#1

and part of it is just having

in Diamondcraft - Registration Fri Sep 20, 2019 5:18 am
by yyys123 • 1.785 Posts

TORONTO - The Raptors (2-1) face their toughest test of the young season Tuesday when the defending champion Miami Heat (2-2) visit the Air Canada Centre, still looking for their first road win. You can catch the action live at 7pm et/4pm pt on TSN2 and on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto. After splitting a back-to-back set on the road this weekend, the Raptors return home hoping to steal a win from a team thats had their number since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forced in 2010. Miami has outscored Toronto by an average of 13.3 in 10 meetings - all wins - since their talented trio came together. The Heat have won 11 straight in the series overall, Torontos longest active losing streak against any opponent. "Theyre champions twice for a reason," Dwane Casey said of the Heat after shoot around Tuesday morning. "This is an opportunity for us to come in and see what were made of against the two-time champions in our house. Were not going to out-talent them but theyre not going to outwork us, thats the mentality weve got to have. "The Heat bounced back after suffered consecutive loses, their first two road games of the season, with a decisive 103-93 home win over the Wizards on Sunday. Their Big Three combined for 69 points, each of them scoring 20 or more, and shot 61 per cent from the field. "What we have to this year is the same thing we last year, we have to reinvent ourselves," said veteran forward Shane Battier. "We cant assume that what worked last year is going to work this year. Thats the fun part of the journey." The defending champs will be a man down Tuesday with Bosh back home following the Monday morning birth of his second child, a daughter, Dylan Skye. Click here to listen as Josh Lewenberg and Duane Watson preview the Raptors match-up with the Heat and look back at the first week of the season in TSN 1050s Raptors Report podcast. Despite shooting just 40 per cent, the Raptors came away with a much-needed 97-90 victory in Milwaukee on Saturday, thanks in large part to their improved defensive approach from the night before - a disappointing loss in Atlanta - and a dominant performance on the boards. "Theyve improved this offseason and part of it is just having a young team together, the core players and you add another year," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of the Raptors. "Theyre extremely athletic, theyre long [and] they have size at all the positions." Trends and Tidbits Although the Raptors have made a concerted effort to get Jonas Valanciunas involved early in the first three games, he has not had a major impact after the opening period. The sophomore centre, whos played fewer than 18 minutes in each of the last two games, has not been on the floor much down the stretch, as Casey still feels more comfortable with Amir Johnson anchoring the small lineup hes been using. Per NBA.com, Valanciunas has attempted 14 shots in 25 first-quarter minutes but has taken just seven in 40 minutes after the opening frame. The Raptors most efficient offensive spurts (106.1 points per 100 possessions) have come when playing in their small lineup, according to NBA.com. The last time Toronto was two games over .500 was Jan. 27, 2010 following a 111-103 win over Miami. Chris Bosh had 24 points and 18 rebounds for the Raptors in that game, months before leaving to join the Heat as a free agent. Miami has trailed by at least seven in the opening minutes in each of their first four games; Chicago led 9-2 in the opener, Philadelphia had a 19-0 advantage early, Brooklyn had an 11-3 lead and Washington was up 9-2 early. James double-digit scoring streak has reached 499 straight regular-season games, dating back to January of 2007. His teams - the Heat and Cavaliers - hold a 363-136 record in those contests. "We dont want to put a ceiling on him," Spoelstra said of the four-time MVP. "And even at the level he played last year hopefully he can reinvent himself and take us to a different level." What to Watch For Disrupting Miamis rhythm Now four years into the Big Three era, the Heat have become a well-oiled machine on both ends of the floor, specially offensively where they move the ball as well as any team in the NBA. Their pristine spacing and ball movement was on display in Sundays victory over Washington, registering 32 assists on 37 made field goals. The Heat are 54-3 when collecting at least 25 assists since the start of the 2010-11 season. In order for the Raptors to have a fighting chance against a far more experienced and superior offence, theyll have to take Miami out of its comfort zone - easier said than done - or catch them on a rare off day. Keeping them inside the arch Three-point shooting continues to be a big part of what makes the Heat so dangerous, aided by their excellent ball movement. Miami shot 11-for-27 from three-point range on Sunday and the Raptors hope to force them to settle for long twos in Toronto. "You cant take away everything from them," Casey cautioned. "When you try to take away everything, you take away nothing. One thing we do want to do is make them take tough twos [and] try to limit the number of threes they get. They have to have the three to be successful so we want to run them off the three-point line." After adding Ray Allen a year ago, the Heat finished the 2012-13 season shooting 40 per cent from long range, good for the