TORONTO – He ambles off the ice with five, maybe six sticks in hand, most appearing unworn.
http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Carlos-Bacca-Copa-America-Jersey/ . Among the last to exit a rare Wednesday afternoon practice at the Air Canada
Centre, even Mikhail Grabovski is trying to solve the current riddle that is
Mikhail Grabovski. "I dont know what makes sense right now," he told TSN.ca. Now
the highest-paid Leaf forward – his five-year, $27.5 million deal kicked in this
season – Grabovski is teetering through one of the more perplexing periods of
his Toronto career. Nailed to the bench for much of Tuesdays loss in Winnipeg,
the 29-year-old has just three goals and six points over the past 20 games and
only six goals and 11 points this season. "If you look at my level [of] how I
play before and right now, you can see I can play much better," he said. What
exactly is wrong with the player who scored 20 goals in three of his first four
seasons with the Leafs, becoming arguably their most reliable two-way force, is
a greater mystery. Its painfully evident, however, that something is missing.
Maybe most striking is the general absence of fire and tenacity, the requisite
spark and feistiness that typically defined his game, tamed for reasons that
remain unclear. Certainly one factor in the equation is his current role, but
just how great a factor is perhaps overstated. From day one of a shortened
48-game regular season, head coach Randy Carlyle charged Grabovski and his
running mate Nik Kulemin with shutdown duties, a task he is still clearly coming
to grips with. Often overmatched opposite the likes of Eric Staal,
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos, Grabovski has been on the ice
for 25 goals against in 27 games this season, a pace that far outweighs stingier
past performance (59 goals against in 74 games a year ago). Because he starts
most shifts in the defensive zone and can often remain there for long stretches,
his chances for offensive opportunity have diminished, not helped either by
Kulemins disappearance as a goal-scoring threat. But even that doesnt fully
explain why hes become a virtual non-factor offensively, rarely stringing
together the flurries of dynamic offence that made him successful in the past.
The two should not be mutually exclusive, especially for a player of Grabovskis
creative gifts. "More chances come if were going to play against different
lines, but thats not my role right now," he said, sounding slightly defiant. "It
doesnt mean its my best, what I can do, but thats what the team needs right
now." Before the most recent 5-2 loss in Winnipeg – the first time the Leafs
have gone three straight without a win this season – Carlyle hinted at the need
for more offence from his two Russian checkers, noting a "bit of leeway" in
respect to their role as two-thirds of a shutdown unit, before adding that "wed
like to see them provide more offence also." "Yeah, I agree," said Grabovski,
"but I dont know how to do that." Like Carlyle, he too is trying to crack the
riddle of what exactly has happened this season. While he looked be to flying
early against the Jets, Grabovski finished the night with only one good scoring
chance, an opportunity that fell through early in the second period and led to
the second Winnipeg goal. Seemingly at the end-point of his frustration with the
Belarusian centre, Carlyle pinned him to the bench for all but one shift in the
final 11 minutes of the second period, planting him there for good in the last
eight minutes of the third. Grabovski ended the evening with one shot, a 29 per
cent mark on the draw (4-14) and a season-low 12 minutes and 23 seconds. The
Leafs need his offence, especially down the stretch as the games ramp up in both
pace and intensity. Otherwise, they are forced to rely strictly on two lines
(the Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri units) for offence. If one is quiet – as Kadris
line was against the Jets – the Leafs suddenly become a single-line attack with
the fourth line an offensive non-factor. "I like to play against the first
lines, but I can play better against the first lines than right now," Grabovski
explained before detailing needed changes to his game. "Score goals against
these lines, be stronger in the defensive zone, pay more attention to details,
work hard – harder than right now, no circles, stop and go. I can tell you a lot
of stuff that needs to be better." He is searching for answers. Asked what he
did effectively to perform at his best in the past, including 23 goals and 51
points in 74 games a year ago, Grabovski paused. "My best? What I did [in the]
last years, thats my best. "I make plays. I make a lot of plays. And I had a
chance to score goals, work hard, harder than probably right now."
http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Andres-Escobar-Copa-America-Jersey/ .com) - Jonathan Holmes scored 17 of his 19 points in a lopsided second half as
No.
http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Sebastian-Perez-Copa-America-Jersey/ . But it isnt. That has been done, many times, including by myself in January.
For similar reasons I had a year ago, I believe Ronaldo should win it this year,
but a year is a long time in sport and, although my opinion on who should win it
hasnt changed, my opinion on the award certainly has.ONTARIO, Calif. -- Steve
Blake scored 16 points and Pau Gasol added 14 to help the Los Angeles Lakers
beat the Denver Nuggets 90-88 on Tuesday night with Kobe Bryant watching from
the sidelines. Bryant rejoined the Lakers after having a procedure on his knee
performed overseas. He received an ovation when he walked on to the floor in
sweats during warm-ups and sat on the bench during the game. Bryant, who is also
recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, was not made available to the media but
reported progress in an in-house television interview.
http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Victor-Ibarbo-Borre-Copa-America-Jersey/. . Blake made one of two free throws with six seconds remaining and Denver missed
two shots on the final possession. Chris Kaman had 12 points and seven rebounds
while Jordan Hill had 12 rebounds. JaVale McGhee led Denver with 14 points.
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