TORONTO - The Raptors havent had an All-Star player since Chris Bosh left town but that could change this February, especially if coach Dwane Casey has his
say.
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Chris McCain Jersey . "Im pushing our guys," Casey said after practice
Friday, making the case for his backcourt duo, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, to
get voted in as first-time All-Stars. "I dont know if we can get two [but] Im
going to push two and hope to get one, because both guys are playing at a high
level." The Raptors coach initially broached the subject in Miami on Sunday.
"Theyre playing like All-Stars," he said. "You look at the other guards in the
East and theyre right there with them." Since then, he has been busy campaigning
to his peers. "All my friends, all the coaches, [Ive] talked to them about it,
texted them, they did me the same way when they were trying to get their guys in
last year," Casey admitted. "Ill beg the coaches, bribe them with lunch or
dinner, whatever, when we have a coaches meeting," he joked. "But its what we
should be doing as an organization, and we are doing it as an organization and
Im doing it with the coaches." More than likely, Miamis Dwyane Wade and
Clevelands Kyrie Irving will get the nod from fans to start in the backcourt for
the Eastern Conference. The leagues coaches will then vote in the reserves, two
backcourt players, three frontcourt and two wild-card spots (players at any
position). Theres a legitimate case to be made for both Raptors guards to
represent the East as reserves in the annual midseason showcase, taking place on
Feb. 16 in New Orleans. DeRozan is 13th in the NBA in scoring, averaging a
career-best 21.2 points per game. He has made notable strides as both a passer
and a defender, once considered to be holes in his game. Hes recorded five or
more assists in eight of 34 games after doing so 12 times last year and
accomplishing that feat in just five contests combined over his first three
seasons in the league. "Look at what hes doing," Lowry said of his teammate. "He
leads our team in scoring, hes done a great job of being our go-to guy, hes been
a complete professional and he gets better every single night." Lowry has been
Torontos most valuable player, carrying the team at the point guard position. In
his eighth season, Lowry is averaging career-bests in points, assets and steals
while shooting his highest percentage from three-point range. His career-best
streak of 24 consecutive games with six or more dimes recently came to an end,
topping his previous high of eight straight. Hes fourth in the league in
assist-to-turnover ratio. "Look at the stat sheet after he plays," said DeRozan,
making the case for Lowry. "Any given night he gives you 16 points, 11 rebounds,
nine assists, somewhere around that margin every game. Thats just what he
[does]. He goes out there and plays hard, hes scrappy, hes a bulldog when hes
out there on that court. Hes definitely a leader, he definitely wants to win, I
see it in his eyes." True to character, both players were hesitant to make their
own case but neither could downplay what the honour of being named to the
All-Star squad, alongside the leagues best, would mean to them. "It would be an
unbelievable, phenomenal thing, it would be humbling," Lowry admitted. "Im sure
if either one of us [makes] it, it would be a great time and a great
accomplishment and achievement to tell our families and our kids one day." Lowry
made sure to follow up that statement with a reminder that he, DeRozan and the
rest of the team remain far more concerned with their collective success than
individual accolades. The Raptors recent success could be the very thing that
nets them their first All-Star since Bosh was named to the team in 2010. "We
deserve it," Casey said proudly. "Our record, were ranked at the top of our
division, were number four in our conference so we do deserve All-Star ranking
and All-Star consideration with our players, because those guys are playing at a
very high level." Entering Fridays slate of games, Toronto is one of just four
teams in the East with a record at or above the .500 mark. As a team, the
Raptors have gone 11-5 since the early-December trade of Rudy Gay with both
Lowry and DeRozan - the teams two leading scorers - playing key roles in the
resurgence. Although his percentages have dropped slightly, DeRozan is taking
the same amount of shots as he was pre-trade and hes averaging nearly two more
assists per contest. Lowry is tied for fifth in the league in assists since the
trade was made on Dec. 8, averaging 8.4 to go along with 17.6 points. While
Lowry may be more deserving of the honour given his value over replacement this
season, DeRozan should have a favourable shot at earning recognition from the
leagues coaches. DeRozan is highly thought of as a hard working, evolving player
and has been universally praised by opposing coaches this season, whereas Lowry
has developed a reputation for being somewhat combative. "Kyles showed hes a
positive leader," Casey said of his point guard, who - in the final year of his
contract - came into training camp with a renewed focus, in the best shape of
his career. "I think that was the biggest question among coaches around the
league, could he be a positive leader and be productive on the court. Hes done
that." "I think theyre [both] very well respected. DeMar has been playing at a
very high level, being very efficient, not just a volume shooter, so hes done
that. Everything those guys have [done have answered] the questions about them
as players. Plus on top of that theyve put us at the top of our division." The
Raptors backcourt duo, or at least one of them, could be the beneficiary of a
weak Eastern Conference. Unlike the loaded West, the conferences player pool
reflects its overall inferiority. Their primary competition figures to come from
Washingtons John Wall (19.7 points, 8.7 assists), Orlandos Arron Afflalo (21.0
points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists), Atlantas Jeff Teague (16.8 points, 7.9
assists) and Indianas Lance Stephenson (13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists).
All-Star starters will be announced live on the TNT broadcast Jan. 23 and the
reserves will be revealed a week later, also on TNT.
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Andre Sa of Brazil.DENVER -- Tony Parker scored 24 points, Tim Duncan had 17 and
the San Antonio Spurs pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Denver
Nuggets 102-94 on Tuesday night. Kawhi Leonard added 14 points and Tiago
Splitter 12 for the Spurs, who beat the Nuggets for the fifth time in the last
eight meetings at the Pepsi Center. Ty Lawson had 20 points to lead Denver,
which is still seeking its first win of the season under first year coach Brian
Shaw. Kenneth Faried scored 15 points and had eight rebounds in his return to
the starting lineup after coming off the bench in Denvers first two games while
dealing with a sore hamstring. Trailing by nine at halftime, the Spurs scored
nine of the first 11 points opening the fourth quarter, going in front 81-80 on
Splitters three-point play with 9:06 remaining. But Denver backup centre Timofey
Mozgov fouled out with 8:22 remaining and starting centre JaVale McGee, who was
on the bench with five fouls, didnt re-enter the game until there were about
five minutes left. The Spurs took advantage, putting together an 11-2 burst that
Parker culminatted with an 18-foot jumper giving San Antonio a 92-84 lead with
5:30 remaining.
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Jerseys. A dunk by Faried pulled the Nuggets to 94-88 with 3:28 left to
play. But again, Parker connected on a mid-range jumper and Leonard, after a
steal, shook free for a fast-break dunk as the Spurs opened a 10-point lead with
2:23 left. That was more than enough to hold off the Nuggets the rest of the
way. After Splitter made one of two free throws tying it 29-all, the Nuggets
pulled back in front with a 12-0 run, starting with consecutive baskets by
Faried, including a breakaway dunk following a steal. The Spurs got back to
48-43 as Matt Bonner hit a 3-pointer and Parker made a pair of free throws but
the Nuggets closed the second quarter with a 3-pointer by Andre Miller and a
free throw by Lawson for a 52-43 halftime lead. NOTES: The Spurs Bonner sat out
the second half because of tightness in his left calf. ... The first-half point
total for the Nuggets represented a season high. ... Denvers Anthony Randolph,
who has been hampered by an ankle sprain, was held out of the game.
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