second best mark in the league. Control the boards Unexpectedly the Raptors strength through three games has been on the boards, where they struggled through most of the preseason. They havent just been impressive rebounding the basketball, theyve been dominant, which could present a problem for a small Heat team if it carries over into Tuesdays game. The Raptors have out-rebounded opponents 150-108 through three games, including a 47-20 advantage on the offensive glass, a category in which they lead the league early in the campaign. Nearly a quarter of Torontos points (22.5 per cent) have come off second-chance opportunities. Miami was last in the league on the boards a year ago and will be without their leading rebounder with Bosh unavailable Tuesday. Who to Watch For Rudy Gay The Raptors forward has struggled with shot selection and offensive efficiency early in the season, shooting just 33 per cent from the field and leading the team in turnovers. Coming off one of his worst games as a Raptor in Fridays loss to Atlanta, Gay had a better night in Milwaukee 24 hours later. Despite another rough evening in the shooting department (4-of-14 from the field) and some careless ball handling down the stretch, Gay contributed in other areas, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds, getting to the line 10 times and playing inspired defence. Gay will be counted on as both a scorer and a defender in Tuesdays match-up against James. Gay always relishes the opportunity to face the leagues premier players at his position and has played the reigning MVP competitively in the past. Offensively, Gay also rose to the occasion against the Heat last season, averaging 25.7 points on 48 per cent shooting in three games. "Rudy is a scorer," Battier said of his former Grizzlies teammate. "Any given night hes capable of putting big numbers on the board. I think hes settled a little more now [in Toronto]." Dwyane Wade On the wrong side of 30 and having battled a series of knee injuries over the last couple years, Wade has been forced to adapt and change his game. "He used to be pretty reckless, attacking the rim with reckless abandon," Battier said of the 31-year-old Wade. "When you get over 30 you cant do that as much, you need to pick your spots." Even without his trademark explosiveness, Wade is still an elite player at his position and always seems to have big nights against the Raptors. Coming off the most efficient season of his 11-year career, shooting 52 per cent, Wade has averaged 28.0 points on 62 per cent from the field in the last seven meetings with Toronto. Hes smarter," said Casey. "He lets the game come to him. Hes a very wise veteran. People dont even talk about [him], everyone talks about LeBron but hes the wise old owl sitting back and waiting for you to make a mistake." Injury Report Steve Novak, who has been inactive over the last two games battling a sore back, could be available for Tuesdays game. Casey said hes doing better and the team will decide on his status prior to the game. Bosh will miss Tuesdays game against his former team, still with his wife after the birth of their daughter and Greg Oden will continue to be inactive for Miami rehabbing back from his knee injury. Vapormax Plus Canada .com) - Devin Booker scored 19 points and top-ranked Kentucky put on a defensive clinic in an 83-44 obliteration of UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic. Vapormax Flyknit 2 Canada .com) - The NBA will be on display overseas Thursday with the New York Knicks taking on the Milwaukee Bucks at O2 Arena in London. http://www.airvapormaxcanada.com/ .5 million. University officials released the term sheet signed by Harsin Wednesday, the day the former Broncos walk-on player and Boise native was named the successor to Chris Petersen, who left for Washington last week. Vapormax Flyknit 3 Cheap .Y. - Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby captured his second career Art Ross trophy on Sunday after leading the NHL in scoring this season. Nike Air Max 95 Just Do It Black .75 million contract for the 2014 season and avoided arbitration. The team announced the agreement on Tuesday.OTTAWA -- The Western Mustangs remained on top of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football rankings for a third straight week Tuesday. Western (7-0) earned 20 first-place votes and 290 points in the Football Reporters of Canada poll. The reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or (6-0) were second with 10 first-place votes and 280 points. The Calgary Dinos (6-0) were third in the unchanged top 10 after a limited CIS schedule last week. Guellph, Queens and McMaster were the only top-10 squads in action and all registered convincing road wins.dddddddddddd. The Gryphons defeated Carleton 48-12, the Gaels crushed Waterloo 78-21 and the Marauders beat Laurier 28-5. Guelph (7-0) is ranked fourth and Queens (6-1) is fifth. The top 10 is rounded out by the Montreal Carabins (4-2), Saskatchewan Huskies (4-2), Bishops Gaiters (4-2), McMaster (4-3) and the Windsor Lancers (4-3). ' ' 'the proper gratitude for drafting me and for having given me six great years of football and the opportunity to play football. Coming down this morning and having all the offers on the table, it made it an easy decision to go to a franchise ... that presents a great opportunity for me to step in and allow myself to be the man I want to be." The six-foot-four, 295-pound Mitchell was the second player taken in the 2011 CFL draft