Links » that has helped him to put on pounds. Coach Joe Philbin

CLEVELAND - Following Friday nights rout over the Bucks, one that featured the debut of rookie Bruno Caboclo, DeMar DeRozan was asked if he can recall his first NBA game. Yeah, I remember [it], said the Raptors sixth-year guard. It was actually against the Cavaliers. It definitely was a memory Ill never forget, how nervous I was. It was October 28, 2009, Torontos home opener. DeRozan started that night, scoring eight points in 23 minutes. The Raptors won the game by 10, overcoming a triple-double from LeBron James. They had not defeated the King since... until Saturday. Its definitely surprising, DeRozan said, informed of James 16 straight wins over the Raptors, moments after that streak came to an end in Torontos 110-93 comeback victory over Cleveland. We aint gotta worry about that now. Despite another rough outing offensively - he shot 1-for-8 in the first half before getting hot in the second - DeRozan was instrumental in his team finally getting over the hump against a James-led team. Without the injured James Johnson, acquired to defend players like James, Terrence Ross started the game on the four-time MVP before picking up two quick fouls. DeRozan, the teams leading scorer, asked to take over the assignment. I wanted to guard him, said DeRozan, who scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half. Im going to have games where Im not making shots but I think my maturity of just being in the league long enough and being in a lot of different situations keeps me calm in a situation like that. Its bigger than me scoring. Theres so many other things I can do. James had a quiet double-double of 15 points and 10 assists, taking just 12 shots. Whenever the NBAs best player is doing anything quietly, youve done the best you can do. We had no choice, who else do you recommend?, said Dwane Casey, pressed about the decision to put DeRozan, a player not known for his defence, on James. He has the size to do it. We dont have [Johnson], our next option was going to be Amir [Johnson] or [Patrick Patterson], but DeMar did such a solid job that we didnt have to do that. But the night belonged to Lou Williams, the Raptors super-sub who had a career game while giving his team the spark they needed towards the end of a lethargic first quarter. The Raptors were down by 15 points when Williams checked in midway through the first frame. Im concerned theyre going to come out like wet hens, Casey said of the wounded Cavaliers before the game. You know what a wet hen is? You know what a wet hen does when he gets wet? He gets mad. Cleveland had come out flat in a disappointing loss to Washington the night before and for at least eight minutes they looked like a team playing with a purpose. They were wet hens. Williams came in and dried them off. Responsible for 12 of the teams 21 first-quarter points, playing less than half the period, Williams couldnt be stopped. From the moment he entered, Toronto finished the first half on a 51-34 run. They outscored Cleveland 105-73 the rest of the night. I just wanted to come in and play my style of basketball, said Williams after scoring a career-best 36 points in just 29 minutes of action. Play with a lot of energy and create a spark. I think Cleveland did a great job of getting off to that nice start and we just needed a little spark and I was there to create that. What did he see that got him going? Will Cherry, yelled an anonymous Raptor from across the locker room. Cherry spent training camp with the Raptors before being cut and finding his way to Cleveland. One of the reasons a third point guard was deemed unnecessary was Williams strong camp. Casey and the teams front office were more than confident with his ability to handle the ball and play the point in a pinch. They knew he could score. They knew he had a flare for the dramatic. With the clock winding down in the opening half, Williams hit a step-back three-ball to beat the buzzer and give Toronto its first lead of the night. It was his third buzzer beater over the last two nights. Amazingly, hes taken the Raptors final shot in seven of the last eight quarters. Lost in his offensive brilliance, the Raptors have been pleasantly surprised with his commitment on defence. Im surprised that 36 is his career-high, Casey said. Because hes a long-time scorer, thats what hes done his whole career, he understands how to attack peoples feet and get into their body and initiate contact. He does a great job of that. Most of all, Im impressed with Lous defence, too. He had a reputation of being a scorer but now hes doing a much better job defensively for us which allows him to stay in and guard guys like [Dion] Waiters and [Kyrie] Irving and people like that. Williams was acquired from Atlanta over the summer. He came to the Raptors with Lucas Nogueira for the right to waive John