Sonstiges » y does not take over as captain from 34-year-old

The Toronto Raptors played their way out of a four-game slide on home court on Saturday and will try to continue that momentum tonight against another weak Eastern Conference squad in the Detroit Pistons. Authentic Thunder Jerseys . You can watch the game on TSN2 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt, with coverage available on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. Toronto (25-11) found itself trending in the opposite direction with a season-worst four-game skid before notching a 109-96 win over Boston on Saturday. The Raptors had allowed 114.0 points per game during their losing streak, but forced 13 turnovers in the second and third quarters while outscoring the Celtics 63-39. I thought our defensive mojo was back, coach Dwane Casey said. I saw guys moving their feet, cracking down, rebounding, doing the things we needed to do with activity and anticipation. DeMar DeRozan will not dress for the Raptors tonight. The team still hopes to have him back this week but are without a specific timetable. DeRozan was injured on Nov. 28 vs. the Dallas Mavericks James Johnson, who started his sixth game of the season Saturday, figures to receive plenty of playing time Monday against Detroit after he recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks against Boston for his second double-double this season. He can guard the bigger wings, he can block shots, he can handle the ball, he gives us another ball handler, Casey said. We knew that with James. Hes a talented young man. Johnson had 12 points off the bench when the Raptors beat the Pistons 110-100 at The Palace on Dec. 19, though that game might be best remembered for his extracurricular activity with Andre Drummond. Detroits big man smashed into Johnson with his forearm and hip after being dunked on in the fourth quarter, setting off a melee that saw Drummond get a flagrant foul and four technicals called. Kyle Lowry had only 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting in that win, Torontos fourth straight in the series. The Detroit Pistons recent play has them more closely resembling one of the leagues top teams rather than the last-place club in the Central Division. The Pistons (13-24) have won eight of nine contests since they waived Josh Smith on Dec. 22. Their offensive output has risen from 94.4 to 106.2 points per game, their field-goal percentage has jumped from 41.3 to 46.5 percent, their turnovers are down (13.8 to 12.6), their assists are up (20.4 to 22.8) and theyve allowed 94.3 points per game after yielding 101.1 in their first 28. Its fun, man, Jonas Jerebko told the Pistons official website. Its fun back at The Palace. Ive seen it a few times, but its fun seeing it two days in a row. The city is really coming behind us. Were trying to show them a good product thats easy to sell. I think its pretty fun to watch us play right now. Since Dec. 26, the Pistons are 5-0 on the road and 3-1 at home, losing only to Southeast-leading Atlanta 106-103 on Friday. They bounced back the next night at The Palace, downing Brooklyn 98-93 behind 20 points and 11 assists from Brandon Jennings and 17 rebounds from Greg Monroe. After owning the NBAs third-worst record on Christmas, Detroit now finds itself just three games out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference with 45 games to play. It was big, Kyle Singler said of Saturdays win. Coach (Stan Van Gundy) said something after the game last night saying were not falling back into losing and going backwards. This was big for us. Paul George Jersey . When New Zealand finally held on for an 8-7 win, France No. 8 Imanol Harinordoquy collapsed to the ground, having given every drop of energy he could muster, and lay prone as All Blacks danced around him in celebration. Few critics had given France any chance, but coach Marc Lievremonts team rallied from 8-0 down and came within one kick of taking the lead with 15 minutes remaining, only for flyhalf Francois Trinh-Ducs 49-meter effort to drift wide. Terrance Ferguson Jersey . NORRIS COLE (Heat): Its funny, you watch a guy play and now really produce and it just jumps off the page at you - why? You put a young player with potential in a winning environment where there is veteran leadership, outstanding coaching and management and a way that things are done and its a wonderful environment for growth, improvement in a climate of constant accountability and expectation of achievement/production. http://www.cheapthunderjerseyschina.com/ . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U.TORONTO - As always, the one thing that never changes at Toronto FC is change. But the revolving door seems to be swinging a little slower going into the 2015 season.Rather than radical surgery, head coach Greg Vanney and GM Tim Bezbatchenko have targeted key areas for improvement. And while there is more work to be done on defence, a franchise known for past failures looks like it will be worth watching this season.This year is about executing their vision.One, were trying to do less because I think its about continuity and stability, said Bezbatchenko.But then two, we know how to approach it in a little bit different way. Not to say we didnt do it the right way last year (when the team went 11-15-8) but I think to build a team, its more than just the talent on the field. Its character, how you go about doing it, setting expectations for the fans.And I think we have players now that the fans can get around.After weekend medicals, pre-season training starts Monday under the bubble at the MLS teams well-appointed training centre.Toronto has said goodbye to former face of the franchise Jermain Defoe while adding big guns in striker Jozy Altidore and attacking midfielder Sebastian Giovinco. The Italian star was originally scheduled to join in July after his season with Juventus, but there has been speculation he may be freed up sooner.U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, in his second season in Toronto, is firmly at the TFC helm. Consulted by team brass on off-season moves, Bradley helped engineer some of them.It would be a surprise if Bradley does not take over as captain from 34-year-old centre back Steven Caldwell. The fiery Scot is a fine skipper but the franchise seems clearly to be lining up behind the 27-year-old intense American star.Who wears the captains armband is a question that should be answered sooner than later, to avoid distractions. The future of Brazilian striker Gilberto, who appears to be the odd man out in Torontos overcrowded designated player pool when Giovinco arrives, will also dominate discussion. Gilberto has been allowed to remain in Brazil while the team sorts out its roster issues.Camp will open without Altidore and Bradley, who are with the U.S. national team. They are not expected back until Feb. 9. Brazilian midfielder Jackson, meanwhile, has been given permission to arrive late due to his wife expecting.Despite Torontos desire for continuity, there will be upheaval this season with key players leaving for the July 7-26 Gold Cup. The good news is TFC has just four games in July.A lopsided home schedule, with seven straight road games to open the season due to ongoing stadium renovations at BMO Field, also complicates matters. As does the timing of Giovincos arrival.But Toronto believes it is close to sorrting out the on-field product. Cheap Thunder Jerseys. ix players have signed on with Toronto so far since last season, counting Giovinco, with eight moving on. Compare that to the post-2013 season when MLS records show 15 players coming in (five of those have since left) and 17 leaving. After the 2012 campaign, there were 26 in and 26 out as the franchise cleaned house.Toronto set records for wins (11) and points (41) last season when Defoe started his MLS career with a bang, only to fall victim to injury and homesickness.But there was still plenty of room for improvement. In 2014, Toronto ranked 12th out of 19 teams in goals per game (1.29) and 15th in goals against (1.59).The team is slated to return to Toronto on Feb. 9 before returning to the Sunshine state, this time Bradenton, on Feb. 16.The club will take part in the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic in Florida, playing in a group with the New York Red Bulls, Danish First Division team HB Koge and USL Pro side Oklahoma City Energy FC.The players fly north again March 1 in preparation for their season opener March 7 in Vancouver,Vanney has added Robin Fraser, a veteran assistant and former head coach, to his coaching staff.Former assistant Jason Bent has been tasked with overseeing Toronto II, the clubs new USL Pro team. With eight players taken in the recent MLS SuperDraft as well as its academy talent, Toronto is well on its way to stocking the new side designed to bridge the gap between the top academy side and the MLS team.Vanney envisions starting camp in Toronto with all of its draft picks and top academy players taking part in the main group. The goal is laying out the vision of how we will play so that everybody has a clear idea of what our vision of the game looks like for this year, both in attack and in defence.The whole group will travel to Florida for the first phase of warm-weather training. When the team returns to Toronto, some will be split off to work with the fledgling USL Pro side.Both teams will make the second trip to Florida with separate games for each.As much as possible we want to keep the groups close together ... so were all on the same page, Vanney said.The addition of expansion teams Orlando City SC and New York City FC and the exit of Chivas USA have changed the look of the league in 2015.Houston and Sporting Kansas City have moved to the Western Conference to make way for the new teams, leaving both conferences with 10 clubs. Six will make the playoffs in each conference, up from five last season, offering Toronto a better chance of finally qualifying for the post-season.Toronto, which has missed the playoffs in all eight of its previous seasons, enters the 2015 campaign with an all-time league record of 62-120-74.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter Cheap Cowboys Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys Cheap Eagles Jerseys Cheap Redskins Jerseys Cheap Falcons Jerseys Cheap Panthers Jerseys Cheap Saints Jerseys Cheap Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Cheap 49ers Jerseys Cheap Seahawks Jerseys Cheap Rams Jerseys Cheap Bears Jerseys Cheap Lions Jerseys Cheap Packers Jerseys Cheap Vikings Jerseys ' ' '