JMM » Discussions » r views on the Canuc

  • Posted June 2, 2020
    LOS ANGELES -- Nearly eight months after Kobe Bryant limped off the Lakers home court with a torn Achilles tendon and a career in doubt, he struggled to keep his composure when he finally stepped back onto the same hardwood. https://www.miamishopfootballshop.com/25-Jersey . And though his comeback night didnt quite go to script, Bryant couldnt help reflecting on the work necessary to get back on that court -- and all the months of steady labour ahead to reclaim his game. Bryant had nine points and eight rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night. Bryant began his 18th NBA season by going 2 for 9 with four assists and eight turnovers in 28 minutes. The fourth-leading scorer in NBA history got hurt April 12 and persevered through several months of rehabilitation to return for Los Angeles 20th game of the new season, only to struggle with his shot, his timing and his new teammates. "My rhythm is completely out of sync," Bryant said. "But this is a start, and I guess a start is good." Nick Young scored 19 points for the Lakers, who went 10-9 without Bryant this season, forging a winning record without the five-time NBA champion and with little help from fellow injured MVP Steve Nash. Adoring fans cheered Kobes every move and forgave every misstep, but Bryant couldnt rally the Lakers late despite another huge game by Los Angeles reserves. Bryant was touched by the fans reception and his teammates encouragement, although his ruthless competitive nature chafed against his natural emotions before the opening tip. "You try to control it as much as you can, but you cant help thinking about the hard work," Bryant said. "You try to put it to the side as much as possible and do your work. ... It makes you appreciate the game, this franchise and this city, and all weve been through." The Lakers never led, and Toronto improbably snapped its five-game losing streak despite playing without forward Rudy Gay, who is expected to be traded to Sacramento on Monday as the centerpiece of an apparent seven-player deal. Kyle Lowry had 23 points and eight assists, and DeMar DeRozan added 10 of his 26 points in the final 4:35 of the Raptors first road win over the Lakers in 11 tries since Dec. 28, 2001. "(Bryant) was a little rusty, and you could tell because a lot of his shots were short," said DeRozan, who grew up in Los Angeles watching Kobe. "We were going against him his first game back, but hes going to get it going again and hell be back to the old Kobe." The Raptors had 11 players available after holding out Gay, centre Aaron Gray and forward Quincy Acy, all set to head to the Kings in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes. That turned out to be plenty, thanks to two Los Angeles natives. Johnson, who attended nearby Westchester High School, went 14 for 17 and surpassed his previous career high early in the third quarter. Johnson didnt take a shot in the fourth, but USC product DeRozan and Lowry held off the Lakers. "We knew we were down because half our team got traded, so our mindset was just to go out there and play hard and win this game," Johnson said. "It was real emotional. It happened to us last year in Atlanta, too. We talked to those guys, and Rudy was still at the hotel, so we called him in and told him how much we all appreciated what they did for this team and the city." The building had the buzz of a playoff game before the opening tip, with thousands of fans training cameras on Bryant during opening warmups. The building erupted in loud applause at every mention of Kobe, who was introduced last in the starting lineup to the thunderous strains of "The Imperial March" -- Darth Vaders theme from "Star Wars." The crowd roared again the first time Bryant touched the ball, and he found Robert Sacre underneath the hoop for an assist on Los Angeles first possession. With his wife, Vanessa, and two daughters sitting courtside, Bryant hit a free throw for his first point in the second quarter, followed shortly by an 8-foot, double-pump, left-handed bank shot for his first field goal. Bryant added a signature 22-foot face-up jumper later in the period, but also showed clear signs of rust and unfamiliarity with his new teammates. "Were going to have to carry Kobe a little bit, because of course hes not 100 per cent, not in game shape," said Xavier Henry, who scored 17 points. "Its going to be fun. Its a long year, and hes just getting back." NOTES: The officials allowed Toronto C Jonas Valanciunas to make two free throws out of a timeout late in the first quarter, but belatedly realized Lowry was supposed to take the shots. They wiped the two points off the board and put Lowry back at the line, where he made both shots anyway. ... Terrence Ross banked in a shot from beyond half-court at the first-quarter buzzer to put Toronto up 30-20. https://www.miamishopfootballshop.com/37-Jersey . Ellis had a season-high 37 points and two key assists late, Dirk Nowitzki led a fourth-quarter rally with 14 of his 35 points, and the Mavericks spoiled Howards best offensive night in Houston with a 123-120 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night. https://www.miamishopfootballshop.com/7-Jersey . The question is how many minutes will be available to them and can any of their defence or goaltending provide value? Top Picks: Following a down year in 2011-2012, Matt Duchene rebounded with his highest points-per-game (0.The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2014-15 NHL season with a fresh mindset, after a lost season the previous year. And the new-look Canucks get their first crack at game action tonight in Calgary. TSN1040 pregame show is at 5:00, John Shorthouse and Dave Tomlinson have the call at 7:00. The Canucks struggled through a 36-35-11 season last year, enduring a 1-10-1 stretch in January and February and closing with a 2-5-0 finish. They were 12th in the Western Conference to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08. The rollercoaster ride also saw goalie Roberto Luongo finally be traded, while GM Mike Gillis and coach John Tortorella both lost their jobs. Later in the offseason, centre Ryan Kesler was shipped to Anaheim. But that turnover has left the Canucks hungry for change. Franchise icon Trevor Linden has returned to the club as President, and Linden has added new management pieces in GM Jim Benning and coach Willie Desjardins. All three are rookies in their current roles, but they havena€?t been shy to imprint their views on the Canucks roster. Goalie Ryan Miller was quickly signed to a three-year deal worth $18million in free-agency, centre Nick Bonino and defenseman Luca Sbisa were added in the Kesler trade, while forward Radim Vrbata, Linden Vey, and Derek Dorsett were also picked up over the summer via free-agency and trades. https://www.miamishopfootballshop.com/33-Jersey. The end result is a Canucks roster that still relies heavily on its old core of the Sedins, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, and Alex Edler, but has refreshed a bit with some new blood. A promised youth infusion may still be a year away, with Nicklas Jensen and Hunter Shinkaruk sent to the AHLa€?s Utica Comets, but 2013 top pick Bo Horvat remains with the big club. Horvat will not play against the Flames, due to injury. Kevin Bieksa is also a question mark with injury, but Bieksa traveled to Calgary and will take the pregame skate. The Flames are also coming off a season without playoffs, as Calgary finished 13th in the West in 2013-14. That resulted in the Flames grabbing Sam Bennett with the fourth overall pick, but Bennett is out longterm with a shoulder injury that may require surgery. Calgary also added starting goalie Jonas Hiller in the offseason. LIKELY CANUCKS LINES: Sedin-Sedin-Vrbata Higgins-Bonino-Burrows Richardson-Vey-Kassian Dorsett-Matthias-Hansen Hamhuis-Sbisa Edler-Tanev Stanton-Weber/Bieksa PP1: Sedin-Sedin-Vrbata-Vey-Edler PP2: Bonino-Burrows-Higgins-Hamhuis-Tanev Ryan Miller Eddie Lack ' ' '