Konsolen Treiber » moment, by their surroundings

TORONTO - The Raptors and Nets dont like each other, even after one playoff game that has been made abundantly clear. If youre looking to trace back that animosity, start with Torontos one-point victory at Barclays Center in late January. There was a playoff-type buzz in the building that night. DeMar DeRozan sat out with an ankle injury, Kyle Lowry and Paul Pierce both turned in playoff-type performances. There were 18 lead changes, nine ties and three technical fouls - on Lowry, Piece and Kevin Garnett - later, the Raptors stole the game, literally, as Patrick Patterson picked off a Deron Williams pass and hit the winner. "This is a team we could see in the playoffs," uttered multiple voices in both locker rooms and at that point we knew, somehow, some way it was bound to become a reality. Terrence Ross continued to foreshadow a couple days later, listing the Nets as a preferred playoff opponent. Andray Blatche was not amused. Meanwhile, the Nets also had Toronto on their wish list as they rested players and lost games to maximize the odds of this matchup coming to fruition. The Raptors were not amused, at least they shouldnt have been. Then the war of words started. "[Expletive] Brooklyn," yelled Raptors president, general manager and hype man Masai Ujiri as he addressed thousands of fans outside the Air Canada Centre prior to Saturdays Game 1. Reluctantly, he delivered a halftime apology, more for the choice of phrasing than the message itself. Hes not alone in that sentiment. "That should represent how we all feel," Dwane Casey said after his team fell victim to the veteran savvy of Brooklyn in the series opener. "I feel the same way and Ive got his back," added Greivis Vasquez. "We dont like any of them either. Thats how we all feel. All of us." Nets coach Jason Kidd said he didnt know who the Raptors GM was and on Sunday the barbs continued to fly. "Im shocked that Bryan Colangelo would say that," Pierce said to the New York Post, informed of what the opposing GM had to say the day before. Reminded that Ujiri replaced Colangelo in the Raptors front office last summer, as if he were somehow unaware, Pierce responded, "I dont know what youre talking about." Theres genuine hostility here. Its not manufactured, though the media has helped fan the flames. "Raptors vs. Dinosaurs," read the Toronto Sun cover on game day, poking fun at the age of Pierce and Garnett. "Dont F*** With Bklyn," the New York Daily News shot back 24 hours later. This has the makings of a competitive, heated series, but rivalry? "I dont think its a rivalry at all," Kyle Lowry said following a Sunday afternoon practice session outside of the Raptors gym on the third level of the ACC. Hes right. Neither team will call this a rivalry and neither should. Territorially, the Nets and the Knicks are natural adversaries, while the Nets - especially with former Celtics Pierce and Garnett on board - have their sites set on throwing down with the Heat, who they defeated four times this season. The Raptors? They dont have a rival. Thats the unfortunate reality of qualifying for the playoffs six times in 19 seasons. For the bulk of their existence, and especially during a recent five-year postseason layoff, theyve been their own worst enemy. "I dont know," said Casey, "rivalry?" "I think the whole Atlantic Divisions a rivalry, the Eastern Conference. We havent got to the spot yet where we can say, Hey, theyre a rival. New Jerseys been to the Finals before, we havent. A lot of teams in our division have been there, where were trying to get to. Weve got to earn that." Thats their focus right now, as it should be. Earning it. The Raptors lost Game 1, not because of Ujiri, not because of anything that was said or done off the floor. They lost because they were outplayed by a team that was not fazed by the moment, by their surroundings. The ACC was electric on Saturday and the sellout crowd did their part, and then some. The building looked and sounded like the "living hell" that Ujiri has called for over and over again. Chants of "Nets suck" and "KG sucks" rang down from the stands throughout the afternoon. Is Toronto a basketball town? It sure seemed like it for three hours but one thing is for certain, its a sports city and as such, it craves that rivalry. It still boos Vince Carter, it still shows up to jeer the Knicks, a former playoff foe from the Raptors "glory days". It would like nothing more than to believe that Brooklyn is the enemy, and for at least three more games they will be. Then what? It depends on what happens here. Rivalries are made in the playoffs and a long, emotional, drawn-out series, almost regardless of the result, would go a long way in prolonging the underlying hatred between these two clubs. For now its being put to the side, at least in the Raptors locker room, where bouncing back and evening the series is now a top priority. Aside from a brief quip to lead off his media scrum - "I promise you I wont have any