Boston besting Cleveland would’ve helped sell Casey decision…

Not even Brad Stevens, armed with a young, hungry and motivated Boston Celtics team, could find a way to dethrone the King. What does Boston’s Conference Finals loss tell us about the state of the Toronto Raptors?

With LeBron heading to an eighth straight NBA Finals, you can add Brad Stevens to the long list of coaches slain by the king.

Stevens will return as Boston’s head coach, but the reality of his team coming up short against the one-man show Cleveland Cavaliers team should, at the very least, cause dissent and second-guessing among another Eastern Conference team’s fan base – the Toronto Raptors.

When team president Masai Ujiri announced Dwane Casey would not return for the 2018-19 season, many questioned the decision, the result of a second consecutive playoff disappointment. Casey, for all his regular season successes, sports a rather unimpressive playoff resume as a head coach, having posted a career playoff winning percentage of .412 (21-30)

Still, Toronto’s playoff struggles have been as much about roster flaws as they have been about any perceived coaching shortcomings, specifically in the last two seasons. They continue to lack the true star power needed to scale the NBA precipice.

Sports is absolute. Sweep or 7 gms doesn't matter. U win or u lose. Ask Dwane Casey, Nate McMillan and the much acclaimed Brad Stevens. There is no magic. Players effort and execution is what wins games. #bottomlinebusiness
— Paul Jones (@Paul__Jones) May 28, 2018

Stevens, like Casey, succumbs to King James

Brad Stevens arrived in Boston in 2013, hailed as a mastermind and X’s and O’s genius. In a sense, Stevens has what Raptors fans thought Casey was missing – the ability to always be one step ahead of the opponent. To some, Casey’s failures as a tactician were what held Toronto back, essentially.

Let me be clear, Dwane Casey was not the main reason this team failed to live up to expectations.

Looking back, this team was never beating LeBron James, regardless of who James’ teammates were. Sure they shouldn’t have gotten swept but just ask the Boston Celtics how moral victories feel this time of year…four or seven games, it doesn’t really matter. Also, for comparison sakes, Brad Stevens owns a .468 winning percentage in the postseason (22-25). Like Casey, he is a sub-.500 head coach in the playoffs.

"“He’s unbelievable…” – Brad Stevens, on LeBron James"

James’ performance on Sunday was nothing short of remarkable. At the age of 33 and with little help around him, James played all 48 minutes and sent a promising Celtics team oozing with talent home.

In his 15th season, James has played in nine NBA finals. That is more than every team in the league with the exception of two – the Lakers and Celtics. Outside of literal perfection, his dominance has no clear remedy or counter-balance. Scream in the faces of heckling courtside fans or staring down opponents after blocks. Finally, lying down during trophy presentations – dare I say he’s earned the right to do all of those..?

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In the business of winning, it’s easy to get blinded by the reality of a given situation. The quest to best LeBron has become a fool’s errand in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. And yet the Toronto Raptors, in an effort to position themselves as eventual kingslayers, fired the coach of the year (as voted by his peers).

With great power comes great responsibility – LeBron James has, year after year, carried his team to the championship dance. He’s led teams that, with all due respect, had no business playing into June.

If Masai witnessed what James’ showing against a young and very well coached Celtics team, would he have perhaps had a different outlook on Casey’s value to the Raptors continued growth…?

For all the pain a Celtics win would’ve brought to Jurassic Park, it also would have, in a way, validated the decision to move on from Dwane Casey.

But, alas, the king had other plans.