FIVE QUICK HOOPS THOUGHTS 1. Cheap Jerseys From China . RUDY GAY (Kings): Bottom line, it didnt work out the way Raptors fans had hoped it would. I give GM Masai Ujiri credit for recognizing that this was a contract and a playing situation that was going to hamper the development of the franchise and individual players and made his move. I love coach Mike Malone but I feel for him. Good Luck trying to get Derrick Cousins and Rudy Gay thinking about the needs of teammates when theyre such proud/competitive guys who believe they can score on anyone. I personally like Rudy Gay; hes a first-class individual who carries himself in a nice way. Hes a good man. On the court, he has some limitations and hell have loads of pressure on him in Sac-town to live up to the big money. If he cuts down on turnovers, starts to attack the basket with greater determination, tightens up his shot selection and trusts his teammates abilities and is willing to give them the ball it can work for him. A lot to ask, though. I like this trade for the Raptors; both on the court and with the cap flexibility. 2. GREIVIS VASQUEZ (Raptors): Like this addition. They have an option on him in the offseason and also could move him before the trade deadline to add another piece. Hes a guy who will give the ball up and is a nice pick and roll player. Plays with energy and enthusiasm. I have no problem if he and Kyle Lowry (he could be dealt as well with his expiring contract) play at times together on the court. Like the leadership, play-making, ball handling and passing that two lead guards give you and its a nice luxury to have. The Raptors needed to improve this area and they did. As crazy as this sounds, the Raptors could very well be better with these new four players than the previous mix. That wont go over well with Tank Nation. 3. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): Good to see him flying around the court and playing with such passion and productivity. He was awesome Sunday night in LA. He will benefit from the trade. He thrives as a roller in the screen and roll game, and hes so efficient in the lane that when you give it to him in there you feel really confident that hell make the shot. Considering all the chippies that Rudy Gay missed in the lane as well as all of his turnovers, I feel quite confident that with the redistribution of touches to guys like Johnson that Raps will have better chemistry and ball movement. Obviously, Gay is a really talented guy yet many times, less is more. 4. KOBE BRYANT (Lakers): Looked really rusty and a ways away from his normal level. Its going to take a while. Normally you dont see an eight turnover 2-9 FG percentage performance from him and I doubt youll see that in a few weeks. In time, as he gets into rhythm and in game shape, his game will gradually come back. Thats a major injury to come back from in less than eight months. Not easy, yet when I think of great players/competitors, hes at the top of the list. In 4-6 weeks from now hell be back to/close to his normal self. 5. JEFF HORNACEK (Suns): Love the job hes doing in Phoenix. His team plays really hard and they play together and share the ball. He has incorporated a style of play that suits the philosophy that theyll use in their pursuit of players that fit their model. Hes gotten complete Buy-In and has done as good a job as any coach in the league so far this season, based upon the talent at his disposal. Always really important for a fist year head coach to lay the foundation for how he wants his team to play and look. At 20 games in, he is succeeding deservedly so . Cheap Jerseys . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. Cheap MLB Jerseys . The Flames said in a release that Emmerson Stajan died on Monday following childbirth. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Katie and Matt at this difficult time," the Flames said in a statement.TORONTO - A preview of the upcoming Winter Classic is on tap Saturday night in Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Centre. Saturdays tilt is the first of four scheduled meetings between the Red Wings and Leafs this season. The next encounter will be staged outdoors, as Detroit is set to host this years Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium. Before battling in front of 100,000 or so people, however, these two Original Six rivals will get together for tonights clash in Toronto, where the Red Wings have lost four straight games since last beating the Leafs on the road on Nov. 16, 2002. Toronto has taken four of five overall from the Red Wings, who are now playing in the same division as the Maple Leafs thanks to the onset of realignment. Detroit moved from the Western Conference to the East prior to this season and joined Toronto in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings hope to stay on the right track tonight after halting a six-game losing streak in their last trip to the ice. Detroit stopped the 0-4-2 slide with Thursdays 3-2 overtime win over Calgary, as the Wings salvaged the final test of four-game homestand. Daniel Alfredsson scored his second goal of the game just 63 seconds into overtime to help the Red Wings defeat the Flames and record their first win since a road victory over New Jersey on Dec. 6. The Red Wings got a power play when Calgary defenseman TJ Brodie was whistled for hooking with 42 seconds left in regulation. On the ensuing power play, Pavel Datsyuk fed Alfredsson for a one-timer in the slot and the veteran buried a shot past Karri Ramo. "Were hanging in games and were playing some good hockey, and then all of a sudden, we have some lapses where we give the other team way too many chances," said Alfredsson. "We did that at times (tonight) too, but we grinded throughout the whole time, 60 minutes, and obviously Pavels play there at the end of regulation to draw the penalty turns out to be huge." Jonas Gustavsson made 20 saves for the Red Wings, who avoided their sixth consecutive loss on home ice. Cheap NFL Jerseys. . Detroit is playing three of its next four games on the road before hosting the Winter Classic and has a solid 10-3-3 away record this season. With regular No. 1 goaltender Jimmy Howard still out with a knee injury. Gustavsson expects to start tonight against his former team. It would mark the goaltenders first appearance against the Leafs since he joined Detroit as a free agent in the summer of 2012. In addition to Howard, forwards Henrik Zetterberg, Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm and Johan Franzen will miss tonights game due to various injuries. However, Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser is expected to return to the lineup Saturday after missing the last 15 games with a separated left shoulder. The Maple Leafs also will try for a second straight win on Saturday after halting a two-game slide of their own on Thursday. James Reimer will get the start in goal tonight. Toronto won for just the second time in six outings with a 2-1 shootout win against the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul both scored in the shootout on Thursday to help the Maple Leafs pick up two points. Van Riemsdyk slipped the puck through Mike Smiths five-hole on the backhand. Smith flew back into the net and did not allow the referees to see where the puck went. After a review, the goal was deemed to be good. Mikkel Boedker then beat James Reimer on a backhand shot, but two Toronto shooters later, Lupul lit the lamp after faking the shot and wristing the puck over the shoulder of Smith. Troy Bodie netted Torontos lone goal in regulation. Cody Franson and Peter Holland picked up the assists on the score and Reimer turned aside 34 shots for the win. "Youre always looking for someone to step up for you. Obviously our goaltending has been strong for us. Tonight was another example of James Reimer stepping up. Were very fortunate to have him," said Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. Toronto is capping a three-game homestand tonight and is 12-8-0 as the host this season. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '
