ATLANTA - Coming off an opening night win at home, the Raptors take to the road, visiting the Atlanta Hawks in the first half of a weekend back-to-back set on Friday. cheap jerseys from china . The Raptors, who went 13-28 on the road a year ago, will play their first game away from the Air Canada Centre this season. Theyll play six of their next eight contests, and 19 of 33 outside of Toronto. "When you play on the road [for] so many games, you have a lot of adversity you have to fight through," said guard DeMar DeRozan, who struggled in the teams 93-87 win over Boston on Wednesday, scoring 13 points on 6-of-19 shooting. "That cant do anything but be beneficial for us, especially early on," he continued. "If we get through this little tough stretch, well be fine. Me personally, I think its a great test for us. Itll help us find our character early on." Toronto hopes to start the campaign on a winning streak, picking up where they left off when they closed last season with five consecutive victories. The Hawks return to Atlanta for their home opener after allowing the Mavericks to shoot 57 per cent in a 118-109 loss on Wednesday. "I think this team is a very offensive-minded team, a very good offensive team," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said of the Hawks, who shot 49 per cent in Dallas opening night. "The biggest change is now you have [Paul] Millsap, whos a very consistent pick and pop guy. Youve got two bigs (Millsap and Al Horford) who are not youre traditional low-post guys. Its a very versatile offensive team from that perspective." "Theyre one of the teams thats going to be knocking on that door for those last couple spots in the playoffs." After losing Josh Smith to free agency during the summer, Atlanta is turning the page with Millsap - the former Jazz forward, signed to a two-year $19 million deal in the offseason - and new head coach Mike Budenholzer. A first-year head coach, Budenholzer comes to Atlanta after 19 seasons as an assistant under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. "Hes running the same things they ran in San Antonio," Casey said of the Hawks new coach. "Hes going to do a good job because hes taken a lot of San Antonios system there to Atlanta." Trends and Tidbits Last season, the Raptors were one of four teams in the NBA - along with the Bulls, Grizzlies and Suns - to average more points and shoot a higher field goal percentage on the road than at home. However, they gave up 102.4 points per game as a visiting team, 7.4 points more than they allowed at home. Fridays game is the first half of a weekend back-to-back which concludes in Milwaukee on Saturday, the teams first of 18 back-to-backs this season. Last year, Toronto had a 6-12 record in the first game of a back-to-back and 8-10 in the second game. Kyle Korvers current streak of 74 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer is the fourth longest in NBA history behind only Dana Barros (89), Michael Adams (79) and Dennis Scott (78). Korver is shooting 46 per cent from long distance during that run and ranks sixth among active players in career three-point field goal percentage (.419). Raptors forward Steve Novak ranks second (.433). What to Watch For Battle on the boards Finishing strong defensive possessions off with a rebound was a focus for Caseys club throughout camp. Not only did they control the defensive boards in Wednesdays home opener but they dominated the offensive glass, creating extra possessions that became crucial in grinding out an ugly win. Toronto outrebounded Boston 48-33, including a 19-7 advantage on the offensive boards. Although the Celtics were more efficient, shooting 49 per cent (another area of emphasis for Casey), the Raptors attempted 20 more shots and scored 28 second-chance points. Atlantas front line is a small one, with the undersized Millsap and Horford in the middle. The Hawks were bested on the boards 42-33 on Wednesday, grabbing just five offensive rebounds. Moving the ball The Raptors managed just 15 assists to 18 turnovers on 38 field goals on Wednesday, registering just two dimes in the final quarter when the team relied heavily on isolation sets. Casey said DeRozan, and the team in general, have to do a better job of adjusting to regular season defences and passing out of double teams. "I think a lot of it is getting used to the regular season basketball," Casey said. "I think everybody has to get used to that. Its a different mentality, a different toughness. We have to adapt to it." "Teams are more aggressive, theyre more fired up." Who to Watch For Kyle Lowry Lowry, playing with a splint on his injured left ring finger, struggled with his shot in the first game, shooting just 2-of-8 from the field and 7-for-12 at the line. The Raptors point guard chalked it up to an off-night and refused to blame the injury. Although he had eight assists in the opener, hell have to be more efficient offensively and will also be tasked with slowing down Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, one