|  Wys³any: 2019-02-18 06:20:59 Temat postu: ll get his injured thumb exami
TORONTO - Set to make his Raptors debut at home to the 76ers Friday, suiting up for his fourth team in four seasons, Greivis Vasquez has one thing on his mind. Fed up with losing - hes done more than enough of it early in his career - the Raptors new point guard just wants to win. "Im tired of losing," Vasquez proclaimed, shortly after his first practice in Toronto Thursday afternoon. "I think winning just feels so much better. Im not looking be an all-star or anything else like that, right now Im just looking at how I can help my team." "Its all about fit and I think I fit in here." Vasquez, acquired from Sacramento on Monday, was the last of the four new players to arrive in Toronto after being held up in New York for two days getting his paperwork sorted out. He had every reason to be drained, but unlike his three Kings-turned-Raptors teammates a day prior, he did not show it. For him, this trade - his third since coming into the league in 2010 - is an opportunity for a fresh start, a fresh start he may or may not find in Toronto but one he desperately needs. "I just want to play," the Venezuelan-born point guard said. "I just want to be happy, I want to feel like Im enjoying what Im doing and this opportunity is probably going to get that back for me because I was struggling in Sacramento." "Hopefully I stay here for a long time, but you cant control that. Im just looking forward to the opportunity. I think this is really going to be a fresh start for me." Since playing a marginal role on the Grizzlies team that went to the Conference Semifinals in his rookie year, the 26-year-old lost 100 games in two seasons with the Hornets before being traded to the Kings this past summer. Coming off a career season, in which he averaged 13.9 points and 9.0 assists with New Orleans, placing second in most improved player voting, Vasquez never quite found his game in Sacramento. Recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Vasquez was limited in training camp with his new team and struggled, not unlike the Kings themselves, upon his return to the lineup. A class act, Vasquez was very careful to remain thankful and respectful to the Kings organization, however he was very clearly thrilled to move on. "The NBA is all about fit, how you fit with a team," he said. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt work. Unfortunately it didnt work in Sacramento, nothing against the franchise or the guys that play there." "Ive (turned) the page," he continued. "I want to play for the Toronto Raptors, I want to win a lot of games and hopefully I play my whole career here." Theres something you dont hear everyday. "Hopefully I play my whole career here," spoken by a player wearing a Raptors logo on his chest. Its a nice sentiment but a bit premature for someone whose jersey is hot off the press, for a player who hasnt yet felt the anguish of being a Raptor. Vasquez wants to win. He thinks they can and he believes they will win. That - whether by design or not - seems like wishful thinking, at least for the immediate future. Masai Ujiri has already shipped out the teams most talented, albeit most flawed player. According to multiple reports, the Raptors general manager is aggressively shopping Kyle Lowry, on the verge of sending his expiring contract to New York, or Brooklyn, or Golden State, or somewhere, wherever. The season of change has just begun but many fans, media-types, league executives and even players believe they know where this is headed. "A lot of people talk about tanking and all that," Vasquez acknowledged, asked if hes willing to be patient and wait for a time in which this team is ready to win. "Ill speak on my behalf, obviously I know players, you know players in this league, Im not going to go out there and just give the ball away and say, hey just score." "I just want to go out there and complete and whether we win or lose at the end of the day you want to feel like you gave everything." Vasquezs presence will win the Raptors a game or two this year, maybe more, whether they like it or not, whether you like it or not. And thats not a bad thing. He is both the perfect player and the perfect person for any organization looking to change their long-suffering culture. On Wednesday veteran Chuck Hayes acknowledged the Raptors long-standing reputation around the league for being a soft team. Having tough-minded players around, winning players, never hurts regardless of where you are in a rebuild. Just ask Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady what Charles Oakley or Alvin Williams meant to their careers. The likes of Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross and even DeMar DeRozan will benefit greatly from playing alongside Vasquez, regardless of whether or not that translates to unwanted victories. Auditioning for his future - hell become a free agent at the end of the season - Vasquez will increase the teams watchability. He and coach Dwane Casey have already spoken about running more pick-and-roll, music to the ears of Valanciunas and Amir Johnson, and his pass-first style of play should bring back memories of Jose Calderon. "Im not going to score 30 points a night but I can get you 10 assists a night," he said. "Its not about how much success you have as an individual. I want to win, thats the bottom line. I had a great season last year and I still got traded, youve got to do things on a winning team and thats what I want to do here." Vasquez wants to win. Whether or not he succeeds in his mission as a Raptor, embrace it and enjoy the ride. Chad Henne Chiefs Jersey .Inter Milan and Napoli also advanced to ensure there will be at least three Italian clubs in the last 32 of Europes secondary