Pirate Galaxy » o the clash on a decent

TORONTO - When Masai Ujiri and the Raptors called to inquire about the services of free agent point guard D.J. Augustin, a player they had been monitoring since the signing period began, his stock was lower than it had been at any point during his five-year NBA career. Augustin had been a starter in the league -- albeit for a mostly terrible Bobcats club -- and his eight-month stint with the 49-win Pacers, a Conference finalist, should have theoretically increased the 25-year-olds value. But it didnt. "I think he went from a starting point guard [in Charlotte] to playing some kind of a [smaller] role in Indiana," Ujiri said of Augustin, who averaged career lows of 4.7 points and 2.2 assists, playing just 16 minutes per night in 76 regular season contests with the Pacers last year. "Sometimes guys struggle to find their feet that way." Despite appearing in 19 postseason games and earning the first playoff win of his pro career, 2012-13 was a campaign Augustin will happily put behind him. After putting up a career best 14.4 points to go along with 6.1 assists with the Bobcats in 2010-11, Augustin took a step backwards the following season when he battled knee injuries en route to signing a one-year deal in Indiana last summer. Playing back-up minutes behind George Hill he shot just 35 per cent from the field and occasionally fell out of favour in Frank Vogels defence-first system. For Ujiri, Augustins consistency -- or lack thereof -- was what stood out looking back at last season. The fit, as he put it, was never right for Augustin in Indiana but that wasnt enough to scare the Raptors general manager away from giving him another opportunity to get his career back on track. "Thats the past and were trying to create a new beginning for him here," Ujiri explained after Augustin was signed and introduced at the Air Canada Centre Monday afternoon. "Were taking a chance," he continued. "One year, and well see how it goes." The Raptors are taking a chance that Augustin can provide leadership off the bench as that young veteran they coveted. Theyre taking the chance he can become a more efficient shooter, addressing a glaring need for the club, while taking pressure off starter Kyle Lowry. Theyre chancing that he will bounce back, which would grant them another asset to work with, something from nothing so to speak. Signed for one year, at a reported $1.2 million price tag (via Yahoo! Sports), Toronto assumes little risk in adding a player that could pay dividends if he performs. "Hes still young, still trying to find his feet in the NBA and find stability so Im sure hell find a way to figure it out," Ujiri said. "Hes been a starting point guard in the NBA. [He] struggled a little bit at times last year but [hes] a good outside shooter for the most part and he can run a team. We like that about him." Augustin has impressed at every level he has played. A star in high school, Augustin went on to earn first-team All-American honours and first-team All-Big 12 honours during his two-year collegiate career at the University of Texas. He was drafted ninth overall by Charlotte in 2008 and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team following his first pro season. He comes to Toronto on his second consecutive one-year deal, presumably with something to prove. "Yeah its hard," the Raptors point guard admitted, "but were all playing basketball and making money, no matter what amount it is, its what we love to do and Im very blessed to be doing this as a job." "The NBAs a business," he said. "Youve just got to represent yourself well. Its a job, youve got to take every day serious[ly] and go practice hard, play hard and things will work out." HAPPY WITH SUMMER LEAGUE, HAPPIER ITS OVER Toronto wrapped up its involvement in this summers Las Vegas Summer League tournament on Saturday after being eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals of the events revamped format. "We grind through it," Ujiri said of his teams experience in the Summer League this past week. "We start making a list of players were going to watch in the future and we analyze the players that played for us and see how they did. So I think it was very productive." More than anything else, Ujiri was elated to escape the tournament without any serious injuries to the teams key roster pieces. The most important of those players, soon-to-be sophomore Jonas Valanciunas, sat out of Saturdays game with a sprained left index finger although the extent of the injury is believed to be minor. For many, Valanciunas was the revelation of Summer League. His overpowering strength on both ends combined with a wide array of post moves and pump fakes drew league-wide praise throughout the competition. In four games, Valanciunas averaged 18.8 points (fourth in the Summer League) and 10.0 rebounds (fifth) on 56 per cent shooting. "He made good progress and hes an ever-willing kid to learn and plays hard," Ujiri said of Valanciunas. "Its not very easy to find that in big guys so were happy with his progress and I think hell continue [to work] very hard over the summer." Terrence Ross, the Raptors eighth overall pick in 2012, earned mixed reviews after a series of underwhelming and passive performances. "Up and down a little bit," was Ujiris assessment of Ross in Vegas. "Were excited about teaching him the game [and] see[ing] where it goes from there. Hes obviously very athletic, hes got good shooting abilities [but] we feel he needs to attack the rim a little bit more [and] get to the free throw line." "I think it was a good experience just to see him play games and hes one of those types of players that will probably get better playing with even better players. A little bit inconsistent but were satisfied and were happy he got that experience." Recently signed point guard Dwight Buycks appeared in three games for Toronto, impressing Ujiri with his quickness and ability to get into the lane. Without any NBA experience under his