News » ohnson will take advantage

TORONTO - Second chances are rare in life, let alone in the NBA. Adidas Nmd Pánská . The Raptors are confident that newly re-acquired forward James Johnson will take advantage of his. In a surprising roster move early Thursday morning, Toronto finalized an agreement to bring back the 27-year-old free agent at a reported $5 million, fully guaranteed, over the next two years. Toronto first acquired Johnson from the Bulls in exchange for a first-round pick (which was used on Heat point guard Norris Cole) during the 2010-11 season. The following campaign was a turbulent one for Johnson as he butted heads with new head coach Dwane Casey over his role in the teams offence, ultimately leading to a late-season benching. That summer, the Raptors flipped Johnson to Sacramento for a second-rounder (used on UConn product DeAndre Daniels last month). He played briefly for the Kings and spent the start of the 2013-14 campaign in the D-League before joining the Memphis Grizzlies and reviving his career, averaging 7.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 52 contests last season. Now, with a winning environment in place and a need at the small forward position, one that Johnson addresses, Casey and the Raptors have put the past behind them, believing the five-year vet will do the same. Having met with Casey, the Raptors are convinced Johnson has matured and recognizes the importance of this opportunity. It could be his last shot. The number one thing with James, and weve had long discussions about that, is his role, Casey told reporters in Las Vegas, where his team is practicing ahead of their upcoming Summer League tournament. He understands that now, which is great. In this business, theres never a person who youll say, Hey, Ill never coach that guy [again]. Hes had his issues in the past, general manager Masai Ujiri reiterated, but havent we all? We will help him get over them and this is a good opportunity for him. He has to take advantage of it. Newly re-signed point guard Kyle Lowry is a good example of what one can accomplish given the chance to redeem themselves. Lowry clashed with Casey over playing time and philosophy during his subpar first season with Toronto before breaking out in a more defined role last year. I think hes grown up, Lowry said of Johnson Thursday morning. You get to the certain point, even myself, you get a maturity level that, it comes with age. I think hes going to be able to understand, listen, Im a lot older, Im more understanding of life and coach isnt going to make me this or make me that. At the end of the day, youre playing for the players, your teammates and the organization. I think coaching him will be fine. They will get along well. Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, a good friend of Johnson, were advocates of bringing him on board. Johnson - a big, versatile, defensive-minded forward - is the type of player the Raptors had been clamouring for and could alleviate some of the pressure from DeRozan and Terrence Ross, who were exposed by Joe Johnson and the Nets wings during their first-round playoff loss. Johnson, as you may recall, is a second-degree black belt, undefeated in seven MMA fights and 20 kickboxing matches. With a 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame, hes sure to strike fear in the eyes of the leagues top perimeter players, assuming he buys into his role as a defensive stopper. When Dave Joerger, Johnsons former coach in Memphis, was asked about the forwards reputation for occasionally trying to do too much on the offensive end, he joked, I just let him do too much. I just say, Go, wreck it, Joerger had told TSN.ca back in December. I think hes changed his body. I think that hes able to sidestep guys, hes able to get by guys with his first and second step and then gather and finish around the rim, where I think maybe earlier in his career - carrying a little bit more weight - he wouldnt get past the first defender. I just think hes a lot quicker. The Wake Forest product appeared in 87 games as a Raptor, starting 51, over parts of two seasons, averaging 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds. Adidas Nmd r1 Damske . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins (5) – He was locked in all night, made huge stops on Benoit Pouliot, Raphael Diaz, Ryan Mcdonagh, Carl Hagelin, Rick Nash (twice) but none better than the three saves on Mats Zuccarello. Boty Adidas Nmd Levně . - 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. http://www.botynmdlevne.com/ . Since coming to the big leagues in late May, La Stella is 6 for 7 with the bases loaded, driving in 13 runs in those at-bats.CHICAGO -- The Detroit Tigers will have to wait at least another day to try to snap out of their recent funk. The second game of the Tigers scheduled four-game series at the Chicago White Sox was postponed Tuesday night. The tarp stayed on the field all day as intermittent rain fell in the Chicago area. With more wet weather in the forecast for the rest of the night, the game was called about 2 hours before the scheduled start. There was no immediate announcement of a makeup date for the first postponed White Sox home game of the season. Detroit returns to Chicago for a three-game series from Aug. 29-31. The White Sox used the rainout to skip Andre Rienzos turn in the rotation. Left-hander John Danks was moved back a day to Wednesday, and Chris Sale will pitch in the series finale on Thursday. Rienzo, who has dropped each of his last three starts, will pitch Sunday against Kansas City. Detroit adjusted its rotation. Drew Smyly, who was slated to start Wednesdays game, was pushed out of the series altogether. Justin Verlander was moved back to Wednesday and Max Scherzer will face Sale on Thursday in a matchup of two of the best pitchers in the AL. The Tigers dropped to 4-3 against the White Sox this season with a 6-5 loss in the series opener Monday night. Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Eugenio Suarez homered, but Rick Porcello struggled through five-plus innings. AL Central-leading Detroit got off to a 27-12 start this season, but it has struggled of late. The Tigers, who won the division in each of tthe previous three seasons, have lost seven of nine and 15 of 21 overall. Adidas Boty Pánské Nmd. Before the game was called, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus had Cabrera at designated hitter and Victor Martinez at first base for the second straight night. Cabrera left Sunday nights 5-3 loss to Boston with left hamstring tightness, but went 2 for 4 in Monday nights loss. "He said hes feeling better today," Ausmus said. "Its going to be wet out there. I dont know if he would have played the field anyway, but the fact that its going to be raining on and off makes the decision easier to DH him." Cabrera is 8 for 14 with a homer and two RBIs in his last four games. The AL MVP the last two seasons is batting .329 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs in 2014, playing in each of Detroits first 60 games. "Its tough to get him out of the lineup because hes the best hitter in the game," Ausmus said. While the Tigers have been sliding, they have received a boost from Suarez. The 22-year-old rookie shortstop is 4 for 11 with two homers in four major league games since he was recalled from Triple-A Toledo last Wednesday. "It should give him confidence. He looks good with the bat. Hes swinging the bat well," Ausmus said. "The truth is that in baseball three weeks from now, if youre not swinging the bat well, your confidence is gone. You have to re-find. That happens to everybody at some point, without fail. I hope he goes through without ever struggling a day in his life. But chances are thats never going to happen." ' ' '