Toronto Raptors big man Marc Gasol is aware that the media has been downplaying their chances to win another title. He understands that they have it's part of their job but if he's concerned, he doesn't really care about the whispers surrounding them.

Speaking with Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Gasol expressed his supreme confidence in the Raptors. Not only do they have great players, but they are being guided by an excellent coaching staff, too.

“We don’t spend any energy in having that ‘sports talk,’” Marc Gasol told me. “It’s good bar talk. We understand the media has to do that. We know we’re not easy to beat. We believe in ourselves. We have a lot of tools, a lot of great players and, to me, the best coaching staff in the NBA.”

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Gasol double-downed on how all the criticism hurled at them doesn't affect them one bit. He acknowledges that it's a very different season. But Gasol and the rest of the team are not trying to pull out any excuses.

“We’re a no-excuse team,” Gasol said. “I don’t need someone to tell me to believe in something. You go out there and you compete and you can beat anybody. It doesn’t take a genius to know that we have a lot of pieces. I don’t need someone to tell me ‘you guys can win it.’ It’s really hard, and it’s a different year, obviously, but on any given night we can be one of the good teams.”

Gasol and the Raptors will face the Boston Celtics on Friday.