Fun und Spam » irst time since 1992. The Rays took a 1-0 lead

TSN’s Three Man Weave reach out east to the Maritimes for assistance this week, as they discuss the Raptors surging on without DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento, and top point guards. All that and more, as hosts of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane, Will Strickland and Duane Watson are joined by HoopHeadsNorth.com’s Editor and Main Contributor Sean Francois all the way from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Can the Toronto Raptors continue to win a high percentage of their games while DeMar DeRozan is out of the lineup? Strickland: Absolutely. They are not leading the Eastern Conference by accident or default. After the loss of DeRozan, the ships been buoyed by early season MVP candidate Kyle Lowry, bona fide Sixth Man of the Year contender Lou Williams and a young big man who seems to be turning the corner on consistency and asserting himself every night in Jonas Valanciunas. The results have come by hard work, team-first attitude, solid leadership, some luck and a sturdy Next Man Up mentality while their All-Star rehabs to get back into the fold and help his team. Francois: The Toronto Raptors are in a position to win while DeMar DeRozan is out of the lineup, but the percentage of wins depends on how effective the current rotation can be. Can Landry Fields continue to give them solid minutes? Will Jonas Valanciunas keep giving them that strong double-double play he has of late? Can Terrence Ross continue to take his offensive game to the next level in DeMars absence? These are some of the things the Raptors will need to continue if they want to remain at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. This upcoming stretch of games will be a true test for Toronto, as seven of their next eight games are on the road facing some elite Western and Eastern Conference competition. Watson: The foundation of this ball club is team first, so the Raptors’ loss of DeRozan isn’t felt as much as the loss of a player like Kevin Durant to OKC. Granted, he is the team’s leading scorer and amongst the top in the league in getting to the free throw line, but the Raptors depth and balance keep them going. Landry Fields insertion into the starting line-up allows the bench core to stay intact, which is the key edge this team has over the majority of the league. They haven’t floundered in his absence and will continue to hold it down until his return. Are serious/long term injuries becoming more prevalent in the NBA in recent years (Rose, Kobe, Parker & Randle), or does it simply just appear that way? Strickland: Objects in mirror may be closer than they actually are... or not. Many a star has been clipped before reaching their athletic primes, robbing fans and the game alike of incredible performers and potential greatness. From Bill Walton to Penny Hardaway, serious injuries are and have always been a part of the game. Are these injuries more prevalent now because of immediate access of social media, better medicine and medical rehabilitation techniques, more money and less insistence that players get back on the floor sooner than later? There could be myriad reasons upon which much speculation can be had. The success is and will be in how guys like the recently re-injured Kevin Durant, Jabari Parker and the like recover and respond. Francois: Injuries, especially ACL tears, seem to be happening more often in the NBA. Sports science and athlete training regimens are at an all-time high with regards to the level of sophistication and production through strength training and the research behind it. Despite the advancements, the human body is still susceptible to the same potential damage of ligaments, muscles, tendons, and bones through rigorous activity, being overworked, and sometimes over-compensating. The demands of a professional athlete and the practice routines are also at all-time highs. Neither Derrick Rose nor Kobe Bryant suffered major injuries at any point in their amateur or professional careers prior to their relatively recent injuries in the NBA, but due to the demands placed on athletes bodies in training, practice, and games, sports injuries are seemingly becoming more frequent. Watson: It’s a little of both, but they don’t make them like they used to. Another factor to consider is that players are entering a physically demanding game at a young age, and some of their bodies haven’t fully developed. In addition have they developed the habits and discipline of taking care of their bodies at a young age? Of course, some things just happen, but this era of medicine and training to repair and rehab makes these injuries less career threatening than in the past. With the surprising news that Sacramento Kings fired head coach Michael Malone this week, will Tyrone Corbin keep the coaching gig, or will they find someone else to fit their vision? Strickland: While the move to relieve Mike Malone of his coaching duties seemed sudden and abrupt, reports of a fissure up top between Malone and a very aggressive and perhaps out-of-his-depth owner in Vivek Ranadive were more surprising. Despite what looked to be a growing trust between Malone and his top star, DeMarcus Amir Cousins, its hard to believe he didnt want the Kings front office to extend Boogies contract or that of Rudy Gay. Grand Opening. Grand Closing. With Ranadive looking for an offensive minded jazz director, lets be clear that former Utah Jazz bench boss Tyrone Corbin is merely a seat-filler for Mark Jackson, George Karl or Chris Mullin to conduct Sacramentos starting quintet and their accompaniment in the near future. Francois: I will be surprised in Tyrone Corbin keeps the Kings head coaching job long term. With the up-tempo offence that the Kings management seems to want to implement, a name like Mike DAntoni comes to mind as a possible long-term replacement. On the other hand, given how quickly Michael Malone was relieved of his head coaching duties, I suspect there will be a carousel of coaches until Kings management find a coach who is willing to concede to any and all management wishes regarding style of play. Managements level of involvement in how the coaching staff operates is a fine line, and the Kings ownership and management need to pay close attention to that going forward. Watson: After hiring Malone in the summer - before hiring a General Manager and firing him this early in the season - Kings owner Vivek Ranadive is slowly evolving into the Indian James Dolan. Ranadive has said he believes Corbin “can take this team to the playoffs,” but he spoke glowingly about Malone as well. There are far more experienced coaches available and someone who will bend to ownership’s desires. Corbin is living on borrowed time. The early season MVP race is full of point guards. Who are the Top Five PGs in The Association right now? Strickland: After what could