Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari pulls a rebound beside Raptors guard Terrence Ross at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., Dec. 3, 2012. (RICK WILKING/Reuters)
DENVER - The defensive presence Dwane Casey was hoping for lasted about nine minutes.
Then, for about the next 15 whatever focus the Raptors had protecting their own basket disappeared and while the Raptors did fight back and regained that focus in the second half, the mountain turned out to be too high to climb and a spirited comeback fell short in a 113-110 loss to the Nuggets.
“We dug ourselves too big a hole,” Casey said. “They are a good offensive team. A very explosive offensive team. We decided to play defence the last few minutes of the game which is too late. It was a classic example of the way we can play defence, but we got to do it for at least 40-44 minutes and not wait.”
The Raptors were scoring on their opportunities and getting back to set up their defence in those first nine minutes preventing the quick baskets Denver thrives on with regularity.
