TORONTO - Part of DeMar DeRozans summer improvement project involved writing out the ABCs for his daughter Diar a€” with his left hand. Marquis Haynes Panthers Jersey .It was a chance to both spend some quality time with his 16-month-old, and to strengthen his weaker hand. All summer long, the Toronto Raptors all-star used his left hand to do things like eat, tie his shoes and carry his bags, all in an effort to become a more versatile player.When I was kid, I would be frustrated, I would always ask my dad why I couldnt do certain things with my left hand that I can do with my right. Just a curious kid. Ever since I was young I always tried to get as comfortable doing stuff with my left hand, DeRozan said Tuesday. So just reverting back to that, to when I was a kid, getting more comfortable. In a game, we naturally want to finish with our right hand, because thats our dominant hand, but just being comfortable doing it with our left hand, if you happen to need it.The 25-year-old wrote out the alphabet virtually every day during the summer, he said. It looked like my daughters writing, he said, prompting laughter from the couple dozen journalists at training camp.On whose writing is more legible: Were neck and neck right now.More laughter.DeRozan cracking jokes in front of the cameras says plenty about the once-shy Raptors guard who has evolved into a strong and vocal leader in his five seasons in Toronto. Before the Raptors took the Air Canada Centre for their opening day of camp Tuesday, coach Dwane Casey gave DeRozan the floor.DeRozan told his teammates Hey, lets have a good practice, this is where we start creating defensive habits, it starts now, not next week or after the first game, it starts today, Casey recounted. So that was huge too.I knew it was going to happen, I just didnt know when, because he was such a quiet kid, Casey said of DeRozans evolution. DeMar is a young man, hes a father, a proud father, family man, and a lot of that just goes right into maturity. We all want to rush it, especially in sports, but it something that just takes time.DeRozan took two big steps toward being a more mature player last season, said Casey a€” first, when Rudy Gay was traded to Sacramento last December, and then when he was named an all-star.I just thought last year after the trade, he just took off after that. He made huge strides and said Hey look, Im putting this team on my back, and were going with it.It kind of shifted over. . . Rudy was the guy so-to-speak and it just shifted over back to DeMar and to Kyle (Lowry) and I thought that gave him a voice in the locker-room.DeRozan is coming off a breakout season, leading the Raptors to their first post-season appearance in six years and then helping the United States to gold at the FIBA World Cup.For all he has accomplished, he still feels disrespected in some circles. Sports Illustrated put DeRozan 61st in the league in their pre-season rankings, lowest out of all the returning all-star players. He took to Twitter and wrote Real disrespectful! #ProveEm Those slights might as well be motivational slogans for DeRozan. Thats fine with me. I like having a chip on my shoulder. It just gives me another reason to work hard whatever it may be, it gives me another reason. I feel like theyre doing me a favour, honestly, he said.I dont let anything go over my head at all, Ill use every negative thing, not just about myself but my team, as motivation. You need to. Im never going to get comfortable with the accomplishments Ive made.DeRozans left-handed project was just latest in his neverending quest to improve.His experience with the American team at the World Cup was another chance to learn. It took him out of his comfort zone, he said, which he relished.Raptors GM Masai Ujiri met with DeRozan upon his return.I asked him what he had learned from his experience there, and to show you how hes matured as a person, he said he respects players that come off of the bench more just because thata€?s what he did there, said Ujiri. He treats them great anyway. But he said he has more respect and hed treat them with more respect because of what they have to do night in, night out when they are called upon. I thought that was great maturity on his part.Casey echoed Ujiris thoughts.I think thats going to be very important for him, to have empathy for his teammates. . . he already does. Hes one of the best teammates that guys could have, as a leader and as a star. Theres not a selfish bone in his body as far as not respecting guys at the end of the bench.The Raptors travelled to Vancouver on Tuesday and will continue camp in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday. Theyll host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday in their pre-season opener in Vancouver.NOTES: The Raptors had Brent Gleeson, a Navy Seal, speak to the Raptors on Monday night. He talked about his experience of being a navy seal and how teamwork has to be part of, in his business, living, Casey said. In our situation, its not as dire, not as serious, but a lot of things that he said, we can connect with as a team, togetherness, talking about trust, talking about communication, talking about togetherness. All those points hit home. Daeshon Hall Jersey . 9 Baylor Bears just needed some time to get on track in their first game after the Christmas break. DJ Moore Jersey http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-rashaan-gaulden-panthers-jersey/ . -- Manchester United thrilled a record crowd with a brilliant opening goal -- and even Cristiano Ronaldos unexpected entrance proved futile for Real Madrid. Now the Canadian moguls skier cant wait to put his feet up. "Im a Habs fan. I love hockey," Kingsbury said. "The thing Im most excited for is to have a full day off, have a chance to sit on my couch with a beer, because we dont drink much during the World Cup circuit. . . so just have a beer and watch hockey. Im very excited for that." But first, there are interviews and public appearances and the Canadian freestyle championships this weekend at Apex Resort in Penticton, B.C. Kingsbury, and moguls sisters Justine, Chloe and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe -- among Canadas biggest stories at the Sochi Olympics -- finally touched down on Canadian soil on Tuesday, and did the media rounds in Toronto on Wednesday. The foursome was at Ryerson Universitys Mattamy Athletic Centre -- formerly Maple Leaf Gardens -- to be honoured by Toronto Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly. "I want to say thanks to the City of Toronto. Even though I dont like the Leafs. You guys are very nice people," Kingsbury said, addressing the small crowd. "Its an honour just to be here in the old arena, its perfect." Justine Dufour-Lapointe won moguls gold at the Sochi Olympics, while 22-year-old sister Chloe captured silver, and the image of the Montreal sisters holding hands before stepping onto the medal podium will be one of the most enduring images of the Games. Maxime, 25, was 12th in Sochi. Last week, the sisters finished second through fourth in the seasons overall World Cup moguls standings, Justine finishing second, followed by Chloe and Maxime. Justine turned 20 on Tuesday, and had celebrated her birthday with her sisters on Monday in London. "We went on the Harry Potter Tour, I felt like I was 12 years old, I had my balloon, my hat, it was awesome," Justine said. "We had a great dinner after. My sisters always knows how to give me nice birthdays." Kiingsbury, a 21-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Que. Panthers Jerseys. finished second to Canadian teammate Alexandre Bilodeau at the Sochi Olympics then claimed his third straight Crystal Globe as the season World Cup winner. Kingsburys mom Julie Thibodeau was by his side for Wednesdays hectic day of appearances. "My mom, she missed me, so she drove from Montreal, picked me up at the airport here," he said. "So its cool to spend two days with her. I didnt see her much at the Olympics and just to see her here, I miss her also." The foursome left their hotel for their first interview at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, and their day wasnt scheduled to end until well after the dinner hour. "Today is our first day, 24 hours in Canada, so I think its starting (to hit us), realizing the impact that we created at the Games," Justine Dufour-Lapointe said. "I think its cool actually. Im really excited of this new title, or this new life. But at some point it wont change who we are. "I think were simple girls, who love normal things like anyone -- we have now this thing around our neck," she added, holding up her Olympic medal. Kingsbury and the sisters know their schedules will be even busier once theyre back in Montreal. Kingsbury is excited about an upcoming appearance at a Montreal Canadiens game. "There are awesome opportunities and were open to them," Maxime said about appearances and potential sponsors. "We just want to make sure were making the right decisions and following our true value like we always did. I think the fuss is all about the attention, but deep down were still the same girls and sticking with family values and what represents us." 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