in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position against Darvish, a

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 . Steph Curry Shoes Free Shipping . Its been two seasons in one for both parties and neither will look back on the first 18 games fondly. "I think I took the fall for a lot of things," said Gay, reflecting on his short time in Toronto ahead of Wednesdays game against his former club. Clearance Steph Curry Shoes . -- Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que. https://www.stephencurryshoescheap.com/ . Samir Nasris 88th-minute equalizer at Etihad Stadium will be of little consolation to City, which is now six points behind league leader Liverpool and four points behind second-place Chelsea. Third-place City has a game in hand but the surprise result against Sunderland, coupled with Sundays 3-2 loss at Liverpool, may be a setback too far in its bid for a second championship in three seasons. Steph Curry Shoes For Sale . - Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte sees the commitment to the handoff and cant help but come away impressed. Cheap Steph Curry Shoes . In five games last month, Billings led all scorers with 11 goals, 27 assists and 38 points as the Rock posted a 2-3 record.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Yu Darvish showed no rust after missing three weeks. Darvish allowed seven hits over seven innings in his season debut, Elvis Andrus hit a two-run homer, and the Texas Rangers avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Sunday. "He was in control of the game," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He was using his pitches. He was throwing strikes. And thats what he does." Darvish (1-0) struck out six and walked one. Sidelined by neck stiffness, it was his first outing since a spring training game on March 16. "I didnt feel anything unusual," Darvish said through an interpreter. Darvish got his 500th career strikeout, coming in 401 2-3 innings, by fanning David DeJesus and Wil Myers in the first. According to the Rangers, it is the fewest innings for a starter to reach 500 strikeouts in major league history. Andrus put the Rangers up 2-0 with his homer off Joel Peralta (0-1) in the eighth. Donnie Murphy made it 3-0 on an RBI infield during the ninth. "Hes going to get five a year, and today was one of them," Washington said of Andrus homer. "It was huge. We needed it. Today, he drove the bus." Neal Cotts replaced Alexi Ogando for the Rangers with two on and two outs in the eighth, and struck out Matt Joyce on a 3-2 pitch. Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his first save. Alex Cobb scattered three hits, walked one and struck out six in seven shutout innings for the Rays. "Unfortunately for us, he was really on," Cobb said of Darvish. Only one runner reached second against Cobb. &quuot;He didnt give up any pitches," Andrus said.dddddddddddd "I thought he was painting the whole game. Im really glad that we had Yu out there. He was doing the same thing for us." Tampa Bay had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, but failed to score when Myers hit an infield pop fly and Ben Zobrist flew out. Darvish got three consecutive outs after allowing Evan Longorias double to lead off the sixth. He also worked out of a jam during the seventh after Ryan Hanigan hit a leadoff double. "We just did not get the knocks when we needed it," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. The Rays were hitless in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position against Darvish, and 0 for 11 overall. "As usual, youve got a team over there that fights forever," Washington said. "They put themselves in some good positions to score some runs, but Yu made the pitches when he had to." Notes: Darvish was activated from the 15-day disabled list and RHP Nick Martinez was optioned to Double-A Frisco. ... Rangers RHP Colby Lewis (hip surgery) gave up four runs and four hits over five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock. ... Texas LHP Joe Saunders (bruised left ankle) is not expected to be ready for his regular bullpen session Monday and could miss his next start. ... Texas RHP Tanner Scheppers (0-0) will face Boston RHP John Lackey (1-0) Monday night in the opener of a three-games series at Fenway Park. ... Tampa Bay LHP Matt Moore (0-1) and Royals LHP Jason Vargas (0-0) are the scheduled starters for Monday nights game in Kansas City. ' ' '