Dein erstes Forum » e 1989-90 season. Montreal blocked 3

TORONTO - For only the third time in the franchises 20-year-history, and first since 2002, the Raptors are slated to select outside of the top 19 in the first round of Thursdays NBA Draft. A year ago, as newly appointed general manager Masai Ujiri bided his time and sat out of a lacklustre 2013 draft, this scenario seemed highly improbable. The Raptors, like every other team in the association, had at least one eye on this years rookie crop, one of the most highly touted and eagerly anticipated ever to enter the league. The rest is history. Ujiris team overachieved in his first year on the job and as a result, they will miss out on this drafts biggest prizes: hometown phenom Andrew Wiggins, NBA ready star Jabari Parker, the intriguing Australian Dante Exum and, depending on your aversion to risk, Joel Embiid. Even so, their reality doesnt sound half bad. Instead, they find themselves nearing the end of an extensive pre-draft process, intending to add a complimentary piece to their winning program. This is not a bad year to be in such an advantageous position. Although Ujiri has called this draft "a little overrated", its one with solid depth specifically at the wing positions, one of Torontos most glaring needs heading into next season. Provided the Raptors hang onto the 20th overall pick, as expected, they will hope to hit a home run although they wont necessarily be swinging for one. Their philosophy throughout this process, one that has seen them audition roughly 60 prospects over the last four weeks, has been consistent with Ujiris management style. As always, hes ambitious albeit realistic and well prepared while knowing full well hell have to roll with the punches. And on draft day, specifically what figures to be one of the most eventful and unpredictable in recent memory, there will be more than a few punches to roll with. "Its a huge process for us," Ujiri acknowledged just ahead of the teams final pre-draft workout Monday afternoon. "It just builds and builds and builds. Hopefully by [Tuesday], Wednesday morning, well have gathered all the information that we have." "And theyll mess it up with a trade or something," he joked. Indeed, the Raptors are at the mercy of the 14 teams that occupy the 19 slots ahead of them. So much of this is a poker game, only the guys youre playing with, 29 other executives, are not sitting across from you at the table. The "homework" that Ujiri references is far more involved than just player scouting but also anticipating the motives of every other team, which will ultimately determine who is available to them at 20. Thats the biggest challenge. Its feasible to look at the Bulls, slated to draft 19th overall, and their roster to determine who or what they might be targeting with their pick. Accounting for a possible trade, an unknown team with unknown interests moving up, is not so simple. So Ujiri and his staff have put together their wish list. On Monday, it was 10 players long, as the draft approaches it figures to be cut in half. Theyll weigh the pros and cons, ranking each prospect while keeping a keen eye on the ones that could fall to them unexpectedly. "Our mindset is we get the best guy, best talent available and we try to do our homework as much as we can," Ujiri said. "Weve done our homework on the top guys because you never know what can come up in the next couple days. Our job is to do our homework. We really have to be prepared for this draft." Among the 60 or so prospects the Raptors have brought in over 11 workout sessions this month, theyve seen about a dozen that figure to be selected somewhere between the middle of the first round to the beginning of the second. Here are a few names that may interest them should they be available at No. 20. Tyler Ennis - PG, Syracuse, freshmanLast years stats: 12.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals When the Brampton-native auditioned in Toronto as part of the Raptors first workout crop this spring, it seemed like a pipe dream to think he could fall to his hometown team at 20. At worst, Ennis was believed to be a lock to go in the top half of the opening round. Since then, his stock seems to have dropped, a likely result of fellow prospect point guards Elfrid Payton and Shabazz Napier rising up draft boards. The correlation is understandable, though its hardly an indictment on the NBA player Ennis could become. The qualities that make the 19-year-old such an intriguing prospect wont necessarily jump out at you in a workout. While Payton and Napier are probably quicker, flashier and more athletic players, Ennis is still considered to be the best pure point guard in the draft. Hes a natural leader with a nose for the game, something that is evident on the court in live action more so than in drills or smaller scrimmages. He has a fan in the Raptors, who have been tracking his progress for a long time. "From what Ive seen, hes very poised, he plays very calm and thats the first thing I noticed," Ujiri said ahead of his workout in Toronto. "[He] can get his teammates involved and then when he needs to score, he takes care of business which I think is a good trait to have as an NBA player." The Raptors top priority is re-signing Kyle Lowry, they also have to make a decision regarding Greivis Vasquez, a restricted free agent, but Ujiri has made it clear he intends to select the best player available, regardless of position. If Ennis name is on the board, Canadian angle aside, they would have a hard time passing up on him as Lowrys back-up or possible insurance should the incumbent go elsewhere. K.J. McDaniels - SF, Clemson, juniorLast years stats: 17.