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Geregistreerd op: 07 Mrt 2018 Berichten: 510

TORONTO - The Raptors locker room was unnervingly quiet Friday evening, about how you would expect it after the implausible ending that sealed the teams fate in a double-overtime disaster. Mario Addison Jersey . In the back corner sat an inconsolable John Salmons, the elephant in the room. Facing his locker, Salmons slouched forward in his chair, his head down in his hands and a long black towel draped over him. One by one his teammates came over to comfort him, patting him on the back and offering words of encouragement. He didnt move. He remained in that position, perfectly still for over 30 minutes. They win as a team and they lose as a team, but Salmons felt the brunt of it on this night. What seemed like a sure victory late in the second overtime period began to unravel when an exceptional player made an exceptional shot. With the Raptors up by eight, 49 seconds away from an improbable victory and season-sweep of the 50-win Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant banked in a 27-foot three-point jumper. Following another Thunder three - this one courtesy veteran assassin Derek Fisher - Salmons threw away an inbounds pass on the baseline, only to break up Durants runner and get sent to the line. With less than 10 seconds remaining, now up two, Salmons clanked both free throws, paving the way for the leagues leading scorer to do what he does best. Break hearts. "Great players make great plays," Dwane Casey said of Durant, moments after his 31-foot pull-up dagger gave the Thunder a 119-118 victory. Since coming over from Sacramento in December, Salmons has been praised for his poise and veteran savvy late in games, many of which hes helped them win. This was not his finest hour. "Hes a veteran (and) in those situations youve got to believe in him, that hes going to make those free throws," Casey said of Salmons, playing in place of Terrence Ross, who left the game with a hip contusion. "We had to go with John in that situation. Hes been one of our best defenders in that situation, but its not just one guy." The Raptors, now 1-6 in OT this season, need to close out these types of games. Salmons needs to be better down the stretch, they know it and so does he. It was three months ago, almost to this day that the Raptors pulled off their most impressive win of the season, a 104-98 victory in Oklahoma City. Coming off an OT win in Dallas a couple days prior and trailing by as many as 10 in the fourth, Toronto shocked the Thunder, who were undefeated at home at the time. "It helped kick start us going forward," Casey said of that night. "It helped our chemistry, it helped our togetherness it helped blend in the old and the new guys together." It would not have happened if not for Salmons. The 12-year vet spearheaded his new teams comeback, scoring nine points in the final quarter. After the game his teammates raved about his leadership and calming effect on the floor. Kyle Lowry gave him the game ball. Like Patrick Paterson - still out with an injured elbow - Greivis Vasquez, who was spectacular before fouling out Friday, and Chuck Hayes, Salmons fingerprints are all over the teams resurgence and that should not be forgotten, internally or externally. The Raptors proved something to themselves in OKC that night. They proved that they belonged. Three months later, clinging onto the Easts third seed and top spot in the Atlantic Division, they fell just short of proving something to everybody else. For whatever reason the franchise and its fan base has been battered by losses of the devastating variety to the point in which theyre almost immune to them. Toronto has lost 10 straight overtime games at home, an NBA record. "It does (hurt)," Casey admitted, "but we cant let it." "We cant let this game (give us a) hangover. (Its) a big learning experience for our guys. Youre playing with one of the top teams in the league, one of the top players... and you give yourself a chance to win in (double) overtime." KD the magnificent It seems impossible to fathom that Friday once started off as a slow night for Durant. The Thunder forward made just three of his 12 first-half shots but once Russell Westbrook went down in the third quarter - colliding with Lowry and spraining his surgically repaired right knee - Durant, with the help of some generous officiating, completely took over. Durant scored 51 and finished with 12 rebounds and seven assists, getting to the line 19 times and extending his streak of 25 or more points to 34 games, longest since Michael Jordans 40-game run in 1986-87. Amirs memorable game Playing in his 500th career contest, Amir Johnson nearly willed his team to victory. The Raptors forward recorded a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds, connecting on 12 of his 19 shots in 50 minutes of action. He also spent the bulk of the second half guarding Durant, per his own request made after Ross exited with the hip injury. "It was tough, man," he said, asked