TORONTO - With his teammates primed to go their separate ways after Wednesdays game, many of them playing like it in the first half, DeMar DeRozan took one final opportunity to validate his upcoming trip to New Orleans. For the better part of the opening 24 minutes, the Raptors played like a team that was ready to start its long weekend one day early by succumbing to a popular pre All-Star break pitfall; the letdown game. "I think both teams were on vacation before the game started," Dwane Casey said of his teams flat start, hitting just one of 12 field goals at the outset of a crucial meeting with the Hawks and trailing by eight early, until DeRozan sparked the Raptors slumbering offence. Were the Raptors looking ahead to some much needed time off? "I wouldnt say that necessarily, we probably thought they (were)" replied DeRozan, who scored 14 of his game-high 31 points in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, spearheading a lopsided second half and leading Toronto to a 104-83 win over Atlanta. "We picked it up," he continued. "We understood they were going to come out play hard because we are neck-and-neck in the race in the conference. We understood how much this game meant." The Raptors overtook Atlanta for third place in the Eastern Conference standings last month and the Hawks have been knocking on the door ever since. With the victory, Toronto handed the Hawks - who now hold the fifth seed - their fifth straight loss and padded their own cushion over fourth-place Chicago going into this weekends All-Star festivities. At 28-24, the Raptors sit atop their division at the break for the second time in franchise history and first since they won the Atlantic in the 2006-07 season. "It means a lot to be where were at right now," DeRozan said, "but it really dont mean nothing unless we keep it up. Weve got to keep it growing, we cant be comfortable with it because teams in our division (are) definitely still coming." Leading by one at intermission, the Raptors outscored the struggling Hawks 59-39 in the second half, holding them to 30 per cent shooting and forcing eight turnovers while committing just one themselves. DeRozan made seven of his 10 field goal attempts, and all four of his free throws, in the half. Most importantly the Raptors executed their game plan defensively, rotating and closing out hard, limiting one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league to four treys on 20 attempts from beyond the arch. "We had to make sure we were there and the way the game started I (didnt) think we got the memo before the game," Casey said. "We continued to grind it, stuck with the game plan, guys stuck together and grinded it out." It wasnt their most ascetically pleasing victory but its one that fell right into the Raptors wheelhouse, one that played into the identity and personality Casey has urged his team to carry into the seasons unofficial second half. "Like I told our guys," he said, "the second half is going to be a grind. Its not going to be pretty (but) we dont want it to be pretty. Its going to be hard and everybody has to be committed in the locker room." The break comes at a perfect time for the Raptors. Although they go into it with confidence having won two straight, both at home - overall theyve won 10 of 12 at the Air Canada Centre - many of them could use the rest and relaxation time. For the second straight game Amir Johnson was a spectator - fashioning a personalized Raptors jersey on the back of his vest as he watched from the bench - still nursing a sore right ankle. Hell have over 10 days of rest before the team reconvenes in Washington for Tuesdays game against the Wizards. For the rest of the team this five-day layoff is an opportunity to heal various aches and pains that accumulate over a long season and refocus heading into the stretch run. "Me personally I need the rest," said Kyle Lowry, who had another double-double - 16 points and 13 assists - on Wednesday. "I know everybody needs the rest. You get to mentally relax and physically relax also and its always important to take care of your body at this time (of year). You rarely get a five-day stretch in the season so (we have to) take advantage of it." cheap china jerseys .ca! Kerry, Last night watching the Bruins-Lightning game, Tim Thomas lost his mask but play went on. I am curious what the official ruling on this is, as I have seen play stopped much quicker earlier in these playoffs even and twice was for Dwayne Roloson having loose straps on his mask. cheap jerseys from china . The Sharks centre scored twice in the second period as San Jose defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1. The 33-year-old from Aneroid, Sask., has scored 30 or more goals in four consecutive seasons and has six overall in his career. http://www.cheapjerseyschina.cc/ . Randolph scored 14 of his 28 points in the final period and grabbed 11 rebounds, Gasol had 18 points, eight boards and eight assists, and the Grizzlies eked out an 89-86 victory Friday night for their first road victory of the season. cheap nfl jerseys . Jordan Walden (1-1) allowed the tying run to score in the bottom of the eighth but still earned the win by throwing a scoreless ninth inning. Bobby Abreu had a two-run home run and scored the game-winning run for the Angels, winners in six of their last nine games. cheap nfl jerseys china .ca looks back at 10 memorable storylines from the history of the event in 10 days.As the Montreal Impacts 11th hour - but ultimately unfruitful - challenge for an NASL playoff spot was unfolding all the while and behind the scenes the football brain trust led by head coach Jesse Marsch was sowing the clubs MLS seeds. Appointed back on August 10, Marsch has been keeping an eye on the NASL squad whilst his other was firmly fixed on assembling an MLS-caliber team and identifying the technical staff. MLSs 19th franchise is now in the midst of a week long evaluation camp that will culminate in an intra squad match Saturday morning. Next up, and especially so when factoring in that many players in camp are long term servants of the club, will come some tough decisions. Their wait wont be long though. Marsch telling TSN 990 Radio, "Were going to try and give an indication to most guys soon thereafter. So early in the week well have some meetings. Some guys have to travel right away Saturday, so well have to catch up with them through the week. Theyll be some discussions that will be, yes lets figure out a way to move forward. Then theyll be some that will be no but thanks for everything but we think its probably best at this moment that we each find our own paths." That uncertainty for those in camp applies for all but one of the players. 