There was golden confetti dancing on a video loop near the press conference dais. In a matter of a few weeks, they’ll raise the championship banner and hand out the gaudy rings.
But the truth is the arena on Bay Street didn’t much feel like the home of the NBA champions during the Raptors’ 25th annual media day on Saturday.
Yes, it was only a few months ago that Canada’s NBA team luxuriated atop the basketball universe. Now that another season is getting underway, with training camp in Quebec City beginning Sunday, the Raptors are back to playing a familiar role — that of rank underdogs.