nd 1 action. Derrick Pouliot, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Taylor Leier each had a goal and an assist for the Wi

TORONTO - No more excuses. This has become the Raptors mantra as they embark on a new era with a new regime and, in the not-so-distant future, a new image. Those three words were echoed again and again by Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, during Mondays busy media day proceedings and have been filtered down throughout the organization. The truth is, up to this point, there have been plenty of excuses. The schedule, its been difficult. The injuries, theres been a lot of them. The officials, they havent been kind. All valid excuses, but in the end, theyve amounted to perennial heartbreak to the tune of five straight playoff-less seasons. From the top, Leiweke, down to the general manager, their new global ambassador, the coach and the players, the message is clear; there are to be no more excuses. "None of us have an excuse," insisted returning head coach Dwane Casey, who is entering the final year of his contract. "Theres no out. What is your cop-out? Its right here, its the same team, same group." "Thats why Im saying were past the talking stage. This is our team, our group, so lets go to work." In addition to a punishing stretch to begin last season - 15 of their first 22 games on the road - they had a built-in excuse, getting three rookies and a couple of key additions acclimated on the go. Thats not the case this year. The only rookie on the roster is undrafted signee Dwight Buycks, who doesnt figure to have a significant role out of the gate. Despite the change in management, incoming GM Masai Ujiri has opted to stick with the group that closed out last season in the starting five. For those returning players, the grace period has ended and the pressure is on them to put the excuses aside and perform. "Weve just got to take advantage of every opportunity," knows DeMar DeRozan, the longest tenured Raptor. "Weve got to take advantage this week in training camp of [us] all being together, take advantage of [the] preseason and continue to get better and, as soon as that home opener starts, weve got to take advantage from game one to game 82 and just put it all out there because we have no excuses." For the team, its clear the bar has been set high but intentionally unclear where that bar sits exactly. "Im not even going to talk about playoffs," Casey said, tempering expectations after last seasons failures. "My mentality right now is to get better and all those other things are going to take care of themselves. Im not even going to mention it to our players tonight in our meeting when we talk about getting better. When you do that, good things are going to happen." If things go south in a hurry, this group may not have much time to forge its path, whatever it may be, as the leash on the returnees could be a short one. "We cant make any excuses of [a] tough schedule," Ujiri said. "So yes, how we start the season will be very important and then thats our jobs to make adjustments and the players jobs and coaching." "Chemistry is very key for us," he continued. "A lot of people think its individual talent, at the end of the day, it all has to come together. Were hoping these guys come together quick." Monday was overloaded with optimism for this Raptors franchise. With the addition of Drake to their staff, they will host the 2016 NBA All-Star Game with a brand new look expected to be unveiled that season. The organization, its players, coaches and fan base have experienced the feeling of optimism in the past and, needless to say, it hasnt necessarily translated in the standings. "Were going to find out pretty quickly if we have enough to be a playoff team," Casey said. "If we make continuous growth, we should be going in that direction but were not going to talk about it because talk is cheap. Its about doing it." "I thought we talked about it a little bit last year and we started out 4-19. So I dont want to talk about where we should be, what we could be doing or anything. I want to talk about how hard the guys are going to work to get there." Thats what this season will be about for Casey and his brigade, many of whom - like their coach - are in the hot seat. To the dismay of some fans, they will not be tanking, its simply not in the makeup of anyone currently affiliated with this organization to roll over. The mentality that is being preached, and will continue to be preached, is quite the opposite, in fact. "No more excuses," Leiweke repeated. "I think what Drake helps us do is he sets a tone and I like the tone, which is; were going to get better, were going to get rid of the excuses [and] were going to get rid of all the distractions." "And for our players," he continued, "for the other players in the league and for our fans, now we talk about the positive and we talk about what were going to be. For me, [its about] accountability here, about our brand, our image, our buzz and our potential, thats what Drakes helping us do." "I want accountability. No more excuses." Back on the Defensive It should come as no surprise that Coach Casey has committed to re-emphasizing defence in his third and most crucial season with the Raptors. In his first year with the team, during the lockout shortened 2011-12 campaign, the Casey-led Raptors began to shed the perception that had been haunting them. They were, up until that point, a perennial doormat, a soft team. In 66 mostly hard-fought games, Casey changed all that. He took a team that ranked at the bottom of the league in nearly every defensive category the year prior and made them competitive. The Raptors finished that season as the NBAs most improved team in opponent field goal percentage (from .482, 29th in the NBA to .435, 8th) and opponent scoring (from 105.3 point allowed per game, 26th to 94.0, 9th). Then, just as quickly as the defensive renaissance came to be the year prior, that progress was undone during a turbulent 2012-13 season. "Last year," Casey said, "I dont think it was a mistake, we had to get better offensively, but we tilted the pendulum a little bit too far to the offensive side. This year, its going to be back to the defensive side." "When you emphasize something the way we did offence