s traded him to Clevel

Posted in IYH Forums by jokergreen0220 at 08:26, Nov 19 2016

(SportsNetwork.com) - There were plenty of headline-grabbing transactions during the summer with all the major free agent news, highlighted by LeBron James return to Cleveland. We also had the big trade between the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks that resulted in Tyson Chandler going back to where he played a huge role in the Mavs winning their only NBA championship. But there was one deal that drew very little attention and Im guessing not much of a reaction from NBA fans, but it surely has been a huge boost for a defending division champ and a trade that can only be called a major steal at this point. Thats what you call the deal the Toronto Raptors made with the Atlanta Hawks, as they traded a way-past-his-prime John Salmons and a second-round draft pick for Lou Williams along with 21-year-old center Lucas Nogueira. The addition of the nine-year veteran Williams has upgraded the Raptors bench significantly and gives them one of the deepest and most talented backcourts in the league. The 27-year-old suffered a torn ACL in January 2013 and is now only back to the player he was before the injury, and hes played a big role in helping put Toronto atop the East with a 19-6 record. Hes been more than weve expected, coach Dwane Casey said. I knew he was an excellent player, but you go in with reservations coming off the injury. Hes back 100 percent now from injuries. Hes fully healed. Hes stronger from it, so hes been a pleasant plus for us this year. In regards to Williams offensive game, Casey says hes a born scorer, but the big surprise has come at the other end of the floor. One area that was really highly unexpected was his defense, Casey said. Its huge. I was shocked. There were all these stories about, Hes a scorer off the bench, but hes been one of our solid defenders on our second unit - being in right position in the schemes, understanding schemes, being in the right place, pushing the ball as a quasi-point guard/ballhandler - but he has been a great teammate. Williams is averaging 14.6 points in 22.5 minutes per game, and even earned an Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor in November in helping the Raptors go 3-0. During that stretch, he averaged 23.7 points in just 22 minutes per game, which included a huge game in Cleveland as the Raptors routed the Cavaliers. He scored 36 points in 29 minutes, shooting 9-of-19 from the floor, including 3-of-8 on 3-pointers, and an eye-opening 15-for-15 from the foul line. The former second-round pick (45th overall) of the Sixers in 2005 has had five games of at least 20 points, and all of them have come in wins for the Raptors. Its amazing how he can go out there and run off the points he can in the short amount of time hes out there, said teammate DeMar DeRozan, who has been sidelined the last nine games as he recovers from a torn tendon in his left groin. The energy with the second unit is definitely amazing. Thats something that was lacking last year and we got a lot better this year and I think thats why were able to close out a lot of games this year that we couldnt last year. Williams presence has certainly eased the impact of DeRozans absence. The Raptors are 6-3 without their All-Star guard, with Williams doing his share to pick up the slack. In those six wins, hes averaged 17.6 points, including a pair of 26-point outings. The road back from his torn ACL was a long, grueling process for Williams, and one in which he wasnt sure hed ever be the same player. But those thoughts can now be put to rest. When youre sitting there and you have a cast on and wheelchair and crutches and cant lift your leg up, you cant ride a bike, you cant run, you cant jog, obviously theres going to be some doubt there, Williams said. Two years later, its great to see some fruits of the labor, to feel myself back to 100 percent, being back healthy and having some success. PARKER INJURY CHANGES ROOKIE RACE Speaking of a player tearing his ACL, what terrible news came out of Milwaukee late Tuesday night regarding Bucks rookie Jabari Parker. He will be out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, which he suffered on Monday in Phoenix in a win over the Suns. Parker was the clear-cut leader for the NBAs rookie of the year, but now the award is up for grabs, in what is probably the weakest field Ive ever seen. I think the Chicago Bulls Nikola Mirotic has been the second-best rookie, and despite the fact that he doesnt start and play as many minutes (17.8 per game) as some of his competitors such as Andrew Wiggins (30.8 per game) and Nerlens Noel (30.4 per game), I think he deserves serious consideration for contributing to a winning situation rather than guys who may have bigger numbers but play for really bad teams. <a href="http://www.baseballgreet.com/Texas-Rangers-Joey-Gallo-Jersey/">Texas Rangers Joey Gallo Jersey</a>.com) - The surging Montreal Canadiens will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the Florida Panthers for Saturdays clash at BB&T Center. <a href="http://www.baseballgreet.com/St-Louis-Cardinals-Mike-Shannon-Jersey/">St. Louis Cardinals Mike Shannon Jersey</a>.com) - The University of Montana named Bob Stitt as its new head football coach on Tuesday. <a href="http://www.baseballgreet.com/Toronto-Blue-Jays-Devon-Travis-Jersey/">http://www.baseballgreet.com/Toronto-Blue-Jays-Devon-Travis-Jersey/</a>. LaQuinton Ross scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting his first four 3-pointers, to send No. <a href="http://www.baseballgreet.com/Baltimore-Orioles-Matt-Wieters-Jersey/">Baltimore Orioles Matt Wieters Jersey</a>. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stood tall with 41 saves between the pipes, but it was defenceman Ryan McDonagh who got the first star of the game as he had a goal and an assist and now has two goals and four assists for six points in two games. <a href="http://www.baseballgreet.com/St-Louis-Cardinals-Matt-Holliday-Jersey/">St. Louis Cardinals Matt Holliday Jersey</a>. The commissioners office said Friday that Sears tested positive for metabolites of Methandienone. Sears will be 23 in March. He signed with the Braves in June 2013 out of Arizona Christian, an NAIA school, and is on the roster of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves.CHICAGO - Hassan Whiteside bounced around the NBA Development league and played in China and Lebanon, hoping NBA teams were keeping tabs and would give him an opportunity.He was in Charlotte, working out at the downtown YMCA, a few months ago. He then got his chance with the Heat and hes making the most of it.Whiteside had an unconventional triple-double with a team-record and career-high 12 blocks to go with 14 points and 13 rebounds to help Miami beat the sluggish Chicago Bulls 96-84 Sunday.Its a blessing. Like I told my teammates, you wont believe how things work out in life, said Whiteside, who signed with Miami in late November. Three months ago I was at the downtown Y just chilling, working on my game. I couldnt get a team to pick up the phone.On Sunday, he made the Bulls miserable. His teammates did their part, too.Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, and Chris Bosh finished with 20.Luol Deng scored 15 in his return to Chicago. Mario Chalmers had 15 points, and the Heat squashed whatever momentum the Bulls appeared to be building after beating San Antonio and Dallas.Miami led by 10 at halftime, 12 going into the fourth quarter and remained in control the rest of the way.Wade and Bosh came through with strong performances. Deng had 10 rebounds and four assists in his first game at the United Center since the Bulls traded him to Cleveland last season. And Whiteside wreaked all kinds of havoc in just 24 minutes after missing two games with a sprained right ankle.Pau Gasol had 13 points and 17 rebounds for Chicago, giving him 50 over the past three games. Derrick Rose scored 19 for Chicago but missed all six 3-pointers.Aaron Brooks scored 17. But Chicago fell to 13-11 at home.It was certainly not what the Bulls had in mind after handing the Spurs their most lopsided loss of the season Thursday in Chicago and then winning at Dallas the following night. Those two wins on the heels of a 2-6 slide seemed like strong signals they were coming around. But this was a bbig step back.dddddddddddd Worse, the Bulls are staring at a tough six-game trip that starts Tuesday at Golden State.I dont know if theres a straight explanation for it, Gasol said. We understand the importance of every game, especially here at home. Were trying to get ourselves going, get in some kind of rhythm but we havent been able to do it yet.The Bulls were within 83-76 after Brooks four-point play with 6:36 left in the game. But the Heat stayed in control thanks to three dunks by Whiteside in about a two-minute span.That spree started with an alley-oop from Chalmers and continued with a dunk over Gasol off a feed from Deng to make it an 11-point game.Whiteside then answered a layup by Chicagos Taj Gibson with another dunk, his third in about a two-minute span.What hes doing is, of course, more than I expected, Bosh said. But I kinda saw the fit (after he signed). Hes just playing at a high level right now. I just want him to stay grounded, just continue to work.COMING HOMEIt was an emotional day for Deng, who was back at the United Center for the first time since the Bulls traded him to Cleveland last year. He spent his first nine-plus seasons in Chicago.I have so many friends here, Deng said. Youve got everyone (on) your phone (saying) I cant wait to see you. Its a lot of distractions at the same time, but its also exciting.The Bulls honoured Deng with a video tribute, showing clips of his time in Chicago, during a timeout in the first quarter.TIP-INSHeat: Whitesides 12 blocks were the most in the NBA this season. His previous career high was five blocks. ... Bosh scored his 16,000th career point in the first quarter.Bulls: Chicago was again without Mike Dunleavy Jr., who missed his 13th straight game because of a right ankle injury. The Bulls keep saying hes close to returning, but coach Tom Thibodeau said he is just not comfortable enough to be in a game.UP NEXT:Heat: Host Milwaukee on Tuesday.Bulls: Visit Golden State on Tuesday. <a href="http://www.cheapjerseysnflchina.net/">Wholesale Jerseys</a> ' ' '