belt, Buycks is expected to enter training camp third on the depth chart behind Lowry and Augustin but could earn playing time as a result of his unique skill set. "They complement [each other] because Dwight will pick up full court, hes aggressive, hes got very good speed but hes yet to do it on an NBA court so we had to find a little bit experience and balance it out." FILLING OUT THE ROSTER Although Ujiri is still looking to put the finishing touches on the roster, its unlikely that the team will make any more major acquisitions prior to the start of the season. Following the Augustin signing, Torontos roster stands at 14 and still includes forward Quentin Richardson, whose status remains uncertain. No decision has been made regarding Richardson, who was acquired from New York earlier this month in the Andrea Bargnani trade, but he is not expected to remain with the club heading into the season. Ujiri indicated that the team may have interest in adding another wing player but would likely address that need with an inexpensive training camp invitee. One option could be athletic forward Chris Wright, who was a member of the Raptors Summer League team and attended camp with the team last season. The Raptors may choose to go into the season with fewer than the maximum, 15 players on their roster. COACHING STAFF IN PLACE Ujiri confirmed that Dwane Caseys coaching staff is set and an official announcement should be made over the next few days. Bill Bayno and Rockets assistant Jesse Mermuys are expected to join the already appointed Nick Nurse on Caseys staff this season. Tom Sterner and John Townsend will return to the Raptors bench. The team is still waiting for a resolution to be completed between Bayno and the Timberwolves, his former team, before making the hirings official. "Were all set, were all good," Ujiri insisted. "No announcement has been made because you want to pay respect to the other teams and make sure everything is done the right way. Brock McGinn Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Lee Stempniak Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. http://www.cheaphurricanesjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-victor-rask-jersey . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Cheap Hurricanes Jerseys Authentic . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Rod Brind Amour Jersey . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has his team flying high.The Reds enter Sundays clash with Watford at Anfield in excellent form, unbeaten in seven Premier League matches and 11 straight over all competitions.Liverpools excellent attacking midfield core of Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have led the way in the final third as theyve scored 24 goals to share the league lead with Manchester City heading into this weekends action.But while the attacking play has been irresistible, the defence remains inconsistent and occasionally frustrating for Liverpool supporters.Despite seemingly solid additions to the back line in Ragnar Klavan,and Joel Matip, the Reds (7-2-1) have kept only one clean sheet, which came in a scoreless draw against Manchester United on Oct. 17. Matip and Dejan Lovren have started to form a good partnership in central defence, while former top-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been displaced by Loris Karius.For the most part, Karius, who arrived from Mainz in the summer, has been decent between the sticks but has shown some reluctance to properly command his box on set pieces and crosses.Despite the defensive frailties, the attacking prowess came through again as Lovren and Matip scored from the back while Firmino and Emre Can found the back of the net in last weeks 4-2 win over Crystal Palace.While it certainly has been an exciting start for the red half of Merseyside, they must keep their form if they want to challenge for the top four and perhaps a title.If we do not continue on this track until the end of the season, no one will remember us and we will not achieve anything, Firmino said. We have to continue on this track until the end.The Reds received some unfortunate injury news this week as striker Danny Ings was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to knee ligament damage. Ingss was working his way back to full fitness after a season-ending injury last term, but now faces another lengthy recovery.ddddddddddddIts a moment when the club and the team really has to show how strong we are and we will wait for him, Klopp said. We will give him all the time he needs and then he will be back again and will be a Liverpool player, 100 percent.Thats the only thing we are working on from this moment on.Watford (4-3-3), meanwhile, come into the clash on a decent run of form, having not lost in four consecutive league matches (two wins, two draws). Coach Walter Mazzarri has his Hornets playing well, but they face an uphill climb to get something out of Anfield.The Hornets, who enter the weekends play in seventh place, may feel they got a bit lucky in last weeks 1-0 win over Hull City as an 83rd-minute own goal from Michael Dawson handed the hosts all three points. Mazzarri knows it will likely take a supreme effort if his club is to get anything from Sundays clash.Were all concentrated and working very hard to go to Liverpool and make a great game, said Mazzarri. We know that Liverpool is one of the teams that is in top form at the moment in the Premier League and the results are showing this.They are playing very well, they have a great team and great players and the coach is managing them very well, so I think they can be one of the title contenders. But of course, we want to go there and make a great performance and make our fans happy.Liverpool have largely had the better of this fixture as only one of the past 18 matches has ended in a draw. The Reds have won 13 and lost four. Liverpool claimed a 2-0 win over Watford in the clubs last meeting on May 8, thanks to goals from Firmino and Joe Allen. ' ' '