TORONTO - As over 20,000 shell-shocked Raptors fans finally exhaled, juggling their emotions after a bizarre evening at the Air Canada Centre, Dwane Casey
laced into his team in a nearby locker room.
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usually means it was R-rated in nature. Did this feel like a win, Amir Johnson
was asked after it was all said and done. "Of course," he exclaimed, taking
issue with the question. "What? Yes! Did I check the box score wrong? We
definitely won." "Does it feel like a win? What?" The box score read 115-113, a
pivotal win for the Raptors, who took a 3-2 series lead Wednesday and now sit on
the cusp of advancing to the Conference Semifinals, but you wouldnt know if from
taking in the head coachs post-game discourse. "You wouldnt want to hear it,"
Casey said, asked about his emotions as his team squandered a 26-point lead in
allowing the Nets to score 44 during a fourth-quarter collapse that was very
nearly fatal. "We just didnt play smart. They are a very veteran team, they are
going to take advantage of the mistakes you make. We wrote the book on the
mistakes in the fourth quarter." "Every mistake that you could think about, we
made in the fourth quarter." Just about. The Raptors lead was 22 going into the
final frame before their previously spotless performance began to unravel in a
hurry. With a lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and reserves Andray Blatche,
Mirza Teletovic and Alan Anderson for all but eight seconds in the quarter, the
Nets hit 13 of their 21 shots, including five of nine attempts from three-point
range. They got into the paint and to the line at will, putting on a clinic
offensively. Veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett did not play a second. With
just over three minutes remaining, Torontos nightmare became reality. The
sellout crowd that had rocked the building all night, the mob of white-shirted
Raptor zealots that shouted "Broooook-lyn" minutes earlier - mimicking a chant
made famous at Nets home games - they went dead silent. The Nets Johnson drained
a three to tie the game and Toronto was on the ropes. Visions of their
franchise-worst 27-point collapse in a December loss to Golden State flashed
through everyones mind. Infamous Raptors losses of the oh-so-painful past, the
beloved Maple Leafs and their tragic Game 7 demise. The city has seen it all. So
how would this team let them down? Toronto led by five with nine seconds left, a
semi-comfortable scenario provided they refrain from doing something uncommonly
foolish. Just dont give up a three or commit a foul. Naturally, they did both.
As Williams swung the ball to Anderson in the corner, the Raptors Johnson lunged
at him, committing his sixth foul and surrendering the rare four-point play,
Brooklyns second of the quarter. With six second to go, the Raptors now up by
three, Casey opted to play it safe and send Blatche to the line for two shots.
The right call. Intentionally missing the second free throw, Blatche was able to
secure his own rebound before letting the Raptors off the hook in tossing the
ball away. "We cant live that way," said an irate Casey after the game. "We cant
make this many mental mistakes." Buzzer sounds and the Raptors win. The Raptors
win? They had mucked it up in just about every way you could imagine, like a
greatest hits of Raptor blunders, but they pulled it out. If that seems out of
character with what weve come to expect from this franchise, so be it. Isnt that
just the perfect representation of a season, an improbably playoff run that
defies all semblance of logic? "We made some boneheaded mistakes," Johnson
admitted, "but we finished off the game and thats all that really matters." This
is a different team producing different results and a point guard who has a lot
to do with that change in fortune. "Honestly, hes a hell of player, man,"
DeMar DeRozan said of Kyle Lowry, who scored 36 points, a playoff career-high,
also matching the most hes ever scored in an NBA game. "Hes just a dog. He makes
you want to bring your A-game every single night because you know hes going to
lay it out there with them." With DeRozan blanketed by multiple defenders all
night, Lowry took over. Tied with a minute left, Lowry hit the biggest shot of
the night, a step-back three-pointer, followed by another dagger from inside the
paint on the subsequent possession. "Sometimes it calls for that situation,"
said the point guard. "Usually its [DeRozan] doing that but tonight the way they
played him it gave me an opportunity to get to the basket and get some shots off
down the stretch. Our teammates count on me and him to make the right decisions,
make the big plays and tonight it was fortunate enough they were guarding him
tightly and I got it going a little bit." Lowry wouldnt let his team lose,
willing them to their most important victory of the campaign, and no one seems
the least bit surprised, nor should they. "Every time hes out there on the floor
Im going to give it my best effort," DeRozan added, "because I know hes going to
do the same." "We know theres not going to be no big blowouts either way because
both teams are going to fight until the end," he continued. "It just shows you
how much weve matured over the season and understanding what we have to do to
stay in games and closeout games." DeRozan became the first Raptors player to
reach the 20-point plateau in four straight playoff games since Vince Carter in
2001, scoring 23 on Wednesday thanks in large part to another impressive showing
from the free throw line, where he was 12-for-13. For the first time in nearly
13 years that Raptors have taken the advantage in a playoff series, now they
look to close it out in Brooklyn on Friday. "Were happy we won today but weve
got to do a better job Friday," said Jonas Valanciunas, who had 16 points and
six rebounds Wednesday. "Were here, were excited about being in the playofffs,
somewhere we havent been before, a young team, expecting mistakes," Casey said.