of the quicker players in the NBA. Paul Millsap Coming over from Utah, Millsap scored 20 points in his Hawks debut. As Casey alluded to, Millsap is a versatile big man who can play either forward position and stretch the floor with his mid-range shooting. "Hes a silent killer," Casey said of Millsap. "Hes just a solid, old-school, hardworking guy that were really going to have to be concerned about." Amir Johnson and Tyler Hansbrough will share the responsibility of keeping Millsap contained on the pick and pop. "Hes a hell of a player," Lowry said of Millsap, both members of the 2006 draft class. "Hes an all-star calibre player. Hes tough, Im a big fan of his, Ive always been a big fan of his since his rookie year. Hes going to be a beast in the East." Injury Report Guard Lou Williams (right knee) and centre Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder) are both out for the Hawks. jerseys from china . Off-Season Game Plan looks at a Tampa Bay Lightning club that, because of all their young players, has lots of flexibility. Veteran defenceman Eric Brewer is in his mid-30s, as is winger Ryan Malone (and who knows what his future holds?), but with Sami Salo headed for free agency, and Martin St. wholesale nhl jerseys . LOUIS - Vladimir Sobotka needed just a couple shifts to return to top form Thursday night.Paris, France (SportsNetwork.com) - Fourth seed Simona Halep and former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic reached the fourth round, while one former champion moved on and another, Ana Ivanovic, exited the draw Saturday at the French Open. The Romanian Halep moved into the round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Spains Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor. Halep committed only 11 unforced errors and saved all eight break points she faced in the 64-minute affair. The 22-year-old is the highest-remaining seed in the draw following an upset- filled first week. "Thats a surprise for everyone," said Halep. "Is not easy to be the top seeded now, during the tournament. But I try just to keep ... the pressure away." The 2008 girls champion in Paris, Halep will next face 15th-seeded American Sloane Stephens, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over 22nd-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova on Day 7. Stephens has reached the second week at a major for a sixth straight time. "If I knew what the switch was or what I was supposed to do, I would probably do it every week," Stephens said. "I guess fortunately its at the Slams I play well. Not too disappointed with that." Meanwhile, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova rallied to beat fifth-seeded Czech star Petra Kvitova 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 9-7. The former Wimbledon titlist Kvitova had a 49-26 advantage in winners, but piled up 65 unforced errors, compared to 20 for her 27th-seeded counterpart. Kuznetsova is a former French and U.S. Open champ, with her title coming here in 2009. She was also a Roland Garros runner-up in 2006. A sixth-seeded Jankovic rolled along with a 6-1,, 6-2 pasting of 26th-seeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea, while 10th-seeded 2012 Roland Garros runner-up Sara Errani of Italy whipped Israeli Julia Glushko 6-0, 6-1. cheap jerseys. The former U.S. Open runner-up Jankovic will meet Errani on Monday. Czech Lucie Safarova, seeded 23rd at this fortnight, prevented a fourth-round matchup between the former French Open champions Kuznetsova and Ivanovic by defeating the 11th-seeded Ivanovic, 6-3, 6-3. Ivanovic titled here in 2008 after finishing as the runner-up in 2007. Safarova will battle Kuznetsova in her next outing. Also on Saturday, 28th-seeded German Andrea Petkovic held off Frances Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and surprising Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens doused last weeks Strasbourg, France, runner-up Silvia Soler-Espinosa of Spain, 6-2, 6-1. Mladenovic stunned second-seeded Aussie Open champ Li Na in the opening round this week. Petkovic and Bertens will square off in the round of 16. The fourth round will commence Sunday, including a match between seventh- seeded Maria Sharapova and 19th-seeded Aussie Sam Stosur. The former world No. 1 Russian star Sharapova was the French Open champion two years ago and lost to Serena Williams in last years finale. Stosur is a former U.S. Open champ who was the Roland Garros runner-up in 2010. Also on Sunday, eighth-seeded German Angelique Kerber will face 18th-seeded Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, 14th-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro will be opposed by Croat Ajla Tomljanovic and rising Spaniard Garbine Muguruza will take on Frances Pauline Parmentier. Muguruza shocked Williams in the second round here. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap soccer jerseys wholesale jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap nfl jerseys china ' ' '
