Coach Casey after the game
After the game Coach Dwane Casey asked what went for Toronto:
"“You turn the ball over 19 times for 28 points. Your hats have to go off to Washington. They came out and punched us and we allowed them to. 19 turnovers, they shoot 55 percent that’s the ballgame.”"
On Turnovers–How much was it the Wizards defense and how much on the Raptors?
"“A little bit of both, the Wizards staying on our guys, and some of the turnovers were self-inflicted.” “A lot of the turnovers were the Wizards intensity. I thought we met it in the first quarter but after that we didn’t. It’s going to be a mentally tough battle. Nothing is this league is easy as you’re trying to get to the next phase of the playoffs. They punched us. Now we gotta go back and regroup and make some adjustments. And understand the level of toughness you gotta play with to be successful in the playoffs.”"
What about the Raptor’s defensive struggles:
"“It’s their defensive struggles–guarding your guy, anticipating the speed that they’re coming at you with. Again, it’s the same thing that I said in the first two game. Nothing different.” “Obviously our turnovers compounded the problem, and the end result is getting beat by 20.”"
Raptors second unit?
"‘It has nothing to do with Freddy [VanVleet] not being here. If you’re in uniform everyone has to have to do your job. Whoever is on the floor you gotta do your job. Our guys have done it most the season. The second unit has to come in guns a blazing and ready to roll and we didn’t do that.’ ‘You’ve gotta give Washington a lot of credit they came out and did what they’re supposed to do. They’re not your typical 8-seed. I don’t know what they were predicted at the beginning of the season, but they weren’t 8 in our conference. We have to have that level of respect for who they are. All that talk about they’re not playing together is bullcrap. We have to come with that level of toughness and readiness, and ready to fight and ready to compete.’"
With regard to the skirmishes on the floor, he was asked did the Wizards get under your skin? Casey shut that down immediately.
"“No, no. They played the way you’re supposed to play a playoff game. Physical. Aggressive. Into you. That’s the way the game is supposed to be played. We now gotta go turn around and go down on the defensive stance and guard them and be physical with them. They were the ones talking about us being physical with them for the first two games. We can’t turn around and say ‘ok’ they were physical with us tonight. It’s a playoff battle between two really good teams. They won the battle tonight."
Closing:
The Wizards punched the Raptors in that all the Wizards came out to play. Every single Wizard, frontcourt, backcourt, it didn’t make a difference.
Of course Wall and Beal led the way with 56 points combined. But Washington did what they were supposed to do.
Every Wizards player played the right way. Every one. The team on Friday is the team that can beat any team on a given night.
You can’t single out a single player. You couldn’t single out who was the first unit or the second unit. All you saw was the front of the jersey.
The Wizards repped the District and rocked the Raptors.
Yes, the Wizards are down 2-1, but the battle has just begun.