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Raptors look for change after frustrating loss to Pistons

Xinhua, February 13, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Toronto Raptors continued to toil after blowing a 16-point fourth quarter lead in a 102-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA on Sunday evening.

After starting the season at 28-13 and holding the no. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors have dropped 10 of their last 14 games and currently sit in fourth place with a 32-23 record.

Raptors head coach Dwane Casey blames himself for the team's recent struggles, saying his team are placing too much emphasis on defence and forgetting about scoring.

"I will take the blame, we have been concentrating so much on defence, but offensively we need to make sure we execute and get the shot we want to take," said Casey after the loss.

"We put ourselves in position to win. We have to learn how to play with the lead. That is our biggest issue right now," he added.

In the ten losses during the stretch, the Raptors have blown four double-digit leads, including giving up an 18-point margin against Boston on Feb. 1.

All-Star guard Kyle Lowry is concerned about the team' s recent woes.

"Yeah, I am starting to get worried, yeah. It's not going the way it's supposed to be going, thing aren't changing, so I'm starting to getwo rried," said Lowry after the game.

Lowry opinions that a change is needed to turn the team's fortunes around.

"Everything (is going wrong). We keep getting in the same situations over and over and not being successful," said Lowry after the game. "Something's got to give, something's got to change."

While it is unclear what change Lowry is referring to, this season's trade deadline is ten days away and the Raptors have been rumoured to be interested in an upgrade at the power forward position.

Raptors General Manager Jeff Weltman and President Masai Ujiri will be busy in the days leading up to the Feb. 23 deadline, as the team looks to balance their future with current needs for a deep playoff run.

DeMar DeRozan, the team's other All-Star, told reporters earlier in the week that he would welcome an upgrade that benefited the team.

"Help is a great word with any team," said DeRozan after practice on Thursday. "Anybody could take help any day if it makes you better, a team better, anything."

With 27 games remaining in the season, any players acquired will have plenty of time to get accustomed to Casey's offensive and defensive systems before the playoffs start in mid-April. Endit