Salmons. Hes said he never felt like himself with the Hawks, recovering from serious knee surgery. He also played in front of one of the worst home crowds in the NBA with Atlanta, so seeing an impressively large contingent of Raptors fans make their way to Cleveland left him near speechless. Showing up early, 10 rows of Raptors fans, sitting behind one of the baskets, dominated an entire section at Quicken Loans Arena. Wearing purple and red, they sang the Canadian anthem, waved flags and banners while drowning out the Cavs faithful with chants throughout the night. Its dope man, Williams said. This is been an incredible experience as far as the fans go. Ive been on some teams that have been on the wrong end of that, so Ive seen it but never for my benefit. It felt like a playoff game, honestly, with our fans being in there, cheering and singing the national anthem, DeRozan added. It was just an amazing thing, especially for me. Its really something for me because Ive been here through the tough times and to see everything now, going on the road, seeing fans, seeing Raptor jerseys in the crowd, it definitely means something. Michael Jordan Youth Jersey . - Diego Fagundez scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 76th minute to lift the Revolution to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night that kept New Englands playoff hopes alive. Joe Mixon Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Ryan-Finley-Jersey/ . Dane Dobbie had four goals and two assists, Karsen Leung had two goals and two assists, and Matthew Dinsdale scored two and helped on another for Calgary (6-3). Shawn Evans and Jeff Shattler had eight-point games with a goal and seven assists apiece, and Jon Harnett and Geoff Snider also scored. Michael Jordan Bengals Jersey . Cavaliers shooting guard Craig Ehlo makes a solid play on the ball, but still Jordan hits the amazing shot. Renell Wren Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr.DAVIE, Fla. -- A sweltering practice had just ended Monday, and a puddle of perspiration formed at the feet of Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan, who was losing weight even as he talked about gaining it. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 draft said he has added more than 15 pounds in the past year, which should make him better equipped to take on NFL blockers. "I definitely feel stronger," Jordan said. "I needed it. Last year I was definitely too light to be out there trying to go against some of those offensive tackles." Jordan was on the field for less than a quarter of the Dolphins defensive snaps in 2013, which meant only modest dividends from a player who received a $13.3 million signing bonus. He excelled as a pass rusher for Oregon, but at 6-6 and less than 250 pounds, the rookie had trouble finding a home in the Dolphins 4-3 defence. A stronger Jordan should be a better fit at end, and he said the additional bulk hasnt cost him any speed or quickness. At 24, he expects to get even heavier as he grows older. "Have you seen my frame? Does it look like Im getting too big?" said Jordan, who has long arms and legs. "I would never sacrifice my speed for weight." Plus, he said, the extra weight comes in handy on days on Monday, when the temperature was near 90 by the time practice ended. "If you can come out in this heat, game time will be cake," he said. Jordan blames his slow development last year in part to the lingering effects of rightt shoulder surgery in February 2013.dddddddddddd He missed much of training camp and said he was never 100 per cent last year. "Its hard to get better health-wise when you have live bullets each Sunday," he said. "It was a mental thing, because I was hurt and I was thinking about it a lot." The shoulder also kept him out of the weight room, but now hes healthy and able to take full advantage of the Dolphins off-season program, including a lifting regimen that has helped him to put on pounds. Coach Joe Philbin likes what he sees from a heavier Jordan. "The size can be an asset in the running game, and he still looks to be moving very well," Philbin said. "And hes starting to play faster. You notice his play speed getting better -- probably theres less thinking, and more familiarity with what were asking him to do and how to do it." One of Jordans tutors has been former Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor, whose has a similar physique with long limbs. Taylor has been working with Jordan two or three days a week this spring. "Thats a bonus on my part," Jordan said. "Hes a cool dude, and hes showing me how to use my length. Hes dropping a lot of knowledge." Jordans fast enough to drop into pass coverage, and he lined up in several places on the defence during Mondays practice. He also worked on special teams, as he did at Oregon and as a rookie. "I can help this team," he said, "in a lot of ways." ' ' '