Bayern Trupp » attack for Kitchener

TORONTO - When Greivis Vasquez was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies, selected with the 28th overall pick in 2010, he joined an emerging Western Conference power. At the time of the selection, the Grizzlies were coming off a promising campaign, the first for frontcourt duo Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph together in Memphis. Helmed by now former coach Lionel Hollins, the 2010-11 Grizzlies were one of the most improved teams in the league, building a defensive foundation that sticks with them to this day while finishing 10 games over .500, defeating the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs and taking the Thunder to seven games in the Conference Semifinals. Vasquez, a 24-year-old, Venezuelan-born rookie from the University of Maryland, was along for the ride. He played in 70 regular season games, backing up Mike Conley and helping the Grizzlies snap a four-year playoff draught - appearing in 13 postseason contests - before being traded to New Orleans ahead of the following, lockout shortened campaign. Memphis has not missed the postseason since. "Ive got respect for them because they gave me an opportunity to be in this league," said the fourth-year point guard, poised to make his second postseason appearance with the Raptors next month. "Thats a tough team to beat," he continued following his new teams impressive 99-86 win over the one that drafted him. "We beat a playoff team and that was a good win for us at home." Aside from new coach Dave Joerger - a former assistant under Hollins - and last years trade of Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies havent changed much. Theyre still a defensive juggernaut - ranked third in opponent points per game, just ahead of the Raptors - and they still feature the daunting interior pair of Gasol and Randolph. They still embody physical, hard-nosed, playoff-calibre basketball and the Raptors - looking ahead to their own postseason birth - took it right to them. It was another valuable test for Dwane Caseys team, not unlike the one they failed in Brooklyn earlier this week, but this time they passed with flying colours. "I dont mean this in a bad way with Memphis because I love the style of defence they play," Casey said, "but the only way you can challenge a bully is if you hit them first." "I dont think we did that in the first quarter," Casey said in reference to Torontos timid start. "We did in the second quarter and they responded. Youve got to have a physical mentality against a team like that and I thought our guys did that after the first quarter." Vasquez had a lot to do with that turnaround. He may not be the fastest, the quickest or the strongest but there are few who play the game harder. His energy was infectious, as it tends to be, when he entered the game late in the first quarter and it carried over into the second, where the Raptors ended the half on a 19-6 run. About 30 minutes later he changed the game again, this time for good. With the score knotted up at 80, midway through the fourth, Vasquez knocked down a 27-foot pull-up three. As the Grizzlies came up the floor, he picked off a pass and went coast-to-coast for layup. It was the biggest sequence of the night, ironically initiating a second 19-6 run to close out the victory. "Obviously physicality is going to be the big factor [in the playoffs]," said Vasquez, who finished with 17 points, five rebounds and six assists Friday. "We play physical, we punch teams and we let them know that its not going to be easy for any team to come to our house and beat us like that and thats what we did tonight." Usually relegated to 17-22 minutes per night, mostly playing in the understudy role to starter Kyle Lowry, Vasquez logged 28. With the Grizzlies playing small in the backcourt, Casey was able to pair Vasquez and Lowry for over eight minutes in both the second and fourth quarters. With the two point guards sharing the court for 19 minutes, the Raptors scored 23 points more than they allowed. Playing alongside the other, both Vasquez and Lowry were at their best on this night. Lowry - who totalled 22 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists - was able to play off the ball and spot up for jumpers, while Vasquez could get in the lane and facilitate with more space. For Vasquez - as he realizes - the obvious benefit to spending more time on the floor with Lowry is spending more time on the floor, period. "I think we should do it more often if you ask me but Im not the head coach," Vasquez said. "[Coach is] doing a great job leading us to win games. Obviously Coach Casey is an outstanding coach and today he gave me a chance to come off the bench and play with a rhythm and I got the job done." Vasquez, a starter in New Orleans last season, has seen sporadic playing time since arriving in the trade from Sacramento. Generally, when he has played more he has played well but the opportunity for playing time at the position is scarce. It is what it is, as Casey would say. Lowry is playing at an extremely high level and pairing them