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 1.1 steals Given his elite athleticism and upside as a lockdown defender at one of the NBAs most crucial positions, its hard to fathom why McDaniels is routinely overlooked in this draft. With each year at Clemson, accompanied by increased playing time, McDaniels has expanded his game and appears to be well on his way to becoming an impact rotation player in NBA. Questions surround his offensive versatility, efficiency and whether or not hell be able to knock down the NBA three with consistency. Still, with his athletic gifts, size and commitment to defence, he would be a welcomed addition to Dwane Caseys roster. "I think hes a dynamic player," Dan Tolzman, the Raptors director of scouting, said earlier this month. "Its hard to see how good he is in this [workout] setting because in five-on-five, with help-side defense, thats where he flourishes. I think with the way the spacing in the NBA is, rotations and defensive principles are so important. A guy like him, he can fly in from the wing and get blocks off the board like nothing. I think plays like that, thats what gets guys time in the NBA." Kyle Anderson - G/SF, UCLA, sophomoreLast years stats: 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists Not only is Anderson the most unique player in this draft but hes poised to become one of the most unique in the association. The 20-year-old wont blow you away with speed or athleticism but he has a tremendous command of and vision for the game, a point guard in a 6-foot-8 body with a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan. The question is, where will he play in the league and what position will he guard? Although, in todays position-less NBA, it doesnt seem to matter all that much. "I think he can definitely play the point, I think its the defending the point thats the thing," Tolzman said of Anderson. "So many point guards are scoring guys now. So that means you have six-foot, 6-1, 6-2 guys on the floor who are just there to score and then youd have a guy like Kyle who is on the floor to do the actual running the team at the point. And on offence that sets up fine but then on defence you can just switch men." Outside of their point guards, the Raptors dont have anyone that can handle the ball and initiate the offence in a pinch. Although it may be more of a challenge to fit Anderson into your system than, say an athlete like McDaniels, there is undeniable value in having a player that combines size, versatility and court vision, something that made Boris Diaw such an integral part of the Spurs championship run. "Hes the definition of versatility, really," Tolzman added. "I mean that guy, he can play just about every position on the floor. Just the pace that he plays at and the level of IQ that he plays with and the composure that he shows when handling the ball its at NBA level, no question. Hes like a throw-back player to the fullest. Hes an old school-type guy." Others to keep an eye on: Wichita State forward Cleanthony Early, Swiss forward/centre Clint Capela, Michigan State power forward Adreian Payne, Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes, Missouri guard Jordan Clarkson. Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . First-half goals by Will Bruin and Oscar Boniek Garcia sucked the life out of the Impact as the Houston Dynamo bounced them from Major League Soccers post-season with a 3-0 victory on Thursday. Larry Johnson Jersey . Just as the meeting was beginning, Major League Baseball unveiled Rule 7.13, an experimental rule for the 2014 season aimed at eliminating what the league calls “egregious” runner/catcher collisions at home plate. http://www.officialkcchiefspro.com/Patri...-chiefs-jersey/. The fourth-year guard from Carleton University kicked off his varsity career with rookie of the year honours in 2011, before racking up three straight Mike Moser Memorial Trophies for outstanding player. Custom Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys .J. -- Fabian Johnson scored his first international goal and Clint Dempsey doubled the lead after a defensive lapse as the United States beat Turkey 2-1 Sunday in the second of three World Cup warm-up matches for the Americans before they head to Brazil. Tony Gonzalez Jersey . Brassard and Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris were battling for position in the crease when a nudge from Morris sent Brassard on top of Smith late in the third period.Calgary Flames 5 Winnipeg Jets 4 (Shootout) – For the fourth time in five games the Winnipeg Jets went to a shootout, having won the previous three before falling to the Calgary