profanity" - Casey wanted no part in discussing Ujiris controversial speech from the day before. Neither did his players. A war of words may not lose them this series, but it wont win it either. On Sunday the message was clear; a little less conversation, a little more action, please. "This is about basketball," said the Raptors coach. "All that stuff has happened." "All the other stuff, what was said, its about basketball. Its about screening. Its about finishing plays. Its about executing defensively. I dont want to get off on another tangent." Greg McKegg Jersey . However, the 38-year-old is in no hurry to sign with another team. "Im not in a rush. This will be my last contract, so I want to do it right," said Burris on Thursday. Jack Drury Jersey . He had even more fun Friday. Coming off a sensational rookie season, Spieth opened the new year by never coming close to bogey and making a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 7-under 66. http://www.officialhurricanesfanstore.com/authentic-brett-pesce-hurricanes-jersey/ . According to the Red Wings Twitter feed, Zetterberg plans to practice with the team on Thursday and is aiming for a second round comeback. Janne Kuokkanen Jersey . Alfredo Simon lowered his ERA to 0.86, and the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Friday for their 16th win in their last 17 games at the Friendly Confines. Julien Gauthier Jersey .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances.SCHLADMING, Austria - Alexander Khoroshilov won a night slalom by a huge margin on Tuesday, the first Russian World Cup victory in more than three decades.Khoroshilov built on his commanding first-run lead to finish in a total time of 1 minute, 46.39 seconds, 1.44 ahead of second-place Stefano Gross of Italy, who had his maiden win two weeks ago in Addelboden, Switzerland.It was a surprise for me, said the 30-year-old Khoroshilov, who earned his first World Cup podium last month. Russias last victory came from Alexander Zhirov in a giant slalom in 1981.Felix Neureuther of Germany came 1.51 behind in third and extended his lead in the discipline standings while setting a personal best by reaching his seventh podium of the season.Torontos Phil Brown did not qualify for the second run.Neureuther has 540 points, 66 clear of Marcel Hirscher. The Austrian three-time overall champion, who was fourth after the opening run, dropped to 14th after a wild second run.I had two good runs, and I had a really good feeling and then you can ski fast, said Khoroshilov, adding he didnt feel pressure going into the second run. Maybe last year I would have been nervous but not anymore.The Russian became the third slalom skier to earn his maiden win this season after Gross and Mattias Hargin, who won in Kitzbuehel two days ago.Khoroshilov drew praise from his rivals, with Hirscher calling the Russians performance just sensational.Neureuther said it was fantastic how he raced after leading a slalom for the first time. That was superior, and Gross added that Khoroshilov had a super race.Khoroshilov was one of Russias main medal hopes in Alpine skiing for the Sochi Games last year. He didnt fully live up to expectations as he finished 14th, sstill his best Olympic result.ddddddddddddA year on, he is having a breakthrough season as one of the most consistent slalom skiers, finishing every race in the top 10.After coming third in Are, Sweden, he followed up with fifth places in Zagreb, Croatia, and Wengen, Switzerland.Tuesdays slalom was the final World Cup race before the world championships start in Beaver Creek next week.Heavy snowfall made racing difficult as the icy surface got covered by fresh powder. Visibility was limited and many racers wiped their goggles immediately after finishing.A day after skipping training and the public bib draw as he felt exhausted, Hirscher didnt look his usual self with an uncharacteristic final run.That was just bad skiing, said the Austrian, who extended his lead in the overall standings. Hirscher has 1,014 points, 180 ahead of Norways Kjetil Jansrud, who doesnt compete in slalom.Hirscher was just one of many of the pre-race favourites who struggled with the conditions.Last years winner Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway came more than two seconds behind in seventh, while Alexis Pinturault of France was 2.85 back in 17th.Will Brandenburg and David Chodounsky were the only Americans who qualified for the final run, and they finished 18th and 19th, respectively.Teammate Ted Ligety skipped the race. He travelled back to the U.S. to prepare for the world championships following a disappointing weekend in Kitzbuehel, where he failed to finish the super-G and was disqualified in the slalom.Ligety is the defending champion in three events at the worlds — super-G, combined and giant slalom.The World Cup season includes two more slaloms after the worlds — in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, and Meribel, France, in March. 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