AND GROW. TWO BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEINGS.

JOSE WAS STARTING IN FRONT OF THE KYLE, AND JOSE IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEINGS YOU WANT TO BE AROUND. I FELT SORRY FOR JOSE BECAUSE KYLE WOULD COME IN ON A MISSION EVERY DAY IN PRACTICE AND KICK JOSE’S BUTT. I FELT SORRY FOR JOSE.

HE WAS GOING TO MAKE SURE HE TOOK THAT POSITION AND HE FINN DID AND I THINK WE MOVED JOSE, BUT KYLE WAS ON A MISSION TO PROVE THAT HEY, I’M BETTER THAN JOSE CALDERON AND TURNED OUT HE WAS, AND THE REST IS HISTORY. >> Will: THE REST IS REALLY HISTORY. I ENJOYED KYLE.

TO FANS, I DON’T HAVE TO SAY IT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT KYLE HAS A REALLY GREAT CASE FOR GREATEST RAPTOR OF ALL TIME, HERE FOR SO MUCH OF IT INCLUDING THE CHAMPIONSHIP, AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER. HE’LL COMPETE IN A WAY THAT 99%

OF PLAYERS WON’T GO TO TOO LEVEL. BUT I HAVE TO IMAGINE HE’S A DIFFICULT PERSONALITY TO DEAL WITH SOMETIMES AS A COACH. >> HE’S A PAIN IN THE BEHIND BUT HE’S YOUR PAIN IN THE BEHIND, A GOOD THING TO HAVE. I LOVE KYLE, WE TEXT ALL THE

TIME NOW AND I LOVE HIM TO DEATH, BUT WHEN HE HE WITH STARTED, IT WAS TOUGH. I TRIED TO TELL HIM ONE THING THAT KYLEE WAS GREAT AT WAS TRYING TO NOT BREAK HIM, GET HIM TO CUT BACK ON WAS OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS. HE WOULD GET ONE OR TWO A GAME

BUT THE OTHER TIMES THE OTHER TEAM WOULD RUN BACK IN TRANSITION AND BREAK US DOWN. SO I WAS ALWAYS ON KYLE, KYLE, DON’T CRASH, GET BACK. AND HE FINALLY BROKE IT. BUT THAT WAS OUR FIRST CONFRONTATION WAS GETTING HIM FROM CRASHING FROM OUT TO THE THREE-POINT LINE, AND HE WOULD

GET ONE OR TWO A GAME WITH AN OFFENSIVE REBOUND AND GOING UP UNDER BIG GUYS AND STEALING. >> Will: HE COULD JUMP BACK IN THE DAY. >> HE REALLY COULD. BUT NO, KYLE REALLY, HE WORKED TO WHERE HE IS. HE BECAME A GREAT THREE-POINT SHOOTER, AND AGAIN THE TEAM TOOK ON HIS IDENTITY.

HE WAS A GRITTY, GRIMY, HARD PLAYING, HARD NOSED GUY. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS HE LED THE LEAGUE IN TAKING CHARGES. >> Will: YOU SEE THE STAT? HE ALREADY LEADS THE SIXERS IN CHARGES TAKEN FOR THE SEASON AND HE’S PLAYED THERE EIGHT GAMES. >> WOW, SEE THERE YOU GO RIGHT THERE.

YOUR TEAM TAKES ON THAT PERSONALITY. SO THAT’S WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD RIGHT THERE, AND HOW GREAT IS IT HE GETS TO GO BACK HOME TO PHILADELPHIA. HE’S A HUGE EAGLES FAN. NEVER FORGET WHEN THEY WON THE SUPERBOWL, HE CAME IN GREEN HEAD TO TOE, A GREEN EAGLESS HAT ON,

GREEN JERSEY, GREEN SHORTS, GREEN SOCKS. HE WAS SO EXCITED. >> Will: YOU GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO SEE THE SUPERBOWL RIGHT? >> SURE DID, SURE DID. HE CHARTERED HIS OWN PLANE AND WENT TO IT AND ALSO HE WENT TO VILLANOVA’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TOO. SO THAT WAS SOMETHING. I DON’T REGRET THAT AT ALL

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT’S ONCE IN A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR VILLANOVA AND IF IT HAD BEEN DEMAR DEROZAN WITH USC IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, I WOULD HAVE LET HIM GONE. >> Will: PART OF COACHING, THE GIVE AND TAKE AND THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU SO MUCH OF COURSE. >> EXACTLY.

