wans will not be pushovers, especially with Sigurdss

TORONTO - Although Wednesdays overtime loss was one that Jonas Valanciunas would sooner forget than relive, his coach hopes its something the Raptors sophomore centre will learn from. In what promised to be a tricky matchup for the 21-year-old, Valanciunas held his own against the crafty Al Jefferson offensively but was taught a lesson or two on the other end. One of those moments occurred at the end of the extra period. Jefferson set a hard screen that freed up Kemba Walker, forcing Valanciunas to switch off and close out on the Bobcats guard. Walker would drain the game-winner over Valanciunas as time expired. "Weve watched film with him [and] work on it with him individually," Dwane Casey said after practice Thursday afternoon. "In the NBA, a lot depends on game experience and hes seeing every different post-up situation." Valanciunas scored 10 points and added six rebounds in 22 minutes of action Wednesday however, Jefferson poured in 24 to go along with 11 boards, leading the Bobcats with five points in overtime. "Hes still in the process, hes still learning the league, learning the speed of the game and again, hes [getting] better," Casey said, commending Valanciunas growth on the offensive end. "I thought he did an excellent job offensively when he got his catches in the post. Hes really grown from that standpoint." His biggest challenge continues to come on the defensive end, where hes still being exposed by quicker, versatile and more experienced big men. Jefferson is a nightmare assignment for any player, let alone a young and developing big. "My whole career, to this day, people always ask who the hardest [players] are to guard and I surprise them every time when I tell them Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph," said veteran forward and new teammate Chuck Hayes, who participated in his first full practice with the Raptors Wednesday. "For their size - theyre so wide - theyre light on their feet and theyve got great footwork and their shooting touch is just as good as any guard in the league." "It sucks that [Valanciunas] went through that torture chamber in a game that we needed before this road trip but its a learning process," Hayes continued. "Well see them again, Im sure and hell remember that overtime where Al got the best of him." Although Valanciunas shares the blame for what went wrong in overtime, theres plenty of it to go around. The Raptors, as a team, missed their first six field goal attempts while DeMar DeRozan shot 1-of-4. You can also cut the seven-footer some slack, given the amount of time he had spent on the bench. Valanciunas sat for over 17 minutes of game time, including the entire fourth quarter, before coming back in to start overtime. Facing Charlottes unconventional frontcourt of Jefferson and Josh McRoberts, a stretch four, Valanciunas became a late-game afterthought once again, sitting out in favour of Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, and the newly acquired Patrick Patterson. As Casey notes, it is sometimes a give-and-take with Valanciunas on the floor, certainly in a matchup like Wednesdays. Whatever advantage is gained on the offensive end, assuming the team is utilizing it, is often given right back on defence. With the game on the line, Casey - like he has done in past - opted to play it safe with more experienced and versatile defenders at the position. "Thats why its hard to win consistently with young players in the NBA," said the Raptors coach. "Jonas is going to be okay but thats the patience you have to have with a young player; take the good with the bad." While those who expected the world from Valanciunas in his second NBA season may be disappointed in the early returns, Casey is just as realistic as he is optimistic. It wont happen overnight, Casey reiterates regularly. It didnt with Tyson Chandler, it didnt with Roy Hibbert or Joakim Noah and it wont with Valanciunas. Inevitably, developing Valanciunas will become more of a priority now that Rudy Gay has been dealt. The challenge for Casey - who is trying to win first and foremost, as you would expect - centres on finding that balance between competing and nurturing the future of the franchise, a future he may not even be a part of. "I love the challenge of coaching young players, I enjoy that. I enjoy winning more," he said, half-jokingly. "But I understand where we are and what were about." Valanciunas represents the future of this team more than anyone else that is currently on the roster. The expectations, at least internally, have not changed. The word Casey continues to stress is patience. "Its a process," he insists. "Were patient [but] hes our guy, hes our starting centre for a long time and were just going to have to roll with it." Rod Carew Jersey . Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., were third with 210.84 points. Teammates Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto were fourth. Duhamel and Radford, who were seventh at the Sochi Olympics, also won bronze at last years world championships in London, Ont. Custom Los Angeles Angels Jerseys .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/j-...els-jersey/.com) - Jeff Teague had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 90-85 on Saturday night. Zack Cozart Jersey . Now he has a complete game. Scherzer tossed a three-hitter in his 179th career start for his first complete game and Victor Martinez hit his 16th homer to lead the Detroit Tigers a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Reggie Jackson Jersey . -- Jacksonville Jaguars rookie receiver Marqise Lee has agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth more than $5 million.In a very unexpected title race, we look at five former Tottenham stars who can do their former club a huge favour. League leaders Leicester are on the verge of making history, but they are anything but over the line yet, as Manchester United fans will testify, having seen their side incredibly chased down by Manchester City in 2012.Spurs lead the chasing pack, and with a seven-point gap to make up, theyll need all the help they can get in their quest for a first Premier League crown themselves. We look at five former Spurs stars who can lend a helping hand and help ruin the Foxes fairy tale.Gylfi Sigurdsson Gylfi Sigurdsson could be most influential in helping Spurs title bid After impressing on-loan with Swansea in 2011/12, Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson looked set to make his stay in south Wales permanent, before Spurs swooped in with a last-gasp bid of around £9m to secure his services.The move didnt really pay off, and the attacking midfielder was soon back where his Premier League story started, and is arguably the Swans most pivotal component in their fight for survival.And, in helping his current side stay afloat, Sigurdsson could make his biggest contribution to Spurs - attempting to beat Leicester when Swansea travel to the King Power Stadium on April 24, live on Sky Sports. Will Bendtner ever learn? Nicklas Bendtners Wolfsburg issues The match is most likely one of Leicesters more winnable games, but until safety is mathematically certain, the Swans will not be pushovers, especially with Sigurdsson in their arsenal.Jermain Defoe Jermain Defoe scored 48 league goals for Tottenham Sunderlands hopes of survival rest with Jermain Defoe. He has scored four times as many goals as anyone else in the Black Cats squad, but the former Spurs striker can do serious damage to his former sides rivals simultaneously.Sam Allardyces side host Leicester on Super Sunday, where even a point will do Sunderland the world of good, and give the chasing pack hope that all is not lost. Then, with Arsenal needing to earn maximum points to close the imposing gap at the top, Sunderland could effectively end Arsene Wengers hopes of a late title tilt - pleasing Spurs fans in more ways than one - when the Black Cats welcome the Gunners to the Stadium of Light on April 24.Michael Carrick Michael Carrick could help his former club out It is easy to forget that Michael Carrick played for two other top flight clubs before Manchester United, having plied his trade at Old Trafford for so long, but Carrick made the jump from promising youngster to potential Roy Keane successor while at White Hart Lane.ddddddddddddWith Bastian Schweinsteiger injured, the United veteran is likely to be Louis van Gaals midfield anchor as United toil for a top four spot.And, in a strange turn of events, rather than being the team chasing the title, United welcome Leicester to Old Trafford on May 1, live on Sky Sports, with the visitors the ones gunning for the Premier League crown.The Foxes have thrived through playing counter-attacking football, and Carricks main task will be to dictate tempo so that Claudio Ranieris side are stifled, thus opening the door for Spurs, should they still be in the race at that point.Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor taunted Arsenal fans when at Man City In a colourful career, Emmanuel Adebayor enjoyed some of his most fruitful years at White Hart Lane, before falling out of favour and being released in September.Adebayor is now with struggling Crystal Palace, looking to resurrect his career, and having a notoriously fractious relationship with Arsenal fans since his departure in 2009, the enigmatic striker would love nothing more than to end the Gunners title hopes.He will get an opportunity to do just that when Palace travel to Arsenal on May 17, live on Sky Sports, helping the Eagles steer clear of the bottom three in the process.Aaron Lennon Aaron Lennon has enjoyed a revival at Everton Having spent ten years in north London, falling out of favour at Spurs must have knocked Aaron Lennons confidence a great deal, but he has done a fine job of rejuvenating himself at Everton.With some talented attacking players at his disposal, Roberto Martinezs persistence with Lennon is testament to the England internationals ability, and such quality could have a big say in the title race.Leicester host the Toffees on May 7, live on Sky Sports, and with only two games to go after the King Power encounter, the fixture could well be make or break for the Foxes.Everton have previous in this scenario, coming back from the dead to draw 4-4 at Old Trafford, paving the way for City to overtake their rivals, and Lennons pace on the counter could help instigate a similar late revival for his former club. Also See: How could City line up? English football permutations When can Leicester win the title? Rise of Wes Morgan? ' ' '