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TORONTO -- After the Toronto Raptors were pushed to the limit before defeating the depleted Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, coach Dwane Casey is urging his team to put up a defensive presence from the start of their game Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.If the Raptors were caught underestimating a Grizzlies team that was hit by absences to key players, they plan to be ready for the Lakers, who are coming off a 96-90 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.Theyre playing well right now with a lot of confidence, Casey said of the Lakers on Thursday. A very talented offensive team.Our guys have proven that when their backs are against the wall they can step up for a challenge, Lakers coach Luke Walton said. They did it (Wednesday night). Thats a great win against a very good team. Held them to I think 35 percent from the field shooting, which is all we talked about pregame, was defense. Thats it. Defense. If youre committed to the defensive end on basketball, you always give yourself a chance.Both teams are in the middle of busy schedules. The Lakers (10-10) are playing their third game in four nights during a stretch in which they will play four games in five days, all on the road.The Raptors (12-6) are playing the second in stretch of three games in four nights, all at home as they enjoy a six-game homestand.Los Angeles will be without shooting guard Nick Young, who suffered a strained right calf muscle in the loss to the Pelicans in New Orleans on Tuesday. He will be out from two to four weeks.Young likely would have been guarding Torontos top scorer, shooting guard DeMar DeRozan.We put Nick on the other teams best player a lot this year, Walton said. And hes done a great job making them work. So its not just the shooting were going to miss. Were definitely going to miss his defense, the energy he brings. The confidence his teammates get when he hits good shots. Were going to miss a lot.Rookie Brandon Ingram played in Youngs place in Chicago.Lakers point guard DAngelo Russell is expected to miss at least another week with a left-knee injury.The 120-105 score in the Raptors win over the Grizzlies does not indicate the way the game played out. Memphis pulled within one point of Toronto with 9:10 to play before it began to miss shots and turn the ball over.The Raptors were given a boost by 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench by guard Cory Joseph as they won their fourth game in a row.I thought his energy rubbed off (on his teammates) late in the game, Casey said Thursday. Because the first part of the game we were in a malaise as far as focus and energy. I think he came in a got us going. And Pat (Patrick Patterson, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds) came in and got us going ... with his defense and energy.Los Angeles brings familiar faces in former Raptors guards Jose Calderon and Lou Williams.Williams leads the Lakers in scoring at 16.7 points while DeRozan is averaging 28.9 to pace Toronto.The Raptors are 6-3 a home and Los Angeles 4-8 on the road.Cheap Custom NFL Jerseys . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Cheap Jerseys From China . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. http://www.cheapjerseysfinish.com/ . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Wholesale Stitched Jerseys .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Jerseys NFL Wholesale ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter.TORONTO -- When Sidney Crosby first stepped on the international stage, Team Canada fell flat.It was 13 years ago in the summer of 2003 and Crosby had just turned 16. He was by far the youngest player on an under-18 squad shooting for an eighth consecutive gold medal at the junior World Cup. Canada finished a distant fourth, trounced 8-2 by the hometown Czechs in the bronze-medal game.It was by no means a preview of what was to come for Crosby on the world stage. He has won nearly everything there is to win while wearing the Maple Leaf -- except the World Cup of Hockey, which he will play in for the first time later this week.He has won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Crosby has come up golden at the world juniors, world championships and twice at the Olympics.I feel like every time you put on a Team Canada jersey, youre representing your country, theres a lot of pride that comes with that, Crosby said Thursday at World Cup media day.His golden goal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver stands as one of the most impactful goals in the countrys history. Indeed, Crosby has met expectations on the international stage, despite the bright spotlight and increased pressure that comes with being the most hyped player of his generation.For Sid and a lot of these kids coming up, they have a little bit of an unfair target on their back at all times, said Ryan Getzlaf, a frequent teammate with Canada. People expect so much out of them on a daily basis that they forget that theyre still players and theyre still humans. Its part of the role I guess that hes taken on his back and hes done a great job with it.Crosby was again the youngest player for Canada when he helped the team win silver at the 2004 world junior championships. A year later, on a loaded squad that included Getzlaf, Shea Weber and Patrice Bergeron, among others, the Canadians emerged with gold, trouncing Russia 6-1.Crosby had a team-leading eight goals and 16 points in only nine games at the 2006 world championships, but the Canadians finished fourtth.ddddddddddddhen came 2010 and that unforgettable moment at the Vancouver Olympics. Crosbys overtime goal sunk the U.S. in the final and handed Canada, under especially potent pressure on home soil, a satisfying victory.Crosby says he doesnt think about the moment much, though it remains a great memory. While it may lack the significance of the Olympics, the World Cup is another chance at international glory on home turf for Canada.Crosby thinks home-ice advantage can help.I think theres always pressure, theres always expectations (and) you may feel that a little bit more being at home, said Crosby. But I think its something you can definitely embrace and use to help you, too.If not statistically productive at the 2014 Olympics, Crosby still made a dent in Sochi. He was a mostly controlling force with the puck, scoring in the gold medal match against Sweden -- a 3-0 win and second straight Olympic gold for Canada.Crosby flew to the Czech Republic for the 2015 world championships where he helped Canada snap an eight-year gold-medal drought. Crosby mustered 11 points in nine games, including a goal and an assist in the final.I think anytime I go on the ice I try to work hard and try to be at my best, but I think you know the circumstances in most of these events -- its one game, its not a playoff series, Crosby said. I think with that kind of format I think it brings out the best in everyone and that desperation levels probably at the highest it could be.Next up is the World Cup, where Crosby will serve again as Team Canadas captain and the biggest star among stars.He always has the spotlight on him, said John Tavares, picked first overall at the NHL draft four years after Crosby. Hes obviously accomplished a lot (and) hes very deserving of all of the accolades and then obviously a lot of the attention he gets as well. And he handles it extremely well, I think thats whats most impressive. ' ' '