SO AGAIN, BUT I’M SO HAPPY FOR KYLE. AND DEMAR, BOTH OF THEM HAVE GONE OWN AND GROWN IN THEIR CAREERS. OG ANUNOBY, OG, STARTED HIM AS A ROOKIE. EVERYBODY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY BUT HE’S DEVELOPED HIS GAME INTO AN EXCELLENT THREE-POINT SHOOTER. ONE OF THE TOP DEFENDERS IN THE LEAGUE.

PASCAL SIAKAM, STARTED AS A ROOKIE. AND NOW HE’S ONE OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN OUR LEAGUE. AND SO JUST HAPPY TO SEE WHERE ALL THESE GUYS HAVE GROWN AND GONE ON TO. JONAS VALANCIUNAS, I REMEMBER EVERYONE GETTING ON ME ABOUT LETTING JONAS, IS HE GOING TO START, IS HE GOING TO PLAY MORE?

AND BROUGHT HIM ALONG SLOWLY, SHOT THE THREE SLOWLY BUT AGAIN, GREAT TO SEE THEM GROW AS PLAYERS AND MOST OF THEM NOW ARE FATHERS AND HUSBANDS AND FAMILY MEN. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE WHAT COULD COACHING IS ALL ABOUT. >> Will: I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE GOLDEN ERA THE RAPTORS WENT

THROUGH YOU WERE A BIG PART OF. THE RAPTORS, BEFORE YOU TALK OVER AND BEFORE THEY WENT ON THIS DECADE RUN, IT WAS LIKE A LOT OF — I THINK THE MOST GAMES THEY WON IN A SEASON WAS 47. THINK WON THE ATLANTIC DIVISION LIKE ONE TIME, YOU KNOW.

AND THEN YOU SAW THE PROGRESSION AND IT WAS LIKE YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU WERE ALWAYS BUMPING A LITTLE MORE, LITTLE MORE. ONE YEAR THE DEFENCE READY AND THEN THE OFFENSE READY, AND 2015 I THINK KYLE GOT INJURED SO WITHOUT HIM, OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS HAVE TO HAVE SOP TROUBLES AND

THE WIZARDS SERIES IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LOWER MOMENTS BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING IT WAS STEPS TO GROW AND TO SEE IT CAPPED OFF WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY. I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE I WAS BUSY A A FAN BUT REALIZE MOE AND MORE IN HINDSIGHT.

>> YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED GOING THROUGH IT AND YOU FORGET THE HARD PART. I GIVE IT TO LARRY, TIMME, MASAI UJIRI, BOBBY WEBSTER, ALL THOSE GUYS, THEY ALL HAD A VISION. THEY STUCK WITH IT. LIKE YOU SAID, THE WIZARDS, WE GOT BEAT BY THE WIZARDS IN THE PLAYOFFS.

THEY COULD HAVE SAID DWAYNE, GET OUT OF HERE — >> Will: WE SAID GOOD THINGS ABOUT KYLE BUT KYLE GAVE AN INFAMOUS POINT IN THE POSOSTGAME AND ASKED ABOUT HIM AND YOU AND I THINK KYLE’S WORDS AT THAT TIME WAS LIKE, DWAYNE’S THE COACH, I’M THE PLAYER.

AND TO ME, THAT’S COLD BUT YOU STUCK IT OUT. >> Will: >> WE SURE DOES. YOU COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND YOU SEE THE FRUITS OF IT, AND YOU KNOW, I WASN’T THERE TO SEE IT BUT I WAS LIKE A PROUD FATHER FROM AFAR. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE TRYING TO

WIN HERE IN DETROIT. I WAS STILL A PROUD FATHER OF WHAT WE HAD BUILT AND WHAT THE GUYS HAD PUT TOGETHER AND THAT TYPE OF THING. I WAS HAPPY FOR MASAI AND LARRY, THEY WENT THROUGH THE HARD TIMES. AND THE CITY, THE CITY IS A PASSIONATE SPORTS CITY, AND TO

SEE THAT FOR TORONTO, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE. IT WAS A VERY PROUD MOMENT ONCE THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> Will: NO DOUBT. I WANTED TO ASK, HOW ARE THINGS BETWEEN YOU AND MASAI? I CAN IMAGINE IT WAS AN AWKWARD PHONE CALL, HE TALKS ABOUT THE TWO HARDEST THINGS HE’S HAD TO

DO IN HIS JOB IS TELLING DEMAR HE WAS GOING TO GET MOVED AND EARLIER THAT SUMMER, PACING AROUND, HIM AND BOBBY, HE TELLS THE STORY THEY’RE IN THE OFFICE AND HUDDLED AND WORKING UP THE CONFIDENCE TO LET YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY THE NEWS THEY WERE LETTING YOU GO.