28-year old Colombian Nelson Rivas who on Monday became the first player contracted to Impact Montréal FC. His signing taken after long and careful consideration with Marsch disclosing, "When I first spoke to the Impact back in April part of the discussion of the job and moving forward with the team, also involved certain players that were on their radar. When they spoke about Nelson I was aware of him from just following world football and knew about him." Rivas will be hoping to emulate fellow countrymen like MLS Cup winner and All-Star defender Jamison Olave and playmaker extraordinaire, David Ferreira, the leagues current MVP. The rising stock of Colombian players isnt lost on Marsch who offered this summation, "I think first of all they are used to the physicality of MLS because it is something that is a big part of the league in Colombia. Then I think there is a grittiness, a toughness to growing up in Colombia and trying to be successful. Then getting a chance to get out of Colombia and find a new life for yourself that now the mentality of the players that come to MLS is strong." Not wanting to limit himself to his contacts in the sport domestically, Marsch recently embarked on an extensive 10-day long scouting trip to Europe. The mission was simple in its focus. The club had identified a number of players over the course of this season and now it was time to sit down and meet them face to face. Marsch remarked on the purpose of the trip, "It was to see what their goals, what their intentions are for their careers and also to let them know my goals and our goals are as an organization." A relationship-building process that continues. Having announced earlier in the week that Preston Burpa would become the goalkeeping coach, an ex-player familiar to the organization from back in the old USL days and specifically their rivalry with the Seattle Sounders - the club added significant depth to the coaching ranks on Thursday with the appointment of Mike Sorber as an assistant. Marsch couldnt sound more delighted, "As an organization and as a head coach I feel fortunate to have a guy with his pedigree now as part of our staff. I know hell make us stronger and hell make me stronger. Hes really a great coach." Adding, "We have a history of working together. So we have a common idea off what the environment needs to be like.dddddddddddd Were going to create an environment thats about learning, about competing and getting better every day". They are long-time friends and colleagues they havent always seen eye to eye, which is a positive according to the rookie head coach. "One of the good things about our relationship is we dont see everything exactly the same but we have a good way of challenging each other, communicating with each other so you know like I said hes definitely going to make me stronger". With the MLS jigsaw puzzle now taking on a public face and shape Marsch is fully aware of the playing philosophy that he and his staff will nourish and foster. "Intelligent and competitive football, along with passing football." Although a blind optimism surrounds supporters of all clubs - even an expansion one - Marsch takes the realistic approach, "We still have to understand that as an expansion team that theres going to be different moments of the season that are going to be a struggle. And so we still have to understand how to be smart at different moments. How to rise to the challenge, how to be a unit, how to handle tough situations because thats whats going to be the difference between us winning a game here, gathering a point there and hopefully making the difference between us been in the playoffs or not been in the playoffs." Marschs realism underpinned with a holistic outlook, "Its a process. Its not a turn key thing, its not overnight success. Its more about trying to put in hard work every day so that everybody is on the same page and everybody gets better." WAYNES WOE – Just as the squad was touching down in Montenegro ahead of Fridays crucial EURO2012 Qualifier, Englands preparation has been thrown into a tailspin following reports Wayne Rooneys dad has been arrested as part of an investigation into match fixing. Rooney senior is amongst a number of individuals from the Merseyside that were detained by police and then later bailed regarding unusual betting surrounding the sending off of a player in a Scottish Premier League match played last December. As for Wayne Rooney who has had an explosive start to the season, he is still expected to lead Englands attack in a match they need to avoid defeat in to ensure qualification to next summers championship. [Montenegro v England can be seen on TSN2 with Kick-off at 3:30pm et/12:30pm pt]. FOOD DRIVE - Taking a lead from the recent comments from Stephen Hart when he implored all of Canada to Taste the Soup of World Cup qualification now comes word that Canadas quintessential supporters group The Voyageurs has organized a canned food drive ahead of the October 11 qualifier in Toronto against Puerto Rico. Not only thinking of the needy, the Voyageurs creative department has been in design mode. Expect then to see some of the most creative banners ever to grace a Canadian soccer stadium at BMO Field next Tuesday. BULLDOZERS IN THE BUILDING – The Impact hasnt just limited itself to laying their MLS foundations on the pitch this past week. In a ceremony that took place directly preceding their annual awards gala Tuesday evening, President Joey Saputo donned his Impact MLS logo emblazoned safety helmet to climb atop an earth digger to formally break ground for the expansion of Saputo Stadium where capacity will rise from the current 13,034 to 20,341. The West Stand Plaza will be outfitted with permanent structures where previously the concourse was housed with temporary facilities and the corporate facilities will see an almost three-fold increase. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '