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MIAMI - Generally, the Raptors dont tend to play the what ifgame following a loss, Sundays being their first of the young season, but even they couldnt help but wonder what might have been if they had their starting power forward in uniform against the Heat. We missed him, theres no question about it, Dwane Casey said of Amir Johnson, a late scratch just ahead of the Raptors 107-102 loss in Miami, their 16th-straight defeat to the Heat and 10th-consecutive in South Beach. He gives you another roller to the basket, a guy who can score a little bit in the paint, he continued. He’s been doing a good job of scoring, he’s been doing a good job defensively. Johnson tweaked his troublesome left ankle early in Saturdays win over the Magic, staying in that game, but logging only 24 minutes. After getting pre-game treatment Sunday, he was ruled out - the teams medical staff opting for caution thisearly in the season. The Heat were without a couple of their bigs, as well. Chris Andersen missed the game with a bruised rib, while veteran Udonis Haslem continues to nurse a quad ailment. Returning from an injury, Josh McRoberts was only available to play spot minutes. With Miami playing small ball around the versatile Chris Bosh, this was a game in which the Raptors could have used their best help and rim defender. Tonight would have been a perfect game for Amir, DeMar DeRozan admitted after the loss. That’s Amir’s game. Do all the dirty work, rebound or even the tap outs to give us the chance to get the rebound. The most glaring disparity was the one on the boards. Toronto grabbed just 10 rebounds in the first half - compared to 24 for Miami - and was bested 43-28 on the glass in the game. Almost as concerning, the Heat shot an alarming 72 per cent at the rim and 63 per cent in the paint. Although they led the NBA in that category last year, they did it with LeBron James and managed 47 per cent in the painted area. The Raptors held opponents to 39 per cent shooting in the paint last season. That just wasn’t us, said DeRozan, who led Toronto with 30 points on the night. We just didn’t play good at all. You have to give credit to the Heat. They still played good, but things we can control, like making free throws and rebounding, that’s on us. Certainly, there were issues that went beyond the absence of Johnson and its purely speculative thinking to suggest that the final result would have been different with him in the line-up. Although Johnson would have probably put a dent in the rebounding disparity, its unlikely he would have pulled down 15. Bosh and Dwyane Wade each nearly out-rebounded the Raptors starters on their own. He also wouldnt have made up for the missed free throws - uncharacteristic for Toronto. They missed 15 of 39 attempts at the line, 11 courtesy of DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. Patrick Patterson started in place of Johnson and was held without a point or rebound in just under 15 minutes of action, a night after shooting 1-for-7 in Orlando. For Pat to have an off-night, it shouldn’t have been tonight, Casey said, unprompted after the game A lot of times guys will let their offensive woes go to the defensive end, he said of Pattersons early-season struggles. He had no rebounds and we’ve got to have him on the boards if Amir’s not there and he didn’t do that. Missing Amir was there, but that can’t be an excuse. Someone has to step up. The Raptors need more from Patterson, with or without Johnson in the line-up. A big part of their post-trade success last season and anchoring the teams improved second unit, Patterson was re-signed over the summer to replicate his 2013-14 impact and serve as insurance for Johnson. Prior to coming over from Sacramento, he had gotten off to a slow start last year as well. The forward shot just 41 per cent from the field and 23 per cent from three-point range in 17 games with the Kings before improving those clips to 48 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively, in Toronto. I will fix this, Patterson tweeted Monday. Of course, Johnson will be a free agent at the end of the campaign. Sunday nights game served as an early-season reminder of what makes him so valuable - his defence, rebounding, screening and spacing - and what makes him such a long-term risk - his wonky ankles. Johnson under went a procedure on his left ankle back in 2011. Although he didnt require surgery this summer - after turning both ankles on several occasions last season - he took a more innovative, preventative approach, spending time at the P3 (Peak Performance Project) sports clinic in Santa Barbara, California, studying methods that may help avoid future injury. A lot of those techniques - planting, jumping and landing differently - require him to alter learned muscle memory. Theyre helpful tools, but wont necessarily stave off the injury bug. More than ever the Raptors will need him as close to full health as possible at the end of the season and into the playoffs, a big reason why they made the decision to rest him early in the year. Hes considered day-to-day, but theyll continue to monitor his health and wont risk this becoming a nagging issue. Benjamin Pavard Jersey . Although Olivetti, a qualifier, had 13 aces, he failed to force a single break-point chance on Gasquets serve and lost his own three times. Gasquet next plays third-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, who won had 18 aces in a 6-2, 6-4 win against seventh-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France. Antoine Griezmann Jersey . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. http://www.nationalfrancesoccer.com/hugo-lloris-france-jersey/ . Team spokesman Donald Beauchamp said there was no new information on the 80-year-old Hall of Famers condition. The family has requested privacy. Kylian Mbappe France Jersey . I suppose Sternberg has earned the right to speak out since his Rays, despite one of the lowest payrolls in the Majors at $58 million, are entering the final weekend of the regular season holding down the first Wild Card spot in the American League, one game ahead of Cleveland and two up on Texas. Steven Nzonzi France Jersey . Clevelands manager had just watched his team lose 5-3 to Kansas City, which completed a 2-6 homestand and dropped the Indians 2 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central.NEW YORK -- The NFL will discuss expanded playoffs at the owners meetings next month in Atlanta. Commissioner Roger Goodell told a gathering of Associated Press Sports Editors on Thursday that a vote is uncertain on the proposal to add two teams to the post-season. Should the owners vote on the increase in May, Goodell said the 14-team playoffs could be implemented for the upcoming season, or for 2015. If no vote is taken, then 2015 would be the target for expanded playoffs, with a vote possible in October or next March. The league also would need to consult with the players union on the matter, but it seems clear more playoff teams are on the way. "Were being very deliberate about it," Goodell said. "We want to make sure we do it in the right way." The NFL also will experiment with snapping the ball from the 15-yard line on extra points in the first two weeks of the preseason to make them more challenging. A kick from that distance would wind up being about 33 yards. Previously, the plan had been to experiment with moving kicks back to the 20. But in conversations with the leagues competition committee and various teams, officiating director Dean Blandino said it became apparent a 33-yard extra point was a wiser choice for the experiment. Blandino added that veteran referees Scott Green and Ron Winter have retired, and will be replaced by Craig Wrolstad and Ronald Torbert. Wrolstad had been a field judge and Torbert was a side judge; both have college refereeing experience. Two female officials will be working minicamps and preseason games: line judge Sarah Thomas and head linesman Maia Chaka. Both work in Conference USA. They are part of the leagues officiating development program. The NFL also hired the sons of two current officials: field judge Brad Freeman, the son of back judge Steve Freeman, a former player with Buffalo; and field judge Shawn Hochuli, son of referee Ed Hochuli. Goodell and various other NFL executives were asked about the repercussions from thee bullying incidents with the Miami Dolphins involving Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito.dddddddddddd "You never want to see any story that reflects on that we dont have the right workplace environment," Goodell said. "Weve redoubled our efforts to make sure we provide the right environment ... for everybody in the NFL." Blandino added that in an effort to have on-field action in which the players are respectful, there will be a heavy emphasis on reducing taunting. From 2012 to 2013, the number of taunting incidents increased from nine to 34. "Its important having the right culture in place," added Robert Gulliver, the NFLs chief diversity officer. "A culture of respect for the game, for each other, for coaches, officials and fans. Well engage in positive training with the 32 clubs." Asked about the first openly gay player, Michael Sam of Missouri, soon entering the league, NFL football operations chief Troy Vincent said the league was looking forward to welcoming Sam into its ranks. Vincent, a star defensive back for 15 seasons and former president of the NFL Players Association, said he played with "six openly gay players inside the locker room" who did not publicly announce their sexual orientation. "It worked, we won many football games," Vincent said. "They were players, and we didnt see them any differently." NFL general counsel Jeff Pash said the league remains optimistic that a U.S. district judge will approve the $765 million concussion settlement with former players. The judge, Anita Brody, has expressed concerns the fund may not be large enough to cover up to 20,000 retired players for 65 years. "Were confident we will get it done," Pash said. "I think were getting close to the point where well have a package thats satisfactory. Our overriding goal is that both sides get this structure in place so we can begin providing compensation to people who need it." 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