TORONTO - For 12 minutes we got a glimpse of what the Raptors could become without Rudy Gay at the forefront of the offence. Cheap Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys . In the subsequent 36 minutes, reality hit hard. The Raptors saw both sides of the post-Gay coin in 48 minutes of basketball. "Theres no excuses in this league but Im going to chalk this one [up] to travel. We ran out of gas," Dwane Casey said following a 116-103 loss to the Spurs, his teams second game without Gay and first since the seven-player deal with Sacramento was finalized. "I thought we competed in the first quarter and we ran out of gas as the game went on." Offensively, the Raptors were brilliant in the opening period on Tuesday. Jonas Valanciunas - who figures to become more of a focal point after the trade - was exceptional, the ball was moving and all five players on the floor were moving without it. Guys were passing up good shots to get even better ones for their teammates. It was a sight to behold. Then, almost immediately, the narrative did a complete 180. The Raptors scored 36 points in the opening frame, shooting 63 per cent from the field. They would go on to score 38 points combined over the second and third quarters, shooting 39 per cent the rest of the way. With only 10 players in uniform after Mondays trade - a couple of them, Austin Daye and Dwight Buycks, hadnt played in nearly two weeks - the depleted Raptors were exposed by the Spurs, a well-oiled machine aided by one of the best second units in the association. Torontos newcomers - Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes - were not available and Tyler Hansbrough missed his second straight game with a left shoulder sprain. Through three quarters - before Torontos reserves padded the score in garbage time - San Antonios bench held a 40-8 advantage over the Raptors subs. Despite a strong start for the first unit, which included Terrence Ross making his first start of the season, the Raptors were cooked. And for all the well-deserved criticism of Gays early-season struggles, his absence meant one less scorer capable of getting hot and bailing them out when things went south in a hurry. "I was really happy and proud how our guys executed in the first quarter, kind of a carry-over from the LA game," said Casey, his team coming off an impressive wire-to-wire victory over the Lakers, using only eight players on Sunday. "I thought all of our starters were heavy legged because they played big minutes [tonight], they played big minutes in LA." That seemed to be the case for Valanciunas, who scored 10 points going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the first quarter before hitting just one of his three attempts and scoring four points over the remainder of the game. "It is what it is. Its a business," said Kyle Lowry, a popular phrase in the Raptors locker room Tuesday. "We were down a couple guys and we have a couple guys coming in. You can make all the excuses but I dont want to make any excuses. We just lost tonight." For the second straight contest, sans Gay, there was a more cohesive flow to the teams offence. With 23 on the night - nine coming in the first quarter - the Raptors reached the 20-assist benchmark for the first time in seven games and only the fourth time in 20 games to begin the season. "I did like the ball movement," Casey said. "Im really going on the first quarter when we were fresh, humming and in sync more, so to speak." As per usual, the drop-off was most significant when Lowry went to the bench. Julyan Stone had a quiet night as the primary backup playing less than four minutes before exiting with a foot injury and Dwight Buycks took over in the second half. The addition of Vasquez, a clear upgrade as the backup point guard, will assure the team gets 48 minutes of above average play from the position. "He fits in really well," Casey said of Vasquez, indicating the Venezuelan guard could even be paired with Lowry in the backcourt on occasion. "I think he fits. Hes a pick-and-roll player. I envision him being a plus for us going forward, not only this year but in the future." Reinforcements on the way Salmons, Patterson and Hayes arrived in Toronto Tuesday evening and are scheduled for mandatory physicals Wednesday morning. The team hopes all three will have passed their medical exams in time to participate in practice later in the day. Vasquez is in New York getting his visa sorted out and wont be available to practice in Toronto until Thursday, at the earliest. All four are expected to be in uniform and play for their new team on Friday when the Raptors host the 76ers. Hansbrough is still considered day-to-day nursing his shoulder injury but his absence isnt expected to be a lengthy one. "I think once the pain goes does Ill get my flexibility back a little bit," he said Sunday in LA. "Flexibility isnt there because of the pain but once I get that back I should be fine." Starting Ross After Landry Fields shot 0-of-6 stepping into Gays vacant starting small forward slot against the Lakers Sunday, Casey gave Ross his first start of the season and third of his career on Tuesday. The sophomore guard got off to a strong start, knocking down a couple early three-pointers but seemed to drift in and out later in the game. On the night, Ross scored 14 points hitting four - all threes - of 13 shots and committing five turnovers. "Hes a young kid but thats the only way hes going to learn," Casey said of the 22-year-old. "I thought he did some good things, made some big shots when the ball swung around in rotation but again, youve got to be consistent and sustain it." Casey would not commit to Ross as the teams permanent starter at the position moving forward. "Well see," he cautioned. "I talked to him before the game and let him know this is an opportunity, not [a] given. Youve got to continue to produce and cut down on the mistakes to earn it, to keep it. Well just see where that goes, Im not sure yet." Cheap Stuttgart Jerseys . Abreu hit his 20th homer and Adam Dunn added a three-run shot as Chicago beat San Francisco 7-6 on Wednesday, handing the Giants their fifth straight loss. Cheap Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . -- Amid stories about Jeremy Lin and the upcoming all-star game, the Detroit Pistons have quietly become one of the hottest teams in the NBA.VANCOUVER -- The biggest knock against Gershon Koffie with the Vancouver Whitecaps has been his consistency. An imposing presence in midfield, the Ghanaian would be the best player on the pitch one game and virtually invisible the next. After starting the 2014 campaign on the bench, Koffie has finally begun to live up to expectations on a daily basis, and both he and the Whitecaps have one of the teams new acquisitions at least partly to thank. Toronto FC dealt Matias Laba to Vancouver right before the start of the season and the Argentine midfielder has slotted seamlessly into the centre of rookie head coach Carl Robinsons formation. The workhorse not only cleans up danger in front of the Whitecaps defence, he also allows Vancouvers attacking players to push forward -- with Koffie being one of the main beneficiaries thus far. The 22-year-old scored from 40 yards out after pouncing on a goalkeeping error in last weekends 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders, and had three other clear-cut chances, including a shot that rattled the crossbar in the games opening minutes. "Gersh has got incredible attributes. Hes got the physical strength. When he makes a tackle and he means it, no ones going to beat him. Hes really that powerful," Whitecaps assistant coach Martyn Pert said Thursday. "The consistency part of the game is still something that hes got to really work hard at, and hes getting there, thats four or five games on the spin now hes been very good. "Hes got to keep it going, keep the foot on the pedal and keep driving." Robinson favoured Nigel Reo-Coker in the centre of midfield at the start of the season, but after the Englishman was injured in an off-field incident the Whitecaps turned to Koffie. "I dont think I was disappointed to be on the bench, but that motivated me," said Koffie, whose goal against Seattle was his first of the season. "I have to embrace it because my fellow mates were doing well and it was a coachs decision." Koffie -- who has already played 93 games in his Major League Soccer career -- said Robinson has asked him to go forward more in his attack-minded system, and credits Laba with allowing him that freedom to roam. "Playing with Matias Laba gives me the license to go forward and get some chances,&quoot; said Koffie. Cheap New Jersey Devils Jerseys. "I know hes there to work the defensive part and delay (opponents) before we can get back in (formation)." Labas tenacity has also rubbed off on his midfield counterpart, who tracked back on more than one occasion against Seattle to help out Vancouvers back line. "(Labas) a guy who sets the tone," said Koffie. "If you play next to him, he goes in for tackles (and) you have to do the same. If he goes in chasing the ball, you have to do the same, because you cant let him do the job (alone)." Also just 22, Laba was a casualty of Toronto FCs winter spending spree, with the club unable to retain the designated player it acquired last season. "I didnt expect it, but I think its for the best," Laba said through an interpreter. "Im very happy in Vancouver with a great coach and teammates." Although he often takes care of the less-glamorous tasks on the field, the Whitecaps have come to appreciate his tireless work. "Mati gives us a great dimension to build off of at the back," said Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit. "He lets the guys that are creative express themselves a little bit more, just by giving you a little bit more of a lockdown defensively." Added the selfless Laba: "Ive always played that way -- win balls, win tackles -- and quickly disperse (passes) so my teammates have more time on the ball." Pert has been in awe at how quickly Laba has adapted to his new surroundings. "Matis been incredible since hes come in and the fact he came in two weeks before the start of the season and every game he just never lets you down," said Pert. "Hes absolutely a top, top player. I couldnt speak highly enough of Mati. "He makes incredible tackles, he gets his foot on the ball, he plays it simple." Because of their youth, Laba and Koffie could be patrolling Vancouvers midfield for some time, and the pair are expected to start alongside each other once again when the Whitecaps (4-2-5) visit the Portland Timbers (3-3-7) on Sunday. "(Koffies) a great player and I think we work really well together," said Laba. "I can win balls and that opens space up for him to go forward and attack more. We compliment each other quite well." cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' '
