DeRozan: Only way for Raptors to quiet critics was to 'go out and play'

DeMar DeRozan had arguably the best playoff game of his career Saturday night, pouring in 32 points on 12-of-24 shooting as his Toronto Raptors got on the board in their East final against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was a repudiation of the prevailing narrative going into Game 3 of the series, which suggested the Raptors had been utterly demoralized by the first two games of the series - won by the Cavs by a combined 50 points - and were effectively capitulating. DeRozan's backcourt mate Kyle Lowry, who's been the Raptors' beating heart all season, was even accused of quitting on the team when he briefly retreated to the locker room during Game 2 to get a hold of himself.

"I mean that's what it's all about, especially when you see things and headlines, things being said and you really sit there and wonder where do y'all get this from?" DeRozan told reporters Sunday. "Where do these people get these suggestions and allegations from?"

The two-time All-Star knows people will talk regardless, but bristles at the notion that he or his teammates would ever lay down.

"It's crazy just to see sometimes because people don't understand how sick or upset we are after a loss, especially how we lost in the first two games," he said. "We felt embarrassed. So to see things like that is definitely frustrating."

In the end, DeRozan and the Raptors did the only thing they could do to make the doubters eat their words.

"The only way shut it up is to go out and play."