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 Posted: 22.02.2009 Post subject: n the sideline during the c |
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| WASHINGTON - Even the most well-crafted and sensible play can be changed at the line of scrimmage. Though hes no Peyton Manning, Masai Ujiri recognizes the value in allowing circumstance to dictate his next move. Like everyone else, the Raptors first-year general manager has been pleasantly surprised by how well his team has performed in the aftermath of the Rudy Gay trade and as a result, the rebuild has been put on hold for as long as they continue to win, maybe permanently. "These guys, theres a good spirit about them," Ujiri gushed moments before his team made quick work of the Wizards, 101-88 Friday evening, winning their fifth in a row. "They like playing with each other, they play hard, they give it their all on the court and in the NBA that goes a long way." "So well keep it going and this is credit to the players and the coaches." When Gay was shipped to Sacramento - along with his $17.8 salary and $19.3 player option for next season - nearly a month ago, Ujiri was admittedly looking ahead to the future. "Long-term, I would think," he responded when pressed about the expected payoff of the deal the day it was made official. The move was executed with roster flexibility in mind. Many believed it would be the first in a series of changes made with the intention of gutting a roster that started the season 6-12 and, at the time, seemed universally flawed. "Well watch this team and see where it goes from there," Ujiri said back on December 9th. "I couldnt tell you where the team is going to go from here. Sometimes you have to make change. Were trying to figure out how we can make this team better whether its now or in the future, we have to keep that in mind." Fridays win in Washington - a game that was over before the end of a 36-point third quarter - was Torontos 10th in 13 games since the trade was made on that fateful night in Los Angeles. The Raptors have recorded 20 or more assists in 10 of those games - culminating in a season-high 29 assist performance against the Wizards - a feat they accomplished in just three of 18 games to begin the campaign. "Besides the winning it just feels good, were all playing together," said DeMar DeRozan, who had five dimes to go along with a game-high 20 points against the Wizards as the Raptors moved above the .500 mark for the first time - this late in the season - since April of 2010. "I think you could tell, were just going out there and having fun, were playing with one another." Ujiri gave the Gay experiment an 18-game audition. It was an unmitigated disaster. With a little help from a historically terrible Eastern Conference, this group of holdovers - a roster pieced together to kill time and lose games before the next domino was ready to fall - has earned the right to ride this out. "The NBA is a crazy league, one day its great, the next day its tough," Ujiri acknowledged. "I think everybody is encouraged. Im really happy how everybody has taken the opportunity and everybody is growing in the organization." For Ujiri and company the goal is to win, that has not changed, but taking a few steps back to take the ultimate step forward was - at least at one point - being strongly considered and could be revisited when and if this team comes back down to earth. "Ive communicated to everybody where we stand," Ujiri insisted. "We want to be a good team, we want to be a winning team and if its not that way we have to figure out a way to rebuild the team or figure it out. So I think everybodys clear on how this thing works." At least for the moment, that rebuild does not seem necessary and Ujiri is savvy enough to know when to hold em. Not only are the Raptors turning heads with impressive victories in Dallas and Oklahoma City, or at home to Indiana, but theyre taking care of business against beatable teams, which was the case Friday against an overachieving Wizards club. "Youve got to look at it like, a woman is a woman," DeRozan said with a smirk on his face, perhaps realizing the outlandishness of his analogy after he was asked about a "less-sexy" match-up against the Wizards following morning shoot-around. Washington had won five of its last seven but that team was nowhere to be found as the Raptors ran them out of their own, unsettlingly quiet arena. Toronto was on cruise control after outscoring the Wizards by nine in the first quarter and 20 in the third. Again, Kyle Lowry was brilliant, scoring 19 and assisting on 11 buckets. The Raptors will face Miami and Indiana - the Easts two best teams - on the road next but dont seem like a team anyone would or should feel comfortable betting against. "You feel good but again, I know what a marathons all about," said Dwane Casey, the Conferences reigning Coach of the Month. "Ive been in it too many years, seen it too many times to get too excited or too low. Im going to be the same way if we lose five in a row or win five in a row, you have to be in this league because it can turn around and knock you in the butt and thats what Ive got to get these guys to do." One day at a time. Thats how Casey and his players are approaching it, despite a remarkable run that has them sitting on top of their division, bearing down on third-place Atlanta. That is also the mantra of Ujiri, the Raptors patient assassin, who has wisely altered his game plan and may do so a few more times before the season comes to a close. Michael Thomas Womens Jersey .com) - The Denver Nuggets snapped a losing streak last time out and will try to carry that momentum Saturday night when they welcome the Indiana Pacers to the Pepsi Center. Alvin Kamara Saints Jersey . Goldeyes third baseman Ryan Pineda drove in three runs and the pitching staff didnt allow an earned run, as Winnipeg downed Kansas City 6-3 in American Association exhibition action at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas. http://www.authenticsaintssportsonline.com/saints-morten-andersen-gold-jersey/ . has left the San Jose Sharks to become the Boston Bruins director of player personnel. Sheldon Rankins Saints Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Marshon Lattimore Youth Jersey . -- Quarterback Josh Johnson has returned to the San Francisco 49ers and his former college coach, Jim Harbaugh.LONDON -- Roger Federer already had saved one match point in the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, and had won four games in a row in the fourth set. As both players sat on the sideline during the changeover before Federer was going to serve to try to force a fifth set, most of the nearly 15,000 spectators began chanting "Ro-ger! Ro-ger! Ro-ger!" Federer did extend the match. He could not manage to win it. Falling just short of what would have been his record eighth championship at the All England Club, Federer lost to Djokovic 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4 Sunday in a back-and-forth tussle that lasted nearly four hours. "In a match like the one today, where I needed support, they were there. I could sense that they really wished me well and hoped for me to either get back in the match or hopefully lift another trophy here at Wimbledon," Federer said about the crowd. "I already have seven. Its not like I need another one," he added. "But it would have been awfully nice to have it. I think thats what the feeling was of the people, and I felt that." A month shy of his 33rd birthday, and a father to two sets of twins, Federer would have been the oldest man in more than a half-century to win Wimbledon. He also would have been the first since 1948 to save a match point in the tournaments final and go on to take the title. Federer was playing in his first Grand Slam final since 2012, when he beat Andy Murray in the final at the All England Club to earn his record 17th Grand Slam trophy overall. Last year, Federer lost in the second round at the grass-court major, his earliest exit at Wimbledon sincce 2002, and at any Grand Slam tournament since 2013.dddddddddddd. He was struggling with a bothersome back and experimenting with a larger racket, and there were whispers about whether the Swiss star could ever challenge for another championship at one of tennis four most important tournaments. But for most of this fortnight, Federer played superbly, serve-and-volleying more than usual and getting broken only once in 89 service games heading into Sunday. "Its the best Roger Ive seen in years," said Djokovics coach, Boris Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion who had a playing rivalry against Federers coach, Stefan Edberg. But Djokovic might just be the games best returner nowadays, and he broke Federer four times, including in the matchs last game. "I respect him and his achievements, his career. Hes a great champion on and off the court," Djokovic said. "To be able to win against him, as one of my greatest rivals, on this occasion, on a court that hes been dominating for so many years, makes it a very special trophy for me." Djokovic, who is 27, spoke about how he hopes this victory will spur him to add to his seven major titles. Federer was asked whether this might have been his last hurrah. "There is no guarantee that youre going to be ever there again or not. Or maybe theres much more to come. Its really impossible to answer that question," Federer said. "Im very happy to see that with feeling (healthy), I can produce a performance like I did the last two weeks. That clearly makes me believe that this was just a steppingstone to many more great things in the future." ' ' ' |
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