Toronto responds with a shrug

CLEVELAND The Toronto Raptors say they weren’t paying attention when Stephen A. Smith wrote them off. So when the ESPN host apologized for underestimating them, the Raptors responded with a collective shrug.

“It don’t matter,” guard Kyle Lowry said, then added “Thank you, I guess.”

Smith was among the majority of journalists who gave the Raptors little chance against Cleveland. But they remain two wins away from the NBA finals despite falling behind 3-2 in the series with a lopsided loss on Wednesday. After their Game 4 victory, Smith

We’re in Canada and we don’t hear the talk. We live in our little bubble up there.

apologized to “all Canadians everywhere.”

“I can’t put into words how stunned I am, I can’t believe what I saw,” Smith said. “I gotta be a man of my word and just apologize to Canada, all Canadians everywhere because I certainly thought that this was going back to Cleveland, 3-1, with the Cavs closing this series out on Wednesday night so I wouldn’t have to go back to Canada and go through customs and all that other nonsense.”

Lowry said the players tune that talk out this time of year.

“Listen, we don’t hear it. We’re in Canada and we don’t hear the talk. We live in our little bubble up there. We don’t hear it, we’re not focused on it. We’re just focused on our team and getting better and coming to work each day.”