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On this weeks Three Man Weave, Will Strickland and Duane Watson of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane draft, NBA TV Canadas Mr. Everything and host of The Hangout, Akil Augustine (@akilaugustine). As the NBA playoffs go on and teams look to survive and advance, they evaluate the remaining series and summer tasks for the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry is Masai Ujiris first order of business this summer, but who should his second be? Greivis Vasquez or Patrick Patterson? Strickland: No Brainer: Greivis Josue Vasquez Rodriguez. Quality back-ups at point guard are Loch Ness Monster-rare in The Association right now. When you have a guy like Kyle Lowry playing human bowling ball to help his team get wins, injuries are pre-destined. Vasquez stepped in admirably for Lowry in those times, as well as aiding to create a potent two point-guard backcourt with sure ballhandling, keen decision-making and absolutely zero fear of The Moment - all necessary variables to a winning equation. Project Pat Patterson, a handle hung on him by my #1On1 partner, Duane Watson, will be a priority to retain as well for Ujiri and the MLSE braintrust. I doubt he walks unless the offer to dance between the lines elsewhere with similar playing time is too great to pass.Augustine: Small forward‎! Not that I know what Masai should do... (#InMasaiWeTrust) but I would love to see an upgrade on the wing that would by some time for T-ROSS to blossom. Luol Deng anyone? Vince? Watson: It has to be The General Greivis Vasquez, a back-up guard who can play both positions and play alongside Kyle Lowry. Vasquez runs the pick-and-roll to perfection, but he also isnt scared to take the big shot. He got into a rhythm during the playoffs and was the most reliable player off the bench. His fire and passion are just the type of elements this team needs.Why does the Brooklyn Nets 4-0 regular season record against the Miami Heat mean nothing in the post-season?Strickland: The regular season is just that: regular. The second season, aka the playoffs, is where your legend is born. The Brooklyn Nets legend in the playoffs is rooted in being at full strength and still losing last year to the Nate Robinson-led, grossly undermanned, but infinitely tougher Chicago Bulls. Oh, lets not forget what should not have happened this season with the Nets edging the young Toronto Raptors. The two-time defending world champion Heat are built for the playoffs and are showing their pedigree in winning fashion with a commanding 2-0 lead over Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference semis. If the Nets lose Game 3 at home, itd be a safe better for them to procure the #TackleBox post haste. Augustine: Because the Heat have two modes: Regular season and playoffs. The Nets also have two modes‎...wait, no they dont. They are the No Mode Squad starring Busta-Ankle, aka D-Wont! Watson: This is why they call it the playoffs. As they have the past two springs, the Heat take their game into another gear in the playoffs. In two of the four losses against the Nets, Dwyane Wade was resting - for this very time of the year. For all of the Nets veteran experience, they are tired and bruised after a series in Toronto that they barely escaped from and Miami will have an answer for Joe Johnson.If the Oklahoma City Thunder lose to the Los Angeles Clippers, whos to blame - Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook or Scott Brooks?Strickland: The Thunder were one Zach Randolph "punch" to the face of noted agitator from The Bill Laimbeer School Of Smart Skullduggery, Steven Adams, away from a potential first-round exit. Tied at 1-1 with the Clippers and headed to LA, the blame will have multiple directions for various reasons. Scott Brookss loyalty to line-ups over deft and necessary adjustments, as well as other questionable coaching moves will catch major darts. Russell Westbrooks greatest strengths of supreme athleticism, overt passion and singular focus may also be his biggest weaknesses, especially in the eyes of his detractors. And last but not least, the 2013-2014 NBA scoring champ and MVP who has been famously quoted as being sick and tired of coming in second would face LeBron James-level scrutiny of his true value with a second round loss to the Clippers. Augustine: Scott Brooks. And the GM. Kendrick Perkins is stealing cash, Serge Ibaka is stuck in neutral ‎and the rest of the bench isnt old enough to get into a club, excluding team chaperone Derek Fisher, let alone win a series. Watson: Sam Presti. As the GM of the Thunder he has nickled and dimed with this team to avoid the luxury tax, but he hasnt found the right supporting cast to work with his two stars. Since James Harden left, it has been on a downward slide and the MVP campaign of Durant hides some of the teams deficiencies. Is Roy Hibbert the key to the Pacers success? Strickland: No. Paul George is the key to the Pacers success, which could be fleeting in the face of the most dangerous team no one knows in the Washington Wizards. With rumours abounding over Hibberts inexplicable metamorphosis from All-Star to Hasheem Thabeet in the playoffs, Big Roy is a necessary piece for the Pacers just to get by the Wiz, nevermind talking Eastern Conference final rematch with the Heat. Augustine: Yes. Is this a trick question? ‎Pull up footage of last year and superimpose it on top of footage from this year. Then, you will have your answer! Watson: He definitely makes a big difference to the Pacers chances on both sides of the ball. His post presence helps the defence and, if hes an option offensively, it allows Indiana to work an inside-out game. Hibbert awakening from his slumber is the easiest fix to a team that has been slumping for the better part of the year. What must the Portland Trail Blazers do to stop the San Antonio Spurs? Strickland: Quit? Hope Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich all of a sudden turn into Dwight Howard, James Harden and Kevin McHale (OUCH!)