Handel -Welt 1 » year and back to .500 on the

TORONTO - Wisely, the Raptors downplayed the importance of an early-season litmus test ahead of Thursdays nationally televised contest with the new and improved Chicago Bulls. I would say yes, admitted Dwane Casey, asked if the Bulls would be their best opponent so far, following morning shoot-around. I would say they are. Just because Derrick Rose is an all-star, Pau Gasol is an all-star, just the amount of talent they have accumulated. Weve got to come out and play our game for 48 minutes. This game doesnt make or break your season, win or lose [but] weve got to come out and establish the way we are going to play. They did for 24 minutes. Barely a second more. Thats one game in the marathon, Casey continued to stress moments after the buzzer sounded on Torontos 100-93 loss. If we had won it, it wouldnt have made [our season]. We lost it and it doesnt break our season. So we learn from it [and] we move on. Theres a lot to learn out of this game, the type of game that you have to play to play at that level. In the end, it turned out to be more of a lesson than a test. To compete with the big boys, the elite teams in the NBA - to which Chicago is among - they cant live like this. You cant lose focus for even a few minutes, let alone an entire quarter. Leading by seven at intermission, and with the US spotlight focused on them, the Raptors looked like a team out of Chicagos league in the third quarter. Going into the game they had not scored fewer than 20 points in any single quarter this season. On Thursday, the Bulls bested them 35-14 in the third, effectively ending the game 12 minutes before it became official. We withstood their punches in the first half but in the third quarter they got us on our heels and we stayed on our heels, Casey said. You know thats the kind of game youre going to have against them. Its a hard game to officiate and its a hard game to play but youve got to make a muscle and fight through the physicality, the bumps, the grind. And we didnt meet that challenge in the third quarter. Its a four-quarter game and that third quarter did us in. The Raptors offence - crisp in the second frame when they shot 55 per cent - went dormant in the third. Chicagos trademark physicality forced Toronto out of its comfort zone. They shot just 29 per cent while the Bulls, led by the veteran savvy of Gasol, hit 12 of their 18 attempts from the field. I think we just didnt play our game from start to finish, said Kyle Lowry, who had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, pacing Toronto in all three categories. We played our game in spurts tonight. Not surprisingly, Lowry put the team on his shoulders in the fourth, scoring eight points and cutting the deficit - once 18 - to five in the closing minutes. But it was too late. The Bulls got 20 or more from three starters. Gasol was unstoppable in a throw-back performance, pouring in 27 points on 19 shots to go along with 11 rebounds. Jimmy Butler scored 21 and held DeMar DeRozan to 10 points on 3-of-17 shooting, another frustrating evening for the Raptors guard. And Rose looked like his old self, primarily in the second half, where he scored 13 of his 20 points before exiting late in the game with a hamstring injury. With the game airing on TNT - the first time theyve hosted a Thursday contest on the network since 2002 - the Raptors were over-matched. They suffered their first home loss of the campaign and were knocked out of first place in the Eastern Conference by a Bulls team that now shares their record at 7-2. Thats a good experience for us, said Jonas Valanciunas, who played less than five minutes in the second half, struggling defensively against Gasol, after getting off to a strong start. Were coming off the win streak so thats good. Like a cold shower for us. They made a lot of tough shots. They played good tonight and we werent ready. DeRozan continues to climb Raps scoring list. It was a moment DeRozan had been looking forward to, mostly because he was tired of hearing about it. After narrowly missing the milestone in a frustrating outing against the Magic Tuesday, he wasted little time on Thursday. Fittingly, DeRozan knocked down a mid-range jumper - his bread and butter - over college teammate Taj Gibson nine minutes into the game to pass maligned forward Andrea Bargnani for third on the teams all-time scoring list, having appeared in 41 fewer games with Toronto. DeRozan had already passed Morris Peterson earlier this month in Boston. Now, hes one step closer to cementing his Raptors legacy. Only Chris Bosh and Vince Carter, first and second respectively, have scored more points in a Raptors uniform. Even at his current pace, DeRozan is still at least a couple seasons away from catching Carter and Bosh, his former teammate. Milestone aside, it was another evening to forget for the Raptors All-Star guard. He has made just seven of his last 32 shots over Torontos last two games. I mean, its fine, he said after Thursdays loss. Im not worried about it at all. These games, I understand that theyre going to happen. Ive just got to learn from it. If this was two years ago Id think it was the end of the world, but were only [nine] games in. Id rather have them games now than later on. Gabe Jackson Jersey . The San Angelo, Texas product, who was a high school and college quarterback sensation in the Lone Star State, will start his first CFL game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-4) on Friday at Mosaic Stadium against the leagues top team, the Calgary Stampeders (11-2). Justin Ellis Jersey . For the first time all night, as the Raptors were on the clock to make the 20th overall selection, no one had the slightest idea what was about to happen. No leaks, no whispers, nothing. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Fred-Biletnikoff-Draft-Jersey/ . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Kenny-Stabler-Draft-Jersey/ . The team sent out a press release on Friday stating Poile was resting and recovering and that he will remain in hospital for further observation. The Predators were preparing for the game against the Wild when Poile was hit by a puck that flew off the ice at him where he was standing in a tunnel behind the bench. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Jordy-Nelson-Draft-Jersey/ . They are back to a game above .500 on the year and back to .500 on the road. It was their 10th extra time game of the year, and only the second one that did not got to a shootout.Defending champion Spain lost a qualifying game for the first time in eight years Thursday, while England left nothing to doubt in the European Championship.Spain fell 2-1 at Slovakia in Group C for its first loss in a qualifier for the European Championship or World Cup since 2006.Paco Alcacer appeared to have sparked Spains comeback in the 82nd, only for Miroslav Stoch to catch its defence off balance with a counterattack with 3 minutes left.England had no such trouble against minnow San Marino, rolling to a 5-0 win in Group E. Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jagielka and Andros Townsend scored for England and Alessandro Della Valle added an own goal.In Group G, Sweden drew 1-1 at home with Russia.The second batch of Euro 2016 qualifiers continues through Tuesday.GROUP CSpains run of 14 away victories in qualifying was in danger from the 17th minute when Iker Casillas awakened concerns over his form that started at a disappointing World Cup.Once so reliable, Spains goalkeeper couldnt punch out Juraj Kuckas powerful free kick that flew straight at him, letting it glance off his fists and into the net.Coach Vicente del Bosque recently began a so-called renewal of Spain by bringing in new and younger players. But none of them started and Spains short-passing game built around a Diego Costa who prefers to run in open spaces was unable to finish its chances until Alcacer went on.Alcacer slipped behind defender Martin Skrtel to pull in Jordi Albas pass and level in the 82nd.But Slovakia caught Spain seeking the winner with only two defenders on the pitch as Stoch raced forward to head in Marek Hamsiks cross three minutes from time, sending the home fans into raptures.Thats football, Del Bosque said. We arent going to blame any individual players.Slovakia became the only team in Group C to win its first two games.Spain was left level on three points with Macedonia and Ukraine after they both rebounded fromm loss in their first matches.ddddddddddddMacedonias Besart Abdurahimi scored in injury time to grab a 3-2 win at home over Luxembourg, while Ukraine scored twice late to win 2-0 at Belarus.GROUP EEngland routing San Marino 5-0 was no surprise, a 60th consecutive loss for world footballs co-lowest-ranked side. But Switzerland sitting bottom with zero points after two games is surprising.Switzerland, which reached the World Cup round of 16 in Brazil, followed up last months loss to England by going down 1-0 at Slovenia. Milivoje Novakovic scored an 80th-minute penalty after Switzerland defender Johan Djourou brought down Kevin Kampl.At the top, England has a superior difference to Lithuania, which beat Estonia 1-0 on Saulius Mikoliunas late goal.At Wembley, San Marino did prevent England from scoring until the 24th minute through Jagielkas header, but Rooney extended the hosts lead before half time from the penalty spot. Welbeck and Townsend netted after the break before Della Valle scored an own goal from Rooneys cross.GROUP GRussia heads a trio of teams on four points after being held to 1-1 in Sweden. Level on points with the Russians are Austria, which beat Moldova 2-1 away, and Montenegro, which failed to defeat tiny Liechtenstein in a goalless draw.The Swedes languish in fourth with two points after the draw with Russia followed an opening-day draw in Austria. They are without a win in three competitive fixtures dating to their failed attempt to reach the World Cup.Sweden went behind after 10 minutes when Artyom Dzyuba set Alexander Kokorin free behind the Swedish defence, and the striker slotted the ball past Andreas Isaksson with a low shot from outside the box.Sweden missed a good chance to respond almost immediately when Sebastian Larssons penalty was saved by Igor Akinfeev.Toivonen brought Sweden level in the 49th, finishing from close range off a left-wing cross from Durmaz. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '