TORONTO - Although Wednesdays overtime loss was one that Jonas Valanciunas would sooner forget than relive, his coach hopes its something the Raptors sophomore centre will learn from. China Made Jerseys . In what promised to be a tricky matchup for the 21-year-old, Valanciunas held his own against the crafty Al Jefferson offensively but was taught a lesson or two on the other end. One of those moments occurred at the end of the extra period. Jefferson set a hard screen that freed up Kemba Walker, forcing Valanciunas to switch off and close out on the Bobcats guard. Walker would drain the game-winner over Valanciunas as time expired. "Weve watched film with him [and] work on it with him individually," Dwane Casey said after practice Thursday afternoon. "In the NBA, a lot depends on game experience and hes seeing every different post-up situation." Valanciunas scored 10 points and added six rebounds in 22 minutes of action Wednesday however, Jefferson poured in 24 to go along with 11 boards, leading the Bobcats with five points in overtime. "Hes still in the process, hes still learning the league, learning the speed of the game and again, hes [getting] better," Casey said, commending Valanciunas growth on the offensive end. "I thought he did an excellent job offensively when he got his catches in the post. Hes really grown from that standpoint." His biggest challenge continues to come on the defensive end, where hes still being exposed by quicker, versatile and more experienced big men. Jefferson is a nightmare assignment for any player, let alone a young and developing big. "My whole career, to this day, people always ask who the hardest [players] are to guard and I surprise them every time when I tell them Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph," said veteran forward and new teammate Chuck Hayes, who participated in his first full practice with the Raptors Wednesday. "For their size - theyre so wide - theyre light on their feet and theyve got great footwork and their shooting touch is just as good as any guard in the league." "It sucks that [Valanciunas] went through that torture chamber in a game that we needed before this road trip but its a learning process," Hayes continued. "Well see them again, Im sure and hell remember that overtime where Al got the best of him." Although Valanciunas shares the blame for what went wrong in overtime, theres plenty of it to go around. The Raptors, as a team, missed their first six field goal attempts while DeMar DeRozan shot 1-of-4. You can also cut the seven-footer some slack, given the amount of time he had spent on the bench. Valanciunas sat for over 17 minutes of game time, including the entire fourth quarter, before coming back in to start overtime. Facing Charlottes unconventional frontcourt of Jefferson and Josh McRoberts, a stretch four, Valanciunas became a late-game afterthought once again, sitting out in favour of Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, and the newly acquired Patrick Patterson. As Casey notes, it is sometimes a give-and-take with Valanciunas on the floor, certainly in a matchup like Wednesdays. Whatever advantage is gained on the offensive end, assuming the team is utilizing it, is often given right back on defence. With the game on the line, Casey - like he has done in past - opted to play it safe with more experienced and versatile defenders at the position. "Thats why its hard to win consistently with young players in the NBA," said the Raptors coach. "Jonas is going to be okay but thats the patience you have to have with a young player; take the good with the bad." While those who expected the world from Valanciunas in his second NBA season may be disappointed in the early returns, Casey is just as realistic as he is optimistic. It wont happen overnight, Casey reiterates regularly. It didnt with Tyson Chandler, it didnt with Roy Hibbert or Joakim Noah and it wont with Valanciunas. Inevitably, developing Valanciunas will become more of a priority now that Rudy Gay has been dealt. The challenge for Casey - who is trying to win first and foremost, as you would expect - centres on finding that balance between competing and nurturing the future of the franchise, a future he may not even be a part of. "I love the challenge of coaching young players, I enjoy that. I enjoy winning more," he said, half-jokingly. "But I understand where we are and what were about." Valanciunas represents the future of this team more than anyone else that is currently on the roster. The expectations, at least internally, have not changed. The word Casey continues to stress is patience. "Its a process," he insists. "Were patient [but] hes our guy, hes our starting centre for a long time and were just going to have to roll with it." China Jerseys Free Shipping . - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. China Jerseys .C. -- Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is resigning after 13 seasons at the school. http://www.chinajerseyspaypal.com/ . Pressley missed all of last season with Cincinnati because of a knee injury, but the 5-foot-10, 249-pounder had been expected to fill a need on Clevelands roster.CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- No. 2 Syracuse held Miami without a basket for 7 1/2 minutes down the stretch Saturday and made eight consecutive free throws in the final minute to remain unbeaten with a 64-52 victory over the Hurricanes. Miami led 47-46 with less than seven minutes to go but made only one field goal the rest of the way. Syracuse (19-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) need one more victory to tie the school record for most wins to start a season, set two years ago. The ACC newcomers beat defending league champion Miami (10-9, 2-5) for the second time in three weeks. Both teams played zone defence and made points tough to come by for long stretches. The game was nearly 30 minutes old before either side made a fast-break basket. Jerami Grant scored 16 points to lead the Orange, who had a 39-24 rebounding advantage. Davon Reed scored 16 points for the Hurricanes, who kept it close by shooting 9 of 17 from three-point range. The game drew a sellout crowd, the seventh in coach Jim Larranagas three seasons at Miami. The stands were a sea of orange, including plenty of visiting or transplanted New Yorkers rooting for Syracuse. Both sides were roaring when the Hurricanes made a comeback after trailing by 18 points in the first half. The Orange had to rrally in the final minutes to beat Miami three weeks ago, and the Hurricanes again had an upset on their minds. China Jerseys Custom. Reed hit a 3-pointer that cut Syracuses lead to 46-44, then converted a three-point play on the next possession to put them ahead for the first time since the opening minute. Syracuse dug in. Miami missed its next six shots and trailed 58-50 before making another basket, and by then the game was in the final minute. Tyler Ennis driving layup put Syracuse ahead to stay, 51-49, with 4:45 left. The Orange shot only 17 for 27 from the free throw line but made them all in the last minute. Miamis James Kelly was helped to the locker room with 3 1/2 minutes to go after he hurt his left leg, an injury which seemed to deflate the Hurricanes. They fell to 4-6 at home this season. Ennis had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. C.J. Fair added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Trevor Cooney made three three-pointers and scored 11 points for Syracuse. The Orange, who shot 3 for 15 from three-point range in their earlier game against Miami, this time made their first three shots from behind the arc. Syracuse went on a 16-1 run to build its big early lead, but Miami rallied with a 16-2 spurt and trailed only 31-26 at halftime. ' ' '  |
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