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Emiliano Carchia: Bargnani gave an interview to Tuttosport: 'This is my best season in the NBA. I feel I am a new player and I love coach Casey' Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Andrea Bargnani 

During the N.C.A.A. tournament, we see waves of assistants flanking their head coaches, some holding clipboards, others having conversations with players as they come off the court. Casey has been an assistant at the professional and collegiate levels, and asked which was harder, he said it was not close: college. “You got to recruit, you got to produce from that standpoint,” he said, “then once you get them there, you’ve got to make sure you help them go to class and become young men. “The N.B.A. is a business. It’s about winning games and coaching and teaching basketball.” New York Times

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

It’s his business, too, with a college job being unlikely even though he is not formally barred. Yet Casey has consistently taken the high road when discussing his career, especially what happened at Kentucky two decades ago. “When I look back on the situation at Kentucky, it is in the rearview mirror; life goes on,” he said. “Let bygones be bygones. I don’t live my life every day hoping and wishing and thinking about what would have, could have or should have happened back in Kentucky.” He added: “I’m perfectly happy in the N.B.A. and I’m happy in Toronto. I love the organization.” New York Times

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

For the Toronto Raptors, the world is a lot simpler. With a payroll of less than US$52-million, they have about US$6-million that they could conceivably add under the cap before Thursday’s trade deadline. The Raptors are not likely to explore that route, though. The Raptors have more than an eye directed at next year. “Bryan [Colangelo] is a very innovative guy, and Ed Stefanski,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said of the Raptors’ president and general manager, and executive vice-president, respectively. “They’re always looking to improve our team. I know we’re not going to do anything to [alter] our cap flexibility next year or to destroy our core, because I like our core. Next year is a different story. We’re going to evaluate the guys that we’ve got now and see where they are.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Free Agency, Trade, Dwane Casey 

The NBA trade deadline is only a week away and the Toronto Raptors have already made their first move, albeit a very small one. Surprisingly, the normally secretive team has been fairly open about their trade plans: Don’t expect to be bowled over by a roster overhaul during the next few days. “We know where we are in our program and what we are trying to do and what is going on with the big picture plan,” said head coach Dwane Casey. “I know what our needs are, we know what our needs are, and Bryan has a great plan. We have flexibility and we are going to have to be selective as far as what we get and how we go after it and make sure we execute it. It’s a big off season for us to go along with the growth of some of the guys that we have.” “I don’t foresee anything,” continued Casey about the trade deadline. “That’s out of my department but I don’t foresee any of it as far as any moves – major moves or minor moves. Maybe minor, but I don’t see anything major as far as anyone in the locker room.” HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Dwane Casey 

DeRozan was the focus of attention from the start after a somewhat intemperate note he sent out via his Twitter feed in the aftermath of Tuesday’s three-point loss in Houston. Either displeased with the fact he sat the entire fourth quarter or with another tough loss (that was Wednesday’s message), the tweet — “straight bull----” — was up for a couple of hours before it disappeared. Casey said he had a word with the third-year swingman about the wisdom of making his frustration known in such a manner. “We’re all frustrated but we have to turn that frustration around into another opportunity (Wednesday),” Casey said before the game. “It’s part of growing up, part of being a professional and, again, it was one of those things out of frustration.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Twitter, DeMar DeRozan 

But Casey suggested it was better that DeRozan lash out rather than accept a bad finish to a close game that he was forced to watch from the bench. “It shows everybody cares,” the coach said. “It shows you care and that’s why I didn’t make a big deal out of it. It was a good thing.” But a public declaration might not be the wisest move. “We handle it internally and that’s the way it is. . . . We want to be a team that’s about discipline, about doing things the right way and we’re going to be,” said the coach. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Twitter, DeMar DeRozan 

DeRozan agreed. “This is a tough job,” he said. “When you’re a competitor and you’re losing, it can definitely get to you. It’s human nature. We don’t mean no harm by it, it’s our competitive spirit, you want to go out and win every game you play in.” But that frustration may stay private now. “You live and you learn,” he said. “Probably a couple years from now, when I’m a vet or whatever, I can tell young guys, ‘Don’t do this’ or something like that.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Twitter, DeMar DeRozan 

Ryan Wolstat: Colangelo on Casey on the FAN: "He's even got Andrea playing defence here." Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

If new Raptors coach Dwane Casey doesn'T pan out, Mike D'Antoni figures to be a strong candidate to wind up in Toronto one day if not renewed by the Knicks. The Raptors, who face the Knicks tonight, are run by D'Antoni's close friend, Bryan Colangelo. This summer, D'Antoni's son will be off to college and he'll have more flexibility in terms of moving. New York Post

New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Mike D'Antoni 

Bill Ingram: The buzz around the Raptors is how Dwane Casey has impacted Bargnani . . .he's working hard to rebound and defend - first time ever? Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Andrea Bargnani 

