TSN’s Three Man Weave reach out east to the Maritimes for assistance this week, as they discuss the Raptors surging on without DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento, and top point guards. All that and more, as hosts of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane, Will Strickland and Duane Watson are joined by HoopHeadsNorth.com’s Editor and Main Contributor Sean Francois all the way from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Can the Toronto Raptors continue to win a high percentage of their games while DeMar DeRozan is out of the lineup? Strickland: Absolutely. They are not leading the Eastern Conference by accident or default. After the loss of DeRozan, the ships been buoyed by early season MVP candidate Kyle Lowry, bona fide Sixth Man of the Year contender Lou Williams and a young big man who seems to be turning the corner on consistency and asserting himself every night in Jonas Valanciunas. The results have come by hard work, team-first attitude, solid leadership, some luck and a sturdy Next Man Up mentality while their All-Star rehabs to get back into the fold and help his team. Francois: The Toronto Raptors are in a position to win while DeMar DeRozan is out of the lineup, but the percentage of wins depends on how effective the current rotation can be. Can Landry Fields continue to give them solid minutes? Will Jonas Valanciunas keep giving them that strong double-double play he has of late? Can Terrence Ross continue to take his offensive game to the next level in DeMars absence? These are some of the things the Raptors will need to continue if they want to remain at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. This upcoming stretch of games will be a true test for Toronto, as seven of their next eight games are on the road facing some elite Western and Eastern Conference competition. Watson: The foundation of this ball club is team first, so the Raptors’ loss of DeRozan isn’t felt as much as the loss of a player like Kevin Durant to OKC. Granted, he is the team’s leading scorer and amongst the top in the league in getting to the free throw line, but the Raptors depth and balance keep them going. Landry Fields insertion into the starting line-up allows the bench core to stay intact, which is the key edge this team has over the majority of the league. They haven’t floundered in his absence and will continue to hold it down until his return. Are serious/long term injuries becoming more prevalent in the NBA in recent years (Rose, Kobe, Parker & Randle), or does it simply just appear that way? Strickland: Objects in mirror may be closer than they actually are... or not. Many a star has been clipped before reaching their athletic primes, robbing fans and the game alike of incredible performers and potential greatness. From Bill Walton to Penny Hardaway, serious injuries are and have always been a part of the game. Are these injuries more prevalent now because of immediate access of social media, better medicine and medical rehabilitation techniques, more money and less insistence that players get back on the floor sooner than later? There could be myriad reasons upon which much speculation can be had. The success is and will be in how guys like the recently re-injured Kevin Durant, Jabari Parker and the like recover and respond. Francois: Injuries, especially ACL tears, seem to be happening more often in the NBA. Sports science and athlete training regimens are at an all-time high with regards to the level of sophistication and production through strength training and the research behind it. Despite the advancements, the human body is still susceptible to the same potential damage of ligaments, muscles, tendons, and bones through rigorous activity, being overworked, and sometimes over-compensating. The demands of a professional athlete and the practice routines are also at all-time highs. Neither Derrick Rose nor Kobe Bryant suffered major injuries at any point in their amateur or professional careers prior to their relatively recent injuries in the NBA, but due to the demands placed on athletes bodies in training, practice, and games, sports injuries are seemingly becoming more frequent. Watson: It’s a little of both, but they don’t make them like they used to. Another factor to consider is that players are entering a physically demanding game at a young age, and some of their bodies haven’t fully developed. In addition have they developed the habits and discipline of taking care of their bodies at a young age? Of course, some things just happen, but this era of medicine and training to repair and rehab makes these injuries less career threatening than in the past. With the surprising news that Sacramento Kings fired head coach Michael Malone this week, will Tyrone Corbin keep the coaching gig, or will they find someone else to fit their vision? Strickland: While the move to relieve Mike Malone of his coaching duties seemed sudden and abrupt, reports of a fissure up top between Malone and a very aggressive and perhaps out-of-his-depth owner in Vivek Ranadive were more surprising. Despite what looked to be a growing trust between Malone and his top star, DeMarcus Amir Cousins, its hard to believe he didnt want the Kings front office to extend Boogies contract or that of Rudy Gay. Grand Opening. Grand Closing. With Ranadive looking for an offensive minded jazz director, lets be clear that former Utah Jazz bench boss Tyrone Corbin is merely a seat-filler for Mark Jackson, George Karl or Chris Mullin to conduct Sacramentos starting quintet and their accompaniment in the near future. Francois: I will be surprised in Tyrone Corbin keeps the Kings head coaching job long term. With the up-tempo offence that the Kings management seems to want to implement, a name like Mike DAntoni comes to mind as a possible long-term replacement. On the other hand, given how quickly Michael Malone was relieved of his head coaching duties, I suspect there will be a carousel of coaches until Kings management find a coach who is willing to concede to any and all management wishes regarding style of play. Managements level of involvement in how the coaching staff operates is a fine line, and the Kings ownership and management need to pay close attention to that going forward. Watson: After hiring Malone in the summer - before hiring a General Manager and firing him this early in the season - Kings owner Vivek Ranadive is slowly evolving into the Indian James Dolan. Ranadive has said he believes Corbin “can take this team to the playoffs,” but he spoke glowingly about Malone as well. There are far more experienced coaches available and someone who will bend to ownership’s desires. Corbin is living on borrowed time. The early season MVP race is full of point guards. Who are the Top Five PGs in The Association