about defending the leagues leading scorer. "Hes my height, out there shooting from half court. Theres not too much you can do but double team that." "He did a great job," Casey added. "I felt for him. Hes hurt. He was all over him, draped over him. (Durant) made a tough shot. Theres nothing Amir did wrong." The stat For the first time since Jan. 13, 2013, the Raptors had four players score 20 or more points. Along with Johnson, DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 33 points, hitting all but one of his 16 free throws, while Lowry added 25 and Vasquez scored 21 off the bench. The quote "We couldnt go another overtime," Durant said. "I had to live with whatever happened. You had to get out of there. I wasnt trying to go to another overtime. I pulled up for it, it looked good when it left my hands and God guided that thing to the basket, man. That was the craziest game Ive ever been a part of." Julius Peppers Jersey . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena. Sam Mills Jersey . According to the Globe and Mail, a decision between the NHL and the Players Association should come within the six months. "I can tell you, (a decision) shouldnt take all that long," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail. http://www.nflpanthersgearofficial.com/greg-olsen-jersey/ .com) - Rajon Rondo turned in a game-high 21 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists as Dallas claimed a 102-98 win over the Lakers on Friday.Glen Ella says England are determined to show against Australia that northern hemisphere attacks are not limited. Former Wallaby full-back Ella has been installed as the Grand Slam champions skills coach for the three Tests that begin in Brisbane on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.He was approached to take up the position by Eddie Jones - a friend since the pair were five and a former Randwick team-mate - during the Six Nations. The 57-year-old has been entrusted with the task of adding a new dimension to England, while acting as a sounding board to players keen to learn from a respected voice in the game.England and their Six Nations counterparts are derided by some in the southern hemisphere for their reliance on the set-piece at the expense of the vision and guile associated with Australia and New Zealand. England skills coach Glen Ella believes he can make progress with the team over a short period of time in Australia Ella, however, is reminded of the emergence of Wallabies greats such as George Gregan and Matt Giteau when working with the players he must now help guide to victory over his homeland.He said: Its definitely the perception down here of England playing a structured game and we want to prove that wrong. These guys are good, theyve got great skills.In Australia they dont give any credit to the northern hemisphere. They think Super Rugby is much better than the Six Nations. While some of that could be true, its up to us to prove that its not. Eddie Jones will put his unbeaten record as Englands head coach to the test against Australia this summer England are coming down here to test themselves. In a couple of years time, they want to be the best in the world. With Eddie behind them I think theyve got a good chance.To do that theyve got to play the southern hemisphere teams and thats just the way it is. Their skill levels are really good. Ive been really impressed with the squad in general.Their work ethic is fantastic. Theyre a young squad, they want to learn and they want to win. Its similar to whenn the likes of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham were coming through the system. Christian McCaffrey Jersey. I was assistant to Rod Macqueen in 2000 and 2001 and then to Eddie in 2003. The likes of Matt Giteau were coming into the system. England train for the first time in Brisbane as they prepare for their three-match Test series against Australia The England players are similar because theyre young, they want to learn and they want to be successful.Ella has only agreed an initial three-week contract but is confident of producing results quickly and he added: Its only for the tour I dont want to think about doing anything elseLets hold on until after the tour and well go after that. Weve had two field sessions and during one it was pouring with rain. On Monday was the first time weve had a good blow-out.The impact is minimal at this stage but hopefully, come the third Test, theyll be switched on and moving. You do need time to change. Youre not going to make massive increments over one session.Im just helping the guys along at this stage, giving them some hints, having a look at their running lines and adjusting them as I see fit.I hope I can have some influence so that by the time they come to Sydney theyll be playing the way Eddie wants them to play. Also See: Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Fixtures and results China Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys China Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap Jerseys Online ' ' '