SBN’s Raptors HQ at Toronto’s Media Day

Raptors HQ, SB Nation’s Toronto Raptors blog, was on hand yesterday when the team held its media day. Here are a few notes from them:

-Even though there was a lot of talk about “getting tougher” at the end of last season, the Raptors ensured that the new players that were brought in to help fill this void are still great guys off the court. This was immediately evident when I walked past Amir Johnson and he asked if he could help me with anything! Even Reggie Evans, who will surely be counted on to knock some heads in the paint, hardly looked like the tyrant he’s at time been made out to be. In fact, he reminded me of ex Jays’ and A’s pitcher Dave Stewart. He’s got that menacing lion scowl but as soon as he starts talking, it’s pure kitten.

-Bryan Colangelo thinks that this team should be shooting for 50 wins this year. That’s not to say that that’s the magic number he’s set for wins, but that he thinks for this team to advance to the second round, it probably means a fourth or fifth seed, and to do that, it probably means winning that many games.

-Several players look like they’ve bulked up from last season. Bosh of course, but also Amir Johnson, Antoine Wright and even Patrick O’Bryant. Even DeMar looks bigger then the last time I chatted with him in Vegas. All good signs.

Click here for more quick hits, and be sure to check out their more in-depth coverage as it emerges. For one thing, they talked extensively to Jarret Jack, rookie Demar Derozan, and team president, Bryan Colangelo. Lots of good stuff, there.