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BROOKLYN - For the third time in three days, Dwane Casey took control of the narrative, channelling his inner Aaron Rodgers in delivering a message to those who have been especially critical of his team recently. Relax. Im a firm believer in that and I said that the other night, the Raptors coach said leading up to Fridays 127-122 overtime win in their return to Brooklyn. Were in the best [situation] the franchise has ever been in and every day all I hear are questions [about] what were not doing, what theyre not doing. Stemming from the teams mid-season slide - losing seven of nine games earlier this month - there has been some lingering angst among some of Torontos fan base and media. Concern over their middling defensive numbers, offensive inconsistencies and a 10-11 record against winning competition. Questions surrounding his rotation and minute distribution with Terrence Ross going to the bench, James Johnson losing playing time and Jonas Valanciunas sitting late in games. Those looking to find holes could do so fairly easily in Fridays dramatic victory. The Raptors surrendered a 17-point second-half lead, allowing Brooklyn to regain control late in the fourth. They failed to secure some crucial defensive rebounds and allowed the Nets to shoot 49 per cent on the evening. But in spite of their flaws, the Raptors are now 32-15 for a reason. Resilient and opportunistic once again, Toronto made plays when it mattered most, forced overtime and came away with the victory, their fifth straight, to improve to a perfect 9-0 against divisional opponents. It was ugly but guys found a way, Casey said after the game. We had a Navy SEAL come in and talk to us before the season [and he] talked about how theres never an easy day. In this league theres never an easy day. Our guys find a way. I wanted to win, said DeMar DeRozan, whose 26 points - 16 in the fourth quarter and overtime - and season-high nine assists lifted the Raptors to victory. Every day is extra motivation, honestly. Win every single game. Theres a lot of things we can clean up, Casey continued. I wish we had 10 days of practice but we dont so were trying to do things on the fly. But I thought our guys came in and competed, battled, got stops when we needed to. Casey has heard all the criticism, hes read it and hes pleading for positivity in the midst of a historic season for the Raptors franchise. These guys are playing as a team, he said. You take Atlanta out of the equation, I would argue that our guys are playing as well as a team as anybody in the league. Are we going to win every game? No. Are we going to play perfect basketball? No. Are we who we are going to be? No. But I would argue that we are ahead of the curve as a team. Thats why the karma of positivity, if thats a term, should be there. Casey steered the discussion in this direction following Wednesdays 119-102 win over Sacramento, their most decisive in nearly two months, while his message after Fridays shoot-around and ahead of their game in Brooklyn remained the same. Although the level of competition has been modest, the Raptors have seemingly found their way again. Of course, both external and internal expectations have changed since the beginning of this season, a hot start will do that. Instead of judging this team as the growing, 48-win group they were a year ago, many have wondered why theyre no longer looking like the version that topped the East for 60 straight days heading into 2015. Most of his players would never admit to reading whats written about them, listening to whats being said about them, but Casey believes some of those unrealistic expectations have seeped into the locker room. They hear it, the Raptors coach said. Players hear it. What about this guy, what about that guy, what about this guy? They can read and they can hear. They understand and again my job is to coach them, to get on them and also to cultivate a culture of positive approach, a growing approach, not let the weight of the world be on our shoulders as we grow. Lets have fun competing, have fun playing hard, have fun playing together, and not let that cloud just loom over us. Theyve come a long way in a short amount of time. The Raptors held their shoot-around at a nearby college in Manhattan Friday morning, the same venue they use when theyre in town to play the Knicks. A year ago Kyle Lowry sat in that very same gym, facing questions about his uncertain future and involvement in trade rumours just ahead of Februarys deadline. Its crazy how things work out and they worked out for the better, said Lowry, who is now locked up as the centrepiece of the Atlantic Divisions best team. Im here in a situation where Im happy. Last year was a different situation. So to look back on it its crazy how things kind of turn into a full circle because it was here when the rumours were going on. They are a better team then the one that turned around their season amid uncertainty a year ago. Theyre a better team than