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TORONTO - Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey used words like growing, adjusting and learning frequently throughout a 30-minute conference call with reporters Monday. Saints #66 Jersey .His young team is soaking up the NBA playoff experience and showing the Brooklyn Nets that they wont be pushovers at the same time.What Caseys squad lacks in experience, it makes up for in effort. That was on full display a day earlier as Toronto showed its mettle in an 87-79 road victory that tied the best-of-seven first-round series at two games apiece.The Raptors are focused on results this spring but theyre also trying to build a foundation they hope will lead to long-term success.Were a young team, nobody expected us to be here, Casey said. Every experience is a new experience for us. Guys are growing in every situation.After a jittery start, Toronto has held its own against a tough Brooklyn lineup that features veteran players Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce and Deron Williams.The Raptors are banged up and have had to go deep into their bench over the first four games. But they have responded well as a team in a series that will be a key building block for the future.Going through the playoffs is nothing but a plus for our franchise, Casey said. As I said, you dont want it to be a one-time (appearance) in the playoffs and never be seen again for six more years. You want it to be a growing experience. With our core guys being so young, that should be their goal going forward.Now that youve been in the playoffs once, you know what it tastes like, you know what it feels like. You know going through the season when the coach is preaching physicality, how hard youve got to play, how youve got to take care of the ball, why hes saying that. Because all that comes into play in playoff basketball.Several Toronto players are nursing injuries but most are expected to be available for Wednesdays Game 5 at Air Canada Centre.Among the starters, Kyle Lowry has been hobbled by a sore knee and Amir Johnson has had ankle problems. Patrick Patterson was a little gimpy last night, according to Casey, who added that Landry Fields (back) was feeling much better.Were nicked up, banged up a little bit but nothing that we know of thats major right now, Casey said.The series will return to Barclays Center on Friday for Game 6. If a seventh game is necessary, it will be played on Sunday in Toronto.This whole series for us is a learning experience because we are such a young team, Casey said. Its the first time in the playoffs for a lot of our key guys. So Im learning that they are growing from it. They are getting better in certain situations and theyre still making mistakes in certain situations.But the adjustment part is something thats big for us. To be able to change things on a days notice or even in game situations, thats good to know and good to see.DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points in the Game 4 win and Lowry added 22. The Raptors came through with key defensive stops late in the game and showed they wont be intimidated by the Nets.I think as the series has gone on our guys have gotten more comfortable, Casey said. But again we know were going against a very veteran, experienced team that has seen everything and experienced everything.Theyre going to make some adjustments, were going to have to continue to make adjustments as the series goes on.The Raptors have managed to split the first four games despite the struggles of starter Terrence Ross, who was held off the scoresheet in 16 minutes of play on Sunday.Casey plans to stick with the youngster, noting its important to keep an eye on long-term development as the post-season continues.The only thing that will help him next year is to go through this, he said. He is a talented young man. This says nothing about his potential and where hes going to be this time next year. This is still a learning experience for him. Is he going to stub his toe? Yes. But hes still got to go through it.I thought his defence was superb in the first quarter last night against Deron Williams. I thought he did a good job. Hes just got to get a feel and a rhythm and a style of play with his offence.The Raptors should get a boost from the boisterous Air Canada Centre crowd. Casey wants his players to feed off that energy and build on what they have accomplished so far.I think our guys are growing as we go, he said. Thats the hard thing about being a young team in the playoffs. A team like Brooklyn has seen everything, theyve experienced everything, theyve had every atmosphere you can have in the playoffs and some of them have won championships.Thats the advantage you have as an experienced team and the disadvantage you have as a young team. But our guys are growing and learning as we go.Notes: Game 4 was a ratings hit for TSN. Overnight data from BBM Canada indicated an average audience of 885,000 viewers watched the game. It was the second most-watched Raptors game ever, just behind the teams Game 7 second-round loss to Philadelphia in 2001, the network said in a release. Sports TV ratings have skyrocketed in recent years following the introduction of a new ratings system.Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter. Khairi Fortt Saints Jersey . Thorpe, who spent six seasons with the Alouettes between 2002 and 2007 before returning as the teams defensive coordinator last season, has also been appointed the teams assistant head coach. Dinwiddie, who broke into the CFL as a quarterback with the Alouettes in 2005, began his coaching career in 2013 with the Alouettes.Rickey Jackson Saints Jersey . Hamilton turned down taking part in the past two derbys, but said Sunday that he would consider being part of the new team derby if asked by American League captain David Ortiz. "Its a really cool concept, the whole team situation. Well see," Hamilton said.Oilers captain Andrew Ference plays his first game against his old team tonight as Edmonton hosts the Boston Bruins at Rexall Place. The Oilers are 3-1-1 so far in December and are coming off Tuesdays 5-4 overtime win against visiting Carolina. Jordan Eberles power-play goal 1:48 into the extra session saved two points for the Oilers, who led the game by a 4-1 score early in the second period before letting the Hurricanes back into the contest. The Oilers coughed up a 4-1 lead over a period and a half, with Jeff Skinners goal late in the third tying it for Carolina. But Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk was sent off 19 seconds into overtime, penalized for boarding after hitting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from behind in the corner to give the Oilers a 4- on-3. Eberle then scored on a second-chance shot through the legs of Carolina defenseman Andrej Sekera, who was covering the net on the left side for Cam Ward. "It was a weird game but we found a way to win," Eberle said. Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov, Jesse Joensuu and Nugent-Hopkins also scored for the Oilers, who moved to 2-1-1 on a five-game homestand that ends tonight. Devan Dubnyk made 24 saves for Tuesdays win and he could get the start again on Thursday. Dubnyk is 0-2-0 with a 4.57 goals against average in two career games against the Bruins, while Rask boasts a 3-0 record and a 1.67 GAA in three lifetime outings versus the Oilers. The Bruins take aim at a fourth consecutive victory when they continue a four-game road trip. The Bruins picked up a third win in a row and improved to 2-0 on their current swing with Tuesdays comeback win in Calgary. Boston scored a pair of goals late in the third period to rally for a 2-1 win on the night Jarome Iginla returned to the Saddledome. Boston made Iginlas return to Calgary a triumphant one, as the club overcame a 1-0 third-period deficit to win in regulation. Reilly Smith potted the game- winner for the Bruins wwith 4:33 left to play, a mere 98 seconds after David Krejci recorded the equalizer with the Bruins on the power play. Saints #12 Jersey. Iginla, the Flames all-time leader in goals (525), points (1,095) and games played (1,219), faced the club he spent 16 highly productive seasons with for the first time since Calgary traded its longtime captain to Pittsburgh during last Aprils trade deadline. The revered 36-year-old received a warm and rousing ovation from the home crowd during postgame introductions. "It brought back a lot of great memories," Iginla said of his return. Tuukka Rask stopped 26-of-27 shots to help Boston improve to 13-3-1 over its last 17 games, a stretch that has vaulted the Bruins into first place in the Atlantic Division. Boston won on Tuesday despite playing without a handful of players due to injuries, and another because of an impending suspension. Defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Adam McQuaid missed the last game with lower- body injuries, while forwards Loui Eriksson (concussion), Daniel Paille (upper body) and Chris Kelly (broken ankle) also sat out with various ailments. All of those players are expected to miss Thursdays game, including Hamilton, who will miss 2-to-4 weeks after suffering an injury in Sundays win at Toronto. Meanwhile, Bruins forward Shawn Thornton is facing a suspension for his actions in Saturdays win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thornton, who grabbed Brooks Orpik of the Penguins from behind during a scrum and began punching him, is scheduled to have an in-person hearing with the league on Friday and he could be suspended for six or more games. Even with a short-handed lineup, the Bruins hope to continue their dominance of the Oilers on Thursday. Boston has won 10 straight in this series overall and has taken four in a row and 10 of the last 13 meetings in Edmonton. Boston is 8-5-0 on the road this season and will complete its current trek in Saturdays game against Vancouver. ' ' ' |
