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Even after winning 56 games last season and making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, many don't include the Toronto Raptors in conversations about title contenders. With the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers still the favorites to win the East, fans and analysts both consider the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and even the retooled New York Knicks as teams most likely to end up in second-place.
Raptors' head coach Dwane Casey, however, is not worried about what others think at all. In fact, he believes it to be an advantage for his team. Per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun:
Article Continues Below“I like it, I like that people underestimate us. It should motivate us, putting us as underdogs.”
“We have to earn respect and do it over. Can’t be a one-day, one-year wonder, we’ve got to go out and prove to the league again that we’re for real,”
“My biggest fear is that we think we have done enough — so let’s lay back on the beach and drink Mai Tais and chill out.”
The team's All-Star and Gold Medal winning point guard agrees with his coach. For Kyle Lowry, it's all about remaining focused on playing well and doing his job right.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to do our job, not worry about what people say.”
“You see it, you read it, but at the end of the day, you’ve just go out there and still got to work.”
Year after year, the Raptors have improved and won more regular season games under Casey. The improvements are also seen in the postseason, where the Raptors have taken major strides. Even if they are not considered contenders, Toronto's gritty squad goes out and competes every night.