ARE YOU GOOD NOW, AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE BACK THEN? >> WE’RE GOOD. IT WAS HURTFUL, IT HURT LIKE ANYBODY WOULD, BUT I UNDERSTOOD IT. WE HAD GONE, LIKE A HAMSTER GONE THROUGH THE RINGER AT THE TIME. I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FOUGHT IF I HAD KNOWN THEY WERE GOING TO

TRADE FOR A KAWHI LEONARD, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FOUGHT A LITTLE HARDER. LIKE YOU SAID, IT HURT. BUT NO, I’VE SEEN MASAI HUNDREDS OF TIMES SINCE THEN. I’VE WORKED WITH THE JOINS OF AFRICA — GIANTS OF AFRICA CAMP A COUPLE OF SUMMERS NOW, SPENT TIME OVER THERE TOGETHER.

SEEN HIM QUITE A BIT AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID LAST AT CHRISTMAS TIME SPENT TIME WITH HIM THERE IN TORONTO. SO NO, MASAI’S ONE OF THE TOP SPORTS EXECUTIVES PERIOD IN SPORTS. TO COME WHERE HE COME FROM, START WHERE HE STARTED, THERE’S A STORY WITHIN ITSELF. AND WHAT HE’S DONE FOR THE

FRANCHISE THERE IN TORONTO IS BIG TIME. BUT THAT’S HIS PERSONAL JOURNEY, HOW HE GOT TO WHERE HE IS IS SECOND TO NONE. SO I’M PROUD TO SAY I’M A FRIEND. I DIDN’T LIKE BEING FIRED BY A FRIEND BUT THAT’S PART OF IT. I’M A BIG BOY, BUT NO, HE AND MY

FAMILY, HE GIVES MY WIFE AND KIDS A HUG EVERY TIMEE AND I WATCHED HIS KIDS GROW UP. NO, EVERYTHING IS ALL GOOD. WISH HIM NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN WHATEVER HE DOES. >> Will: HEY, THAT’S FIRST OFF GREAT TO HEAR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT DWAYNE CASEY,

I THINK OF THIS GOLDEN PERIOD. PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS, WHATEVER. THE BIG THING WAS LeBRON WAS IN THE EAST AND IN THE MOMENT I WAS LIKE OH, MAN, AS A FAN AND JOURNALIST, I’M LIKE I THINK MAYBE DWAYNE COULD HAVE TRIED THIS, TRIED THAT. I THINK WHEN I STEP BACK, HE

COULD HAVE TRIED ANYTHING. IF LeBRORON IS ON THAT COURT. [ Laughter ] >> I LAUGHED WITH BRAD STEVENS AND ERIK SPOELSTRA EVERY TIME, LIKE NINE YEARS IN A ROW? EVERYONE SAID WE SHOULD HAVE GOT LET GO TOO, HE COULDN’T BEAT HIM. EVERYBODY TRIED. AND MASAI DID WHAT ANY EXECUTIVE, SWITCH AND CHANGE IT

UP. IT WAS A DECISION HE HAD TO MAKE AND IT WORKED. SO IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS HE WAS ANEMOSIS IN EVERYBODY’S REAR END. I TOLD LeBRON HE WAS THE REASON I WAS IN DETROIT, WE LAUGHED ABOUT IT. LIKE YOU SAID ABOUT THE GOLDEN YEARS, THE ONLY THING NEGATIVE

WAS HIS BUTT IN THE EAST. [ Laughter ] AND THEN HE LEFT CLEVELAND, WENT TO MIAMI T THEN CAME BACK. SO HE NEVER LEFT THE EAST UNTIL WE LEFT TORONTO. SO HE’S ONE OF THOSE PLAYERS THAT YOU’LL NEVER FORGET BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THOSE YEARS I THINK, THE HISTORY BLOCKS WILL

BE GOOD FOR RAPTOR BASKETBALL AT THAT TIME. >> Will: MY THEORY I IS EVERY TIME HE LOOKED AT YOU, HE REMEMBERED 2011 WITH THE MAVERICKS AND YOU WERE THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AT THAT. I’M GOING TO SHOW DWAYNE THIS TIME, AND HE DID IT THREE TIMES. >> YEAH, HE DID.

