Toronto Raptors To Use Schedule-Related Disrespect As Motivation

The Toronto Raptors will kick off the NBA Playoffs on Saturday when they face the Indiana Pacers at 12:30pm. The game will be shown on ESPN. This is disrespectful to the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Via the Toronto Star:

"“We have all these 12:30 games and they look at us as the team north of the border that plays the early games when people out west are still asleep. We’ll use that as a little motivation too,” he said. “Evidently someone doesn’t feel like we’re deserving of that prime time spot. We have to use that as motivation.”"

Sure. Whatever gets you through the 2-7 matchup, I guess. Personally, I’d be more upset about the Raptors getting buried on NBATV for games 2 and 3.