Check out my possible Flames lineup

Posted in IYH Forums by jokergreen0220 at 10:17, Sep 12 2016

NEW YORK - Sometimes a little bit of confidence goes a long way. Evan Mathis Jersey . Looking at the standings - where the Raptors sit atop the woeful Atlantic Division - wins in Dallas and Oklahoma City count just the same as less impressive victories over the 76ers and Jazz. Internally, those triumphs have meant everything to this young, impressionable Raptors team. Whether theyre facing a late-game deficit, protecting a lead, or staring down one of the leagues elite teams, the Raptors believe they can win. "It does give you confidence to know you went out and beat [some] of the best teams in the league on their home floor," Dwane Casey said before his team rallied back to defeat the division-rival Knicks, 95-83 at Madison Square Garden on Friday. "That should help us know that hey, you can do it." Having played 36 minutes of lackluster, uninspired basketball against an undermanned club that was nearly as lethargic, the Raptors looked like a team that believed, that knew they could flip on the switch when it mattered most. Trailing by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, Toronto held the Knicks to 5-of-19 shooting in the fourth, outscoring the home team 29-12 in the final frame. Once again, the Raptors showed supreme confidence in the face of adversity on the road. They found a way to win, a notable step for a franchise that has historically found creative ways to lose. "You definitely feel good once youre winning games," said DeMar DeRozan, who led the Raptors with 25 points, including eight in the pivotal fourth quarter. "You gain all the confidence game-in and game-out, especially playing all these teams, knowing we could beat them." "We understand were never out of the game until that last second runs out of the clock. It definitely helps, because last year we were in a ton of late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold, get frustrated, let a big shot frustrate us. Now we dont let any of that frustrate us." The difference is noticeable. A year ago, the Raptors were 3-36 when trailing after three quarters. Two months into the season, they already have four comeback victories. Most impressively, Toronto is the NBAs third-best fourth-quarter team in terms of point differential. Outscoring opponents by 59 points in the final period, the Raptors rank behind Indiana and Miami, the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference. “I think weve got some good closers," Kyle Lowry said after a 15-point, 11-assist performance, his 19th straight game with six or more dimes. "I think weve got guys who dont care about the moment, they just want to win games." Confidence has been the most crucial factor in the continued development of franchise centrepiece Jonas Valanciunas, who had a coming out party on the NBAs biggest stage Friday. Facing Tyson Chandler, one of the leagues toughest match-ups at his position, the Raptors sophomore registered a career-high 18 boards to go along with 16 points. Valanciunas was not fazed by the moment or his competition, he held his ground and played up to it as much or more than he has before. "JV just be all over the place," DeRozan said with a chuckle. "Sometimes weve just got to tell him to calm down. He just wants it that bad. Youve got to love having a guy like that on your team." Lowry has been as tough on the 21-year-old as anyone in the organization. Routinely reprimanding him after missed assignments or botched pick-and-rolls, even Lowry sees and applauds the growth of the Raptors prized second-year centre. "It just makes me proud because Im on him more than everybody but when he does well I congratulate him and I appreciate what he does," Lowry said of Valanciunas. "I just want to see him be the best player he can be." "Ill buy him dinner one day," the veteran point guard joked. For Valanciunas, it was a big night, whether he cares to admit it or not. The witty, albeit soft-spoken, seven footer refused to bite on questions regarding his individual performance after the game. "I was just playing my game, Im trying to help the team," he maintained. "Thats all I do every game." "Im not trying to show swagger or something. Im a simple guy and Im just trying to play hard." Like the sinking Atlantic Division itself, one of these teams was going to win this game and through three quarters, that seemed like a maddening thought. Both teams got off to a sluggish start, especially the Raptors, coming off a brief Christmas break earlier this week. Toronto shot 38 per cent from the field and committed 10 turnovers in the first half before tightening the screws in the third quarter and running away with the game in the fourth. "We were playing in mud in the first half," Casey said. "Our effort was there it was just one of those games where we couldnt get going and I think it was a little bit because of the break, coming back, trying to get things going. We turned it on in the second half and its good to be able to not play your best game and still come out with the win against a very powerful offensive team in New York." The Knicks are a sinking ship, desperately trying to stay afloat in the division for as long as injuries remain a viable excuse for their failures. Carmelo Anthony, the NBAs second-leading scorer, missed Fridays game with an ankle injury and will not travel to Toronto for the back end of a home-and-home set with the Raptors Saturday. In many ways, Fridays game was the epitome of what has become the leagues most ridiculed division. More often than not it was painful to watch. As the Knicks, last seasons division champions, were booed off their home court it became clear; these are two teams headed in opposite directions. One with more confidence than theyve had in some time, the other losing hope with each passing day. Justin Bethel Jersey . Penguins assistant Tony Granato, who stepped on the top of the side boards and in between the two head coaches, was also fined $2,500. The incident occurred at 18:57 of the third period. Fine money will go to the NHL Foundation. Alex Okafor Jersey . The 4-year-old chestnut colt worked six furlongs for a second straight week and was timed in 1:11.60, a full second faster than last Saturday. http://www.authenticcardinalsfootball.com/Youth-DJ-Humphries-Elite-Jersey/ .Y. - Artem Sergeev scored the winner shorthanded at 17:28 of the third period as the Syracuse Crunch edged the St. The Winnipeg Jets conclude the regular season schedule in Calgary tonight with an 8pm ct start against the Flames. The (36-35-10) Jets have 82 points following last nights 2-1 shootout win at home over Boston. The game tying goal by Evander Kane in the third period ended a scoring drought of 130 minutes and 54 seconds dating back to Saturdays game in Toronto. Winnipeg did not have a pregame skate this morning. The Jets road record is 18-18-4. The last time they played in Calgary, the Jets recorded a 5-2 win over the Flames. Bryan Little leads the Jets with two goals and two assists for four points in the regular season series. The Jets are 1-0-1 against Calgary earning three of a possible four points. Lance Bouma has two goals for Calgary. Winnipegg has been involved in 46 games that have been decided by one goal. Chris Johnson Jersey. Calgary and New Jersey have played the most one goal games at 48. The (35-38-7) Flames are winners of four in a row entering tonights final game on home ice. Their home ice record is 19-18-3. They close out the regular season Sunday in Vancouver. Karri Ramo will start in goal. Head Coach Bob Hartley said this morning Mike Cammalleri is a game time decision. Flames Projected Lines: Byron-Hanowski/Cammalleri-Hudler Glencross-Monahan-Colborne Van Brabant-Stajan-Galiardi Bouma-Westgarth-McGrattan Giordano-Brodie Russell-Butler Billins-Cundari The Flames have the second ranked penalty kill on home ice in the NHL entering tonights game at 88.6%. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '