There is no time for being kind and sugar-coating the harsh realities that surround the Raptors these days, no time to think about the long-term goals of a rebuilding franchise or worry about bruised feelings because the present is just so horrible.

Morris Peterson, as fed up with what he's seen in three games as he's been in five seasons with the team, thinks it's time for strong words, words that may sting but words that are necessary.

"We have to learn to get on each other," Peterson said last night after the Raptors were humiliated 117-84 by the Detroit Pistons. "I can honestly say that was embarrassing."

"You can either be nice and let it keep happening, or you can get on a person," he said after Toronto absorbed its worst beating since a 36-point loss to the then-Charlotte Hornets in 2000. "If I'm doing something wrong out there, I'd expect someone to tell me. That's what we need to expect out of each other."

"If we're going to get beat, we're going to get beat playing hard, giving our best effort."

It was a beating from start to finish and if it damaged any psyches, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell doesn't want to hear about it.

"No one's going to feel sorry for us, those guys have to fight through it," he said. "They have to remember these beatings, it has to be in you to want to give it back. No one's going to feel sorry for you."

"This is a no-mercy league."