There are times when you almost have to strain to hear Dwane Casey speak ? the Raptors coach is not one prone to raising his voice to make loud pronouncements or hammer home a point.
It speaks to a quiet confidence in the 54-year-old, a feeling that he can earn respect in his own soft-spoken manner, that it will come to him because of the way he is, not the way others may want him to be.
But make no mistake, under that quiet outer demeanour lies a man who can make a point forcefully simply by the nature of his personality; if he wants you to know something, he can get it done with no histrionics.
?Guys know when he talks, no matter the tone of the voice, he?s serious about it,? said veteran Raptors guard Anthony Carter, the only player on the Toronto team with first-hand knowledge of Casey as a head coach from the time the two were together in Minnesota in 2005.
?I think that right there is what he established his first day here, letting guys know he might talk soft but you?ve got to get the job done.?
Casey begins his second tenure as an NBA head coach Monday night in Cleveland as the Raptors take on the Cavaliers to begin a 66-game sprint of a regular season.
He has had precious little time to truly get to know his personnel ? a short training camp, an even shorter pre-season ? or to truly put his stamp on the organization.
But even in that relatively short period, one verdict is already in: the players appreciate the way he handles them, the way he conveys his message, the professionalism he?s trying to instill.
?I think he?s great,? said backup guard Jerryd Bayless. ?I can?t speak highly enough about him. He brings a certain focus that we didn?t have last year; his philosophy on defence and offence are both things that win games.
?I couldn?t be happier to be playing for him and I hope I?m playing for him for a very long time.?
One of Casey?s watchwords throughout the pre-season has been ?accountability.? He wants everyone to know there will be repercussions for repeated transgressions, that he is willing to teach and cajole and work with players on whatever they want, but they need to take responsibility for improvement or suffer the consequences.
?It?s making sure we do the little things, no matter whether it?s the top guy on the team or the bottom guy on the team,? Casey said. ?Being where they?re supposed to be, paying attention to detail.
?I think that?s one of the major changes; doesn?t matter who it is, if you don?t do it, you?re held accountable. Whether it?s get on the line and run or we do it over or be called out. (It?s) making sure everybody does their job, that?s the most important thing.?
The players don?t seem to mind, yet.
?Now he?s more precise with whatever he says, he?s not going back on his word,? said Carter. ?He won?t tell you one thing and then probably do another. He?ll tell a guy straight up front, if you ain?t doing your job, you?re going to sit over there. He?s not going to babysit you or anything.
?Right there is when you earn everybody?s respect, by treating everybody the same. I think that?s what he?s been doing. If you ain?t getting it done, you?re going to sit down.?
It?s a message delivered in typically understated Casey fashion.
?I?m not a tyrant, there?s no question,? he said. ?It?s a situation where you?re making sure guys do their jobs and it?s all about winning and it?s not about self-satisfaction or doing it my way or the highway or anything like that.
?It?s about building a program that?s going to last.?
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