>> Will: I WANTED TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT AND ASK ABOUT NICK NURSE AS WELL. THERE WAS ALWAYS THE SPECULATION AND I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S FAIR OR NOT, I WANT TO ASK YOU NOW. WERE THINGS OKAY WITH YOU AND NICK NURSE WHEN IT WENT DOWN BECAUSE HE TOOK OVER AFTER YOU

AND BEEN YOUR ASSISTANT FOR FIVE YEARS? HOW WERE THINGS BETWEEN YOU AND NICK AT THAT TIME? >> NICK DID W WHAT HE HAD TO DO, HE TOOK THE JOB. I HAVEN’T HAD A LONG CONVERSATION SINCE THEN. WE SPOKE AND EVERYTHING, BUT THERE’S NO HARD FEELINGS WITH ME AND NICK.

I’M MORE HAPPY FOR THE CITY OF TORONTO. I WAS HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO BRING NICK INTO THE NBA, GIVE HIM HIS FIRST INTERVIEW, FIRST JOBOB IN THE NBA, AND JUST HAPPY TO SEE HIM TAKE THE REINS AND GO FORWARD. THERE’S NO ANIMOSITY OR JEALOUSY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, BETWEEN NICK AND I. A LOT OF PEOPLE MADE A LOT OF THAT. HE’S GONE ON NOW TO PHILADELPHIA AND DONE A GOOD JOB THERE. NICK’S A BASKETBALL GUY. BUT AGAIN, HE DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO. HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY ANYBODY WHO HAVE TAKEN, AND HE RAN WITH IT.

BUT I’M HAPPY TO KNOW THAT AS A MATTER OF FACT THE FIRST CONVERSATION I HAD WITH NICK HE HAS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN THE G LEAGUE AND I CALLED HIM BECAUSE I WAS ASKING A FRIEND, I SAID WHO ARE SOME OF THE TOP G LEAGUE GUYS IN THE G LEAGUE?

AND YOU KNOW, THEY GAVE ME NICK NURSE’S NAME AND ANOTHER COUPLE OF NAMES. I SAID I WILL GIVE YOU A CALL ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH THE G LEAGUE AND I THINK THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP THAT YEAR AND PROBABLY ABOUT A WEEK LATER, RYAN AND MYSELF BROUGHT NICK IN

FOR AN INTERVIEW, AND I THINK THE NEXT WEEK BRIAN WAS LET GO AND I SAID NICK, I CAN’T HIRE YOU UNTIL WE HIRE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER. SO THEN WE HAD TO WAIT FOR MASAI TO BE HIRED AND THEN BROUGHT NICK BACK IN FOR ANOTHER INTERVIEW SO HE COULD MEET

MASAI, AND THAT’S WHEN WE HIRED HIM ASAS A COACH. SO IT WAS KIND OF A ROUND ABOUT WAY TO GET THERE BUT FINALLY GOT THERE AND EVERYTHING TURNED OUT GOOD. >> Will: GOOD BECAUSE THE STORIES, I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ARE PUTTING TWO AND TWO TOGETHER, I THINK IT WAS JUST PEOPLE PUTTING

TWO AND TWO TOGETHER AND JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW IT WENT DOWN. HAPPY TO HEAR EVERYTHING’S ALL GOOD. >> RIGHT, NO, THERE’S NO — AND JUST LIKE EVERYBODY MADE A BIG DEAL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, US COMING BACK AND. >> Will: THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. >> WE WERE JUST TRYING TO WIN.

I MEAN WE MADE THE PLAYOFFS THAT YEAR, BLAKE WAS HEALTHY, BLAKE GRIFFIN WAS HEALTHY WHICH WAS HUGE, AND WE HAD A GOOD YEAR THAT YEAR. SO LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO BEAT TORONTO AND EVERYBODY, OH, HE WANTS TO TORONTO WORSE. NO, WE WANTED TO WIN 82. I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE TORONTO,

NEW YORK, CLEVELAND, CHICAGO. WE WERE TRYING TO WIN. BUT EVERYBODY TRIED TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT AND I THINK THE FIRST GAME WE GOT A TIP IN BY REGGIE BULLOCK. >> Wilill: I REMEMBER THIS VERY CLEARLY. >> AND I WAS EXCITED, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS TORONTO, I WAS

EXCITED BECAUSE WE WON ON A TIP IN, A PLAY WE DREW UP. SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE ALL THE NARRATIVES THEY WANT AND THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT THAT’S, YOU KNOW, THAT’S WHY THEY CALL THEM FANS. >> Will: LISTEN, I HEAR YOU. I THINK HONESTLY, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY, AND I KNOW

I’M NOT ALONE I THINK I WAS SALTY BECAUSE WE WERE LIKE COME ON, WHY DOES CASEY KEEP BEATING US? >> I KNEW THE PLAYERS, THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES OF THE GUYS, I KNEW THEY WERE RUNNING A LOT OF THE SAME SETS WE WERE THAT I HAD RUN THAT YEAR PREVIOUSLY.

