Hilfe » them. McKay said

With the NBA season fast approaching, we asked TSN NBA experts Jack Armstrong, Josh Lewenberg and Duane Watson a few burning questions about the year ahead.Today we ask, will the Toronto Raptors make the playoffs and should that even be the goal? Lewenbergs take: Whether theyre willing to admit it or not – and they wont – Playoffs are absolutely the goal this season assuming the roster stays, more or less, as is. The team is smartly tempering expectations this fall after recklessly throwing around the P-word a year ago. However, the unspoken reality is this; as long as theyre paying top dollar for this group – hovering just below the tax – and as long as theres legitimate playoff-caliber talent on the roster, which there is, they will be expected to break the franchises five-year postseason drought. Anything less would amount to another disappointing season. Of course its not that simple, with the Raptors it rarely is. If the team gets off to another slow start and/or if its opportunistic new GM decides the time is right to pull the trigger, this roster could change in a hurry, and so too could the goal. Assuming Ujiri stays the course, and assuming good health (both generous assumptions), a postseason berth is attainable in the top-heavy Eastern Conference. Barring injuries, the Easts top five (Miami, Chicago, Indiana, Brooklyn, New York) should be untouchable but 37-41 wins – a realistic expectation for the Raps – should keep them in the mix for the six-to-eight seeds with Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta and now Washington. Watsons take: Every teams goal should be to improve and compete for a championship. Despite their poor start last year, they were in the hunt for a playoff spot, with their strong finish. With a full training camp to build more chemistry, and teams getting a head start on tanking (Celtics and 76ers), the Raptors prospects are even brighter. Will they be fodder for the top team in the conference? Likely, but those are growth steps they have to take to get better; a losing franchise doesnt get better with more losses. Masai Ujiri, is evaluating what pieces will be part of the future and will make the necessary moves needed to improve the team. Hes proven he can finesse crafty deals in his favour in the past, with the Nene, Carmelo Anthony and Andrea Bargnani trades, and can do it again. Jacks take: I think the Raptors have as good a chance of making the Playoffs in slots 6-8 as any of the other Eastern Conference Teams beyond Miami, Brooklyn, Chicago, Indiana & New York. The goal every year is to win and they owe it to their wonderful/loyal fan base, season ticket holders, sponsors and, most importantly, to themselves to lay it on the line and put their best foot forward. There is so much discussion about tanking and getting a top draft pick in a deep class - I understand where some fans are coming from - but there are no guarantees in anything. After five seasons with no Playoffs, I know Im tired of watching other teams in mid-April and beyond. Youve got to be in it to win it. Jacks keys to the Raptors making the Playoffs: Good Health: The Raptors must keep the top-8 guys healthy. Backup Point Guard Play: Someone has to emerge here and Ive yet to see any sign of steady backup play here yet. Kyle Lowry might end up being like a baseball pitcher who has to throw 200+ innings in a season. If that is the case, so be it. Id rather a guy burn out any day. Improved 3-point shooting and 3-point defending: It goes both ways. The Raptors just need to be respectable shooting from distance and just as important: they must limit the clean looks and number of threes from their opponents. Defensive Identity: Dwane Casey can coach/teach X&O Defense with great success. I have faith it that. The key is for this team to be consistent with its effort and attention to detail in this category and limit the silly fouls that give up easy points. Be fundamentally sound. Aggressive yet smart. Sophomores: Jonas Valanciunas and Terence Ross have to make that next step in their games. There is a major investment in these guys and the talent is there. They need to produce with consistency. Heavy Minutes for the Starters: Every chance I get Im playing my starters in all the prime moments of every game. Its kind of like double shifting your stars in Hockey. The key is Game Night and Winning. If that means 40+ minutes for your starters some nights and giving them down time on practice days, so be it. Guys love the games and hate practices anyway. Players 6-15 on the roster have to be doing something very good to stay on the floor for an extended time. At the very least 2-3 starters should always be on the floor with the reserves to maintain a high level. People criticize Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau for over-using his prime guys. I love it. Less is more in my book. If youre tired, too bad, rest in the spring time. I love what Dwane Casey did in the last three weeks of the season last year, he loaded up his better players with increased minutes. For this team to be a playoff team, the starters have to play longer. Situational Basketball: Lots of games will come down to the fourth Quarter and the final three minutes. The Raps struggled in this area for a variety of reasons last season. This has to become a strength. Dwane Casey and his staff have spent good time on this and I think this area will improve this season. Having Rudy Gay in the defining moments of a game for a whole season will help. The little details have to be executed well. Winning Early in the Season: Every game early is big. The Raptors need to get off to a good start. They need to develop a winning cushion of being a few games above .500 rather than below. Last Years 4-19 struggle to open the year cant happen. Ask Jays fans: Lousy Spring and youve dug yourself a big hole vs. the Red Sox start--look where they ended up. Im not sure how good the Toronto Maple Leafs really are, but theyve already developed the cushion and thats