TORONTO - Purely from an amusement standpoint, Raptors media day may never live up to the sideshow that was last years incarnation. You may recall the delightful juxtaposition of Drake, the teams newly-minted global ambassador, perched on a stl adjacent to Rob Ford, the citys cartnish mayor, as Toronto was presented the 2016 NBA All-Star festivities. That was 12 months ago. It was an act, all, but impossible to follow. What did follow, later that afternn, was the teams annual media day, a subdued version revolving around a line of questioning that had little-to-nothing to do with the game of basketball. How well do you know Drake? Does it upset you to hear people talk about tanking? One by one players were ushered out, as is the tradition, until the assembled media had their fill and carried on in preparation for what we assumed would be another lost season. We were dead wrong. This time around there was no global ambassador, no oafish mayor, no sideshow. Just basketball. The upcoming 2014-15 campaign, the franchises 20th, will be unlike any the organization has faced since its abbreviated glory days over a decade ago. Its unlike any Dwane Casey has tackled as an NBA head coach and unlike any most of his players have prepared for during their pro careers. Nearly five months removed from a team-best 48-win season and a bittersweet seven-game series with the Brklyn Nets, the Raptors enter training camp - set to begin at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday - with new expectations and the pressure that is sure to accompany them. True to character, neither Casey nor general manager, Masai Ujiri, would set the bar at a specific win total or promise a deeper playoff run in 2015, but its clear the days of tempering expectations are over. The reigning Atlantic Division champs are embracing the target that a surprising, feel-gd season has left on their backs. You have to embrace it, Casey said, holding court during Mondays festivities, held on the upper level of Real Sports Bar & Grill, across from the ACC. This is the first time this organization, since even before I got here, had heightened expectations, and I think thats a gd thing. Its something weve got to embrace, weve got to take it and run with it, because its going to be there. Theres no pressure, its gd pressure. Were defending division champions and we have to go out every night and play like it. I dona€?t do predictions, unfortunately, said Ujiri. Wea€?re hoping to win and grow as a team. The NBA is full of surprises, issues, growing pains, adversity. Wea€?re ready. Ita€?s our job to fix [problems]. Wea€?ll keep grinding it out. Like the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs - the model for sustainable success in basketball and throughout pro sports - the Raptors are banking on continuity and internal growth to take them to the next level. We feel continuity is big for us, Ujiri added. Consistency is really big for winning teams. That formula has proven to work. We hope that it works for us. These guys, they like each other. We have a chemistry. They compete. They go out there and play for each other. Wea€?re not a selfish team. The young guys continue to grow and the platform continues to be there. I think thata€?s very important for us. Back by popular demand, the recently re-signed Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez spoke about sacrifice and buying into their roles, concepts echoed by newcomers Lou Williams and returning Raptor James Johnson. Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry commanded the most attention from the masses, justifiably so. At this time last year, the sn-to-be free agent point guard dazzled the crowd with a slimmed-down physique and unfamiliar, media-friendly attitude. Twelve months and $48-million later, he seemed just as fit and jovial as ever. Those people who thought I would [be out of shape], theyre idiots, he said with a laugh. People that expected me to come back in shape, theyre smart. DeMar DeRozan never doubted his gd friend and backcourt sidekick would return, evident in his confident demeanour at the end of last seasons playoff run. The two have spoken on the phone nearly every day since, but DeRozans sales pitch during Lowrys free agency was understated, yet effective. The things me and him did together [last season] spoke for itself, DeRozan recalled telling Lowry over the summer. DeRozan was one of the first to learn the news when Lowry had made his decision, before it became official. Lowry called DeRozan while the all-star was en route to the Philippines for an NBA showcase in July. The phone conversation cost DeRozan $45 in roaming fees. Was it worth it? Hell, no. I need my $45, he joked. It means everything, the Raptors two-guard said, asked about having Lowry and the rest of last years core back. Especially for me, personally, because I never really had the consistent group of guys that I could play with. And the chemistry that we had last year, that we built between every single guy, was amazing, so just to have that back and the type of quality of guys that we have on the team, means a lot. It wasnt just DeRozan and Lowry who clicked. The teams refreshing composition of grit and chemistry caught many by surprise a year ago and, although some may still be skeptical about its sustainability, theyre not expecting the opposition to take them lightly, nor should they. If the Raptors sneak up on anybody this season, it will be because someone wasnt paying attention. Therein lies the challenge for Casey as their motivational leader. His team came together following the trade of Rudy Gay, once everyone outside of the locker rm had written them off and left them for dead. They had a chip on their shoulder, and it worked for them. Now, even after all theyve accomplished over such a short amount of time, Torontos fourth-year head coach intends to oversee the maturation of his young players, while maintaining the fire that sparked them to begin the calendar year. This is a new year, Casey said. So weve got to take that experience, add it to the work in the summer and get that two-by-four back on our shoulder, because again, we still dont have the total respect of the NBA, weve got to make sure we gain that respect and keep that respect. They say, Theyre a one-year wonder. Were the only ones that can control that. The first thing Williams noticed about his new teammates, upon getting to know them after being acquired from the Atlanta hawks over the summer, is their strong desire to be respected, to be taken seriously. Its what has defined them as individuals and as a team. DeRozan is starting to get the validation he seeks from his peers, having been selected to his first All-star Squad and playing for the gold medal-winng Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer. Still, hes pushed by everyone, anyone who doubts him. I feel like theyre doing me a favour, honestly, he said of a recent SI.com rankings list that slotted him at no. 61, lowest of last years All-Star crop. Thats fine with me. I like having a chip on my shoulder. It just gives me another reason to work hard. Whether they chse to paint themselves in this manner or not, DeRozan and the Raptors are no longer underdogs. Are there uncertainties and variables that will determine how far they can go this year? Sure. But unlike a year ago, they will not be overlked. Theyve gotten the leagues attention. Now what will they do for an encore? Our goal is to win the division, whatever that takes, Casey said. I dont know if were in the conversation where we can say, Hey, were a 50-win team or a 55-win team, to be able to come out and say that. Will we be an improved team? Yes. Whatever number that is, thats not my job to put a number on it. My job is to make sure we get back and get up running again and get that chip back on our shoulder from last year. What are the expectations?, Ujiri asked, repeating the very question he was posed, the theme that should define the following seven months. We want to win. Its that simple. Cheap College Jerseys China . Garcia had eight birdies overall to go with a lone bogey on the fourth to move to an 18-under total of 198 at the Asian Tour event. "I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really gd putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch," Garcia said. Cheap NCAA Jerseys . The 23-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., defeated Germanys Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday in the fourth round of the Sony Open in just 89 minutes. http://www.cheapcollegejerseys.us.com/ . on the 15-day disabled Monday list because of a strained right hamstring. Cheap Authentic NCAA Jerseys . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Cheap College Jerseys . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively.INDIANAPOLIS -- James Hinchcliffe will have to wait a little bit longer before he can return to the track. The Oakville, Ont., driver was evaluated Tuesday and IndyCars medical team has yet to clear Hinchcliffe to begin Indianapolis 500 practice. He was progressing well and is now cleared to begin light training with a another evaluation set for Thursday. The 27-year old driver was diagnosed with a concussion Saturday when he was hit in the head by debris in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis. He was taken on a stretcher to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway medical centre and was later transported to a hospital. Hinchcliffe hasnt been made available to the media since. "Pretty much the doctors said he should be a little bit disconnected," E.J. Viso said. "Just pretty much trying to stay in his rm and rest." Filling in for Hinchcliffe for the third consecutive day, Viso shot straight to the top of the speed chart on the third day of practice. He reached 224.488 mph within the first 20 minutes of the start of practice. Kurt Busch was second fastest at 224.159 and Colombias Juan Pablo Montoya was third at 224.115. Just before a yellow flag for rain, Montoya pulled off the track and required a tow. The rkie reported an electrical problem with the car. "Thats why I stopped in the grass," Montoya said. "We ran a lot of laps yesterday in preparation for it, so its nothing major and it gives the guys time to catch up on the car." Meanwhile, Viso is spending each practice session with the intent to qualify and even race Hinchcliffes No. 27 car in this years Indy 500. That kind of focus, Viso believes, will have him best prepared should have be called on for the May 25 race. "I just put myself into the drivers role," he said. "I believe that its the best scenario that I could put myself in right now is with that mindset." Theres still a chance that Hinchcliffe could return in time for IndyCars signnature race.dddddddddddd Nothing has been offered to the Venezuelan, but if thats the case, Viso hasnt ruled out stepping into another car to race in the Indy 500. "If its a competitive ride, I will of course take it," he said. "Trust me, theres nothing worse than being lapped every two laps, so for that I truly dont know if its worth it. Its not like Im dying to do it, but Im dying to do well and to have a chance to win." Four other things to know from Tuesdays practice session: FAST HONDA: Honda engines recorded some of the top speeds, with seven of the top 10 fastest cars. The three fastest Chevy cars on Tuesday were Montoya, Scott Dixon (223.235), and rkie Sage Karam (222.635). PRACTICE CANCELLED: Teams wasted no time getting on the track for practice. Twenty-six cars made their way to the pits within the first 20 minutes of the start of practice before rain and thunderstorms ended track activity early. Teams have been pressed for time after a quick turnaround from Saturdays race. Rain is in the forecast for the remainder of the week. OPPORTUNITY TO RELAX: Josef Newgarden had no problem with Tuesdays practice being called early. The inclement weather that cut practice short gave the 23-year old and his crew a chance to relax after a busy stretch. By the third day of practice, Newgarden said many teams have made the full transformation of going from road course to oval racing in a short amount of time. "Most people by now are pretty sorted," Newgarden said. "Theres not a lot to do. Theres not big items you have to take off the list. Its all little things that youre lking for now." FIRST PRACTICE: Sebastian Saavedra returned to practice for the first time since wrecking at the start of the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. The pole-sitter for Saturdays race was clipped by Carlos Munoz before he was hit from behind by Mikhail Aleshin. Saavedra completed just seven laps and reached 208.985 mph on Tuesday. ' ' '