Choice cuts from Today's Media Availability: Casey, DeRozan and Lowry talk Game 5

We have it on good authority that Game 5 of the Raptors/Heat Eastern Conference Semi-Final series is tonight. You may not want to watch it, but it is happening.

Now, I know this series feels like something of a fever dream. The quality of play has veered wildly between the poles of good and bad, key injuries have happened in quick succession, and three of the four games have gone into overtime (despite scoring totals that have just once crept above 100). At one point Kyle Lowry even hit a halfcourt heave at the buzzer and we've almost completely forgotten about it. It's been hard.

Anyway, today the media, confronted with the realities of this series and the incoming Game 5, asked the Raptors and Heat players some questions. Here are some quotes.

Here's DeMar DeRozan on his injured thumb:

Re: thumb, DeMar says he can't grip the ball like he wants to, he hated wearing wrap. "Trying to figure out the best way to play with it."

— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) May 11, 2016

And how about some philosophical Dwane Casey:

Casey on Lowry/DeRozan: "There's other things that they've contributed or we wouldn't be standing here today, we'd be in Cancun somewhere"

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 11, 2016

Both DeRozan and Casey said guys have been "standing" too much, need to move the ball more. "We worked on some things to get more movement"

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 11, 2016

Casey: "There's so many situations where we passed and [stood] and we're helping the defence guard us... Move the ball, move your body"

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 11, 2016

Meanwhile, Lowry is getting fired up:

Lowry took issue w/ reporter who told him "we're all waiting for real Kyle to show up", encouraged him to watch tape pic.twitter.com/xdQYspnoFN

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 11, 2016

And DeRozan is preaching patience and calmness:

DeRozan said the from the way the media is talking/writing "you would think it's the end of the world". "Sometimes I don't understand it"

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 11, 2016

Finally, just because, let's give Dwyane Wade, lead tormentor from the Miami Heat, the last word:

"I don't know how much tighter your buttcheeks can get than this series." - Dwyane Wade

— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) May 11, 2016

What more could possibly be said?

Game 5 starts in five hours.