‘Everybody’s bought in’ Toronto Raptors enjoying ride to top

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Most of the Toronto Raptors may be new to the winning business, but they haven't been caught up in their impressive start to the season.

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The team improved to 13-5 (only two teams have won more games so far) with impressive Monday win over Cleveland and has now won 12 of the last 13, something that has rarely happened in these parts in 31 seasons of Raptors basketball.

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However, players don't seem too impressed. It probably all starts with their coach.

When Postmedia told Darko Rajakovic in a quiet moment after the game that it was the fourth-best start in franchise history, Rajakovic simply shrugged and continued walking, clearly unmoved by the news.

We should have seen this coming, judging by his comments on the podium just a few minutes earlier.

“There is nothing to enjoy,” Rajakovic said. “The next game is very, very soon.

“We enjoy each other, we enjoy the journey, and that's the most important thing.”

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Brandon Ingram agreed.

“I think it's more fun in the process. I don't think a single person in the locker room talked about this series,” Ingram said after scoring 37 points, his most in nearly 22 months. “I don't think Darko is going to let this creep into the dressing room. Take it every day. Every day is an opportunity to get better. Just worry about the next opponent.”

“Of course it's a good feeling. We know we have to keep doing it to keep it going.”

Staying in balance

Backup point guard Jamal Sheed, who is having a standout second season, compared it to how last year the Raptors found a way to maintain good spirits even during a terrible, injury-plagued season.

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These guys just remain indifferent. Veteran Garrett Temple had even told Postmedia last season he'd never seen a young team stay so positive when things weren't going well before.

“Just like we went undefeated last year,” Sheed said. “I think we're just taking it one game at a time. Stay positive with each other and keep the same message. It's about winning. It's about playing hard. It's about doing all the right things to try to put us in position to win.”

Last season, the Raptors seemed to be in a better mood than many winning teams, and that's only getting stronger now as the wins pile up. Ingram noticed this.

“Everyone agreed. I think everyone on the team is selfless,” he said. “We just want to win. Whatever it takes, I think everyone is invested in what we do. Nobody has an ego on or off the court. Really good at communicating in real time and talking about the game.”

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However, Sheed is arguably the most optimistic person in the dressing room, so it's no surprise that he's getting some enjoyment out of it all.

“I mean, it's amazing. We're turning our back on last year. We saw the potential last year, and it's really cool to see it blossom,” said Sheed, who went from the best winning player in Houston Cougars history to a rookie on a struggling NBA team.

This is much better.

“I thought everyone was amazing,” Sheed said. “I think everyone, like the 13 guys that play, they all come in and contribute, you know, I think coach said it best. We had a really big spark in (Jamison Battle) the very first time we played in Cleveland and we've been pretty good since then.”

“So I think it affects all of us, and everyone has a very, very important contribution.”

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End of renovation?

Among them is Jakob Pöltl, who makes a huge contribution, although he often goes unnoticed.

Poeltl ranks second in assists per game and fourth in points per game. He can also play well with just one shot (as he did in Friday's win) or with just seven points, as he did against Cleveland, to go along with 13 rebounds.

Pöltl was in Toronto as We, North The era was gaining momentum, but was sacrificed in the Kawhi Leonard trade and then had to see San Antonio make a bit of a rebuild, culminating with the selection of Victor Vembanyama.

Of course, by then Poeltl was gone (and new Raptors teammate Sandro Mamukelashvili had helped fill the Spurs void) and Toronto began its own rebuild.

Poeltl is hungry to win and re-signed with Toronto in part because he felt things would change. Now it's happening.

“Yeah, we’re having a lot of fun,” Poeltl said Monday. “Obviously, winning is always more fun than losing. We have good chemistry this year, but we've had it the last couple of years, so I feel like the atmosphere in the dressing rooms is still the same,” he said.

“But obviously winning these things gets better.”

@WolstatSun

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