Prior to Sundays game - a game no rational person

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OKLAHOMA CITY - Prior to Sundays game - a game no rational person expected them to be competitive in, let alone win - Raptors coach Dwane Casey spoke about his teams newfound mental toughness. Cheap NHL Jerseys China . "I like the toughness factor in certain situations where last year and two years ago wed get bumped, get hit [and] wouldnt respond," Casey said an hour and a half before facing the league-best Thunder, a team that hadnt yet lost at home. "Weve grown up from that standpoint and learning how to win is huge." To suggest that Casey was foreshadowing is giving him too much credit. He couldnt have known or genuinely expected what was about to happen. No one did. But he was on to something. This is a different Raptors team than the one Casey was referring to, the one that would cower from adversity in years past. They were supposed to go winless on this exceptionally difficult Western Conference road swing. Instead, theyve won their first two games. “Im seeing it growing," Casey said of his teams resiliency after shocking the hosting Thunder, 104-98, winning four straight on the road for the first time since 2002. "It was one of those things where our guys fought through it and we could have folded or packed it in but they stuck with it and stuck together most of all and didnt fall apart." He called it their best win of the season, which is a given. To take it one step further, it was the Raptors most impressive victory of the three-year Casey era and for all the criticism Torontos coach takes, he had his fingerprints all over it. Casey earned his pay check Sunday evening. He didnt sit down, he didnt relax. He couldnt, not against this team. The Raptors got off to a quick start but withstood the inevitable counterpunch, they rose above spotty officiating and stood their ground when they needed to the most. Through it all Casey was manic on the sidelines. "Sit down Coach," a Thunder fan behind the Raptors bench kept yelling. He didnt. The Raptors were coming off an impressive win in Dallas, defeating a Mavericks team that was 11-2 at home on Friday. The Thunder, winners of nine straight and 17 of 18 overall, were perfect in 13 games at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Toronto threw the first punch and led by six at the break. They were "the aggressor," as Casey puts it, and they paid for it. The Thunder had attempted 22 free throws at the half, making them all, while Toronto shot just 10. That trend continued into the third when, finally the lopsided officiating began to seep into the psyche of a young team that has never been known for their mental resolve. A nine-point lead early in the third quarter turned into a nine-point deficit going into a fourth. Collectively Raptors fans thought, here we go again. The Thunder were fighting back - as we expected - and the Raptors couldnt catch a break from the officials. They missed 17 of 19 field goal attempts to end the frame. Thats when something seemed different. They didnt run, they didnt hide, they hit right back. For that, Casey and his players unanimously credited the work of veteran newcomer John Salmons. "I thought John Salmons maturity came through," Casey said of the reserve forward, who scored nine of his 14 playing the entire fourth quarter. "He has a settling effect when hes in the game and it helps us. It rubs off on DeMar and Terrence. He doesnt get rattled." "John Salmons, I mean give him the game ball, offensively and defensively," added Kyle Lowry. "Just, here, take the ball. He was a big-time player tonight." For the second straight game Salmons came up big when it mattered most. On Friday he slowed down Monta Ellis and two days later he was a big part of the brigade that frustrated Kevin Durant, holding him to 24 points on 5-of-16 shooting, 1-of-6 in the fourth, and forcing his six turnovers. A 12-year vet, Salmons was an afterthought in the seven-player deal that sent Rudy Gay to Sacramento earlier this month. He was - and probably is - a temporary Raptor, a contract that can be moved at the deadline or easily bought out in the offseason. A day after the trade was finalized, he stood in front of the local media without much in the way of emotion or excitement, complaining about being tired from the trip. He has brought more to this team than anyone could have expected. "Im not a rah-rah guy at all but Ive been around for a long time," he said. "Ive experienced a lot so I just try to give my advice when I can." Taking the lead of Salmons, his teammates remained even-keeled when things looked to be going south. Nobody panicked. They executed and made good decisions, the right plays down the stretch. "Weve done a great job of just everyone cheering for each other, supporting each other and nobodys getting their head down," said Lowry, who continues to play the best basketball of his career, leading the team with 22 points and nine assists on Sunday. "Everyones focusing on winning the game no matter how bleak it looks." DeRozan played well, scoring 17 points against a tough defender in Thabo Sefolosha, someone who has given him fits in the past and once again, Amir Johnson was the unsung hero. Johnson - who recorded a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds - made some crucial defensive plays down the stretch, switching off on Durant and swatting a Russell Westbrook floater in the final two minutes of the game. "I cant [say enough], theres too much to say about him," Lowry said, or attempted to say about Johnson. "Hes just an unbelievable player. He had his struggles (early in the season) but we all said hell be alright once he finds his groove. And look at him, hes playing unbelievable. He guarded Kevin Durant as tough as he did and the other night he guarded Dirk (Nowitzki) as tough as he did. You just have to tip your hat to him." Back atop the Atlantic Division, the Raptors play their final game before a three-day Christmas break in San Antonio on the second night of a back-to-back Monday. The Spurs have the third-best record in the West and are 9-3 at home. The Raptors are not supposed to win. Care to bet against them? NHL Jerseys China . Johns IceCaps dominated the Portland Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday in American Hockey League play. Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China . Bautista led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the game, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.This week, collegiate players from across Canada participated in three regional combines in Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto. Those who impressed in each of the three events were asked to attend the main CFL Combine which begins Friday in Toronto. TSNs Duane Forde gives his thoughts on this weeks regionals, who impressed and who to look out for in Toronto this weekend. EDMONTON - Twenty-one draft eligible players participated in Mondays Edmonton regional combine with five of them advancing to the national combine in Toronto. The most impressive among them was Simon Fraser receiver Tore Corrado. Having established himself more as a kick returner than as a receiver at the NCAA Division II-level, Corrados quickness is his greatest strength. His skill set gives him an opportunity to be an effective player on the bigger Canadian field. Corrados SFU teammate Dylan Roper turned scouts heads early in the day when he hoisted 225 lbs. 26 times. The defensive end clinched his trip to Toronto in the one-on-one drills, where his quickness off the edge and non-stop motor were evident. The Regina Rams also had two players promoted to the main combine in guard Kyle Paterson and defensive end Michael Dadzie. The latter hails from the athletic hotbed of Brampton, Ontario and, although he wasnt a full-time starter for the Rams, he possesses a combination of strength and speed that intrigues scouts. Paterson hopes to continue following in the footsteps of fellow Weyburn, Saskatchewan natives and U of R products Brendon LaBatte and Brett Jones. He topped the bench press test with 27 reps and was clearly the most athletic O-lineman in attendance. Rounding out the national combine invitees was rock solid Manitoba linebacker Thomas Miles, who tested well and brings an element of physical play to the table. My honourable mentions from the Edmonton regional go to scrappy Manitoba receiver Andrew Smith, who combines good leaping ability with a willingness to compete in the air for every ball, and Calgary kicker John Mark, who wasnt as accurate as usual, but hit the ball well on every field goal attempt. MONTREAL - There were twenty-seven draft eligible performers among the participants at Wednesdays Montreal regional combine, five of whom earned their way to the national event. Nigel Romick of Saint Marys distinguished himself in a very competitive defensive line group, testing very well across the board and showing great versatility by taking one-on-one reps at tackle, end and even linebacker. Sherbrooke receiver Francis Lapointe, one of the favourites among scouts entering the combine, lived up to his advance billing, running solid pass routes and tying for the fastest 40-yard dash of the day. Two running backs with very different skill sets will also be moving on to the national stage. Bruising fullback Alexandre Dupuis of the Montreal Carabins came back last fall from injuries to both knees that had wiped out his 2012 campaign and continued to impress with his work ethic and toughness. Cheap NHL Jerseys. Meanwhile, Lavals shifty Guillaume Bourassa, who has always had to share time in the crowded Rouge et Or backfield, shone as both a receiver and blocker. Performing on the Concordia University field that he has called home for the last four years, Stingers linebacker Travis Bent also punched his ticket to Toronto. The native of Ajax, Ontario was one of the most heavily recruited players in this class coming out of high school. A number of other players also caught my eye in Montreal, led by Mount Allisons Quinn Everett, who shows good potential as an O-lineman after spending the last four years on the defensive side. Defensive linemen Vincent Desloges (Laval), Shaquille Armstrong (Concordia) and Sanmi Adereti (St.FX) all had their moments, as did receivers Nathan Heather and Mike Harrington, while McGill DB Mattey Ossom and Bishops LB Omar Smith-Jackson displayed outstanding athleticism. TORONTO - On Thursday, Toronto was home to the third and final regional combine with 25 draft eligible prospects on hand. Four would ultimately earn promotions to this weekends national combine, led by former St.FX defensive back Raye Hartmann. An AUS All-Star in 2011, Hartmann had sat out the last two seasons, but showed absolutely no signs of rust as the 62" Mississauga, Ontario native was dominant in pass coverage and excelled in testing. Big Queens receiver Scott MacDonell was equally impressive, using his 65", 225 lbs. frame to his advantage in one-on-ones. He runs well for his size and could certainly contribute at the next leavel with most teams, at least occasionally, employing a tight end package. The day got off to a bit of a rough start for Toronto running back Aaron Milton, when he raised some eyebrows by declining to do the bench press test, later citing a shoulder injury. The big back more than made up for it on the field, showing both explosiveness as a ball carrier and receiver, as well as a willingness to get his nose dirty in blocking drills. High-energy defensive end James Tuck of the York Lions snagged the other invitation, combining an impressive level of athleticism with an even more impressive effort level. Winnipeg-born, Texas-raised offensive lineman Tchissakid Player of Northwestern State was a virtual lock to claim a spot at the main combine until a pulled hamstring ruled him out. Strong-legged kicker Zack Medeiros (Western), waterbug receiver Quincy Van De Cruize (Bishops), and hard-working Guelph defensive tackle Jeffery Finley were among several who didnt advance but likely still helped their stock on Friday. cheap jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '