--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first got to Toronto, we were last…" description: "\"When I first got to Toronto, we were last in defense, 20-something in offense, we were the laughing stock in the Eastern Conference.\" — Dwane Casey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/dwane-casey-8531_eastern_when-i-first-got-to-toronto-we-were-last_1062353.jpg" --- # When I first got to Toronto, we were last in defense… ![“When I first got to Toronto, we were last in defense, 20-something in offense, we were the laughing stock in the Eastern Conference.” quote by Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/dwane-casey-8531_eastern_when-i-first-got-to-toronto-we-were-last_1062353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/dwane-casey-8531_eastern_when-i-first-got-to-toronto-we-were-last_1062353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/dwane-casey-8531_eastern_when-i-first-got-to-toronto-we-were-last_1062353.jpg) > “When I first got to Toronto, we were last in defense, 20-something in offense, we were the laughing stock in the Eastern Conference.” [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Toronto struggled defensively and offensively, becoming the league’s laughing stock. **In simple terms:** Team performed poorly on both ends. Key Takeaway Analyze weaknesses. Themes sports performance team dynamics defense offense reputation Mood critical analytical Type sports motivational When to use this quote - season review - training adjustments - media scrutiny - fan engagement Key Concepts coaching strategy team morale competitive analysis Questions to Reflect On - What changes could reverse the trend? - How can morale be rebuilt? A Different Perspective Improvement requires systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [20 Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20-offense-2601669/) [Defense 20](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-20-2601671/) [Eastern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern/) [Eastern Conference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern-conference-2601668/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Offense Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense-laughing-2601670/) [Toronto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toronto/) [Toronto Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toronto-defense-2601667/) ## Related quotes > [Kenyon Martin is the 2nd best player in the Eastern Conference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/kenyon-martin-is-the-2nd-best-player-in-the-eastern-conference/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [It's a great honor to be named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team as a starter. It's great to earn respect from your teammates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wallace/it-s-a-great-honor-to-be-named-to-the-eastern-conference-all-star/) [Ben Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wallace/) > [Some of the guys in the Eastern Conference, I had never been on their teams - like Larry Bird: even though you make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clyde-drexler/some-of-the-guys-in-the-eastern-conference-i-had-never-been-on-their/) [Clyde Drexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clyde-drexler/) > [I'm not involved in any Philadelphia-related game or situation. When people claim I'm going to have a "vendetta" against every other Eastern Conference team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pronger/i-m-not-involved-in-any-philadelphia-related-game-or-situation-when/) [Chris Pronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pronger/) > [You can't just fast-forward to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. You have to go out there and earn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hibbert/you-can-t-just-fast-forward-to-game-7-of-the-eastern-conference/) [Roy Hibbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hibbert/) > [They are that same group, but I've got my own rivalristic problems. Is that a word, rivalristic? I've got my own rivalristic problems in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/they-are-that-same-group-but-i-ve-got-my-own-rivalristic-problems-is/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [But then I lock back in and I start thinking about how fun it is to compete during the playoffs and the first round,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/but-then-i-lock-back-in-and-i-start-thinking-about-how-fun-it-is-to/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I believe that every single game in the Playoffs, round 1 to Eastern Conference Finals, every single game is a different game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-lowry/i-believe-that-every-single-game-in-the-playoffs-round-1-to-eastern/) [Kyle Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-lowry/) > [I cannot be second to last in the Eastern Conference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-schroder/i-cannot-be-second-to-last-in-the-eastern-conference/) [Dennis Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-schroder/) > [I can hold my head high for what we built in Toronto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-can-hold-my-head-high-for-what-we-built-in-toronto/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [My wife was big in a lot of work in Toronto with charity work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/my-wife-was-big-in-a-lot-of-work-in-toronto-with-charity-work/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [I've done quite a few television shows in Toronto, and it's a great city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soupy-sales/i-ve-done-quite-a-few-television-shows-in-toronto-and-it-s-a-great/) [Soupy Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soupy-sales/) > [We're half an hour from Toronto, which offers everything you could want from a city, and a couple of hours from beautiful vacation country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linwood-barclay/we-re-half-an-hour-from-toronto-which-offers-everything-you-could/) [Linwood Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linwood-barclay/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) ## More by Dwane Casey > [I knew I was going to have to work my way back to coaching in the States, and I had a job offer here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-knew-i-was-going-to-have-to-work-my-way-back-to-coaching-in-the/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [To me, there's no honor to say, 'I'm going to start.' As long