Dein erstes Forum » others - to log more minutes, but hell more

TORONTO - Although the Raptors were tight-lipped about the status of injured forward James Johnson on Monday afternoon, his absence spoke loader than words. Johnson did not participate in practice, two days after exiting Torontos win over Utah with a right ankle sprain and leaving the Air Canada Centre on crutches. Theres no timetable for his return, but coach Dwane Casey did not sound optimistic regarding his short-term availability. His ankle is tender, Casey said following Mondays practice session. I dont know how long hes going to be out. Its a pretty good sprain on his ankle. Its nothing more than that. Well see how it goes for the next few days, and see how long hes going to be out. Coming down on the foot of a camera operator after diving for a loose ball on the baseline, Johnson turned his ankle early in the fourth quarter of Saturdays game. After trying to play through it for two minutes, the sixth-year vet hobbled to the locker room where he would remain for the duration of the contest. X-rays were negative, but Johnson was walking with a significant limp, requiring assistance from teammate Jonas Valanciunas to get from the shower to his locker after the game. Even though the Raptors have a rare three-day break before hosting the Grizzlies - his former team - on Wednesday, its unlikely that Johnson will be available for that contest. The team is preparing to move forward without its best perimeter defender, at least for the time being. Its a gang effort, Casey said, asked about replacing Johnson, who has become a valuable piece of his second unit early in the season. Someones got to take up that slot. Next man up. Just because a man is down, the next guy behind him has got to be ready to play, to perform. Whoever that is, whether its putting DeMar [DeRozan] more at the three, or whatever the situation may call, weve got to be ready to attack, next man up. Injuries are part of the NBA. Thats why you have 15 men to a roster. In his second stint with the Raptors, Johnson is logging just under 20 minutes per night, most since 2011-12, his last campaign with Toronto. The injury comes at an especially inopportune time for the 27-year-old, who was in the early stages of putting together a career season. Averaging 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and over one steal and block over the first 10 games - while shooting a career-best 57 per cent from the field - Johnson has been Torontos unsung hero off the bench. While the same size is still unquestionably limited, in the 194 minutes that Johnson has played this year, the Raptors are holding opponents to 89.6 points per 100 possessions, the best mark of anyone on the team. Theyre allowing nearly 19 points more (108.3) per 100 possessions in the 286 minutes hes spent on the bench. Of course, so much of that is a testament to his versatility - his ability to switch off on almost any player, defending nearly every position on the floor and co-existing in whichever unit hes out there with. Offensively, hes been a pleasant surprise. James has been playing very under control, within himself is what I like to call it, Casey said ahead of Saturdays game. He watches film diligently and studies the film. Hes not trying to do too much. Hes cut down on a lot of those mistakes and playing within himself has really, really given him an opportunity to score more and have the ball in his hands and build the trust with him teammates. Without Johnson in the lineup, assuming he does miss time, Casey will lean on his regulars - DeRozan, Terrence Ross, Lou Williams, among others - to log more minutes, but hell more than likely stick with a 10-man rotation, with Landry Fields stepping in as early as Wednesday. Fields, a five-year vet, has appeared in just three games this season, all in garbage time at the end of lopsided victories. He was unavailable for two contests last week with a bout of the flu. Cheap Buccaneers Jerseys . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best. John Lynch Jersey . Pistorius mindset when he stood on his stumps in a bathroom and pulled the trigger on his 9 mm pistol in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013 remains the crux of the South African trial that has captured worldwide attention and is about to start its seventh week of globally televised proceedings. It was initially scheduled to run for three weeks. http://www.cheapbuccaneersjerseysauthentic.com/. Both sides of the deal have formally announced acquisitions: TFC introduced Jozy Altidore as a designated player on Friday, while their counterparts announced a three-and-a-half-year deal with Jermain Defoe. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys China .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. Mike Alstott Jersey .com) - Brad Stuart has yet to play a regular-season game for the Colorado Avalanche, but that didnt deter the club from signing the veteran defenseman to a two-year contract extension on Monday.Raymond van Barneveld continued his return to form at the World Grand Prix with victory over Benito van de Pas, setting up a semi-final with Gary Anderson . The Dutch darting legend came out on top in a battle with his fellow countryman to seal a first World Grand Prix last four spot since 2010.Barney is a two-time runner-up in Dublin, losing to Phil Taylor in 2008 and 2009, but he remains on course for a maiden triumph in the tournament having lost just one leg against Van de Pas who seemed overawed by the nature of a major quarter-final. Van Barneveld, who is yet to drop a set in his three matches this week, raced through the first set before Van de Pas stirred in the second only for Barney to put his foot on the accelerator and seal a semi-final spot with a dominant display. Thursdays Quarter-Final results Dave Chisnall 3-1 Daryl Gurney Benito van de Pas 0-3 Raymond van Barneveld Michael van Gerwen (1) 3-1 Simon Whitlock Gary Anderson (2) 3-1 Kim Huybrechts World Grand Prix recap - as it happened Recap of all the quarter-final action Up next for RVB will be Gary Anderson, the two-time world champion is another who is yet to triumph in the event but he matched his best-ever performance in the unique double-to-start tournament with a win over Kim Huybrechts.The Flying Scotsman reached the last four in 2014 and he will hope to go one better this year, but he will need to improve on a sloppy display against Belgiums Huybrechts, who raced through the opening set 3-0 to seize the initiative.But Anderson has learnt to win despite not being at his best and he reeled off eight of the next ten legs to move to the brink of the match, a run that included brilliant 124 and 141 check-outs. Gary Anderson made hard wwork of beating Kim Huybrechts to set up a semi-final meeting with Raymond van Barneveld at the World Grand Prix Also into the last four is world number one Michael van Gerwen and he remains on course to add to the Premier League, UK Open and World Matchplay titles he has already won this year.ddddddddddddMVG lost to Robert Thornton in last years final in Dublin, his third final in the last four years at the Citywest hotel, having claimed the title in 2012 and 2014.And he looks good value to add a third Grand Prix crown to his ever-growing list having averaged a tournament-best 103 to come through a high-quality match against a resurgent Simon Whitlock. Michael van Gerwen beat a resurgent Simon Whitlock 3-1 to set up a semi-final meeting with Dave Chisnall at the World Grand Prix The Aussie hit back to claim the second set having seen Van Gerwen take the opener and despite levelling the match, Whitlock could not quite match Mighty Mikes scoring power and the Dutchman moved into a semi-final clash with Dave Chisnall.Chizzy kicked off the evenings action with an impressive performance to end the hopes of Northern Irelands Daryl Gurney.Chisnall proved too strong for Gurney, who gave a decent account of himself in his second major quarter-final, and having lost the opening two sets, hit back to claim the third set.But Chisnall, Grand Prix runner-up in 2013, kept his cool and eased through the fourth set to move into the last four of a major tournament for the first time this year.You can follow all the action from Fridays semi-finals with our live blog and on Sky Sports 1