by Edmonton. The 24-year-old Ottawa native spent the last three years with the Eskimos. The addition of Emry and Mitchell certainly fill definite needs for Toronto, which lost starting offensive lineman Joe Epelle and versatile linebacker Jason Pottinger, both Canadians, to the expansion Ottawa Redblacks in December. The Argos also announced they signed OL Scott Mitchell, formely of the Edmonton Eskimos, and WR Mike Bradwell to a two-year extension. "Scott is a talented, young Canadian lineman who was a very good collegiate prospect coming out of a large U.S. football program," Argos GM Jim Barker said in a team release. "He now has three years of professional experience in our league and we look forward to seeing him develop with us in Toronto." Shoes Australia From China . Heather, the first Gaiter to win the award, set a Canadian Inter-university Sport record with 3,132 passing yards in eight league games, an average of 391.5 yards per game. That beat the mark of 3,047 set only one week earlier by Westerns Will Finch, a Hec Crighton finalist. Wholesale Shoes Australia . Braves reliever David Carpenter was also fined for throwing at Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson in the same game, which featured several ejections, including Colorado manager Walt Weiss. https://www.shoesaustraliaonline.com/ . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively. Cheap Nike Shoes Australia . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season. Clearance Shoes Australia . -- The Orlando Magic finally are showing the patience in critical moments that coach Jacque Vaughn has been waiting for all season.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Playing a road game against a division rival raises the intensity for linebacker Clay Matthews.Theyre fun games to play, and I think more so just talking from the fan aspect of it a€” the fans hate you, Matthews said Friday. Thats something to thrive on when you play on the road.After missing Green Bays two games against the Chicago Bears last season, the Packers defensive standout anticipates playing Sunday when the NFLs oldest rivals meet for the first time this season.Matthews, who has a groin injury, is probable for the game against the Bears.Provided theres no setbacks, I expect myself to be out there on Sunday, Matthews said.Matthews has practiced on a limited basis this week after suffering the injury in the second half of the Packers 19-7 loss at Detroit last Sunday. Matthews didnt finish the game.The Packers didnt practice Friday. But coach Mike McCarthy had encouraging news after the teams medical staff evaluated Matthews on Friday morning.So far, so good, McCarthy said. The medical review, the report today was good on Clay. We still have 48 hours (before the game), so were confident that hell be ready to go. But hes still working through it.Matthews reported to be feeling good and noted how his recovery from his first groin injury improved throughout the week.Yesterday was a big step in the right direction from Wednesday, Matthews said of his involvement in practice those two days, and today Im sure would have been.McCarthy implemented a new schedule this season with the Packers off the field on Friday before a Sunday game, but having a light practice on Saturday.I think its good for me, Matthews said. And then tomorrow well fly around, break a sweat and feel good going into Sunday. I dont anticipate there being any problems.Having Matthews ready for Sunday should be a plus for Green Bay, which is looking to avoid starting the season 1-3 for the firstt time since 2006, when it finished 8-8 in McCarthys first year at the helm.ddddddddddddMatthews has hurt the Bears as a pass rusher in his career. He has eight sacks in nine games against Chicago since his rookie season in 2009, including the Packers NFC championship victory at Soldier Field in the 2010 season.In the rivals two games in 2012, Matthews had 5 1/2 sacks against Bears quarterback Jay Cutler as Green Bay swept the season series.A broken thumb kept Matthews from playing both games against the Bears the second half of last season.Matthews said he was at home watching Green Bay end the regular season with a dramatic 33-28 comeback win at Chicago on a final-minute, fourth down touchdown pass by Aaron Rodgers. The Packers clinched a third straight NFC North title and took a playoff spot from the Bears.Itll be good to get out there again, kind of put my foot back into that whole Packers-Bears rivalry and just make an impact, really, Matthews said.And Matthews expects to be able to play without limitations Sunday against a versatile Bears offence he ranks as Chicagos best in his six years as a pro.I think weve talked about this with my injuries in the past that I wouldnt be out there if I wasnt full go with the caveat that well be smart, Matthews said. Well monitor the reps, especially going into a Thursday night game (against Minnesota) the following week.But well see how it goes, well see how it plays out, well see what theyre coming out with in their personnel, their scheme and where were at in the game.NOTES: Also probable for the Packers are RT Bryan Bulaga (knee), CB Davon House (knee) and LB Nick Perry (wrist). WR Jarrett Boykin and LB Brad Jones (quadriceps) are questionable. Boykin, who already was recovering from a knee injury this week, suffered a groin injury in practice Thursday.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '

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