? How about play stout defence, show the half-court execution they exhibited in the first 40 games of the regular season and understand in a hurry the difference between playoff basketball and championship-level basketball in the playoffs, if they have not already been brutally and ruthlessly made aware by arguable the best team in basketball right now? Coach Stotts and rising stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard have to be better in Game 3 at home in the Moda Center or there will be some fine playoff parting gifts, courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs. Augustine: Wait 365 days until next year. Or change the rules to the CBA and sign a bench during the post-season. Or hedge harder on those DAMN screens! All three options come with little chance for success! Watson: Hope that Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter walk through that door! The Blazers need all the help they can get and its interesting to see such an outmatched team in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge have played at an all-world level for the Blazers, but their lack of depth on the bench is an Achilles heel, as the Spurs reserves have already proved they can compete with the Blazers starters. Wholesale Shoes UK . Arsenal had already scored its goals in the third round fixture when the fierce rivalry turned ugly in the final ten minutes as Walcott was being carried off on a stretcher. Wholesale Shoes UK Free Shipping . A Swiss Federal Tribunal ruling published Friday said that FIFAs disputes panel and the Court of Arbitration for Sport correctly imposed the sanction for Nantes enticing Guinea forward Ismael Bangoura to break his contract with Dubai club Al Nasr in January 2012. https://www.shoesukonline.com/ . Quarterback Drew Willy appeared to injure his throwing hand on the third last play of practice Thursday. Cheap Shoes UK 2020 . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Shoes UK Online Store . "Its embarrassing what were doing here," leading scorer Phil Kessel said Wednesday. The most recent failed season came with even more pain than the six that preceded it. There was no hint of an impending implosion when the Leafs came roaring out of the all-star break with back-to-back games against Pittsburgh -- a 5-4 shootout loss followed by a 1-0 win the next night.The Montreal Impact achieved two very important objectives in 2013: they won the Canadian Championship, and they qualified for the MLS Playoffs. Unfortunately, the manner of their 3-0 playoff defeat to the Houston Dynamo left a very sour taste in the mouth. That ultimately saw the Marco Schallibaum era come to end, and the Swiss coach was replaced with former Chicago Fire coach, Frank Klopas. The move surprised some - the Impact were thought to be looking for a European to replace Schallibaum - but Montreal felt that Klopas has the right mix of MLS experience and understanding of the Impacts philosophy as a club to be the man to lead them over the next three years. Given the Impacts desire to embed their playing philosophy, I dont expect them to deviate from their preferred 1-4-2-3-1 formation. If that is the approach they continue to employ, this is how I expect them to line up: Goalkeeper - Troy Perkins Perkins is a steady, reliable MLS goalkeeper. He probably didnt get the credit he deserved last year - which may be down to the fact that he was playing in Montreal, rather than in an American MLS city - but he did lead the league in saves with 109. He will be hoping that he wont be as busy this season; a settled back four will have a big influence on whether or not that is the case. But even if the back four is breached, the Impact have a safe pair of gloves in goal in Perkins. Right Fullback - Hassoun Camara Camaras position in the team will be determined, I suspect, on the form and fitness of their central defenders. If Nelson Rivas can somehow manage to stay healthy for more than two weeks, he will partner Matteo Ferrari. If not, then Wandrille Lefevre will get the chance to impress beside Ferrari. If Lefevres form dips, expect to see Camara or new signing Heath Pearce slide inside to play centre back. This may very well be Camaras best position, but I expect to at least see him start the season at right fullback. Camara is good in the air, likes to get forward, and has even shown a knack for scoring goals. If he can cut out the mental lapses that crept into his game at times last season, he will be an ever-present in Klopas team. Left Fullback - Heath Pearce Aside from suffering a badly broken nose that forced him to miss four games, Jeb Brovsky was a fixture at left fullback last season. Right now, though, Brovsky is nursing his way back from a knee injury and will likely miss the start of the season. Montreal have been looking at options at this position, and their first round draft pick, Eric Miller, can play left fullback. But it is likely that Frank Klopas will prefer to go with former New York Red Bull, Heath Pearce, who has signed for the club after impressing in pre-season. Pearce is versatile, and can play both left fullback and central defender. That could prove useful for the Impact, who have injury and form concerns at both of these positions. Central Defender - Matteo Ferrari It is essential for Matteo Ferrari to remain healthy this season. With doubts over the fitness of Nelson Rivas, and question marks over whether or not Wandrille Lefevre can perform week in, week out, Ferrari is the rock upon which Frank Klopas back four needs to be built. Ferrari is arguably the best central defender in MLS - his pedigree is unmatched. He reads the game supremely well, and at times seems to be strolling through the game. He needs to ensure that he remains fully focused though, as his experience will be vital for the Impact in 2014. Central Defender - Nelson Rivas* The asterisk is there for one reason and one reason