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“Ultimately that’s how you will be judged, is team success, so I love that Kyle and DeMar not only embraced, but sort of were able to execute what Dwane (Casey) and the staff were trying to put in.”

WILL IT STICK?

Which brings us to the question de jour these days:

What if Lowry and DeRozan lose the trust that has been built up with their teammates if they defer but most of the resulting shots are clanked?

“The reality is, what do we all do in hard moments? We revert to old habits. So, it will really be fascinating to watch the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs, in the heat of battle, which is so extraordinarily different when the playoffs arrive,” Burke said.

“Will they maintain their discipline and the habits they have built over the course of 82 games? I believe they will. I believe that there is such a core, fundamental belief that as much success as they had to a point in the NBA’s regular season and the early rounds of the playoffs, they know unequivocally that the new style they’ve instituted gives them the best chance to win and I believe they will be committed to it and I believe it does give them the best chance to win.”

TOO CLOSE TO CALL

Burke is one of the voters for the NBA awards and says choosing the coach of the year will be tougher than usual this season with so many strong candidates.

“What is working in Dwane Casey’s favour is the fact that you have had a complete, stylistic change on both ends of the floor that he had to get buy-in from stars that had experienced a high level of success playing another way and the fact that they have been for the vast majority the best team in the East, most consistently,” she said.

“You have to take into consideration the totality of the organization and by that I mean personnel, strategy, amount of winning you have done, what challenges have you overcome? There are so many factors that should be considered.

“Before I cast my ballot, he will get a long, hard look from me, as will Brad Stevens, as will Quin Snyder, Nate McMillan, Terry Stotts, you can go (down the list). It’s incredible to me (how many viable candidates there are whereas in many years somebody has made a definitive case for the award by now).”