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NEW YORK - Sometimes a little bit of confidence goes a long way. Looking at the standings - where the Raptors sit atop the woeful Atlantic Division - wins in Dallas and Oklahoma City count just the same as less impressive victories over the 76ers and Jazz. Internally, those triumphs have meant everything to this young, impressionable Raptors team. Whether theyre facing a late-game deficit, protecting a lead, or staring down one of the leagues elite teams, the Raptors believe they can win. "It does give you confidence to know you went out and beat [some] of the best teams in the league on their home floor," Dwane Casey said before his team rallied back to defeat the division-rival Knicks, 95-83 at Madison Square Garden on Friday. "That should help us know that hey, you can do it." Having played 36 minutes of lackluster, uninspired basketball against an undermanned club that was nearly as lethargic, the Raptors looked like a team that believed, that knew they could flip on the switch when it mattered most. Trailing by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, Toronto held the Knicks to 5-of-19 shooting in the fourth, outscoring the home team 29-12 in the final frame. Once again, the Raptors showed supreme confidence in the face of adversity on the road. They found a way to win, a notable step for a franchise that has historically found creative ways to lose. "You definitely feel good once youre winning games," said DeMar DeRozan, who led the Raptors with 25 points, including eight in the pivotal fourth quarter. "You gain all the confidence game-in and game-out, especially playing all these teams, knowing we could beat them." "We understand were never out of the game until that last second runs out of the clock. It definitely helps, because last year we were in a ton of late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold, get frustrated, let a big shot frustrate us. Now we dont let any of that frustrate us." The difference is noticeable. A year ago, the Raptors were 3-36 when trailing after three quarters. Two months into the season, they already have four comeback victories. Most impressively, Toronto is the NBAs third-best fourth-quarter team in terms of point differential. Outscoring opponents by 59 points in the final period, the Raptors rank behind Indiana and Miami, the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference. “I think weve got some good closers," Kyle Lowry said after a 15-point, 11-assist performance, his 19th straight game with six or more dimes. "I think weve got guys who dont care about the moment, they just want to win games." Confidence has been the most crucial factor in the continued development of franchise centrepiece Jonas Valanciunas, who had a coming out party on the NBAs biggest stage Friday. Facing Tyson Chandler, one of the leagues toughest match-ups at his position, the Raptors sophomore registered a career-high 18 boards to go along with 16 points. Valanciunas was not fazed by the moment or his competition, he held his ground and played up to it as much or more than he has before. "JV just be all over the place," DeRozan said with a chuckle. "Sometimes weve just got to tell him to calm down. He just wants it that bad. Youve got to love having a guy like that on your team." Lowry has been as tough on the 21-year-old as anyone in the organization. Routinely reprimanding him after missed assignments or botched pick-and-rolls, even Lowry sees and applauds the growth of the Raptors prized second-year centre. "It just makes me proud because Im on him more than everybody but when he does well I congratulate him and I appreciate what he does," Lowry said of Valanciunas. "I just want to see him be the best player he can be." "Ill buy him dinner one day," the veteran point guard joked. For Valanciunas, it was a big night, whether he cares to admit it or not. The witty, albeit soft-spoken, seven footer refused to bite on questions regarding his individual performance after the game. "I was just playing my game, Im trying to help the team," he maintained. "Thats all I do every game." "Im not trying to show swagger or something. Im a simple guy and Im just trying to play hard." Like the sinking Atlantic Division itself, one of these teams was going to win this game and through three quarters, that seemed like a maddening thought. Both teams got off to a sluggish start, especially the Raptors, coming off a brief Christmas break earlier this week. Toronto shot 38 per cent from the field and committed 10 turnovers in the first half before tightening the screws in the third quarter and running away with the game in the fourth. "We were playing in mud in the first half," Casey said. "Our effort was there it was just one of those games where we couldnt get going and I think it was a little bit because of the break, coming back, trying to get things going. We turned it on in the second half and its good to be able to not play your best game and still come out with the win against a very powerful offensive team in New York." The Knicks are a sinking ship, desperately trying to stay afloat in the division for as long as injuries remain a viable excuse for their failures. Carmelo Anthony, the NBAs second-leading scorer, missed Fridays game with an ankle injury and will not travel to Toronto for the back end of a home-and-home set with the Raptors Saturday. In many ways, Fridays game was the epitome of what has become the leagues most ridiculed division. More often than not it was painful to watch. As the Knicks, last seasons division champions, were booed off their home court it became clear; these are two teams headed in opposite directions. One with more confidence than theyve had in some time, the other losing hope with each passing day. Michael Kors Outlet . Hamilton, the 2008 champion, started sixth on the grid. The British driver leapt to fourth on the opening lap before it was red-flagged, and suspended for an hour, following a crash involving 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and Felipe Massa of Williams. Michael Kors Outlet Online . -- Jeff Gordon pulled into the championship picture Sunday with a win at Martinsville Speedway, his first of the season. http://www.mkhandbagsoutlet.us.com/ .cas Heisman Watch, Johnny Football took advantage of Marcus Mariotas bye week out west to separate himself from the pack a little with a monster performance in Week 10, albeit against a weak opponent. Michael Kors Outlet Store .S. -- Nicolas Roy scored a goal and added two assists to lead Quebec to a 4-1 victory over West at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on Thursday. Cheap Michael Kors . Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 2. Yes, it was yet another home loss for Aston Villa and they certainly have had far too many of those in recent years, yet there was something rather different going on at Villa Park on Saturday.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Rex Ryan insists this will not be a lost season for Dee Milliner. No, not even after benching him twice already this season. The New York Jets coach still believes the first-round draft pick will end up rebounding in a major way. "Hes close to being that player that we want," Ryan said Wednesday. "I will say this: By the time the seasons over, I think he will be the best rookie corner and playing better than any rookie corner in this years draft. I dont think theres any doubt. We anticipate that. "He was the No. 1 cornerback selected, but thats how we feel about him. I think hes close. I really do." Milliner has started four games, but has also dealt with a hamstring injury that sidelined him three games. He was benched in the second half against New England in Week 2, and again in the second quarter last Sunday against Cincinnati. Ryan says Milliner will be back in the starting secondary against New Orleans on Sunday. "I think with Dee, when I went back and I watched that tape," Ryan said, "hes a lot closer than I think (hes) given credit for." The problem is, theres not a lot on film from games to sway people to agree with the coach. After all, Milliner was the first cornerback taken in the draft after a standout career during which he won two national championships at Alabama. Also at play is the fact that Milliner took Darrelle Revis spot in the secondary, starting opposite Antonio Cromartie. Revis was considered one of the premier players at his position, and Cromartie has assumed his role as the No. 1 cornerback. But Milliner was considered a starter from Day 1, despite the shoulder surgery that kept him out of the off-season training sessions and slowly getting up to speed during training camp. There were 28 players drafted as cornerbacks after him, including three in the first round: Oaklands D.J. Hayden, Atlantas Desmond Trufant and Minnesotas Xavier Rhodes. Trufant has started all seven of the Falcons games, while Hayden and Rhodes have started one each. "Oh, man, you feel bad," Milliner said of having to stand on the sideline and watch during games. "But, you know, its for the better. I was out there making physical mistakes and they put other people out there, they put (Darrin) Walls in and he did a good job of finishing the game." Against Cincinnati, Milliner gave up four receptiions for 108 yards in just under a half.dddddddddddd The previous week against the Patriots, he allowed six catches for 52 yards. "I just see him getting better, I do," Ryan said. "And I know how bad he wants it. All facets, schematically, hes not making the mental errors, so I think thats a big thing. And just his technique, I see his technique coming. Now he just needs to have some success tied along with it, and I think thats whats missing, get an interception or two and I think hes going to be good." Ryan also joked that this Sunday would be a good time for Milliner to have that kind of game. The Jets are taking on the high-powered Saints offence, with Drew Brees likely licking his chops at going after a rookie cornerback. In fact, Milliner says, he expects to get picked on. "Ive put on film that plays get over me here and there," he said. "He watches film. Hes one of the great quarterbacks in todays game. Hes going to be out there and, of course, Im the new kid out there. So, hes going to look to attack me on things." Ryan has been careful with weighing Milliners confidence, trying not to ruin it with poor performances. Thats why he has pulled him twice this season. "There are two positions I think that are critical with confidence — you want your guy confident (and) you dont want the confidence ever broken — I think thats cornerback and quarterback," Ryan said. "I think thats just one of those things where theres a couple of ways of looking at it, but my thing is I want him champing at the bit to get back out there and then you purposely keep him back there." Ryan said his father Buddy did that in Chicago with a young Mike Singletary, who overcame early struggles to become a Hall of Fame linebacker. "Im hoping it works out half as good as that one did," Ryan said, later adding, "Its just one of those things and eventually he gets the thing where you never worry about benching him ever again." NOTES: G Willie Colon (calf), TE Jeff Cumberland (concussion), WR Stephen Hill (foot), WR Santonio Holmes (hamstring) and WR Jeremy Kerley (illness) did not practice. Holmes, who has missed four straight games, said hes "making good progress," but isnt sure if hell play. ... C Nick Mangold (ribs) was limited in practice. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' ' |
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