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It was a quick turnaround for the Raptors following their demoralizing loss in D.C. last night, as the team was back in Toronto this morning to clean out their lockers and hold their exit interviews with the local media.
Greivis Vasquez started things off with his usual flair:
Greivis Vasquez is wearing a Pulp Fiction T-shirt, so the end of the year is not without its high notes.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) April 27, 2015
And was the first to comment on Paul Pierce, who's play and antics became a running theme throughout the morning:
Greivis Vasquez just called Pierce "spicy."
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 27, 2015
Vasquez on Pierce: "You need to have that spiciness. You need to be a little bit of an asshole like he is."
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) April 27, 2015
Kyle Lowry was up next, and with allegations swirling all series whether he was playing hurt, Kyle cleared it up in his own words:
Lowry again says, "Yep" when asked if he was fully healthy. So, if you were injured, would you admit it? "I don't make excuses."
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) April 27, 2015
Lowry also gave a statement on where he feels the organization is heading into the offseason:
There it is. RT @michaelgrange: Kyle Lowry: "there is a few things internally that probably need to be fixed"
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) April 27, 2015
And his thoughts on Casey as a coach are, not so telling:
Kyle Lowry with a non-endorsement endorsement of Dwane Casey. "I respect Casey as a man."
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) April 27, 2015
Amir Johnson was visibly emotional as he got to the podium, possibly signalling the end of an era in Toronto:
Man, Amir is visibly emotional during his exit interview.
— John Gaudes (@johngaudes) April 27, 2015
Johnson said all the right things, including that he would play for Coach Casey if he's back next year:
Amir Johnson says he hopes everyone is back next season. Teams become good, he says, by growing together. pic.twitter.com/0T0xzZdv7D
— Lori Ewing (@Ewingsports) April 27, 2015
DeMar DeRozan was asked a lot about leadership as well as the impact of social media on his mindset:
"I got seven-year-old kids sending me pictures of myself like I'm crying." — DeMar DeRozan, on Twitter.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) April 27, 2015
DeMar: Losing this playoff series ... helped me mature to be that leader going into next year.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) April 27, 2015
The final and most fascinating interview of the day was Coach Casey, who may have coached his last game for the organization. Just as he did last night, Casey wore his Mavericks championship ring to the press conference, as a possible advertisement of what he can bring to another team's staff?
Dwane Casey, with the championship ring on, is rightfully turning his exit interview into a job interview.
— John Gaudes (@johngaudes) April 27, 2015
Unintentionally or not, Casey also seemingly trolled all us fans again when speaking about James Johnson:
Casey again says it's hard playing five wings. "The guy I feel for is James Johnson. He’s probably the most talented player on our roster."
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) April 27, 2015
Casey: the guy I feel for is James Johnson ... he was the odd man out ...
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) April 27, 2015
He also indirectly confirmed what we already knew about this team, which is offensive selfishness plaguing their style:
Casey: "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to move the ball to the weak side"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 27, 2015
Dwane Casey saying improving the offensive system to aid the defense so that people don't sulk basically sounds like selfishness hurt them.
— Harsh Dave (@IamHarshDave) April 27, 2015
He's insinuating that sharing the ball leads to more engaged, consistent effort from his guys on the defensive end. Some psychology shit.
— Harsh Dave (@IamHarshDave) April 27, 2015
And in one final chance to plead his case to Masai, Casey had this to say:
Casey: "It’s easy to sit here and want blood today." Says org needs to step back, be unemotional in evaluating the big picture.
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) April 27, 2015
Nice try Dwane, but I think even you know you're gone quicker than a thundering steed out of the gate at the Kentucky Derby.