Just two days before the Raptors open their 2017 training camp in Victoria, British Columbia, DeMar DeRozan is speaking up about how Toronto will be able to have success this season.
In an essay published by the Toronto Star, the USC product admits that after consecutive seasons of 50-plus wins the Raptors are still not taken seriously.
“People still count us out, call us the underdogs, leave us out of the conversation.”
I understand DeRozan’s frustration and desire to be considered a top team in the East.
They did make it to the conference finals in 2016 but the Raptors have shown little ability to compete with the top teams in the playoffs over their last four seasons.