"Weve got to crack the whip and learn from it. This is a hell of a time to start
learning, going into Game 6 of the playoffs."
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17, 2014 Stage three, coping: I feel like I could use a cigarette or
something.TAMPA, Fla. -- Outfielder Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees have
agreed to a contract that adds $52 million in guaranteed money from 2015-18. The
deal announced Sunday includes a team option for for 2019 that if exercised
would make the new money $62.5 million over five seasons. "It shows the level of
confidence, belief and trust, and the type of player and person he is," Yankees
general manager Brian Cashman said. "Were excited to know that hes going to be a
part of this team going forward. Were a better team with Gardy on it, thats the
bottom line. This is a good day for him, and we believe it makes the future for
us better." Gardner agreed last month to a $5.6 million, one-year contract and
would have been eligible for free agency after the 2014 season. The new deal
adds a $2 million signing bonus payable next January and salaries of $12 million
in 2015, $13 million in 2016, $12 million in 2017 and $11 million in 2018. The
Yankees have a $12.5 million option for 2019 with a $2 million buyout. Gardner
would receive an additional $1 million payment if hes traded, a provision he can
earn only once. "Free agency is something that, it kind of intrigued me, but it
also kind of scared me," Gardner said. "Ive never been anywhere else. I love it
here. I love putting on the pinstripes everyday." Cashman said talks about the
contract started at the winter meetings in December. The Yankees are moving
Gardner to left field this year after signing free agent centre fielder
Jacoby Ellsbury to a $153 million, seven-year contract in December. Gardner did
have questions in his mind about his Yankees future after the Ellsbury
acquisition. "When they signed Jaacoby, your name gets thrown out in the trade
rumours and all that," Gardner said.
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Jerseys. "Its kind of annoying, really. I didnt want to get traded. I dont
want to go anywhere else, and I let them know that." The 30-year-old Gardner hit
.273 last year with eight home runs, 52 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. "I like what
he brings," Cashman said. "The speed dynamic, the defence, and I think the
offence is there as well." Also, the Yankees agreed to a minor league contract
with injured closer Andrew Bailey, who was with Boston last year and is coming
back from right shoulder surgery last July. Cashman said the right-hander might
be able to join the team in August or September. "When he is healthy, hes an
exceptional reliever," Cashman said. "Hes coming off of a shoulder surgery, so
were taking a flier. A low risk. If we can get a reward out of it, great. If
not, its one of those nothing ventured, nothing gained." NOTES: Yankees manager
Joe Girardi attended a meeting with MLB officials Joe Torre and Tony La Russa
Saturday on topics including instant replay. Girardi said the Yankees first
instant replay test game will be March 6 against Philadelphia in Clearwater. "It
opens up us to more to have to answer for, but I think it gives our game the
opportunity to have more things decided on the field, which I think is a good
thing," Girardi said. The Yankees plan to work on replay situations throughout
spring training even if its not a test game. "Well probably practice with walkie
talkies," Girardi said. ... New York OF Alfonso Soriano missed his fourth day
due to the flu, but could do a light workout Monday.
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