right now? Strickland: After what could be a shape shifting move of Seismic proportion with the trade of Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks, there are absolutely no nights off in the West for point guards. Its no cakewalk in the East, either. Respect due to the aforementioned Rondo as well as Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Ty Lawson and Damian Lillard, but the Top Five floor generals in the Association currently are Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley. Francois: In my opinion, the Top Five point guards in the NBA right now are: 1) Stephen Curry 2) John Wall 3) Chris Paul 4) Damian Lillard 5) Russell Westbrook Watson: My top five offence initiators right now, are Stephen Curry, Kyle Lowry, John Wall, Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker. The Atlanta Hawks: Are They For Real? Strickland: Indeed. Spurs East Lite. While they are still perhaps one quality big man back-up and shooter off the bench away, former San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer helms a club of solid, unselfish veteran players who lead the NBA in assists. The return of former All-Star centre, the multi-talented Al Horford, bolsters a squad with an 18-7 record, only 1.5 games behind the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors. The Hawks also sport an All-Star power forward currently third in steals as well as being the best deal in the NBA in one Paul Milsap. Throw in underrated glue guys in DeMarre Carroll and Thabo Sefalosha, improving youngsters Dennis Schroder and Shelvin Mark, marksmen Kyle Korver and Mike Scott and, of course, the movie 300s Leonidas stunt double, Pero Antic. THIS IS ATLANTA!!! Francois: The Atlanta Hawks are for real in the Eastern Conference. They have a handful of impressive wins against Eastern Conference opponents, but the majority of those games have been ones the Hawks expect to win. To this point, the Hawks have only played one elite Western Conference team, the Spurs, and the Hawks lost in a tight road game (94-92). I dont believe well be able to get a feel for what this Atlanta team is all about until they have played some higher-level competition, which they have coming up over the next couple of weeks. Watson: Over their last 15 games, the Hawks have gone 13-2, defeating Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, New Orleans and Denver, among others. They are for real and a team in the East not to be taken lightly. Atlanta is a top-10 defensive squad, yet are eloquent on offence, moving the ball with precision where they rank second in the league in assists. Don’t sleep on them. Follow them on twitter: Will Strickland @WallStrizzle1, Duane Watson @duanewatson and Sean Francois @seanfrancois Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys ." Bach is in Rome for the European Olympic Committees general assembly and meetings with Pope Francis. He also visited with Italian Premier Enrico Letta. "The prime minister appeared to be interested in a bid from Italy for 24, because he has realized that the games can serve as a catalyst for development for a city and a country," Bach told The Associated Press on Saturday. Jason Pierre-Paul Buccaneers Jersey . 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Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds.SAO PAULO - After going through a scare and spending time in intensive care because of a urinary tract infection, Brazilian soccer great Pele left the hospital Tuesday after a two-week stay.Doctors said the 74-year-old Pele will continue his recovery process at home and will need to rest for about a week. He will also need to undergo physiotherapy to recover some of the muscle mass that he lost during the time he spent in the hospital.It was really a scare, Pele said in a news conference broadcast live on Brazilian television. What happened was a surprise to me. I was worried, of course, but I never had any fears about dying.The three-time World Cup champion said he is doing fine and joked that he will be ready to play for Brazil as one of the three over-23 players at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.Thanks to God everything is fine now. I have recovered, Pele said. Im already preparing for the Olympics.Pele spent several days in an intensive care unit while undergoing hemodialysis to help support his only kidney. Doctors said Pele, who had one kidney removed when he was still a player, had to be more closely monitored because of how his body reacted to the infection, but his life was never in danger.Doctors denied that Pele was transferred to an intensive care unit because of signs of a generalized infection. They said the extra care was needed because there was excessive inflammation in his body caused by the infection, which is not uncommon, but he always responded well to the antibiotic treatment.The infection stemmed from a Nov. 13 surgery to remove kidney stones which were diagnosed after Pele had to cancel an event at his museum in the coastal city of Santos becauuse of abdominal pain.dddddddddddd The surgery was deemed successful and he was released from the hospital just a few days after the procedure, but he had to be readmitted after a new medical evaluation showed signs of the infection.Peles condition was closely monitored in Brazil and the rest of the world since the hospital in Sao Paulo said last month that Pele became unstable and was transferred to an intensive care unit. The former players staff all along downplayed the seriousness of the illness, however, and Pele even used his Twitter account to say that he was doing well.Last week, Pele recorded a video message from his hospital room to thank his fans around the world for praying for him during his illness.I was moved with all the messages that I received from all over the world, he said Tuesday. I didnt know so many people were paying attention to my situation.Pele said he spent most of his time in the hospital watching local football and writing songs, including one that will remain a secret for the Olympics. Pele, who recorded a few songs many years ago, had a guitar with him in his hospital room.Pele said that although he wasnt overly concerned while in the hospital, the illness made him start reflecting a bit more about life.During a career of 30 years and while travelling all around the world, I had never gone through something like this before, he said.Widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, Pele is a national hero in Brazil and remains a worldwide ambassador to the game. He is also active with his many businesses and still participates in many advertising campaigns.___Follow Tales Azzoni on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tazzoni White NFL Jerseys Cheap Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys ' ' '