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e said. The Winnipeg coach also said the Jets know theyre facing one of the tou

in Addon`s und nützliches 16.10.2019 05:51
von sakura698 • 465 Beiträge

TORONTO - After auditioning roughly 60 prospects, including nine Canadians, in 11 sessions spanning over nine workout days this spring, the Toronto Raptors are putting the finishing touches on their wish list heading into Thursdays NBA Draft. Mets Jerseys 2020 . For most of the last week, Masai Ujiri and his scouting staff have been mulling over 10 targets they anticipate will be available with the 20th overall pick, their first of three selections, hoping to narrow that list down to five by Tuesday. With three days to go, does he have someone in mind? "Hes around like the back here," said the former scout, gesturing to the back of his head just before the Raptors concluded their final pre-draft workout Monday afternoon. "But he hasnt made it to the front yet. Hes working his way." No, Ujiri wont tip his hand, not with so many variables at play. Fourteen teams occupy the 19 slots that precede the Raptors and will determine who is available to them. They have a list of about 13 players that are expected to be off the board by the time Toronto is on the clock. The pick will be Ujiris first as Torontos primary decision maker - the Raptors did not have a selection in last years draft - and should immediately put his keen eye for talent to the test. Since Ujiri took control of the Raptors, a franchise that has mostly been accustomed to selecting in the lottery, he has emphasized the importance of drafting well regardless of where youre situated in both the first and second rounds. For only the third time in franchise history, and first in 12 years, the Raptors are positioned outside the top 19 in the drafts opening round. Although its not an advantageous spot to find cant miss, NBA-ready talent, history has shown it can be done. In 2000, with the 20th overall pick - the teams lowest ever first-round selection - they found one of their best and most reliable contributors in long-time Raptor Morris Peterson. In 2011, then with the Nuggets, Ujiri used the 22nd pick to snag emerging forward Kenneth Faried. As Ujiri knows, the key is preparation aided by a little bit of luck and the subsequent development that is required to turn a late first-round pick into an impact player at the games highest level. "Its a huge bonus," Ujiri said of finding a diamond in the rough on draft night. "You look at the programs that have done well in the NBA, they just strike with picks like that. Its takes constant study, and really knowing players, believing in players and a system." "I think a big thing is you kind of have to be realistic on the expectations of the players," added Dan Tolzman, Torontos director of scouting, who was also a member of Ujiris front office staff in Denver. "I think everyone wants to find those diamonds and the guys that will be all-stars and MVPs and this and that but those guys are pretty hard to find outside of the lottery and the top-five even." "So I think the idea is if you can find guys at 20 or 37 or wherever that have careers," he continued, "that are eight-year players and theyre role players on your team and theyre doing good things to help you win, thats a successful draft pick. You might get lucky and hit a guy thats going to be a big time contributor and hes pushing for all-stars and that kind of thing, but thats not really what youre looking for when youre outside of the top-five or the top-10." Over the last four weeks, the Raptors brass have seen around a dozen players that figure to be selected in the latter half of the first round, or early in the second. According to team sources, there are roughly five prospects of interest that were either unable or unwilling to come in for a workout. While the workouts are not the be all and end all - the team has scouted them all in live action - they can go a long way in getting the coaching staff and trainers on board with a potential pick. Should a player fall to them unexpectedly, Ujiri will keep his options open and hasnt ruled out the possibility of trading up, if the price is right. Still, the focus is on making their make at 20. "Those trades and talks, people dont understand," said the Raptors GM. "We talk about like maybe 100 trades and then two happen. Thats the nature of our business. We will be aggressive but our energy is focused on 20, rather than wasting our time on [something else]." In addition to their first-round pick, the Raptors also own a pair of second rounders, 37 and 59 - the second to last pick in the draft. Regardless of whether or not theyre able to address their needs in the draft, Ujiri has prioritized his offseason to-do list. "We need a big wing at the three position," he said. "We [also] need some kind of shot blocking big. We have good, skilled bigs, we have a shooting big, we have a big down low, but we want to figure out how we can protect the rim a little bit. That may come now, it may come later but its something we know we need on our roster. So those two positions look like something we need." His top priority has not changed. "Were going full force after Kyle Lowry," Ujiri said, speaking of the teams coveted free agent point guard. "And if theres a talented point guard in the draft we know that its going to be tough to come and contribute to where our team is off the bat, but well go for talent in the draft. But Kyle Lowry is our target and well try to get that done." In just over a week, the Raptors - and other teams for that matter - can begin negotiating with Lowry, unable to officially sign him or announce a deal until the moratorium period ends on July 10. Until then the focus will be on the draft, one of the most chaotic events on the basketball calendar and an invaluable opportunity to add young