the one that fell to these same Nets in last springs seven-game playoff series, the last time they were in Brooklyn. Theyre a good team, but it takes time to become great. Casey is asking for patience, encouraging you to enjoy the ride in the meantime. We are ahead of the curve, he said. We should be, our city and fans should be excited for what these young men have achieved, the direction they are going. Are we a finished product? No. Are we a championship-caliber team right now? Trying to be, but were not there yet. Ive told our coaches weve got to coach that way, Ive got to be that way and to expect the players to be that way. Thats the message were going to continue to talk about. I think thats the difference between where we were last year and where we are this year. Authentic Air Jordan For Sale . -- All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract. Cheap Jordan Shoes . The international synchronized skating competition takes place from January 31 - February 1, 2014, and features 39 teams from 10 countries, in senior, junior, and novice. http://www.cheapairjordanshoes.com/ .com) - Virginia is for loving Latrell Scott. Cheap Jordan Free Shipping . -- Antoine Bibeau bought the Val-dOr Foreurs valuable time at the Memorial Cup with his 51-save shutout Friday. Original Air Jordans Shoes Wholesale .Carla Fontes hadnt cut her hair since intermediate school, but her coach at Waiakea High School, Stan Haraguchi, thought the locks flowing below her waist were interfering with the sport.MADRID - Lionel Messi failed to take his chances as Barcelona was held to a 0-0 draw by a disciplined and defensive Malaga side in the Spanish league on Wednesday.Messi missed two opportunities in the first half and never looked comfortable on the ball after the break.Barcelona leads the standings on 13 points after five matches, with Sevilla second on goal difference after it beat Real Sociedad 1-0. Atletico Madrid is third on 11 points after beating Almeria 1-0 and Valencia, with 10 points, plays on Thursday against Cordoba.In other matches on Wednesday, Rayo Vallecano beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1, Eibar drew 1-1 with Villarreal and Levante beat Granada 1-0.Messi blasted a direct free kick well over Idriss Kamenis crossbar in the 15th and then chested the ball out of play in the 26th as he raced forward to try and latch onto Jordi Albas inviting cross.Malaga kept Barcelona in check and then came close to scoring in the 68th minute when Nordin Amrabat hit a powerful shot wide.This result was due to an accumulation of factors, and Malaga also played with great merit, Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said. Its a point, and we must carry on. Its never easy to play against a defence made up of nine or 10 men.The Andalusian side piled on the pressure after Barcelona right-back Douglas a€” who made a poor debut for the league leaders a€” made a clumsy tackle and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was forced to punch out Luis Romeros free kick in the 71st.We took the game in the direction we wanted to and knew we would have the occasional opportunity on the counterattack, Malaga defender Ignacio Camacho said.There was a tense moment in the 82nd minute when Wellington pusshed Messi to the ground when the ball was not in play a€” earning the Malaga defender a booking.ddddddddddddBarcelona defender Gerard Pique was shown a yellow card for protesting about the incident.Sevilla closed the points gap on Barcelona with its victory over Real Sociedad.Gerard Deulofeu found himself in front of an open goal to hit Sevillas winner in the 18th minute, following a cross by Benoit Tremoulinas.Atletico Madrid stayed close to the pacesetters after a header by Miranda gave the capital club a 1-0 win at Almeria.Miranda rose to head in Jorge Koke Resurreccions beautifully-weighted corner kick on the hour mark.Almeria goalkeeper Ruben Martinez kept his side in the game when he correctly read Arda Turans attempt to lob him in the 69th.With coach Diego Simeone still serving out a touchline ban, it was up to his assistant German Burgos to give the Atletico squad instructions and encouragement.Elsewhere, Bilbao slumped to defeat after taking the lead against Rayo Vallecano.Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz tapped in Oscar De Marcos cross in the 21st but Leo Baptistao equalized for Rayo by taking advantage of a goalkeeping blunder by Gorka Iraizoz in the 39th.Leo Baptistao then won the match when Gael Kakuta intercepted a poor clearance and picked out the Brazilian with a pass in the 89th.Mikel Arruabarrena scored in the ninth minute for Eibar and Villarreal equalized when Gerard Moreno unleashed a shot that flew just inside the far post, giving goalkeeper Xabier Iruretagoiena no chance in the 71st.Ruben Garcia scored Levantes first goal of the season when he hit left-footed shot past Granadas goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez in the 46th. 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