'I haven't given up': Casey rallies Raptors after demoralizing loss to Cavs

Someone had to take the podium for the Toronto Raptors after yet another harrowing loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that someone was Dwane Casey.

The beleaguered head coach tried to preach a message of hope and resilience after Cleveland smacked Toronto by a combined 33 points as they raced out to a 2-0 series lead.

"We take our butt whooping and go home," Casey said, showing a forced calmness.

"I haven't given up. I know it hurts," he added. "Like I told the team, we should be mad, upset, but it's a long series. It's two games, two games on their floor. The way we lost is not good, and we shouldn't accept that, but we go home and start over again."

The Raptors faced this exact scenario last season. The Cavaliers thoroughly demoralized them in Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, but the Raptors were able to steal two games from the eventual champions before losing in six.

Nothing has changed this time around, despite trade deadline additions to fortify Toronto's playoff hopes. They still have no answers for LeBron James and no counter to Cleveland's 3-point shooting. At times it looks as if the Raptors don't even belong in the same league as the reigning champions.

Two wins at home last season allowed Toronto to save face. That's the precarious ledge of hope the team clings to in the face of inevitable annihilation at the hands of James and the Cavaliers.