be a shape shifting move of Seismic proportion with the trade of Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks, there are absolutely no nights off in the West for point guards. Its no cakewalk in the East, either. Respect due to the aforementioned Rondo as well as Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Ty Lawson and Damian Lillard, but the Top Five floor generals in the Association currently are Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley. Francois: In my opinion, the Top Five point guards in the NBA right now are: 1) Stephen Curry 2) John Wall 3) Chris Paul 4) Damian Lillard 5) Russell Westbrook Watson: My top five offence initiators right now, are Stephen Curry, Kyle Lowry, John Wall, Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker. The Atlanta Hawks: Are They For Real? Strickland: Indeed. Spurs East Lite. While they are still perhaps one quality big man back-up and shooter off the bench away, former San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer helms a club of solid, unselfish veteran players who lead the NBA in assists. The return of former All-Star centre, the multi-talented Al Horford, bolsters a squad with an 18-7 record, only 1.5 games behind the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors. The Hawks also sport an All-Star power forward currently third in steals as well as being the best deal in the NBA in one Paul Milsap. Throw in underrated glue guys in DeMarre Carroll and Thabo Sefalosha, improving youngsters Dennis Schroder and Shelvin Mark, marksmen Kyle Korver and Mike Scott and, of course, the movie 300s Leonidas stunt double, Pero Antic. THIS IS ATLANTA!!! Francois: The Atlanta Hawks are for real in the Eastern Conference. They have a handful of impressive wins against Eastern Conference opponents, but the majority of those games have been ones the Hawks expect to win. To this point, the Hawks have only played one elite Western Conference team, the Spurs, and the Hawks lost in a tight road game (94-92). I dont believe well be able to get a feel for what this Atlanta team is all about until they have played some higher-level competition, which they have coming up over the next couple of weeks. Watson: Over their last 15 games, the Hawks have gone 13-2, defeating Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, New Orleans and Denver, among others. They are for real and a team in the East not to be taken lightly. Atlanta is a top-10 defensive squad, yet are eloquent on offence, moving the ball with precision where they rank second in the league in assists. Don’t sleep on them. Follow them on twitter: Will Strickland @WallStrizzle1, Duane Watson @duanewatson and Sean Francois @seanfrancois Cheap Denver Broncos Jerseys . Its great to be back for another season in Banditland, and Im looking forward to another competitive season with my teammates, said Tavares. Jerseys From China . And Richard Bachman, their rookie goalie, is facing a penalty shot a few seconds after the opening face-off. No pressure, right? Bachman stood his ground against Zack Kassian and saw the puck dribble off the Canuck rookies stick, then settled in and backstopped the Stars to a 5-2 win over Vancouver Tuesday that put Dallas in first place in the Pacific Division. http://www.cheapjerseystb.com/. The 24-year-old right winger has one assist in nine games this season with the Sabres. In his career, he has three goals and six assists in 43 NHL games. Cheap Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys .The other side of the Bruins special teams unit delivered in the end.Gregory Campbell netted the game-winner with less than 10 minutes remaining and the Bruins fended off a late four-minute San Jose power play to earn a wild 5-3 win over the Sharks. Cheap Jerseys .com) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Not even a stomach virus could derail David Prices surge. The All-Star left-hander scattered five hits in eight-plus innings to win his fourth consecutive start and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 on Sunday. Price (9-7), who had his start pushed back one day due to being ill, struck out five and walked one. He was pulled after giving up a leadoff single in the ninth to Melky Cabrera. "Everything was working," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "They werent getting comfortable swings on him. Really fun to watch." Price let the team know Saturday night that he felt good enough to pitch Sunday. He watched Saturdays game at home on TV. Because Price pitched on Sunday, he is ineligible to play in the All-Star game Tuesday night in Minnesota. His roster spot was taken by his former teammate, Seattle closer Fernando Rodney. When asked if he was disappointed about not pitching in the All-Star game, Price said yes and no. "Its always fun to be part of an All-Star game," he said. The Rays, who have won 11 of 15, got RBI singles from Logan Forsythe and Jose Molina. Jake McGee got three outs for his seventh save. "There was no let up the day before All-Star break," Maddon said. "We didnt mail anything in." R.A. Dickey (7-9) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. "Thats a perennial All-Star over there," Dickey said of Price. "You know when youre pitching against a guy like that you dont have a lot of margin for error." Toronto has not won a road series against Tampa Bay since April 2007, a span of 22 sets.dddddddddddd "Please dont ask a question about the streak in Tampa," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said as reporters entered his office after the game. Toronto has lost eight of 10 overall. Despite their recent struggles, the Blue Jays 49 wins at the All-Star break are their most since 2006. A win Sunday would have given them 50 victories before the break for the first time since 1992. The Rays took a 1-0 lead on a two-out single by Forsythe in the second. Tampa Bay went ahead 2-0 during the sixth thanks to a video replay. Yunel Escobar was thrown out trying to score from second by right fielder Jose Bautista on Molinas two-out single, but the call was overturned. Evan Longorias seventh-inning sacrifice fly made it 3-0. Dickey worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third by striking out Brandon Guyer and getting a flyball from Escobar. The Rays are hitting .181 (13 for 72) with the bases loaded this season. NOTES: Tampa Bay activated McGee from the paternity list and optioned RHP Jeremy Hellickson to Double-A Montgomery. Hellickson is coming back from right elbow surgery in January, and the move will allow him to pitch Monday during the All-Star break. Maddon said Hellickson make a second start in the minors next weekend. ... Rays C Ryan Hanigan (sore left side) sat out his third consecutive game, while CF Desmond Jennings (bruised left knee) missed his second straight. ... Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes singled in the sixth and has a nine-game hitting streak. ' ' '