Casey concerned about Raptors despite victory

Lesson time is upon the Raptors.

A team that too often looks surprised to win rather than one that expects to win will see a handful of opponents in the next little while who carry themselves with a cockiness that's often missing from the Raptors.

And until Toronto gets to that level -- with a consistent confidence up and down the roster -- the Raptors will be destined to be also-rans, a fact not lost on Coach Dwane Casey or anyone who's around the team a lot. Especially after Friday night's victory over the Celtics.

"I call it putting a two-by-four on your shoulder instead of putting a chip," Casey said. "That's how we have to play against team like the Celtics, the Lakers, San Antonio, New York. Because they do play with a swagger and we have to get that level each night.

"Not one quarter, two quarters, we have to do it where we're doing it each night and every possession."

That is one of Casey's biggest jobs in his first year as the coach of a rebuilding team.

The Xs and Os are huge and getting a commitment to play defense is of the utmost importance but instilling a sense of "belief" in his young players ranks right up there.

"We have to have a swagger, come out with a bad taste in your mouth," he said.

So far, the Raptors haven't shown that, at all. They are generally passive early in games, as if they are expecting to get hit rather than doing the hitting.

It's part of the reason they so rarely take control of games early -- they've trailed after the first quarter in 15 of their last 18 games -- and something that has to change.

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