Raptors news: C.J. Miles says Toronto's camp has been more chippy

Toronto Raptors small forward C.J. Miles says that training camp and the preseason have been more "chippy" than usual, with the Raptors' competitive fire fueling them.

Per Toronto Raptors radio analyst Eric Smith, Raptors three-point specialist C.J. Miles says that training camp and the preseason has been more “chippy” than usual. According to Miles, the Raptors' competitive fire has been the primary reason for the difference.

CJ Miles says Toronto's camp / pre season has been chippy…more so than usual. Says it has to do with how competitive and fiery the Raptors are.

— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) October 9, 2018

It seems like Toronto Raptors have been on the brink of a trip to the NBA Finals for the last three seasons, having reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016 and losing to the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in six games only to be swept by that same team in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the next two seasons.

Despite all of their regular season success, their postseason runs often fell flat on their face as soon as they got the chance to go up against the Cavaliers.

They were the second seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs in 2016. They were the third seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs in 2017. They were the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs last year.

All for naught.

After feeling like LeBron's doormat for the last three postseasons, the Raptors finally have some relief with King James moving to the Western Conference. The knowledge that they don't have to play against a player who seemed to never take them seriously as a threat, even once pretending to sip a beer in the middle of a playoff game, is likely the primary reason they feel as if their fortunes in the East have changed.

Like the Boston Celtics and every other team at the top of the East, they feel as the throne has been vacated and there's now a trip to the Finals for the taking.

Their acquisition of an elite two-way player in two-time All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2014 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and the promotion of head coach Nick Nurse also likely have boosted their competitive juices, as there's new energy and new expectations around the organization.