only - Nelson Rivas is never healthy. Rivas played only one game last season - the 3-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Playoffs - and managed to get himself sent off in the process. Hardly a ringing endorsement, but anyone who has tracked the career of the Colombian over the years will know that Rivas is more than capable of being a star defender in MLS. He is big, strong, fearless and comfortable with a ball at his feet. If he can miraculously get himself healthy, he will play alongside Ferrari. If not, expect Wandrille Lefevre to be given an opportunity to hold onto the position, as Adrian Lopez – signed last season from Wigan Athletic – is still not fully fit after recovering from ACL surgery. Defensive Midfield - Patrice Bernier Recently installed as the Impacts captain, Bernier has been a reliable performer for Montreal - despite having to overcome some obstacles in 2012. Dropped from the starting lineup by then head coach, Jesse Marsch, Bernier took the high road. He didnt complain, he didnt voice his disapproval in the media; he worked harder, got back in the team, and in the end, was voted team MVP. That is the kind of leadership that made selecting the Montreal native as the clubs next skipper a no-brainer.dddddddddddd Expect Bernier to anchor the midfield yet again this season. Defensive Midfield - Hernan Bernardello It was difficult to gauge the ability of Bernardello at times last season; it is always a challenge for players who join a club part-way through their season to really show their best form. But I saw enough from Bernardello to think that he is going to be a very good player for Montreal in the years to come. His touch on the ball is exquisite; his vision and passing range is superb. His effectiveness will increase as he becomes more familiar with his teammates and their tendencies - something that a full pre-season should do wonders for. Barring injury, expect to see B&B - Bernier and Bernardello - patrolling the midfield for Montreal this season. Right Midfield - Justin Mapp With two goals and eight assists, Justin Mapp had a good season for Montreal last year. But I think that Frank Klopas should expect more from the talented left-footer. When he is on form, Mapp can dominate games. He likes to play on his off-wing, so that he can drift inside on his left foot and strike for goal or slide passes through gaps between defenders. If he can pin his fullback high, he will create space for Camara to drive into, or for Bernier and Bernardello to slide across. The one area that Id like to see improvement in is consistency. If Mapp can bring his best game week in, week out, he will be a major asset for the Impact. Left Midfield - Sanna Nyassi This is a problem position for Montreal - because no one has really claimed it as their own. Cue the arrival of Uruguayan, Santiago Gonzalez. Nominally a forward, if Montreal goes with a 1-4-2-3-1- formation, it will be Marco Di Vaio playing up front on his own. So if Klopas wants to get his most talented players on the pitch at the same time, hell need to find room for Gonzalez on the wing, or as an attacking midfielder. But Gonzalez has played sparingly in preseason, as both a winger and as an attacking midfielder. It will take him time to acclimatize to his new team and to MLS, so until he is deemed to be ready, expect Sanna Nyassi to start over Blake Smith and Andres Romero. Nyassi can be very effective, but needs to be far more consistent in 2014 if he is to stay in the team. Attacking Midfield - Felipe Martins Felipe Martins had an outstanding debut season in MLS in 2012. His four goals and 10 assists underlined his role as a creative force in the Impact midfield. In 2013, he put up decent numbers again - 5 goals and 8 assists - but didnt seem to be as influential in Marco Schallibaums team. He wasnt an ever-present in midfield, and often had to make do with a place on the bench. This season, if the Impact are going to succeed, they need Felipe to be on the ball, facing goal as often as possible. He has good feet, an eye for a pass, and isnt afraid to shoot when in the attacking third. If the Impact are going to get goals from midfield, they will need to come from Felipe, in particular. Forward - Marco Di Vaio Aside from the first three games of the season (when Di Vaio will be suspended), expect to see the Italian legend leading the line for Montreal. At the age of 37, Di Viaos best years are behind him. But give him the ball anywhere close to goal, and he will once again show that he is the most clinical finisher in MLS. His 20 goals last season were the reason the Impact made their first-ever playoff appearance. He will need to come close to matching that in 2014 if Montreal is to make a second appearance in post-season play. The reason for that is that the Impact have very little else up front. Andrew Wenger - the number one draft pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft - has not shown the instinct and tactical understanding to be an effective forward in MLS. Work rate and fitness are of little use if they are not paired with tactical nous and finishing ability. Wengers two goals (from 24 appearances, eight as a starter) in 2013 will need to be increased considerably if he is to have a career in the game as a striker. Santiago Gonzalez will likely see time up front as well this season, and it will be hoped that he proves to be more prolific in front of goal that his American counterpart. For head coach Frank Klopas, the objectives will be the same as they were for Schallibaum: win the Canadian championship and qualify for the playoffs. As weve seen time and time again, the regular season goes out the window when the playoffs get under way, so that is the first step to winning MLS Cup. The key for the Impact this season is this: their experienced players (Camara, Bernier, Bernardello, Di Vaio) must stay healthy and must play well. If they dont, the Impact does not have the depth in their squad to cope. ' ' '