Flames in eight rounds on Monday. The Jets are now 5-2 in shootouts on the season. The win snapped Calgarys six-game winless skid, and snapped the Jets four-game home winning streak. The Jets are now 0-2-1 in the second game of back to backs. After their four-game winning streak was snapped Sunday night in Minnesota, the Jets record sits at 10-10-3. The game had a little bit of everything: strange bounces, great offensive plays, questionable officiating, questionable defensive zone coverage, some great saves by both Al Montoya and Reto Berra, a number of good hits, a lot of blocked shots, and some late game heroics by Bryan Little. Put all that together and from a fans standpoint, it was a very entertaining game. The first period was scoreless with the Jets outshooting Calgary 11-6. Mike Cammalleri opened the scoring at 9:01 of the second on a power play, with Michael Frolik tying it 2:10 later with his fifth of the season, banging home the rebound of a Grant Clitsome shot. T.J. Brodie regained the Flames lead with a strange one as it went off Frolik and Montoya never saw it as it came down and caught the top part of the net. The Jets outshot Calgary 23-9 in the second; the 23 shots in a period one shy of the Jets franchise record. The third period was wild. Olli Jokinen tied the game with a floater from just inside the line that Berra never saw. With the game tied the Jets went on a power play only to have the Flames score their fourth shorthanded goal of the season to take a 3-2 lead. The Jets were furious that Lance Bouma, the eventual goal scorer was not penalized for interference after a pick took Dustin Byfuglien out the play. But on the same power play Byfuglien scored his fifth in five games to again tie the game. The Jets have now scored three power play goals in three games, all by Byfuglien. Calgary would again take the lead on a Jiri Hudler shot that went off the skate of Mark Scheifele and in, setting the stage for the heroics. With time running out Evander Kane put a shot on goal that was stopped but Little buried the rebound to tie the game with six seconds left in regulation. It was Littles team leading 12th of the year. Thanks to a power play to start the period the Flames at one time were outshooting the Jets 10-0 in the third, settling for a 13-10 advantage at the end of the frame. The Jets have now scored 25 third period goals, tied for tops in the NHL. Calgary outshot the Jets 5-3 in overtime, making the final shots on goal 47-33 for Winnipeg. It was the most shhots Berra has faced in his young career, and the third time this season the Jets have hit that mark.dddddddddddd. The Jets directed 92 shots at the Flames net, with nine going wide and the Flames blocking 36. That is the second highest blocked shot total since the NHL started keeping the stat in the 1989-90 season. Montreal blocked 38 against St. Louis on November 11. The shootout went as follows. Setoguchi no (had been 3/3 this season), Joe Colborne yes, Andrew Ladd yes, Hudler no, Jokinen no, Cammalleri no, Wheeler yes, Stempniak yes (had to score to keep shootout going), Frolik no, Brodie no, Scheifele no (first ever attempt), Baertschi no, Kane no, Chris Russell no, Byfuglien no, Sean Monahan yes (first ever attempt.) It was also Berras first shootout. Little was not eligible for the shootout due to a misconduct penalty at the end of overtime. Asked about it, Little said it was a head shake that he was called for, with Andrew Ladd adding, “I didnt think it was much and to lose one of our best shooters.” Little had the shootout winner Friday vs Philadelphia. Kane ended the night with 10 shots on goal, tying his career high. It was the third time he has hit that mark. He also led in hits with eight as the Jets recorded 28 hits in the game. Toby Enstrom led in ice time at over 29 minutes; Byfuglien was just under 29. Kane led all forwards with over 24. Zach Redmond and Adam Pardy were the only Jets to not register a shot on goal. Jokinen won 21 of 29 face-offs. Little, Clitsome, Wheeler and Byfuglien all had two point nights. Byfuglien picked up six minutes in penalties, four coming in a scrum at the end of the second period. “We did a lot of good things,” said Ladd. “But we gave up too many quality chances. We did battle back and got key goals at key times and got a point.” “It was a strange game,” added coach Claude Noel in his post-game comments. “We chased the game. It was wild in a lot of ways and it would have been nice to get two points, but well take one. It reminded me of a third game in four nights. At no point was I comfortable with the way we were thinking, the way we were playing.” Like the players, Coach Noel was asked about the officiating and like the players would not say much feeling he had nothing to gain by publically questioning a number of calls and non-calls. “Well take the point and move forward, but not a good game from a coachs standpoint.” The three-game home stand continues Thursday against Chicago and Saturday afternoon against Minnesota, both games on TSN Jets and TSN 1290. Monday in New Jersey the Jets start a six game, 14-day road trip. 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