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导出博客文章CHICAGO - Dwane Casey wouldnt point fingers at Rudy Gay, fact is he didnt have to. Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey . The product, even after four games, speaks for itself. The Raptors are a better team without Gay in their lineup. The Raptors have won three of four games since agreeing to move Gay to the Sacramento Kings in last weeks seven-player deal. With Gay the team recorded 20 or more assists in three of 18 games this season, collecting 17.3 per contest, last in the NBA. Without him theyve accomplishment that feat in three of four outings, averaging 23.0 dimes. Tasked with replacing a 20-point scorer, working three - soon-to-be four - new players into his lineup and managing a locker room filled with uncertainty as the trade winds continue to swirl, Casey has his team playing its best basketball of the campaign. Asked if that surprises him, in light of the situation he finds himself in, Casey responded bluntly, "No." Then he hedged, because what else is he supposed to say? "Its nothing to do with Rudy whatsoever," Casey continued, after Toronto recorded a season-best 26 assists, defeating the Bulls 99-77 in the second night of a back-to-back on the road. "I think the pieces fit more, from that respect, it has nothing to do with Rudy personally." It has everything to do with Rudy. The departed Raptors forward was taking more shots than he has before, missing more than hes missed before while averaging the fewest assists (2.2) of the 15 NBA players who hoist 17 or more shots a night. His absence has freed this team. Somehow, in spite of the continued trade speculation that has cast a shadow over their heads, they are winning and having fun in the process. For the first time this season, theyre playing as a team. "Im trying to set up everybody else and get them in a rhythm," said DeMar DeRozan, who had 15 points to go along with another four assists, hes accumulated 22 since the trade. "Once we do that everybody begins to play together because itll be fun and everything seems to be easier. Even though a lot of guys dont know the offence everyone on this team knows how to play, especially the new guys." "It was a team effort totally and its fun when you play like that," newcomer Greivis Vasquez chimed in, adding six dimes off the bench in his second game with the Raptors. "Its fun when the ball is moving and were playing great team defence. Ive only been here a week and I can tell all these guys have my back, and thats huge." Their unselfish play appears to be contagious. DeRozan - who Casey said is playing "like an old man," on account of his improved court awareness - has taken advantage of his new role in the offence, acting as the teams quarterback, a role Gay could never or would never accept. Casey is getting 48 minutes of competent point guard play from Vasquez and Kyle Lowry, whose trade value continues to go up as he produces at a high level. Even sophomore Terrence Ross - averaging less than an assist per game as a pro - contributed a career-best four helpers. With wire-to-wire victories on consecutive nights, the Raptors havent trailed in eight quarters of basketball. Unlike Fridays win over the woeful 76ers - the NBAs worst defensive club - Saturdays dismantling of the Bulls was impressive enough to take notice. Despite their recent struggles, having lost 10 of 13, the Bulls defence is and will remain elite, even without the injured Derrick Rose. Toronto shot 48 per cent from the field, holding the hosting Bulls to just 36 per cent while outscoring them 26-11 in the final quarter to seal an impressive victory, their second straight on the road. "Last time we played them they got the best of us and we knew we couldnt come here and come out soft," DeRozan said, referring to the Bulls dominant victory in Toronto last month, a game in which he matched his career-high with 37 points. "We had to jump on them out the gate and keep our foot on their neck." The effort was indeed of the complete team variety. Jonas Valanciunas came out with an edge facing and ultimately outplaying all-star Joakim Noah and Amir Johnson turned in another productive outing. With a retooled second unit, playing in its second game together, the starters actually had some help. Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and John Salmons combined for 26 points and eight assists, turning the ball over just once playing the bulk of the minutes off Torontos bench. "We have the bodies, we were deeper tonight and the guys contributed," Lowry said. "This is the first time I played less minutes in a long time and that is a testament to the guys coming off the bench." "[The starters] know they dont have to play 40-plus minutes," Casey stated. "They know they have a strong bench behind them so that kind of gives them comfort to really turn on the gas." With an off-day Sunday and a couple days of practice, the new-look Raptors could actually be more in tune with one another when they host the Bobcats on Wednesday. "I just like the whole atmosphere, man," Vasquez said with a big smile on his face. "Ive missed this. This is real team basketball. Everybodys sharing, everybodys talking, nobody cares whos going to have the most points at the end of the night and thats what I see on the court. Im just happy but Im not satisfied. Weve got to keep playing, weve got to keep getting better." Mason Rudolph Steelers Jersey . Cesar said the difficulties he went through after the 2010 World Cup helped him become "a better professional" and made him "more focused" on his career. He admitted that he took things for granted before the World Cup in South Africa, when he arrived considered the worlds top goalkeeper. Steelers Jerseys . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said.Each week, well take a look at some top performers from the CFL, with an eye to looking ahead to some matchups that could be favourable for TSN Fantasy Football, CFL Edition, presented by Joseph Abboud. Here are some of the best from Week Six and players to watch for Week Seven: TOP PERFORMERS Nic Grigsby, RB, Winnipeg (119 YDS, 2 TD, 16 touches at Hamilton) - Grigsby is taking advantage of his first regular role in the CFL and went for at least 100 yards from scrimmage for the fourth time in six games this season. His speed is making a difference for a Blue Bombers attack that is having its most success through the air, but Grigsby is versatile enough to contribute both as a runner and receiver. Andrew Harris, RB, B.C. (143 YDS, 1 TD, 20 touches vs. Calgary) - Just a little more of the same-old, same-old for the leagues leading rusher who has 381 rushing yards and 722 yards from scrimmage in six games. An average game, this season, is a little over 120 yards for Harris, who had 1830 yards from scrimmage (101.7 per game) in his career-best 2012 season. Steve Slaton, RB, Toronto (100 YDS, 2 TD, 18 touches vs. Montreal) - The former NFLer, who had 1659 yards from scrimmage for the Houston Texans in 2008 but hasnt played since 2011, Slaton saw his second game action of the season for the Double Blue and caught a couple of scoring passes from Ricky Ray in the Argos romp over the Alouettes. PLAYERS TO WATCH IN WEEK SEVEN Martel Mallett, RB, Calgary - One week after looking to Jock Sandeers as a beneficiary with Jon Cornish out of the lineup, the Stamps had to look to Mallett more once Sanders took a hard hit against the Lions. Chukwuma Okorafor Steelers Jersey. . Mallett gained 175 yards on 20 touches against B.C., his first CFL action since 2009, when he gained 1,582 yards from scrimmage along with eight touchdowns when he played for British Columbia. With that kind of performance, might as well look to Mallett at home against the expansion Redblacks this week. Clarence Denmark, SB, Winnipeg - As the Bombers, with the leagues second-best passing attack (280.2 yards per game), take on the Riders, who have the leagues second-worst pass defence (267.6 yards allowed per game), it makes sense to check out their receiving corps. With top target Nick Moore out of the lineup, why not check in on Denmark, who ranks second on the Bombers (and fifth in the league) with 308 receiving yards? Courtney Taylor, SB, British Columbia - Third-year CFLer who played a little with the Seattle Seahawks in 2007 and 2008, Taylor is a big target who hasnt had a monster game yet this season, but does ranks sixth in the league with 305 receiving yards after going over 60 yards in three straight games. A home date against a Hamilton defence that surrendered 361 passing yards to Winnipeg last week seems like a decent matchup for Taylor. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Disocunt Football Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys ' ' '