yyys123
Joined: 08 Jul 2019
Posts: 885
|
 Posted: 22.02.2009 Post subject: and letting me get ba |
 |
|
|
| TORONTO - When Greivis Vasquez was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies, selected with the 28th overall pick in 2010, he joined an emerging Western Conference power. At the time of the selection, the Grizzlies were coming off a promising campaign, the first for frontcourt duo Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph together in Memphis. Helmed by now former coach Lionel Hollins, the 2010-11 Grizzlies were one of the most improved teams in the league, building a defensive foundation that sticks with them to this day while finishing 10 games over .500, defeating the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs and taking the Thunder to seven games in the Conference Semifinals. Vasquez, a 24-year-old, Venezuelan-born rookie from the University of Maryland, was along for the ride. He played in 70 regular season games, backing up Mike Conley and helping the Grizzlies snap a four-year playoff draught - appearing in 13 postseason contests - before being traded to New Orleans ahead of the following, lockout shortened campaign. Memphis has not missed the postseason since. "Ive got respect for them because they gave me an opportunity to be in this league," said the fourth-year point guard, poised to make his second postseason appearance with the Raptors next month. "Thats a tough team to beat," he continued following his new teams impressive 99-86 win over the one that drafted him. "We beat a playoff team and that was a good win for us at home." Aside from new coach Dave Joerger - a former assistant under Hollins - and last years trade of Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies havent changed much. Theyre still a defensive juggernaut - ranked third in opponent points per game, just ahead of the Raptors - and they still feature the daunting interior pair of Gasol and Randolph. They still embody physical, hard-nosed, playoff-calibre basketball and the Raptors - looking ahead to their own postseason birth - took it right to them. It was another valuable test for Dwane Caseys team, not unlike the one they failed in Brooklyn earlier this week, but this time they passed with flying colours. "I dont mean this in a bad way with Memphis because I love the style of defence they play," Casey said, "but the only way you can challenge a bully is if you hit them first." "I dont think we did that in the first quarter," Casey said in reference to Torontos timid start. "We did in the second quarter and they responded. Youve got to have a physical mentality against a team like that and I thought our guys did that after the first quarter." Vasquez had a lot to do with that turnaround. He may not be the fastest, the quickest or the strongest but there are few who play the game harder. His energy was infectious, as it tends to be, when he entered the game late in the first quarter and it carried over into the second, where the Raptors ended the half on a 19-6 run. About 30 minutes later he changed the game again, this time for good. With the score knotted up at 80, midway through the fourth, Vasquez knocked down a 27-foot pull-up three. As the Grizzlies came up the floor, he picked off a pass and went coast-to-coast for layup. It was the biggest sequence of the night, ironically initiating a second 19-6 run to close out the victory. "Obviously physicality is going to be the big factor [in the playoffs]," said Vasquez, who finished with 17 points, five rebounds and six assists Friday. "We play physical, we punch teams and we let them know that its not going to be easy for any team to come to our house and beat us like that and thats what we did tonight." Usually relegated to 17-22 minutes per night, mostly playing in the understudy role to starter Kyle Lowry, Vasquez logged 28. With the Grizzlies playing small in the backcourt, Casey was able to pair Vasquez and Lowry for over eight minutes in both the second and fourth quarters. With the two point guards sharing the court for 19 minutes, the Raptors scored 23 points more than they allowed. Playing alongside the other, both Vasquez and Lowry were at their best on this night. Lowry - who totalled 22 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists - was able to play off the ball and spot up for jumpers, while Vasquez could get in the lane and facilitate with more space. For Vasquez - as he realizes - the obvious benefit to spending more time on the floor with Lowry is spending more time on the floor, period. "I think we should do it more often if you ask me but Im not the head coach," Vasquez said. "[Coach is] doing a great job leading us to win games. Obviously Coach Casey is an outstanding coach and today he gave me a chance to come off the bench and play with a rhythm and I got the job done." Vasquez, a starter in New Orleans last season, has seen sporadic playing time since arriving in the trade from Sacramento. Generally, when he has played more he has played well but the opportunity for playing time at the position is scarce. It is what it is, as Casey would say. Lowry is playing at an extremely high level and pairing them together is