After a six-year absence from the playoffs, the Toronto Raptors were obviously excited to be back in the postseason. It was very much evident in their general manager Masai Ujiri's emotional pregame address meant to energize their fans prior to game 1 of the Brooklyn Nets-Toronto Raptors first-round playoff match-up which the Nets won, 94-87.
According to the Associated Press, Ujiri used profane words in referring to the Brooklyn Nets while addressing the several hundred fans who were outside the arena. Yahoo! Sports reports that the words were actually: "[BLEEP] Brooklyn!"
Later at halftime, the reigning executive of the year apologized during a news conference for his actions and said he was 'just trying to get our fans going.'
Before the series started, there was a lot of speculations that the Nets tanked their last few games in the regular season to face the upstart Raptors. Asked if the profanity had anything to do with his sentiments about the issue, Ujiri said via Yahoo! Sports: ''You know how I feel. I don't like them, but I apologize.''
Both teams seemed unaffected by Ujiri's comments. Raptors coach Dwane Casey said: ''It doesn't offend me whatsoever. 'That's Masai. That's why our team plays like that. He's a fiery guy. That should represent how we feel.''
His counterpart, Nets coach Jason Kidd, was more blunt saying he did not even know who the Raptors GM is.
Ujuri's remarks have further fueled what promises to be an intense match-up between the two teams. Earlier in the day, the Toronto Sun billed the match-up as "Raptors versus Dinosaurs" which was obviously in reference to the ages of two key Nets players who are in the twilight of their careers, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
Garnett, however, was not at all insulted by it saying: ''It's all good. Its motivation.'
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