Raptors GM Masai Ujiri to skip pre-playoff address this year

MasaiUjirihas learned his lesson.

The Toronto Raptors' GM said Wednesday he doesn't plan onaddressing the team's rabid fans heading into the NBAplayoffs.

Toronto opens its best-of-seven first-round series against theIndiana Pacers on Saturday at the Air Canada Centre.

TwiceUjirihas been fined by the NBA for swearing while speakingto the Raptors' faithful prior to the playoffs. In 2014,he wasfined $25,000USfor launching aF-bombdirected at the Brooklyn Netsthen had to pay $35,000 last yearafter uttering an obscenity priorto his club's series with the Washington Wizards.

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Toronto lost both opening-round series.Ujirisays he'll take thesilent approach this time around, hoping it will help theRaptors'reverse their playoff fortunes."You know, it hasn't worked for two years,"Ujiritoldreporters with a chuckle. "I'm 0-2 in that regard and so I thinkI'll stay away.

"Fans know how much I love them. I also just had a baby boy andhe eats too much so I don't know if I have enoughmoney."

The Raptors have certainly been money this year, establishingclub records for wins (55) and home victories (32)heading intotheir regular-season finale Wednesday night in Brooklyn. Torontocaptured a third straight AtlanticDivision crown and enters theplayoffs as the Eastern Conference's second seed behind theCleveland Cavaliers.

What's more, point-guard KyleLowryand forwardDeMarDeRozanboth participated in the NBA all-star game on theirhome court.

'Winning takes time'

But for all the regular-season success Toronto has experiencedsinceUjiri'sarrival in 2013, the franchise has struggledin thepost-season. The Raptors lost a heart-breaking seven-game serieswith Brooklyn before being sweptlast year by Washington.

"It takes time to build, winning takes time,"Ujirisaid."We're hopeful we're going to do well but to us, (if) you fail youstand up and you go back and fight, just like we did last year.

"I think some day will come that will equate to big-time winningbut we're a growing team. I'm not saying that to take pressure offor divert anything but I think we have to appreciate these guys andthe work they've done."

Toronto won the season series with Indiana 3-1 and enteringWednesday's action had recorded 11 more wins than theseventh-seededPacers. ButUjirihas a healthy respect for Indiana.

"I think they're a fantastic team, they've got a fantasticplayer (all-star Paul George) and they're a winning organization,"he said. "We all know that, that says a lot about them.

"They're a classy organization."

It appears Toronto forwardDeMarreCarroll is ready to contributein the playoffs. He played 21 minutes in the Raptors'122-98 homewin over Philadelphia on Tuesday night, his third appearance aftermissing 42 contests followingarthroscopicknee surgery.

Carroll could end up defending George in the playoffs. Torontocoveted Carroll's toughness and defensive prowess whenit signed theformer Atlanta Hawk as a free agent last summer butUjirisaidCarroll's health will dictate how much he plays.

"It's not rocket science . . . that's the kind of guy we weretrying to get," he said. "We're not going to put him in a positionthat's going to affect his future.

"He's not 100 per cent but he's trying to head that way andwe'll see how that goes."

Primed for the postseason

Carroll was among four key off-season acquisitions for Toronto the others being Canadian guard Cory Joseph, powerforward LuisScolaand centreBismackBiyombo.Ujirifeels the Raptors are betterequipped heading into the playoffs this year compared to last withthe continued maturation ofLowryandDeRozancombined with a moreveteran roster.

"I think so and I hope so," he said. "I know mentally theseguys are ready.

"It's all about mental toughness, it's all about being ready,it's all about preparation and I think in that regard the players,coaches, I think our whole staff is ready and focused this time.Given that experience of what happened beforeI think it's good forus. You know what the atmosphere is, you know all of the pressures
that are going to come and the intensity."

But should Toronto again disappoint in the playoffs, it won'tcost head coachDwaneCasey his job.

"He has been phenomenal,"Ujirisaid of his head coach. "Hedeserves to be our coach in the future because he's put inthe workto bring winning to our program.

"The players have responded well I think...and we hope ittranslates to the playoffs. I am very hopeful it will because he's adefensive-minded coach."