going into training camp last year, it took [on] a personality of its own. Somewhere down the line, youre going to rest and I thought our guys took a step back with the focus and the spotlight not being on the defensive end." A Refocused Rudy Gay is coming off an emotionally and physically exhausting campaign. He battled injuries and brushed off ongoing trade speculation as a Grizzly, eventually giving way to a midseason shakeup that took him from the only NBA home hes ever known - a winning team in Memphis - to a city over 900 miles away, one that hasnt seen playoff basketball in five years. "Last year was kind of like a whirlwind for me," he admitted. "Not even having any place to stay or even put my clothes." He comes to training camp this year - his first with the Raptors - 100 per cent healthy and refocused after a busy offseason of hard work. In addition to his day-to-day training, Gay worked on his post game with NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, underwent a procedure to correct ongoing vision problems and added a noticeable 20 pounds of muscle. "My trainer basically lived with me," said the Raptors seemingly invigorated forward. "I worked all but three weeks this whole summer, after my eye surgery." Admittedly, Gay feels underestimated and has his eyes - which now work as theyre supposed to - set on proving his and the teams naysayers wrong. To do that, Casey wants to see his go-to scorer become more efficient offensively while bringing consistent effort on the defensive end. DeMars Shot As last season came to a disappointing close for DeRozan, who has missed the playoffs in each of his four years in the league, the Raptors guard vowed to return an improved three-point shooter. According to DeRozan, who has shot the three-ball at a 24 per cent clip over his career, he spent the bulk of the summer making good on his promise. "Any type of way I could have the ball in my hand[s] and get off a three-point shot, [I did]," DeRozan said. "I definitely feel the most comfortable Ive ever felt from the three-point line and Im going to continue working on it day in and day out." The 24-year-old spent Sunday morning hoisting up jump shots, knocking down 300 triples prior to his mandated physical. Despite this seasons tempered expectations, failure is not an option for the young veteran. "Personally, the way I approach workouts all summer is, this is my fifth year [and] Im tired of going home early, watching everybody else play, watching my friends play," he passionately exclaimed. "Its sickening to me, I get tired of [it]." "Me personally, I work my ass off so we can play in that moment. Be a team in that 8, 7, 6, whatever spot it is, to have the opportunity to play. So thats my goal and Im sure everybody on this team feels the same way." Colton Sissons Jersey . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Ryan Johansen Jersey . 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Kyle Turris Predators Jersey . -- Orleans Darkwa ran in from 1 yard with 1:45 left, and the Miami Dolphins rallied from two scores down in the final minutes to beat the Dallas Cowboys 25-20 on Saturday night.KENT, Wash. - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action. Scott Eansor had a pair of goals in regulation for the Thunderbirds, who lead the first-round matchup 3-0, and Branden Troock added a single goal. Patrick Bajkov scored twice for the Silvertips, Mirco Mueller had a goal and an assist and Manraj Hayer assisted on all three of his clubs goals. Taran Kozun made 28 saves for Seattle while Everetts Austin Lotz turned away 25-of-29 shots in a losing cause. The Thunderbirds can clinch the series on Friday when the Silvertips host Game 4. --- OIL KINGS 4 RAIDERS 3 PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Riley Kieser broke a 3-3 deadlock at 17:28 of the third period as the Oil Kings edged Prince Albert to go up 3-0 in their first-round series. Griffin Reinhart, Edgars Kulda and Brett Pollack also scored for Edmonton, which trailed 3-2 after 40 minutes of play. Jayden Hart, Chance Braid and Leon Draisaitl supplied the scoring for the Raiders. Tristan Jarry stopped 24 shots for the Oil Kings while Prince Alberts Cole Cheveldave turned away 33-of-37 shots in defeat. --- BRONCOS 3 TIGERS 1 SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Eetu Laurikainen stopped 30-of-31 shots as the Broncos took Game 3 of their first-round matchup against Medicine Hat. Julius Honka, Nathan Burns and Jake DeBrusk scored for Swift Current, which still trails the series 2-1. Cole Sanford scored the lone goal for the Tigers. Medicine Hats Marek Langhamer made 36 saves in a losing cause. --- ICE 5 HITMEN 4 CRANBRROOK, B.ddddddddddddC. — Jaedon Descheneau scored the winner with 52 seconds remaining in regulation as Kooteny slipped past Calgary to even its first-round series at two games apiece. Luke Philp, Zach Franko, Sam Reinhart and Levi Cable also scored for the Ice. Kootenays Mackenzie Skapski allowed four goals on 18 shots before giving way to Wyatt Hoflin, who stopped all 20 shots he faced in 26 minutes of relief. Ben Thomas, Greg Chase, Jake Virtanen and Pavel Padakin scored for the Hitmen while Chris Driedger kicked out 27 shots in defeat. --- WINTERHAWKS 6 GIANTS 3 VANCOUVER — Brendan Leipsic had two goals and two assists as Portland doubled up the Giants in Game 3 of Round 1 action. Derrick Pouliot, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Taylor Leier each had a goal and an assist for the Winterhawks, who lead the series 3-0, and Paul Bittner added a single goal. Vancouver got goals from Joel Hamilton, Trent Lofthouse and Alec Baer. Portlands Brendan Burke made 25 saves for the win as Payton Lee turned away 28-of-34 shots for the Giants. --- AMERICANS 4 ROCKETS 3 KENNEWICK, Wash. — Eric Comrie stopped 52 shots, including 34 through the first two periods of play, as Tri-City downed Kelowna to take Game 3 in Round 1 play. Philip Tot, Justin Gutierrez and Brian Williams each had a goal and an assist for the Americans, who led 3-0 heading into the third period, and Jessey Astles scored once. Marek Tvrdon, Myles Bell and Justin Kirkland scored third-period goals for the Rockets, who lead the series 2-1. Kelownas Jordon Cooke made 33 saves in a losing cause. --- ' ' '