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TORONTO - Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas is not going to sneak up on anybody in his second NBA season. Hes no longer the Raptors ace in the hole. Hes a known commodity and the league has been paying attention. If youve waited this long to hop on the bandwagon, you may be too late. Its already nearing capacity. Valanciunas, a member of last seasons All-Rookie Second Team, was recently voted the international player most likely to have a breakout campaign in NBA.coms annual GM survey. Expectations are sky-high for the sophomore, and for good reason. Sometimes its easy to forget hes only 21 years old. "Hes still learning," head coach Dwane Casey said of the Lithuanian following the teams second-to-last practice before Wednesdays season opener. "His is a growing process. Hes not there [yet], he wasnt there last year [and] hes still growing this year." Caseys reminder is an important one. For all he accomplished in his first season as a 20-year-old learning the NBA game and mastering a new language, for all the work he put in and the strength he put on during a busy summer, he still has work to do. With the rest of the league - including several elite Eastern Conference centres - zeroing in on him, the learning curve wont get easier. The hope, for Casey and the Raptors, is that hes better prepared for whats to come now that he has a full year under his belt. "Its my second year and its easier because its kind of the same thing as last year," a more comfortable and noticeably more confident Valanciunas said Monday. "[Its the] same coach [and] same defence so Im familiar with the schemes." "I just think his confidence is up," said teammate Landry Fields, whos also going into his second year with the Raptors. "Hes playing a lot more comfortably out there and the chemistry he has with the first group is that much better as well." As a rookie, Valanciunas averaged 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in 62 games, including 57 starts. In a season loaded with the peaks and valleys expected from any young big man - specifically on the defensive end - he finished strong, scoring in double figures in 17 of the final 19 contests while showing positive growth as a defender when paired with Amir Johnson. After earning MVP honours at the Las Vegas Summer League and helping guide Lithuania to a second-place finish in FIBAs Eurobasket tournament, Valanciunas has been asked to focus on his continued growth as the anchor of Caseys defence in training camp. Part of that process began in the offseason when he put on approximately 10 pounds in added muscle and is now predicated on his wherewithal to use it the right way. In addition to improved balance, to avoid some of the "silly fouls" he picked up last season, Casey and the coaching staff have worked with Valanciunas on his vertical jump. The goal, Casey says, is for Valanciunas to defend the paint and contest shots in the lane by going straight up, without reaching in or coming down with his hands. "The officials have to know hes going straight up every time, thats his game," the Raptors coach said, stressing the importance of consistency in Valanciunas approach. "If you get that reputation [then] you dont get the cheap fouls so hes got to earn that reputation of verticality." "Were working every day," Valanciunas said of the technique. [It] still needs work but were working and I hope [Im] going to be good [at] that." "Thats the challenge he has," Casey continued, "is doing it every night." Internally, the Raptors know theyll need to remain patient with the young centre regardless of the second-year expectations they have - and the rest of the league has - for him. "The game is so fast for a young player that youve got to process [the little things] probably in about a three- or four-second period of time," Casey pointed out. "Hes still learning that." "Theres days, theres possessions [where] hes great at it and theres possessions that he has no clue what hit him. Every young player goes through it, hes going through it and hes [still] a work in progress." No ones expecting the adjustment hell need to make in year two to be easy, it wasnt in year one, but Valanciunas has made believers out of the Raptors organization with his dedication and unrelenting work ethic. "I like his approach," Casey said, praising his young centre. "I like his attitude. He doesnt give up [and] he continues to work at it but its something he has to learn and something he has to go through." It wont happen overnight but Casey and the Raptors are expecting big things from Valanciunas. As the start of his second season approaches, the league watches with anticipation. How good will he be and how long will it take for him to get there? Stephen Tulloch Lions Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Graham Glasgow Lions Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. http://www.authenticnfllionslockroom.com/Youth-Kyle-Van-Noy- Elite-Jersey/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Matt Prater Lions Jersey . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Darrin Walls Lions Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle.ERIE, Pa. - Connor Brown extended his lead atop the Ontario Hockey League scoring race as the Erie Otters doubled up the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 6-3 on Friday. Brown, a Toronto Maple Leaf prospect, scored three times and added an assist, increasing his season totals to 31 goals and 92 points in 44 games. Brendan Gaunce, Quentin Maksimovich and Michael Curtis also scored for the Otters (35-7-2). Connor McDavid had four assists while Adam Pelech chipped in with three. Mikko Vainonen, Robert Polesello and Samuel Schutt scored for the Frontenacs (24-16-4), who dropped their fourth game in a row. Eries Oscar Dansk made 26 saves as Kingstons Matt Mahalak stopped 29-of-35 shots in a losing cause. The Otters were 3-for-3 on the power play while the Frontenacs scored twice on seven chances with the man advantage. Eries Dane Fox is second to Brown in scoring with 82 points in 44 contests. --- WOLVES 1 WHALERS 0 PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Franky Palazzese earned his fifth shutout of the season as Sudbury blanked the Whalers for its fifth win in six outings. Palazzese turned aside 34 shots for the Wolves (25-10-7) while Nicolas Baptiste scored the games only goal at 7:01 of the first period. Alex Nedeljkovic made 34 saves for Plymouth (16-22-5), including 20 in the second period. The Whalers are now 8-9-3 on home ice. --- GREYHOUNDS 6 STING 2 SARNIA, Ont. -- Tyler Gaudet and Bryan Moore each had a goal and an assist as Sault Ste. Marie earned its fifth win in a row by downing the Sting. Tyler Hore, Blake Speers, Jared McCann and Patrick Watling also scored for the Greyhounds (31-10-5). Daniel Nikandrov and Nikita Korostelev scored for Sarnia (14-24-5). Brandon Halverson made 22 saves for Sault Ste. Marie while Taylor Dupuis turned away 36-of-42 shots for the Sting. --- STORM 4 RANGERS 1 KITCHENER, Ont. -- Guelph used its power play against the Rangers to pick up its fourth win in a row. Robby Fabbri, Brock McGinn and Scot Kosmachuk scored with the man advantage for the Storm (33-8-3) while Matt Finn scored even strength. Justin Nichols made 28 saves for the victory. Kitchener (15-27-2) gott its goal from Dominik Kubalik while Jordan DeKort turned away 17-of-21 shots in a losing cause.dddddddddddd Guelph went 3 for 3 on the power play as the Rangers 0 for 5. --- SPIRIT 3 KNIGHTS 1 LONDON, Ont. -- Jake Paterson made 59 saves, including 29 in the third period, as Saginaw toppled the Knights for its fifth straight victory. Justin Kea scored twice for the Spirit (21-17-5) and Dylan Sadowy had the other. Bo Horvat scored the lone goal for London (29-10-5) while forward Ryan Rupert was stopped on a penalty shot in the first period. Anthony Stolarz started in net for the Knights, but left the game three minutes into the first period with an injury. Jake Patterson replaced Stolarz and stopped 26-of-28 shots in relief. --- BATTALION 4 STEELHEADS 1 MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Nick Paul scored once and set up two more as North Bay defeated the Steelheads. Alex Henriksson, Ben Thomson and Zach Bratina also scored for the Battalion (22-17-6) and Vincent Praplin had two assists. Nick Zottl scored for Mississauga (16-26-4), which dropped its fifth game in a row. Jake Smith made 24 saves for North Bay. Dawson Carty stopped 24 shots for the Steelheads. --- BULLS 5 67s 2 OTTAWA -- Niki Petti and Jake Worrad scored 17 seconds apart to spark a third-period comeback as Belleville handed the 67s their third straight defeat. Stephen Harper, Jordan Subban and Cameron Brace also scored for the Bulls (13-26-4), who trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes before scoring four unanswered goals. Erik Bradford scored both goals for Ottawa (14-24-4). Bellevilles Charlie Graham made 28 saves for the win. Philippe Trudeau gave up five goals on 29 shots for the 67s. --- GENERALS 5 ATTACK 2 OSHAWA, Ont. -- Scott Laughton had two goals and two assists as the Generals beat Owen Sound. Cole Cassels also had a pair of goals for Oshawa (28-12-4) and Mitchell Vande Sompel scored the other. Brayden Rose and Holden Cook supplied the offence for the Attack (20-17-6), who are winless in four contests. Daniel Altshuller made 28 saves for the Generals while Brandon Hope turned away 27 shots for Owen Sound. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China ' ' '
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| Beitrag vom 22.09.2016 - 10:52 |
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| dasg234 |
22.09.2016 - 10:52 |
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