BRKLYN - For the third time in three days, Dwane Casey tk control of the narrative, channelling his inner Aaron Rodgers in delivering a message to those who have been especially critical of his team recently. Relax. Im a firm believer in that and I said that the other night, the Raptors coach said leading up to Fridays 127-122 overtime win in their return to Brklyn. Were in the best [situation] the franchise has ever been in and every day all I hear are questions [about] what were not doing, what theyre not doing. Stemming from the teams mid-season slide - losing seven of nine games earlier this month - there has been some lingering angst among some of Torontos fan base and media. Concern over their middling defensive numbers, offensive inconsistencies and a 10-11 record against winning competition. Questions surrounding his rotation and minute distribution with Terrence Ross going to the bench, James Johnson losing playing time and Jonas Valanciunas sitting late in games. Those lking to find holes could do so fairly easily in Fridays dramatic victory. The Raptors surrendered a 17-point second-half lead, allowing Brklyn to regain control late in the fourth. They failed to secure some crucial defensive rebounds and allowed the Nets to sht 49 per cent on the evening. But in spite of their flaws, the Raptors are now 32-15 for a reason. Resilient and opportunistic once again, Toronto made plays when it mattered most, forced overtime and came away with the victory, their fifth straight, to improve to a perfect 9-0 against divisional opponents. It was ugly but guys found a way, Casey said after the game. We had a Navy SEAL come in and talk to us before the season [and he] talked about how theres never an easy day. In this league theres never an easy day. Our guys find a way. I wanted to win, said DeMar DeRozan, whose 26 points - 16 in the fourth quarter and overtime - and season-high nine assists lifted the Raptors to victory. Every day is extra motivation, honestly. Win every single game. Theres a lot of things we can clean up, Casey continued. I wish we had 10 days of practice but we dont so were trying to do things on the fly. But I thought our guys came in and competed, battled, got stops when we needed to. Casey has heard all the criticism, hes read it and hes pleading for positivity in the midst of a historic season for the Raptors franchise. These guys are playing as a team, he said. You take Atlanta out of the equation, I would argue that our guys are playing as well as a team as anybody in the league. Are we going to win every game? No. Are we going to play perfect basketball? No. Are we who we are going to be? No. But I would argue that we are ahead of the curve as a team. Thats why the karma of positivity, if thats a term, should be there. Casey steered the discussion in this direction following Wednesdays 119-102 win over Sacramento, their most decisive in nearly two months, while his message after Fridays sht-around and ahead of their game in Brklyn remained the same. Although the level of competition has been modest, the Raptors have seemingly found their way again. Of course, both external and internal expectations have changed since the beginning of this season, a hot start will do that. Instead of judging this team as the growing, 48-win group they were a year ago, many have wondered why theyre no longer lking like the version that topped the East for 60 straight days heading into 2015. Most of his players would never admit to reading whats written about them, listening to whats being said about them, but Casey believes some of those unrealistic expectations have seeped into the locker rm. They hear it, the Raptors coach said. Players hear it. What about this guy, what about that guy, what about this guy? They can read and they can hear. They understand and again my job is to coach them, to get on them and also to cultivate a culture of positive approach, a growing approach, not let the weight of the world be on our shoulders as we grow. Lets have fun competing, have fun playing hard, have fun playing together, and not let that cloud just lm over us. Theyve come a long way in a short amount of time. The Raptors held their sht-around at a nearby college in Manhattan Friday morning, the same venue they use when theyre in town to play the Knicks. A year ago Kyle Lowry sat in that very same gym, facing questions about his uncertain future and involvement in trade rumours just ahead of Februarys deadline. Its crazy how things work out and they worked out for the better, said Lowry, who is now locked up as the centrepiece of the Atlantic Divisions best team. Im here in a situation where Im happy. Last year was a different situation. So to lk back on it its crazy how things kind of turn into a full circle because it was here when the rumours were going on. They are a better team then the one that turned around their season amid uncertainty a year ago. Theyre a better team than the one that fell to these same Nets in last springs seven-game playoff series, the last time they were in Brklyn. Theyre a gd team, but it takes time to become great. Casey is asking for patience, encouraging you to enjoy the ride in the meantime. We are ahead of the curve, he said. We should be, our city and fans should be excited for what these young men have achieved, the direction they are going. Are we a finished product? No. Are we a championship-caliber team right now? Trying to be, but were not there yet. Ive told our coaches weve got to coach that way, Ive got to be that way and to expect the players to be that way. Thats the message were going to continue to talk about. 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After the players were deemed less than 100 per cent by doctors after Thursdays medical testing, the Leafs held them out of on-ice testing and are being cautious.TORONTO -- Toronto FC versus Philadelphia Union games have followed the same path this season. Toronto scored first, had a player sent off and then gave up a stoppage-time goal to Jack McInerny -- both off a long Sheanon Williams throw -- as the two earlier meetings ended in 1-1 ties. "They stole four points off us with the long throw in the dying minutes," said Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen. "That has kind of faded away from our game hasnt it? ... Those stoppage-time goals they fade away." The numbers seem to back Nelsen up. Once a generous provider of goals in the final 15 minutes, Toronto has given up four goals less in that period at 14 than the Los Angeles Galaxy this season. FC Dallas (15), the Montreal Impact (15) and Chivas USA (23) have also yielded more late scores in 2013. Tied for 14th with the New York Red Bulls in that category is hardly cause to celebrate but it is a step up for a team that has a history of giving late goals away. The gd news for Nelsen this week is that Toronto (5-15-11) is coming off a rare win and has healthy personnel options. Forward Robert Earnshaw has recovered from a hamstring problem, leaving only striker Danny Koevermans (calf) and midfielder Matias Laba (toe) on the sidelines. The manager believes Toronto can do some damage as the season winds down. "Philadelphia, they have all the pressure on them," said Nelsen. "Their home fans will expect an easy win. Theyll expect to come and do a number on us. "All I can say is our guys are really motivated. We want to ruin a few guys seasons, to tell you the truth. Weve got three games to ruin some seasons and we want to win games. Its as simple as that." Toronto finishes its schedule against three teams in the playoff hunt, with games in Philadelphia, in Chicago and at home to the Montreal Impact. With Toronto out of the playoff picture once again, Nelsens players are working to retain their jobs ahead of another off-season overhaul. For some, the die has already been cast. Fullback Richard Eckersley, whose US$400,000-plus contract has been deemed t large, is expected to sit once again in favour of Mark Blm forr a fourth straight game.dddddddddddd. "Hes been fantastic. He wants the ball. He lks like a guy whos been in the league for a long time," Nelsen said of Blm. "Hes playing a position where we should be worried because of his inexperience but were not," he added. "That shows you how well hes done." Nelsen acknowledges that Eckersley has committed no crime, other than wield a contract that is t big for the teams salary cap to handle. "Hes a fantastic fullback, hes a great fullback. In MLS, theres not one club that would not want Richard Eckersley," said Nelsen. But the manager is not about to shed any tears for the English fullback. "Hes on guaranteed money and he still gets paid. Theres guys out here on semi-guaranteed contracts on minimum (MLS) wage." Defender Steven Caldwell and midfielder Jonathan Osorio both return from suspension Saturday. Darel Russell will likely get another start in centre midfield. "Darel Russell has arguably been our best player in the last two games," said Nelsen. "Youve got to reward his application in the games." Philadelphia (11-10-9) has four games remaining with coach John Hackworth estimating it will make the playoffs with two wins and a draw. "This is a game where we really need to maximize the points," he is quoted on the teams official website. The Union are coming off a 1-0 win in Kansas City, with Conor Caseys goal ending a 346-minute scoreless streak dating back to Aug. 25 The shutout was the 11th of the season for Zac MacMath, tying him with Portlands Donovan Ricketts for most in the league. NOTES -- Toronto will wear white for the second week in a row, a consequence of the leagues breast cancer awareness campaign. Toronto goalie Joe Bendik wore all pink last week at home, prompting the referee to tell Torontos outfield players to switch to white because their red was t close in colour to Bendiks gear. With the Philadelphia goalie wearing pink this time, Toronto will stick to white. The game will also feature balls with pink trim ... A Philadelphia win would be a season-best 12th for the franchise. ' ' '