together is something that can only work in long stretches if the matchup permits it. "When I play regular minutes it allows me to have a presence in the game," he said. "A lot of times its really, really hard coming off the bench and just being effective or having a presence in the game real quick." For the most part, the Raptors have had success playing Lowry and Vasquez together this season, keeping in mind its only been done in favourable situations. In 346 minutes with the two point guards on the floor, the Raptors have outscored their opponents by 102 total points, per NBA.com/stats. With Casey looking to manufacture some rest for Lowry over the final five weeks of the season, playing him off the ball more often could be the solution. "Its easier for me," said Lowry, asked about playing alongside Vasquez, "because weve got a guy who is going to look for me and who can make the play. He gives me a chance to rest and hang out and shoot open threes. When hes playing like that, were a pretty good team." Vasquez and Jonas Valanciunas - who scored a season-high 23 points - both came up big for Torontos offence with Memphis elite perimeter defence locked into DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross. The Raptors two wing players shot a combined 6-for-16 Friday. Cheap Vapormax Womens Black . - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has an agreement to bring back outside linebacker Parys Haralson on a one-year deal. Nike Joyride Run Flyknit Uk .Steamboat Ski Resort contends Steamboat Springs, Colorado has long been known as Ski Town, U.S.A., and claims in a new lawsuit that Salt Lake tourism officials violated their trademark when they rolled out the Ski City marketing campaign last month. http://www.vapormaxwholesaleuk.com/whole...mens-white.html. Saskatchewans Darian Durant is expected to miss the rest of the Roughriders season with a torn tendon in his right elbow. The 32-year-old, who will undergo surgery in the next couple days to repair the injury, was added to the teams six-game injury list Tuesday. Nike Vapormax Uk Ebay . - The Florida Panthers are getting some Army training to finish off their preparations for the season. Nike Vapormax Mens Trainers Sale .Sinclair, from Burnaby, B.C., led the Canadian team with three goals at the four-nation competition. She also earned tournament most valuable player honours.The Canadian captain scored on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and added the winning goal a minute later.OTTAWA - Brian Kilrea added to his already impressive career win total on Friday night.The Ottawa 67s, with Kilrea coaching for one night only to celebrate his 80th birthday, doubled up the Mississauga Steelheads 6-3 in Ontario Hockey League action.Kilrea extends his lead as the Canadian Hockey Leagues all-time coaching leader with a total of 1,194 wins.Travis Barron and Dante Salituro each scored twice for the 67s (3-5-0). Artur Tyanulin and Erik Bradford rounded out the attack.Lucas Venuto had two goals for the Steelheads (4-2-0) with Josh Burnside also finding the back of the net.Liam Herbst kicked out 33 shots in the win while Spencer Martin made 23 saves for Mississauga.Ottawa was perfect on the power play, scoring on all three opportunities while the Steelheads went 1 for 2.---OTTERS 3 WOLVES 2ERIE, Pa. — Dylan Strome scored twice for the Otters in their win over Sudbury.Patrick Fellows got his second goal of the year for Erie (7-0-1).Austin Clapham and Danny Desrochers both chipped in with their first goals of the season for the Wolves (1-8-0).---FRONTENACS 6 WHALERS 4KINGSTON, Ont. — Robert Polesello had a goal and two assists to lead the Frontenacs over Plymouth.Ryan Kujawinski, Samuel Schutt, Lawson Crouse, Conor McGlynn and Spencer Watson rounded out the Kingston (4-3-1) offence.Danny Vanderwwiel scored twice for the Whalers (3-4-1) while Cullen Mercer and Matt Mistele also found the back of the net.dddddddddddd---STORM 3 ICEDOGS 2GUELPH, Ont. — Tyler Bertuzzi struck twice for the Storm in their victory over Niagara.Robby Fabbri had Guelphs (5-2-0) other goal.Cody Payne and Aaron Haydon replied for the IceDogs (1-7-0) in the loss.---RANGERS 4 COLTS 3KITCHENER, Ont. — Darby Llewellyn scored shorthanded at 12:25 of the third period as the Rangers rallied back to beat Barrie.Nick Magyar, Curtis Meighan and Ryan MacInnis rounded out the attack for Kitchener (4-3-1).Kevin Labanc, Justin Scott and Brendan Lemieux all had a goal for the Colts (5-3-1).---KNIGHTS 3 ATTACK 2 (OT)LONDON, Ont. — Max Domi had his first goal of the season 2:46 into overtime to lead the Knights past Owen Sound.Drake Rymsha and Matt Rupert both scored in regulation for London (4-5-0).Ethan Szypula and Holden Cook responded for the Attack (4-2-3).---GENERALS 6 STING 4OSHAWA, Ont. — Aidan Wallace had a goal and an assist as the Generals held off a third period surge by Sarnia.Bradley Latour, Josh Sterk, Jacob Busch, Hunter Smith and Mitchell Vande Sompel rounded out the Oshawa (7-1-1) offence.Anthony DeAngelo, Hayden Hodgson, Pavel Zacha and Nikita Korostelev all had third-period goals for the Sting (4-4-1). ' ' '