something that can only work in long stretches if the matchup permits it. "When I play regular minutes it allows me to have a presence in the game," he said. "A lot of times its really, really hard coming off the bench and just being effective or having a presence in the game real quick." For the most part, the Raptors have had success playing Lowry and Vasquez together this season, keeping in mind its only been done in favourable situations. In 346 minutes with the two point guards on the floor, the Raptors have outscored their opponents by 102 total points, per NBA.com/stats. With Casey looking to manufacture some rest for Lowry over the final five weeks of the season, playing him off the ball more often could be the solution. "Its easier for me," said Lowry, asked about playing alongside Vasquez, "because weve got a guy who is going to look for me and who can make the play. He gives me a chance to rest and hang out and shoot open threes. When hes playing like that, were a pretty good team." Vasquez and Jonas Valanciunas - who scored a season-high 23 points - both came up big for Torontos offence with Memphis elite perimeter defence locked into DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross. The Raptors two wing players shot a combined 6-for-16 Friday. Andrew Luck Youth Jersey . -- Miguel Angel Jimenez quickly shifted his focus back to the Ryder Cup after winning his first Champions Tour event. Kenny Moore Colts Jersey . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.coltsofficialstore.us/authentic-khari-willis-colts-jersey/ . - For years William Gay kept quiet. Quenton Nelson Womens Jersey .K. Subban and Matt Duchene will be the two skaters sitting out the teams opening game. Malik Hooker Womens Jersey . There are practical ideas, like this Chewbaca inspired Star Wars jerseys. Star Wars themed jerseys for the Toledo Mud Hens.DALLAS - Jonathan Bernier wasnt quite satisfied after earning his second shutout of the season and posting his second-highest save total.Most of the night I felt pretty good, but theres just a few that got away from me, the Toronto goalie said after making 43 saves as the Maple Leafs beat the Dallas Stars 4-0 on Tuesday.James van Riemsdyk had a goal and two assists for Toronto, which snapped a three-game slide.The Stars four-game winning streak ended when they were shut out for the first time since Jan. 9 at New Jersey.I had a few bad rebounds but the D-men did a good job tying up sticks and letting me get back in position, Bernier said. Timely goal, good power play, good penalty kill. Thats how we won the game tonight.Nazem Kadri opened the scoring 55 seconds into the game, and assisted when van Riemsdyk scored at 6:21 of the second period.Phil Kessel had two assists, the second on Tyler Bozaks power-play goal at 10:30 of the second. Mike Santorelli finished the scoring with an empty-net goal at 16:09 of the third.Toronto killed off four Dallas power plays.Our special teams werent good enough, Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. We had a couple opportunities where we got a little stagnant on the power play, and not enough pucks went to the net.Youve got to give Bernier a lot of credit. He was fabulous.Berniers save total, which included 19 in the third period, was one short of his season high. He has nine career shutouts.As always, your goalies your No. 1 penalty killer. Bernie was called on far, far too often tonight, Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. You know theyre going to make a push, and we were able to withstand the storm, but Bernie was a big reason for it.ddddddddddddDallas Kari Lehtonen allowed three goals and stopped 22 shots.Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the first minute when van Riemsdyk passed from the right corner to the front of the net. Kadri beat the Stars Tyler Seguin and Alex Goligoski to the puck and put it past Lehtonen.Neither team scored again in the first period, though Seguin and Bozak each hit a post. Dallas outshot Toronto 10-8 in the period.In the second, van Riemsdyk scored on a breakaway at 6:21. His backhand shot went between Lehtonens legs.The Maple Leafs lead grew to 3-0 on Bozaks power-play goal. Dion Phaneufs drive from the top of the slot deflected off Stars defenceman Jordie Benn to Bozaks stick at waist height. A review to determine whether the puck went in off his glove allowed the goal to stand.Again the Stars had nothing to show for outshooting Toronto, 14-11.Chippy play in the third period led to three minor penalties for roughing and a full-fledged fight between Phaneuf and Dallas Antoine Roussel at 12:20. Phaneuf and Roussel were assessed a major and a minor penalty apiece.NOTES: In five career games against Dallas, Kadri has nine points (four goals, five assists). ... Toronto D Stephane Robidas received an ovation when the Stars played a video tribute during a timeout. Robidas played 704 games for Dallas before being traded to Anaheim last season. ... Lehtonen came out of the net with more than four minutes remaining, but returned after Santorellis empty-netter. Lehtonen had been pulled during the second period after allowing four goals in Sundays 6-5 shootout victory at Edmonton. ' ' ' |
|
