Article content

PHILADELPHIA — The Toronto Raptors know they should be part of the NBA’s marquee Christmas Day slate on Tuesday, but they aren’t going to lose any sleep about not being there yet again.

When asked if there was much discussion in the locker room about the snub on Saturday, following their loss to the 76ers, point guard Fred VanVleet said no.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Raptors won't come out and say it, but should be playing on Christmas Back to video

“I think it was talked about it last year because they talked to (DeMar DeRozan) about it and it became a big thing, but I really don’t think guys care that much,” VanVleet said.

DeRozan had made it clear he thought the Raptors weren’t getting their due, but it doesn’t seem like anything has changed.

“Obviously that’s a huge platform and stage, but we don’t control that. I don’t think the mark of being a great team is playing on Christmas,” VanVleet told Postmedia before catching the plane back to Toronto.

“I don’t think that’s any indication. It’s probably a business move and a chess move (by the NBA’s big thinkers), but we know we’re one of the top teams in the league and don’t care about that.”