SO WE KNEW THE CALLS, WE KNEW THE SETS, WE KNEW THE TENDENCIES. THAT TYPE OF THING. BUT IT WASN’T ANY ACTUAL OH, I WANT TO BEAT THEM, WE HAVE TO BEAT TORONTO — NO, NO. WE HAD A LOT OF FISH TO FRY THAT YEAR. BUT IT WAS FUN.

>> Will: IT WASN’T FUN IN THE MOMENT BUT LOOKING BACK, I GENUINELY APPRECIATED ALL OF THEM. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TIME IN TORONTO AND YOU KNOW, YEAH. I DON’T KNOW, DO YOU STILL GET THE ITCH TO COACH? WHAT’S THE SITUATION? >> I’M NOT SURE. I ENJOY WHAT I’M DOING NOW IN

THE MIDDLE OF WATCHING THE DRAFTS, GETTING READY TO GO TO THE SCC TOURNAMENT AND A COUPLE OF TOURNAMENTS TO SEE. I MISS COACHING, I MISS THE COMRADARIE WITH THE PLAYERS. ON THIS SIDE YOU DON’T TRAVEL WITH THE TEAM, YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR COACHES MEETINGS EVERY MORNING AND YOUR STRATEGY

SESSIONS AND THAT TYPE OF THING, YOU MISS THAT. BUT WELL SEE. I ENJOY WHAT I’M DOING NOW, ENJOY OUR OWNER TOM AND TROY AND PEOPLE HERE WORKING WITH MONTY AND HIS STAFF, IT’S BEEN FUN. IT’S BEEN TOUGH, WE’RE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH YEAR, A YOUNG YEAR. KIND OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY

NOT TO THE EXTENT THE RAPTORS ARE GOING THROUGH BUT WE’VE GONE THROUGH A REBUILD THE LAST FEW YEARS. THESE ARE THE TOUGH TIMES FOR US, BUT WE CAN SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW WHICH IS GREAT. WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS THE FUTURE, BUT I’M ENJOYING WHAT

WE’RE DOING NOW AND WATCHING THESE YOUNG PLAYERS GROW. >> Will: DWAYNE, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHECKING IN ONCE AGAIN AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE TIMES. REALLY WAS, SO THANK YOU. >> Will: NO PROBLEM GUYS, GREAT TO TALK TO YOU, AND WE’LL

SEE THE RAPTORS TOMORROW NIGHT. >> Will: WE WILL. A LOT OF RAPTOR FANS IN THE BUILDING TOO. THAT’S GOTTA BURN SOME PEOPLE IN DETROIT, THE FACT TORONTO INVADES LITTLE CAESARS EVERY TIME. >> I TOLD THE TICKET OFFICE COACHING THE RAPTORS, WE KNEW WE WOULD HAVE AS MANY FANS HERE IN

DETROIT AND WE GOTTA BLOCK THE TICKETS AND NOT LET — BUT THEY STILL COME IN.N. AND ALSO WHEN THE MAPLE LEAFS PLAY THE WINGS. RED WINGS, IT IS PACKED WITH MAPLE LEAF FANS, BRING BUSES DOWN AND RIGHT HERE ON THE BORDER, YOU KNOW. I SPOKE TO RICHARD PETTY, USED

TO BE THE PRESIDENT OVER IN WINDSOR AND DONONE A HECK OF A JOB, GOT A BOOK STORE THERE AND HOTEL, REALLY DONE A HECK OF A JOB IN DOWNTOWN WINDSOR THERE. THERE’S A LOT OF RAPTOR FANS HERE NEXT TO US RIGHT. I DON’T KNOW, WE HAVE TO KIND OF

CHECK THE DRIVER’S LICENSE AND SEE WHERE T THEY’RE FROM BEFOREE SELL TICKETS. NO, IT’S GREAT. I THINK IT’S GOOD FOR BASKETBALL TO KIND OF HAVE THAT BOUNDARY AND THAT RIVALRY NEXT TO EACH OTHER, AND RAPTOR FANS TRAVEL WELL. YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE IN THE NBA, L.A., DENVER, WHEREVER. THEY’LL BE THERE.

IT’S GREAT FOR THE LEAGUE AND FOR THE RAPTORS ORGANIZATION. >> Will: THERE YOU GO. DWAYNE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Will Lou discusses the Raptor’s Golden years with former Toronto Coach Dwane Casey and a behind the scenes look of “Pound The Rock”.

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