talent, provided youre well prepared for it. The Raptors have done their homework. "I was walking into the conference room where our guys were meeting and I was like okay, no news that will throw me off right now," Ujiri joked. "Because you know its going to keep coming. There will be something tonight and something else tomorrow morning. Thats just the nature of the draft. I heard something yesterday that threw us off a little bit. But it will keep coming and coming and coming until that last minute. Thats the joy of it, I mean you love it. Thats why we do it. There is always action. As long as we come out on top, then were fine." Fake Mets Jerseys . Canada was placed in one of the easiest groups during Saturdays live televised draw in Montreal. Wholesale Mets Jerseys . - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/ . He still wanted out. "It just seemed like the direction they were going didnt fit what I thought my career was going to be," Kesler said. "At the end of the day I want to win a championship and I want to win it now, and four years is a little too long for me. WINNIPEG -- Carl Hagelins first career hat trick rescued a three-game road swing for the New York Rangers and threw a little more dirt on the Winnipeg Jets playoff chances Friday night. "It feels good, Ive never had one before, not even in College," Hagelin said after the Rangers outgunned the Jets 4-2, behind some solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist following a pretty wide open first period. They went into the second tied 2-2 but Hagelins second goal of the game with just eight seconds left was enough to win it. His final one in the third was just icing. It was frustrating for the Jets, who outshot the Rangers 32-23 yet watched their sixth game without a win go into the books. "The third period we came out and kind of threw everything we had at them," said Winnipeg centre Bryan Little, whose assist on Winnipegs second goal kept him in the scoring lead for the Jets with an NHL career-high 54 points. "But we couldnt find a way. Our mistakes kind of made us pay tonight." "They did a good job coming at us hard, very aggressive, but at the same time we played such an aggressive style you might give up some scoring chances that are really grade-A scoring chances," agreed Hagelin. The Jets caught a small break when the Dallas Stars only increased their lead in the final wild-card spot in the West by one point, after losing 4-3 in a shootout to the Calgary Flames. But the Jets are also one point behind Vancouver and four behind the Phoenix Coyotes as they try to climb into that final wild-card spot. Hagelins three goals raised his total this year to an NHL career-high 16. Chris Kreider also scored for New York (36-28-4), who had lost their two previous road games in Carolina and Minnesota. "You cant come on a road trip and go back empty handed, those are two big points," said Martin St. Louis, who came out of the penalty box to snatch the puck and set up New Yorks go-ahead goal at the end of the second period. "Being able to come out of the box and get one was I think big (for) the momentum of our team." Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd scored for the Jets (30-29-9), who havent won a game since Mar. 1. "I dont think guys in here are giving up," said Ladd, who played his 600th NHL game Friday night. "I dont know. I want to think were trying as hard as we can to get this going in the right direction." The Jetss also lost starting netminder Ondrej Pavelec, who didnt answer the bell for the second period and was replaced by Al Montoya. New York Mets Pro Shop. Coach Paul Maurice wouldnt comment on the nature of the lower-body injury that sent him to the dressing room but said hed say more Sunday after its evaluated. The Jets also lost fourth-line forward Chris Thorburn to injury Friday night. The Jets have tried to remain positive and not look back at their losses but Little admitted that isnt easy. "Its getting harder right now," Little said. "Were really fighting to win and theyre not coming easy by any means. . . . Coming into the rink tomorrow is going to be tough because tonight was a painful one. "I wish we could go out and redo the whole game right now." The Rangers were playing back-to-back after a 2-1 loss in Minnesota Thursday, but came out fast and scored on just their third shot of the game. Hagelin deflected his first past Pavelec at 1:15. The goal had barely been announced when Byfuglien evened things up at 2:33 as he batted Blake Wheelers rebound past Lundqvist. Less than a minute later, Ladd put the Jets up 2-1, when he found the upper corner of the New York net with a wrister from the faceoff circle on Lundqvists stick side at 3:26. Winnipeg was cycling the puck in the Rangers zone until Kreider broke away and scored at 11:28 with Winnipeg defenceman Zach Bogosian on his heels. With eight seconds left in what had been a scoreless second period, St. Louis came out of the box, fed Hagelin from behind the net and he flipped in a backhander. "Thats a tough goal," said Maurice. "I think clearly the 3-2 goal changed how we moved the puck and how we moved some things around." At the same time, he said the games the Jets are losing are a lot like the games the Jets won after he took over. The only difference now -- chances arent turning into goals. "Its a frustrating run, theres no question," Maurice said. The Winnipeg coach also said the Jets know theyre facing one of the toughest stretches in their schedule with games against some of the top teams in the NHL. Hagelin put in his third at 8:50 of the third period off a pass from Brad Richards on a two-man rush that beat Montoya through the five hole. Notes: This was the second meeting this year between the Rangers and Jets. Winnipeg won the first 5-2 at Madison Square Garden Dec. 2. ' ' '

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