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FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. TORONTO RAPTORS AND THE PLAYOFFS: After watching the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat game Tuesday night and once again witnessing the Nets beat the Heat, Im convinced that the best course of action for the Raptors will be for them to make sure they do everything in their power to secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division title. I want no part of the other current bracket (Heat/Nets/Chicago Bulls). Ill take my chances with the Washington Wizards or Charlotte Bobcats in the first round, though, either of those match-ups isnt a walk in the park, either. If you can win a series, and that wont be easy, and the current standings hold form, I feel confident that the Raptors could play a very competitive series against the Indiana Pacers. Im not saying they would win that series - the defence has to really improve down the stretch here and get back to early-mid-January form - but it would be quite compelling. There are five games left. Win all of your games and you write your own ticket. Stumble and the help will have to come from others and thats never a position you want to be in. 2. JOE DUMARS (Pistons): Rumours are swirling that hes going to step down as the teams president and GM and Im not a bit surprised. Too many coaching firings and going all-in on guys like Ben Gordon, Charlie Villaneuva, Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings sealed his fate in Motown. He had a terrific run in the early 2000s as the elite team in the Eastern Conference, but you see it often with coaches and GMs - you lose your fastball and get stale in your approach/creativity and you lose your way. Hes a good basketball man and some time away will reinvigorate him and Im sure hell be back at it again down the line. 3. MIKE DANTONI (Lakers): Watching some of his recent games, he looks like a beaten man and someone who knows that his fate is sealed in LA. DAntoni is an outstanding offensive coach who has had to deal with numerous injuries and drama there. At the end of the day, its a results-oriented business and when you evaluate his run in Denver, New York and LA, it doesnt look good. On the other hand, his teams in Phoenix - thanks in large part to Bryan Colangelos personnel moves - were awesome and entertaining to watch. Does he get another shot? Im not sure, but I do know that hes very capable if you give him a solid roster. If it ends there, I think hell be heard from again, at least as an assistant coach for a head coach looking for a guy who can upgrade his offence. Hed be a guy to talk to if hed consider being in that role. 4. INDIANA PACERS: Heard coach Frank Vogels interview where he said that being the top seed in the East was the "goal", but the "priority" is to be playing well down the stretch and be healthy/sharp heading into the playoffs. Well, what a change in approach. Theyve been obsessed with being the top seed since training camp. Now its about trying to rebuild your teams collective psyche, which wont be easy, but is doable. The talent is there to win the East, but the chemistry is off-kilter and Roy Hibbert needs a reality check. He is a defensive player who can block shots and rebound on both ends. Do what you do well, thats your strength, and play to it. Hes a quatenary or quinary offensive option in the grand scheme of things when hes on the floor. If they get him to buy into that, theyll be fine. Paul George and David West must have the ball in their hands a majority of the time, plain and simple. 5. STEVE NASH (Lakers): Congrats on becoming number-three on the NBAs all-time assists list last night. I watched the game versus the Houston Rockets and felt for him playing injured and in pain. Its ice to see him out there, though. What a career. Hell be a Hall of Famer. Itll be interesting to see if hes back next year for the Lakers for the final year of his contract, but its been a great run either way. Arizona Diamondbacks Store .com) - It may just be the right place and the right opponent for the Detroit Red Wings to snap their longest losing streak of the season. Diamondbacks Jerseys China . Appearing on TSN 690 Monday afternoon, Mike Babcock said he had conversations with both P.K. Subban and Carey Price about those on-ice traits during Hockey Canadas summer orientation camp. Mike Babcock: McGill experience, P. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . -- The Guelph Storm are moving on to the Western Conference final after defeating the London Knights 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. Stitched Diamondbacks Jerseys . The Calgary Stampeders running back received the West Division nomination for the CFLs top individual award Thursday in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and leagues eight head coaches. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys . -- Without Carey Price, the run for a first Stanley Cup in 21 years got steeper and longer for the Montreal Canadiens.CLEVELAND -- The New York Yankees got a major boost from their young pitchers Monday night. Shane Greene allowed two runs in six innings for his first major league win, All-Star Dellin Betances earned his first career save and the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 5-3. Greene (1-0) didnt allow a hit until Nick Swishers two-out homer in the fifth. The 25-year-old right-hander was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after scheduled starter Vidal Nuno was traded to Arizona for right-hander Brandon McCarthy on Sunday. "Its a dream come true," Greene said. "Theres no question about that." Betances pitched the final two innings, giving closer David Robertson a rest day. "Its pretty cool," Betances said. "I was just trying to go out there and keep it the same and make pitches." "Some really good stuff out of some young pitchers," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Weve gotten a lot of help from our guys in the minor leagues." Brett Gardner, Brian McCann and Ichiro Suzuki had three hits apiece for New York, which has won four of five on its 11-game road trip. Justin Masterson (4-6) continued to pitch poorly and was pulled without retiring a batter in the third. Clevelands opening-day starter allowed five runs and six hits in two-plus innings. He walked three, hit a batter and rarely topped 90 mph in his 54 pitches, throwing only 24 strikes. A 15th-round selection by New York in 2009, Greene allowed four hits, struck out two and didnt walk a batter. His only big league appearance prior to Monday came in relief against Boston on April 24 when he pitched one-third of an inning and allowed three unearned runs. Greene walked three of four hitters, all of whom scored, and threw eight of 23 pitches for strikes. "Weve said all along this kid has a lot of talent," Girardi said. "He did a lot of good things." Its unclear if Greene will get another start. "Thats obviously going to be a topic of discussion," Girardi said. "We havent made any decisions moving forward. Well figure it out here pretty quick." Asked if he thinks he deserves to in the rotation, Greene smiled and said, "Thats not up to me." Derek Jeter, playiing in his final regular-season series in Cleveland, was 1 for 4 and drew a bases-loaded walk in the second.dddddddddddd Yan Gomes hit a leadoff homer in the eighth. New York scored three times in the second when Masterson allowed four hits, walked two and hit a batter. Brian Roberts had an RBI double, Brett Gardner drove in a run with a single and Jeter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Ichiro Suzukis infield hit and Francisco Cervellis fielders choice added two runs in the third. Mastersons struggles have become a growing concern for the Indians. Over his last five starts, the right-hander has allowed 19 runs, 27 hits and 17 walks in 18 innings. Masterson has pitched more than four innings once in that stretch. Masterson was given extra time off because of a sore knee after lasting four innings against Arizona on June 24, but that didnt help. He didnt retire a batter in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday and a stint on the disabled list is a possibility. Asked about Mastersons knee Francona said, "Its hard to ask somebody when theyre pitching. I think we need to sit and visit with Masty. The middle of a games not the time to do that." "Well talk about it, I guess," Masterson said. "If that were brought up I guess that would be something to talk about to work through." Masterson is a free agent after the season. The two sides talked about a contract extension in spring training, but didnt reach an agreement. NOTES: Yankees OF Carlos Beltran didnt play because of swelling behind his right knee. He said following the game that he might return to the lineup Tuesday. ... Indians OF Michael Bourn will miss three to four weeks with a strained left hamstring. .... McCarthy will make his first start for the Yankees on Wednesday. ... Cleveland acquired OF Chris Dickesron from Pittsburgh for cash or a player to be named. He started in left field and had a sixth-inning single. ... The Indians honoured their former television/radio announcer Mike Hegan, who died in December, in a pregame ceremony. Hegan, a native of Cleveland, began his major league career with the Yankees in 1964. ... All-Star RHP Masahiro Tanaka (12-3) faces Indians RHP Trevor Bauer (2-4) on Tuesday. ' ' '