as you're getting minutes, you're closing games, that shows more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/to-me-there-s-no-honor-to-say-i-m-going-to-start-as-long-as-you-re/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [I was making $19,000 a year, and I thought I was rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-was-making-19-000-a-year-and-i-thought-i-was-rich/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [As you get older, as a father, you hope your kids can make that kind of impression on somebody who will say, 'Hey, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/as-you-get-older-as-a-father-you-hope-your-kids-can-make-that-kind-of/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [I can hold my head high for what we built in Toronto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-can-hold-my-head-high-for-what-we-built-in-toronto/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [In fact I only had one sports jacket when I was in high school. It was all sneakers and tees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/in-fact-i-only-had-one-sports-jacket-when-i-was-in-high-school-it-was/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [Watching a guy go from not having ever played an NBA game before to growing up and developing into an All-Star player, that's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/watching-a-guy-go-from-not-having-ever-played-an-nba-game-before-to/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [From a pure basketball standpoint, it's hard to say you wouldn't want Kawhi Leonard on your team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/from-a-pure-basketball-standpoint-it-s-hard-to-say-you-wouldn-t-want/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [Make or miss, you still have to shoot the same shot with confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/make-or-miss-you-still-have-to-shoot-the-same-shot-with-confidence/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [I hope I can stand up and be an example that helps change the narrative: 'He understands the game from a technical standpoint. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-hope-i-can-stand-up-and-be-an-example-that-helps-change-the/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [For someone to believe in you, that's all you want as a player and as a coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/for-someone-to-believe-in-you-that-s-all-you-want-as-a-player-and-as/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [I'm not a big car person. I'm not into lots of fancy things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-m-not-a-big-car-person-i-m-not-into-lots-of-fancy-things/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [I look back and see what life could have been if I hadn't applied myself in basketball, and I'm really thankful for every experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-look-back-and-see-what-life-could-have-been-if-i-hadn-t-applied/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [I thought we came out with too much respect at the beginning of the game and were on our heels instead of coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-thought-we-came-out-with-too-much-respect-at-the-beginning-of-the/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) > [The only way young players learn how to get better is by playing or get the experience is by playing and getting out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/the-only-way-young-players-learn-how-to-get-better-is-by-playing-or/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) [Explore all 80 Dwane Casey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) ## More Eastern quotes > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. 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If you take away the Eastern Bloc, you take away 50% of the medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/the-games-have-been-decimated-if-you-take-away-the-eastern-bloc-you/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [The United States is filled with power places. The majority of them, however, are to be found either along the West Coast and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-united-states-is-filled-with-power-places-the-majority-of-them/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [The idea of building a Near Eastern house in Honolulu must seem fantastic to many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-duke/the-idea-of-building-a-near-eastern-house-in-honolulu-must-seem/) [Doris Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-duke/) > [From the Far Eastern perspective, 29 is considered a very special age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/from-the-far-eastern-perspective-29-is-considered-a-very-special-age/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I'm a historian by training and by conviction. And so the thing that has throughout informed my thinking about international relations is history. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/i-m-a-historian-by-training-and-by-conviction-and-so-the-thing-that/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [ The other thing we did as government is to open gates for the civilians to leave that \[ eastern part\] area \[in Aleppo\], and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-other-thing-we-did-as-government-is-to-open-gates-for-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [I was researching my family tree, and I was deeply hoping I was going to turn out to be Eastern European, but I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/i-was-researching-my-family-tree-and-i-was-deeply-hoping-i-was-going/) [Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/) > [The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-most-foolish-mistake-we-could-possibly-make-would-be-to-permit/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The G7 and former G8 group has always viewed itself as a community of values, the annexation of Crimea, which is a blatant violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-g7-and-former-g8-group-has-always-viewed-itself-as-a-community-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I thought they would never select an Eastern writer for the Nobel. I was surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-thought-they-would-never-select-an-eastern-writer-for-the-nobel-i/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [Today, any action anywhere on earth has an immediate repercussion on all five continents. 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