Coach Dwane Photo By Ayodele Odumade

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT THE O2 ARENA

Toronto Raptors Coach, Dwane Casey has said his team are focusing on tomorrow’s game against the Orlando Magic in London and are here to win, and continue their progress into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference of the NBA.

“The experience has been great, we have enjoyed it but we haven’t forgotten why we are here. We have a big game tomorrow night. It is a great city, great experience with great hospitality. We enjoy being here for the NBA. We have been here for a week with our families. We have a great chemistry and it is good for team bonding. It has also been good for team practicing. In the last couple of weeks we have not been able to do that.”

When asked whom he felt would be the main danger man for the Orlando Magic he said: “it is hard to pick one.  Nikola Vucevic  is playing really well, Victor Oladipo is playing really well and Tobias Harris  has given us trouble in the past due to his athleticism at the three are at the fours.  He shot the ball well at their place when they beat us.  They have got a lot of weapons, they play hard and are a defence-minded team, so we have got to make sure we come and play with force. “

On how his players are managing to keep their minds on the game in London he said: “ It is their job. I reiterate that to guys at all times that it is great to be in another country and another city but we are professionals.  Our number one goal is the game tomorrow. Although our families are enjoying the city, our guys are professional.

On whether jet lag would be a factor he said: “It is not a problem during the night but it is during the day and in the morning. We have done our sleep studies on the time to go to bed and the time to get up. Game time should not be an issue because it is in the middle of the day.”  On the competitiveness of the Eastern Conference, which the Raptors are a part of he said: “ It is a lot different, we got kicked in the teeth over the last couple of seasons.  But this season we are in the hunt. The playoffs are important so every possession and every play is important.”

The Raptors are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference and will be hoping to make an impact this year in the playoffs.   The NBA All Star Game is only three weeks away and this is a new experience for some of the Raptors.  When asked if it could be a distraction for the players Casey said: “It should not be a distraction. You do not know how it will affect them though but we have a competitive game here against Orlando and some competitive games before the All Star Game. We have two players who are  on the All Stars roster and they deserve to be in it because they are playing like All Stars. “

Meanwhile Congolese player,  Bismack Biyombo of the Raptors has been speaking of how he was welcomed into the team when he joined this year from the Charlotte Hornets. “It was a good transition for me. They made it easy for me. The team has been great and we are playing phenomenal right now. Let us see how we are going to finish the season. “ 

When he was asked if the Raptors could win the Eastern Conference he said: “ We are going for it. We have enough.  It is going to take each and every one of us to give one hundred percent for us to accomplish that.  We have not played our best yet but we are the second seeds in the East.  We give respect to every team that we play.   It is a mission but we are going to get there.”

On the African Championships, which was held recently he said: “I did not watch it but I followed the stats. The game is growing. Having games around the world has helped the game grow.” He went on further to talk about his heroes when he was growing up: “My heroes were Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo and I still talk to them on a daily basis. They have helped me a lot throughout the game.  This is because they came out of Africa, they dreamed about playing this game and were able to accomplish those dreams.”