Refs give Heat benefit of doubt
By Mike Ganter, QMI Agency
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  Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan clashes with the Miami Heats' Lebron James during Sunday's Toronto loss in Florida. (REUTERS)
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As Dwane Casey has pointed out in the past, this isn’t his first rodeo when it comes to coaching and specifically the part of his job that involves dealing with the media.
So it was a very careful coach Casey on Sunday that replied to a question about the discrepancy in calls going for his team and against his team in the Raptors’ 95-89 loss to the Miami Heat.
“For whatever reason they shot 34 free throws and we shot 21,” Casey said stopping well short of the line that normally brings on a fine from the league. “I told our guys keep driving, even in that first quarter when it was something like 10-1 (trips to the line favouring Miami). Until we earn (the refs’) respect we have to keep driving, but we’re getting there.”
Worse than the discrepancy at times was the overly dramatic Heat whining every time they were whistled for a foul.
It was consistent from the first foul to the last. Each and every time it happened the referee who made the call would find himself surrounded by Heat players wanting to challenge or simply bitch about the call.
Casey knows the lay of the land on this one. A young team has to earn its reputation and he’s seeing progress.
“I think everybody is seeing that we are playing hard and we are competing on every play, aggressively attacking the basket and competing on the defensive end,” Casey said. “We will get there. We will get some of those calls.”
