With the significant gap in playoff experience, it was understandable and even expected that the Raptors would be challenged to come out of the gate smoothly in their first round series with the Nets. Second-year centre Jonas Valanciunas was among the post-season rookies that had an inconsistent start, posting 17 points and 18 rebounds, but also committing six turnovers, while being a team-worst -17 in on-court point differential. Valanciunas joined TSN 1050 on Monday to discuss Torontos uneven opener and what the team needs to focus on in Game 2 to get things turned around. Valanciunas: Defence the focus heading into Game 2 Stitched Penguins Jerseys .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. Wholesale Penguins Jerseys . The photograph shows Parker and a French comedian making a gesture known in France as a "quenelle," which critics describe as inverted Nazi salute. Parker said in a statement released through the Spurs that the photograph was taken three years ago. Parker, who was born in Belgium but raised in France, said he didnt know at the time that "it could be in any way offensive or harmful. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/. - Jayden Hart scored once and set up two more as the Prince Albert Raiders downed the host Red Deer Rebels 5-3 on Tuesday to clinch the final Western Hockey League playoff berth. Cheap Penguins Jerseys . Iwakuma pitched seven strong innings to stay unbeaten in road games since last July, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. Fake Penguins Jerseys . Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bass added 15 points and had a game-saving block in the closing seconds Saturday, and the Celtics held on for a 103-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.TORONTO – Its a sign of the times for the Blue Jays. The team that leads the major leagues with 69 home runs and is second in slugging percentage (.443) and on-base plus slugging (.770) won again on Saturday, 5-2 over Oakland, thanks to strong pitching and speed on the bases. "We stink, we stink," joked R.A. Dickey when asked about the much-maligned starting rotation, which has posted a 2.84 ERA through the last turn, dating back to the start of last weeks series at Fenway Park. "Were going to keep stinking, too. Were happy to be under the radar. Were happy that people dont, as a staff, give us any respect. Its okay. We are professionals and were going to keep grinding and well see where we end up at the end of this thing." Dickey hurled 8 1/3 innings of two-run baseball, marking the first time this season he threw a pitch after the seventh inning. After exorcising that seventh inning demon, one thats seemed to plague him through most of the season, he urged that neither he nor his rotation mates get too comfortable. "One thing I feel like we cant do is take things for granted," said Dickey. "Were in a good spot right now but theres going to be a challenging stretch too during this year so weve got to really ride the wave as long as we can ride it." The home run-happy Blue Jays wouldnt go without in that department on Saturday. Brett Lawries leadoff blast in the fifth broke a 1-1 time. Toronto has homered at least once in 27 of its last 32 games. But, offensively, the Jays win, the clubs fifth in a row, was built on the legs of Jose Reyes and Anthony Gose. With two out in the third and the Athletics ahead 1-0, Anthony Gose took off from first base on a 2-2 pitch to Melky Cabrera. Shortstop Eric Sogard darted for second to cut down the would-be base stealer, which opened up a left side single for Cabrera. Gose never stopped running and when leftfielder Craig Gentry bobbled the pickup as he approached third, Gose made the turn home and scored the tying run. In the fifth, after Lawries home run had given Toronto the lead, Gose singled with one out. Reyes followed with a single of his own, advancing Gose to third. Reyes went to second on a Jesse Chavez wild pitch. Cabrera hit a groundball to Oakland first baseman Brandon Moss, who had the ball deflect off his glove as he prepared to step on first and make a play on Gose at the plate. Both Gose and Reyes scored and the Jays were ahead, 4-1. Two innings later, in the seventh, Reyes doubled with one out and attempted a steal of third.dddddddddddd Cabrera put the ball in play, a grounder to Sogard, and Reyes didnt stop. He rounded third, hustled home and beat the Moss throw to the plate. The Jays led 5-1 and there was no looking back. "You know the old saying, Speed never goes in slumps and they can make some things happen," said manager John Gibbons. "Reyes has been around the game for a long time and hes always done that. Gose is on his way up and trying to make a name for himself and thats what he does." "Its a lot of speed there," said Reyes of the threat Gose and he present heading into the middle of the batting order. "Gose has been unbelievable for us. Not just what he brings, just playing good defence in the field and he can run every ball down. Thats something that we need. Like I said, well just take it one game at a time and continue to play the way that we play with timely hitting and good defence." Reinforcing the fact Toronto is getting contributions from different players each day, Saturday marked the first time all season that Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion failed to reach base safely in the same game. Santos Throwing Sergio Santos, on the disabled list since May 11 with a forearm strain, played catch for a second straight day prior to Saturdays game. He threw from approximately 70 feet on Friday and from 80 feet on Saturday. There is no timetable for Santos return to action. Hendriks Dispels Australian Stereotypes Friday nights winning pitcher, 25-year-old Liam Hendriks, is a native of Perth, Australia, the western-most major city in the country. Since moving to North America, hes become accustomed to dealing with questions about common stereotypes attributed to Australians. Which is the silliest? "That we all live about 15 miles away from each other," said Hendriks. "We have over 20 million people in the country. Obviously we only occupy like five percent of the country and 95 percents barren but thats the biggest one, that we all live 15 miles away and we all ride to school in kangaroos." No, he hasnt met Paul Hogan of Crocodile Dundee fame. Yes, hes been asked that question on many occasions. Hendriks wife, Kristi, is a native of Montreal. Her influence is all over one of his new favourite sports. "Im a huge hockey fan," said Hendriks. "Im a Canadiens fan, a Montreal Canadiens fan." ' ' '