It is the mind games that will ultimately decide the NBA playoff series between the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers that begins this afternoon at the Air Canada Centre.
There really are no strategic moves with play-calling and defensive schemes that are secret, it’s how each team adjusts to the circumstances, the will and drive of the players, and to borrow a phrase oft-used by Toronto coach Dwane Casey, the “attention to detail.”
Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan has spoken at length this week about the mental aspect of the post-season, how thinking the game is as important as playing it.