competition.Spurs victory, secured by Benjamin Stamboulis 49th-minute winner, was overshadowed by a succession of pitch invasions that forced the referee to halt the game after 41 minutes. Breeland Speaks Jersey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks recovered from a fluke goal early last time out to knock off one of the top teams in the league. http://www.chiefsauthenticofficialstore.com/authentic-dorian-odaniel-jersey.html.Martin Caceres marked his return from injury by scoring in the 3-1 win at Napoli and he believes Juventus sent out a warning to the rest of the league with that result.We go out on the pitch every game looking to give our all, Caceres said. Derrick Nnadi Jersey . The Maple Leafs may not have had a pick until the third round, but they have made the biggest move of the second day of the Draft, dealing defenceman Carl Gunnarsson and a fourth-round pick in the draft to the St. Dorian ODaniel Jersey . Mike Babcock has turned to the Montreal Canadiens goalie over Roberto Luongo, who backed Canada to a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, for Canadas final preliminary round game against the ailing Finns.MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Love is used to carrying the beat-up Minnesota Timberwolves lately. This time, he finally had some help when he sat down to take a rest. Love had 42 points and 16 rebounds, Ricky Rubio tied a franchise high with 17 assists, and the Timberwolves beat Paul George and the Indiana Pacers 104-91 on Wednesday night. J.J. Barea scored 12 points off the bench as the Wolves took control early against the Eastern Conference leaders. "This is one of my favourite wins of the season just because we played a very good team," Love said. "We did it without two key players and we fought hard." George led Indiana with 35 points, but managed just two in the fourth quarter as the Pacers lost for the third time in five games, never once taking a lead. "We just didnt have a whole lot of pop tonight," said David West, who scored four points and struggled guarding Love all night. "This is a game that I thought we would come out and play a little better than we did. We just didnt have it, just a step or two slow." It was Loves eighth straight game with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds, the longest streak since Shaquille ONeal accomplished the same feat Jan. 3-19, 2005. Love has an NBA-best 14 games with 30 points and 10 rebounds this season. "I thought a lot of the shots he made was good defence," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "You have to give him credit. He is an extraordinary player and he played an extraordinary game tonight." In their first game since the All-Star break as they try to make a late-season run and catch Golden State for the final playoff spot in the West, the Wolves came out running and led by 16 when Love came out for a rest 3 minutes into the second quarter. Minnesotas reserves have been unable to hold their ground when Love goes to the bench recently, but they did fine on Wednesday. Barea, the subject of recent trade rumours, scored eight straight points during one stretch -- including a circus shot on the fast break over C.J. Watson that increased Minnesotas lead to 20 with 6:48 left in the half. "When he gets his rest, we need other people to step up," Barea said. "Tonight, we were able to do that." Love scored 18 points in the third quarter, including a jumper from jjust inside the 3-point line with 0.dddddddddddd8 seconds left that pushed the Wolves lead back up to 10 after an Indiana run. Minnesota, playing without injured starters Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin, led by as many as 17 in the third quarter. However, with Love sitting to start the fourth, a jumper from Watson early in the quarter cut Indianas deficit to five and gave the Pacers hope. But again, Minnesotas reserves held on. Barea knocked down a jump shot in front of the Wolves bench to extend the lead back to 11 with 8:33 to play and the Wolves never looked back. "Coach came to me and said hes going to give me a little bit of a rest," Love said. "He came to me during the timeout and said These guys are rolling. I said Great, just keep them in as long as you need to. Those guys just did a great job and really stepped up and took advantage of the opportunity tonight." When Love returned, he reeled in a full-court pass from Rubio with his fingertips and slammed it home to give the Wolves a 98-84 lead. Indiana went into the All-Star break stuck in a shooting slump, but shot 50 per cent in a win over Atlanta on Tuesday. The Pacers made just 8 of 22 shots to start Wednesdays game and finished at 40 per cent. "We will reflect on this," George said. "We really didnt want to lose and drop this game. But we have to move on. Its all about the next game." George Hill finished with 13 points and Lance Stephenson had 10 despite missing his first six shots. NOTES: Wolves coach Rick Adelman on how trade rumours impact players as the deadline approaches: "I think it definitely affects them. But its all part of the business, especially now," he said. ... The Pacers are 8-7 on the second game of a back-to-back. "Not really," Vogel answered after he was asked if he, George and Roy Hibbert have caught up on rest after All-Star weekend. "Im a little more tired than usual. Im sure those guys are. But it doesnt mean anything. Still have to go out and win games." The Wolves still dont know when Pekovic or Martin will return. Adelman said Martin will get his injured thumb examined again in the next day or two. .. Wolves centre Ronny Turiaf left in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury and didnt return. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' ' |
ll get his injured thumb exami