huge. Believe me--you win early and the referees look at you differently and you start getting the benefit of the doubt unlike last year when every defining call went against them. You make your own breaks. In the words of Al Davis, Just Win Baby. Easier said than done. Cheap Jordans Nz . The day began ominously for the Rangers when star pitcher Yu Darvish was scratched from his scheduled start with stiffness in his neck. Fill-in Scott Baker gave up three hits over six innings and Chris Gimenez hit a tiebreaking two-out RBI single in the sixth off Phil Hughes. Retro Jordans Nz . JOHNS, N. http://www.airjordannz.com/ .com) - The Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors are back in the great white north for a brief moment and will host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night from Air Canada Centre. Cheap Air Jordan Nz . MacIntyre stopped 49 shots and the Marlies defeated the Texas Stars 5-1 in Game 1 of the American Hockey Leagues Western Conference final. "I felt in control, so that was nice," MacIntyre said. Real Jordan Shoes Cheap . Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, the bandleader of the beard brigade during Bostons run to the 2013 World Series title, said he will be shaving his off before spring training so that he can file it "in the archive" with his memories of the teams improbable championship.Roger Goodell doesnt want to stand pat with the PAT. Hes suggesting potential changes in the extra point that, well, might have some legs. The NFL commissioner says the extra point kick after touchdowns, which had a success rate of nearly 100 per cent, is too automatic. Sure is. And with few teams attempting 2-point conversion plays until desperation hits late in games, the old 1-pointer from 20 yards is the way coaches go. All that does is draw yawns. So Goodell wonders if the league can add excitement by making some major adjustments to the extra point, suggesting perhaps making a touchdown worth seven points instead of six, with teams having the option to run a play for another point. But failing on that play would cost them a point. Gimmicky, for sure. But if Goodell likes the idea ... A look at how changes to the extra point would affect football: HOW AND WHO? Passing any changes to the playing rules in the NFL is, unlike the extra point kick, no snap. The competition committee meets with the players union at the NFL combine in February, where any new proposals or ideas are discussed. Its not unusual for the players to have input in potential adjustments, as they did recently on defenceless player penalties. The powerful committee, chaired by Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, meets for about a week in early March and comes up with any proposals, whether from the teams or union or, yes, the big boss. At the league meetings later in March, the committee presents potential changes for discussion by all 32 owners, who can either vote on them or table them. McKay said Tuesday: "We do anticipate the topic being discussed." KICKING AROUND? The idea of toying with the extra point is not entirely new. John Mara, owner of the New York Giants and among the most influential members of the competition committee, says "it came up for brief discussion in past meetings, but no action was taken." It took the NFL years to come around on the 2-point conversion, which can be a pass or run play from the 2-yard line -- and under Goodells apparent preference, could be worth one point if the kick is eliminated. The 2-pointer existed in the old AFL from 1960-69, and college football has had it since 1958. But it was defeated several times in NFL owners votes before it passed in 1994 as part of a package of changes to help the offences.dddddddddddd YEA AND NAY Coaches will hate any changes, particularly ones that would mean more decisions for them to make. They so rarely go for the 2-pointers until the fourth quarter, and are reluctant to do so then because, well, theres nothing automatic about those attempts. Indeed, less than half (33 of 69) worked in 2013. "I will say this: Since 2000, I believe, over 99 per cent of the extra points are made," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "Its almost a given that it is going to be made. Im sure that the competition committee will address it. As a coach you have to play how the rules are." Short-yardage backs such as All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert of Carolina shouldnt mind the elimination of PAT kicks. Nor should running quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton, whose improvisational skills would be a huge advantage. Kickers? They probably will shrug and practice their field goals -- which is what they normally do regarding extra points anyway. WHO STAYS, AND WHY Rosters would get slight revamping, with teams likely keeping at least one power back active every week and having two on the roster. Often, those guys also play on special teams, so their presence wouldnt throw a lineup out of whack. PRACTICE WONT MAKE PERFECT Teams would work even more on their short-yardage packages, beginning in training camp. They would use their PAT offences in other situations on the field in games, too. While going for a fourth-and-2 near midfield is less rare than it once was, it might become all the more common when coaches know the more times they attempt such plays, the more seasoned their players will be when trying for the extra points. WILL IT HAPPEN? Its impossible to gauge the owners thinking, and a three-quarters majority is needed to pass any rules changes. "I know a lot of times when were at owner meetings, those things are brought up, and its great when youre in those meetings because you hear all the different opinions that are brought up with that," Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. "Im sure there will be discussions about that. Im excited about hearing all those." Goodell doesnt get a vote. Then again, it sounds like he already has cast his. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '