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FIVE QUICK HOOPS THOUGHTS 1. RUDY GAY (Kings): Bottom line, it didnt work out the way Raptors fans had hoped it would. I give GM Masai Ujiri credit for recognizing that this was a contract and a playing situation that was going to hamper the development of the franchise and individual players and made his move. I love coach Mike Malone but I feel for him. Good Luck trying to get Derrick Cousins and Rudy Gay thinking about the needs of teammates when theyre such proud/competitive guys who believe they can score on anyone. I personally like Rudy Gay; hes a first-class individual who carries himself in a nice way. Hes a good man. On the court, he has some limitations and hell have loads of pressure on him in Sac-town to live up to the big money. If he cuts down on turnovers, starts to attack the basket with greater determination, tightens up his shot selection and trusts his teammates abilities and is willing to give them the ball it can work for him. A lot to ask, though. I like this trade for the Raptors; both on the court and with the cap flexibility. 2. GREIVIS VASQUEZ (Raptors): Like this addition. They have an option on him in the offseason and also could move him before the trade deadline to add another piece. Hes a guy who will give the ball up and is a nice pick and roll player. Plays with energy and enthusiasm. I have no problem if he and Kyle Lowry (he could be dealt as well with his expiring contract) play at times together on the court. Like the leadership, play-making, ball handling and passing that two lead guards give you and its a nice luxury to have. The Raptors needed to improve this area and they did. As crazy as this sounds, the Raptors could very well be better with these new four players than the previous mix. That wont go over well with Tank Nation. 3. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): Good to see him flying around the court and playing with such passion and productivity. He was awesome Sunday night in LA. He will benefit from the trade. He thrives as a roller in the screen and roll game, and hes so efficient in the lane that when you give it to him in there you feel really confident that hell make the shot. Considering all the chippies that Rudy Gay missed in the lane as well as all of his turnovers, I feel quite confident that with the redistribution of touches to guys like Johnson that Raps will have better chemistry and ball movement. Obviously, Gay is a really talented guy yet many times, less is more. 4. KOBE BRYANT (Lakers): Looked really rusty and a ways away from his normal level. Its going to take a while. Normally you dont see an eight turnover 2-9 FG percentage performance from him and I doubt youll see that in a few weeks. In time, as he gets into rhythm and in game shape, his game will gradually come back. Thats a major injury to come back from in less than eight months. Not easy, yet when I think of great players/competitors, hes at the top of the list. In 4-6 weeks from now hell be back to/close to his normal self. 5. JEFF HORNACEK (Suns): Love the job hes doing in Phoenix. His team plays really hard and they play together and share the ball. He has incorporated a style of play that suits the philosophy that theyll use in their pursuit of players that fit their model. Hes gotten complete Buy-In and has done as good a job as any coach in the league so far this season, based upon the talent at his disposal. Always really important for a fist year head coach to lay the foundation for how he wants his team to play and look. At 20 games in, he is succeeding deservedly so . Nathaniel Clyne Liverpool Jersey . The Blue Jackets play Thursday night at New Jersey in their first game after the NHLs Olympic hiatus. A native of Trencin, Slovakia, Gaborik has represented his country at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics but was unable to play in Sochi because of his injury. Connor Randall Jersey . 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Valencia made sure it will finish first in Group A with a 1-0 win at Swansea thanks to an early goal from Dani Parejo. WASHINGTON -- In extra innings, with a chance to reclaim first place in the NL East, Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez gave two pitchers their major league debuts. Welcome to the big time, Juan Jaime and Ryan Buchter. "Perfect scenario to bring em in," Gonzalez said with a smile. "Those are big innings. We always talk when we bring em up, How are you going to use them? Whats the situation? Well, today was an extra-inning game against your division rival. Youre going to have to use them sooner or later." Jaime pitched a scoreless 11th inning and Buchter handled the 12th. Each allowed a walk but no further damage, and Buchter (1-0) got the win when the Braves scored a pair in the 13th Friday in a 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals that flip-flopped the standings atop the NL East. "Youve got to test it out sometime, you know," said Buchter, with the game ball safely nestled in his glove in his locker. "Its a good chance to get experience." The win moved the Braves back into first place by one-half game and maintained their mastery over their division rivals. Atlanta was struggling before arriving in D.C. this week, but the club is 20-7 vs. Washington since the start of last season, including the first two of this four-game set. Evan Gattis, who earlier extended his hitting streak to 19 games, singled in the go-ahead run in the 13th off Jerry Blevins (2-3). Andrelton Simmons followed with an RBI groundout that might have been an inning-ending double play had second baseman Danny Espinosa not bobbled the ball. Jordan Walden worked the 13th for his second save, long after Craig Kimbrel blew a save for the fourth time this season. With the Nationals down to their last out in the ninth, Anthony Rendon tied the score when he got every bit of a 98 mph fastball from Kimbrel, the first homer allowed by the Braves closer in 2014. The umpires initially ruled Rendons hit a double, but a replay review clearly showed the ball striking the top of the barrier next to the visitors bullpen beyond the outfield fence. "This game changes on one swing sometimes," Washington manager Matt Williams said. "That couldve been the one swing, but it turns it out it wasnt. SSo we have to be ready to go tomorrow and put this one behind us like we always do.ddddddddddddWe got two more against these guys and a whole bunch of games left. We have to have short memories." Until Rendons homer, the Braves were poised to celebrate another nine-inning edition of continued dominance of the Nationals, this time by two-striking Stephen Strasburg into submission while riding Mike Minors 11 strikeouts. The Braves got nine hits against Strasburg, and six came with a pair of strikes, including every run-producing play: Freddie Freemans first-inning home run, Simmons fourth-inning RBI single and Jason Heywards two-run double in the fifth. That was plenty of support as long as Minor was in the game. He allowed two runs and seven hits over seven innings, and his 11 strikeouts were one short of a career high. Minor had given up 11 runs and 22 hits over nine innings in his previous two starts. The Braves fouled pitches and worked the count so successfully that Strasburg had thrown 107 pitches by the time he was pulled after six innings, even though he didnt walk a batter. He allowed nine hits -- tying a career high -- and struck out eight. Minor, by contrast, was able to finish off the Nationals batters. He gave up Ian Desmonds mammoth homer in the second inning -- the ball landed only a row or two from the cherry trees behind the left-field bleachers -- and Denard Spans RBI triple in the seventh. Minors performance nearly got him his first win since May 19. "Ninety-nine per cent of the time," Gonzalez said, "he gets a W there." NOTES: Gattis has the longest active hitting streak in the majors. ... Braves RHP Gavin Floyd was placed on the 15-day disabled list, one day after breaking a bone in his throwing elbow in the seventh inning of Thursdays win. Floyd flew to Atlanta to be examined by team doctors. Gonzalez said Alex Wood will take Floyds spot in the rotation, starting Wednesday against the Houston Astros. ... Atlanta OF Justin Upton complained again of dizziness and was not in the lineup. He did not play Wednesday and appeared only as a pinch-hitter Thursday. Gonzalez said it is time for Upton to "get a full evaluation, wherever that may be." ' ' '