FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS 1. TORONTO RAPTORS: They lose on the road by five to Miami and by seven at Indiana. It just has a different feel to it. Even though they lost, Im impressed with their improvement and the way theyre playing right now. Good role definition and team play are evident. Have they arrived? No, far from it, but they are headed in the proper direction. Its a lot more difficult to play when folks have expectations for you and how you handle them on a daily basis. If they can become consistent in their production then theyll be fine. Greivis Vasquez has to start playing a lot better and with consistency off the bench for them. Hes the guy that can make a difference for them with the second unit if he can pick it up a few notches. 2. ROY HIBBERT (Pacers): We talk so much about his defence, shot blocking and rebounding that at times we lose sight of how much hes improved. Hes always been a nifty passer back to his days at Georgetown but the thing thats really impressed me has been his steady growth as a post player. His footwork is exceptional and he can score with either hand in the lane and is fluid with his skills. He gets great position in the lane and his confidence as an offensive player is at an all-time high. 3. LUOL DENG TRADE: I like this trade for the Bulls. Theyre not going anywhere with the loss of Derrick Rose and had to move on from this group. Deng was a terrific player for them yet was going to cost too much for them in the free-agent sweepstakes. They save close to $20 million with this transaction and it was time to move on and begin the process of a new look in Chicago. This is the business side of sports that isnt pleasant when you see a wonderful guy who was a very good player get moved for economics yet in this cold-hearted business, it was the right thing to do long term for them. 4. KEVIN DURANT (Thunder): I know his team lost on Tuesday night to the Jazz and that isnt a pleasant thing but how can you not be impressed with the fact that he drops 48 points in the game? Its been challenging for him and his team without Russell Westbrook yet we get to see just how special Durant is when he has to do even more. Hes truly the second-best player in the game today and his offensive skill set is off the charts. Truly a joy to watch. Great competitor and a winner. 5. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Theyre on a roll with 10 wins in a row and Im thrilled for their loyal/rabid fan base. If I could put a finger on it the one guy who makes such a huge difference on their team is Andre Iguodala. He gives them a perimeter defensive stopper, hes an unselfish player who gladly gives the ball up to teammates and has wonderful versatility in his game. He plays the game the right way and has really allowed the other aspects of this roster to settle into their roles. Coach Mark Jackson has a guy that he can trust to do all the little things that win games for you and do it at a high level. I guess the word Glue Guy comes to mind when I watch their team. Any way you want to say it - hes made a huge difference in their team. Adidas Springblade Contrefaçon Pas Cher . On the day the club activated Casey Janssen from the 15-day disabled list, his return from a strained oblique that cost him the first six weeks of the regular season, it announced Sergio Santos would be placed on the disabled list on Monday with discomfort in his right forearm. Yeezy Boost 350 Moins Cher . Bring on Freddy Garcia. The well-travelled 36-year-old right-hander earned his second NL victory since 2007, and his first since he joined the Atlanta Braves last month, pitching six innings to help beat Miami 6-1 Thursday. http://www.basketnmdpascher.fr/ . Samir Nasris 88th-minute equalizer at Etihad Stadium will be of little consolation to City, which is now six points behind league leader Liverpool and four points behind second-place Chelsea. Third-place City has a game in hand but the surprise result against Sunderland, coupled with Sundays 3-2 loss at Liverpool, may be a setback too far in its bid for a second championship in three seasons. Adidas Basket Nmd Noir Femme . Toronto announced the deal with the restricted free agent on Saturday. The terms were not disclosed. Fausse Adidas Nmd . Dwyane Wade followed a few days later. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars arent putting pressure on Blake Bortles to win a starting job in training camp. The rookie quarterback was solid in his preseason debut Friday night, throwing for 117 yards and leading a second-half drive for a field goal in a 16-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "There was some good stuff, some bad stuff, things that Ive got to overcome," Bortles said. "Its a process, its not going to happen overnight," he added. "The chemistry felt really good with the second unit, weve been working really well together during camp. I thought the offensive line did a really good job of protecting up front." The third overall pick in the draft completed 7 of 11 passes, including a 31-yarder down the middle of the field to Mike Brown to set up a 26-yard field goal that gave the Jaguars a 10-3 lead late in the third quarter. The Bucs were penalized for a late hit on the rookie from Central Florida, tacking on another 15 yards. Tampa Bay drove 85 yards to make it 10-10 on Mike Glennons 6-yard scoring pass to Tommy Streeter, but dropped its first game under coach Lovie Smith when a defence that had done a good job of keeping Jacksonvilles offence out of the end zone faltered in the fourth quarter. Denard Robinsons 23-yard TD run put the Jaguars ahead for good with under seven minutes remaining. Jacksonville also scored on Winston Guy Jr.s 68-yard interception return in the first quarter. Tampa Bays first-team offence sputtered while playing into the second quarter. In addition to throwing the interception that was returned for a TD, Josh McCown was sacked twice and lost a fumble. "The defence did a good job of keeping them out (of the end zone). But we say its defence versus defence," Smith said. "Their defence scored a touchdown, we didnt. Were playing hard, but were still not where we need to be on the defensive side either." Chad Henne started for the Jaguars and played four series before being replaced by Bortles, who has yet to take a snap with Jacksonvilles first-team offence in training camp. The rookie received a nice ovation from the announced crowd of 59,100 at EverBank Field before completing his first pass for 24 yards to Allen Hurns. Two plays later, he rolled out of the pocket to his left and showed he has a sense of when he needs to take a little off his throws with a nice flip to fullback Will Taufoou for a 12-yard gain.dddddddddddd "I thought he did a nice job, showed some good poise. We felt like we could protect him," Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley said. "Just the poise factor, we wanted to see that in him, and he did a nice job." So when might Bortles begin to get some practice time with the starters? "Our philosophy is to try and get these rookies in with the ones. Somewhere youre going to see it, we want them to feel the speed of the ones," Bradley said. "We do that with all our guys, Im sure well do that with Blake as well. Well see how things go as to when we get him in there. I just think hes progressing nice." Smith and first-year general manager Jason Licht spent in free agency to bring in four new starters for Tampa Bays defence and also rebuild an offensive line that did not protect McCown well Friday night. The 35-year-old quarterback, a career backup who began training camp as a projected starter for the first time in a decade, was hurried into a couple of bad throws and also took a hard hit at the end of a 9-yard scramble. Henne completed 4 of 7 for 30 yards. The Jaguars hurt themselves with a pair of bad snaps that sailed over the quarterbacks head in shotgun formation. The second one rolled 21 yards on fourth down, helping set up the 44-yard field goal for Tampa Bays first points of the game. McCown finished 2 of 4 for 20 yards with one interception. He rushed for 13 yards on the two plays Jacksonvilles pass rush forced him to run. Glennon, who started 13 games as a rookie a year ago when a 4-12 finish cost coach Greg Schiano and general manager Mark Dominik their jobs, was 11 of 19 for 140 yards and no interceptions. "Were not ready yet. ... This first game, we kind of see where we are a little bit," Smith said. "Had some protection issues, didnt protect the quarterback well enough. Thats pretty much it." Notes: The Jaguars played without starting RB Toby Gerhart and WRs Cecil Shorts III and Allen Robinson. ... S Dashon Goldson and CB Alterraun Verner, one of Tampa Bays key off-season acquisitions, did not dress for the Bucs. ' ' '