Chris Mannix: Dwane Casey told me this morning not to expect much zone from the Raptors, at least early in the season. Too much work needed on man to man Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

Speaking of former Heat relics still ticking, yes, that is Anthony Carter, at 36, making a go of it in the Toronto Raptors' backcourt. "He's like an old pair of socks," new Raptors coach Dwane Casey told the Toronto media. "Every place that he's been he's always started out as a third guard and, by the end of the day, he just moves his way up and earns his minutes." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Anthony Carter 

Tony Brown has replaced Dwane Casey to become as assistant coach on the Dallas Mavericks' coaching staff. After the Mavs won the NBA title last June, Casey became the new head coach of the Toronto Raptors, creating a vacany on coach Rick Carlisle's staff. Brown, 51, played for nine teams in the NBA from 1982-'92. He also has served as an assistant coach in Portland, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Milwaukee and with the Los Angeles Clippers. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Tony Brown 

Some coaches have gotten closer to their families while they're in limbo. Wizards coach Flip Saunders spent quality time with his father, Walter, who is alone for the first time in 65 years after the death of his wife Kay -- Flip Saunders' mother -- last spring. Celtics coach Doc Rivers went to Dubai and China to watch his son Austin, a freshman at Duke, play in exhibition games. "It's tougher on the new coaches like myself, [Lakers coach] Mike Brown, all the guys going into new situations," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said Sunday. "It's all about not knowing your players, not having had a chance to work with them. You're starting off from scratch. All you know is what you've heard from the former coaches and what you've seen on film. Every relationship is different." NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Mike Brown, Lockout, Flip Saunders 

It’s not an easy gig in Toronto, a team that underachieved even when it had star forward Chris Bosh. The Raptors haven’t finished over .500 in four seasons, and bottomed out last year with a 22-60 record. Casey understands the challenge and said he is a better coach now than he was in Minnesota. “I have grown as a coach,” he said. “Any coach will tell you that, going through the process I went through in Minnesota, then turning around and going through what we went through in Dallas, that has made me a much better coach. It has also solidified my ideas as a coach. What I believe in, how I want to teach. I have tremendous confidence in that now, whereas in Minnesota, I was trying to do it for the first time. So you figure out your own philosophy as a head coach. Going through that was a test run, so to speak, and going through what we did in Dallas solidified it. I have much more confidence in what I stand for now.” Sporting News

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

That is defense, primarily, and that happens to be where the Raptors need the most help. They allowed 105.4 points last season, fifth-worst in the league, and even if they don’t make any major acquisitions this offseason, Casey thinks he can shape the team up by changing the system and focusing on defensive drills. “A lot of fundamental stuff we can do to help the team is things we can do in drills,” Casey said. “Part of it, too, is commitment. There is personnel, too, that is part of it. But a lot of the mistakes that were made last year were fundamental things we can do drill-wise and systematically, to help the team get better defensively. I do feel like there was a lot of effort last year, the guys played hard. But—not to be critical of last year’s coaching philosophy—but we have to tailor a system to fit the guys a little bit better, personnel-wise.” Sporting News

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

Sean Deveney: Raps coach Casey says he's heading to EuroBasket. Can't say who he wants to see but I'm guessing it starts with V and ends with Alanciunas. Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, FIBA, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas, Eurobasket 

It’s no wonder Raptors fans have become jaded. They have watched players such as Damon Stoudamire, Marcus Camby, Vince Carter, and Chris Bosh leave for greener pastures, leaving the franchise barren of stars. While DeRozan, Davis, and Bargnani make up a young, talented core, the team desperately needs direction. “The misnomer that you are in Canada and not in the States is totally misplaced,’’ Casey said. “Because it’s a great sports city. I can’t imagine if you turn the program around how exciting it would be. It’s a melting pot for anybody. But a lot of times players just come there in the dead of winter and don’t really get a taste of the city. That’s one thing that’s going to be our mission, is to try to change that image and go back to my recruiting days at Kentucky, and try to recruit.’’ Boston Globe

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey 

DeMar DeRozan on the recent hiring of former Dallas assistant/former Minnesota head coach Dwane Casey as Raptors head coach: "I knew [Casey] from when I used to work out in Vegas during the summer. He was always there working out guys. He helped me out a lot. I've known him for the last two summers. He's definitely a good dude, a humble dude. I can't wait to get out there and work with him." On the organization's shift to a defense-first mentality that was reflected in the Casey hiring: "[Defense] is what we need. I think last year we could score with the best players in the NBA, but the only thing that killed us was the defensive end. That's a critical part in the NBA. Once you get that down and are a top five, top 10 defensive team, that'll take you far. SI.com

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, DeMar DeRozan