Raptors’ mood not to be taken lightly

The soundtrack of the Toronto Raptors’ training camp might include some Earth, Wind & Fire. But C.J. Miles said the upbeat tunes merely complement what’s been an intense three days so far. The bouncing of balls and hollering of players rises above the stereo on any given session.

New coach Nick Nurse is putting his personal stamp on this year’s camp, including the music — each practice opens to Earth Wind & Fire’s popular song “September.”

“It has a little significance,” Nurse said.

The closure of each practice includes the awarding of two plastic Toys R Us wrestling belts to the best players on the day.

It might sound like fun and games, but Miles was quick to point out Thursday that “there’s no lax approach to what we’re doing, there’s just music in the background.

“There’s still yelling, there’s still us going hard, diving on the floor, you just might hear Stevie Wonder playing. We’re still in here going hard, still guys mad at fouls not being called, still guys trying to win every possession, every drill. I don’t want people to think when they hear that we’re winning belts and all this stuff that it’s changing. There’s still elbows, busted lips, stitches.”

Miles is happy to be back at full strength at this camp. Acquired in the 2017 offseason for his three-point shooting, the 31-year-old didn’t arrive at camp at this time last year in the shape he wanted to be in.

Part of it was because of a personal situation that took him away from his training schedule. He also became a dad.

“I take pride in being able to do whatever I’m asked to do as a basketball player. That’s who I’ve been. Last year I didn’t feel I was able to do that,” Miles said. “That hurt me more than anything. I went into the summer like ‘I’m not going to be that person again.’

“When I came back, two weeks or so before camp started, it was apparent. I wanted to walk in the gym and people would say ‘Is that C.J.?”

Miles averaged 10 points in 19.1 minutes a game last season, and was a veteran voice on the Raptors young second unit fondly dubbed the “bench mob” that was the best in the league.

But he wanted to contribute more.

Miles, who chronicled this summer’s gruelling offseason training regimen on Instagram, hopes arriving at camp healthier and more confident and “playing great basketball” will boost his allaround game. On a team that could boast amongst the best defence in the league this season, Miles wants to contribute.

“I wanted to be back to myself. I wanted to be a threat all the time, and I get it, shooters shoot, all that stuff. That’s good stuff but I’ve been able to mix it up, I’ve been able to guard multiple positions before I came, I’ve been able to come out and take charges, be vocal, be around,” Miles said.