TORONTO - Purely from an amusement standpoint, Raptors media day may never live up to the sideshow that was last years incarnation. Custom Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys . You may recall the delightful juxtaposition of Drake, the teams newly-minted global ambassador, perched on a stool adjacent to Rob Ford, the citys cartoonish 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 afternoon, 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 Brooklyn 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-good 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 good 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 good 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 soon-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 good 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 room 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 choose 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 overlooked. 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. Jessie Bates III Bengals Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Billy Price Bengals Jersey . The top-ranked Williams carried her winning momentum from 2013 into the new season, beating No. 2-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday to defend her title at the Brisbane International and set the tone for the Australian Open. http://www.nflbengalsgearofficial.com/logan-woodside-jersey/ . - Alex Dostie scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Gatineau Olympiques to a 5-3 victory over the Drummondville Voltigeurs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Sunday.The San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 in a back and forth contest in Game 4 of the NLDS from AT&T Park in San Francisco. The Giants now have a 3-1 series lead and can move on to the World Series with a victory tomorrow in Game 5. The Giants scored three times in the sixth inning off relief pitcher Marco Gonzales and Seth Maness to take the lead. The first two runs were scored by balls that didnt leave the infield followed by Buster Posey hitting a two-out single to record his third RBI of the evening. Cardinals rookie Kolten Wong hit his third home run of the playoffs - a solo shot in the third - to give his team the three run advantage. Posey and Hunter Pence each hit two-out RBI singles in the bottom half of the inning to pull the Giants back within one run. Matt Adams hit a RBI single in the first inning that scored Matt Carpenter to give the Cardinals the early advantage. Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys. That lead was short lived though as Posey hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. A.J. Pierzynski gave St. Louis their lead back in the second when he hit a RBI single that scored Wong. Shelby Miller was the starting pitcher for St. Louis while Ryan Vogelsong started for San Francisco. Vogelsong lasted just three innings, allowing four earned run on seven hits with a pair of walks and a lone strikeout. Miller went 3 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Yusmeiro Petit picked up the win while Gonzales was stuck with the loss. Santiago got the save. Cards catcher Yadier Molina was not in the lineup for a second straight game due to a strained oblique. Discount Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Online Jerseys NFL China Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping China Jerseys Cheap ' ' '