For Raptors coach Dwane Casey, success is in the cards

Every preseason, Toronto coach Dwane Casey gives his players index cards — in triplicate — that list the three or four duties he expects from each player.

Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell isn't quite so formal.

Yet each man — and probably every NBA coach — believes it's important that every player on his team knows exactly what is expected from him.

With Casey, that means cards that list such items, whether it's rebounding, three-point shooting or maybe even something more intangible.

It's something he did as a head coach with the Timberwolves a decade ago, as well as Seattle and Dallas when he was an assistant coach, even if he's not certain just where the tradition came from.

"I have no idea," he said. "It probably comes from college. We did it at Kentucky."

Whatever the origins, Casey gives each player three copies — one for the player, one for his agent, one for his significant other — of the card.

Wolves veteran guard Andre Miller is entering his 17th NBA season and he has seen every coach for whom he has played define players' roles just a bit differently, although not with index cards.

"I've never heard of that," Miller said. "It's definitely important, especially when you're young and you need communication with the coach, just to know where you are on the team and what's expected of you. As a veteran you should know what's expected of you and be prepared for whatever happens. … Any player in this day and age will tell you communication is very important.

"Back when, coaches and management didn't care what you thought, you had a job to do. These days, communication and chemistry are what's keeping teams together."

Mitchell doesn't put down in writing what he expects from his players. But they know nonetheless, beginning with the basics.

"First of all, everybody's role is to play hard, to be a good teammate, to represent the organization to the best of their ability," said Mitchell, whose team continues preseason play Sunday in Memphis. "Then we set out individual roles as to what needs to be done on the court. Everybody's got to play defense. Everybody's got to set good screens and help their teammates out on both offense and defense."

"All the guys know," Mitchell said. "We tell them every day."

But when it's written down and copied at least two more times, a player can't say he doesn't know what his role on a team is.

"If they do, check the card," Casey said. "Anybody ever tells you that, come see me and I'll show you the card. That's one reason for it. Guys want to say they don't know their role. They can't say that if they play for the Raptors."

• Ricky Rubio practiced fully on Saturday for a second consecutive day and is aimed at making his preseason debut Sunday in Memphis. "If he feels good tomorrow, he'll play," Mitchell said.

• Veteran Kevin Martin practiced Saturday after he missed Wednesday's game at Ottawa because of back spasms. Mitchell said he needs to get Martin some more regular season-type minutes Sunday and against Milwaukee in Madison, Wis., on Tuesday.