127-96 overall, including 49-22 in Denver, where his 3-4 post-season record led to a split witCaskey said.Never mind t

"We, The People, In Order To Form A More Perfect Union..." Disregard the fact that the phrase is from an American political document or that there can be nothing "more perfect". Instead, review how the Toronto Raptors began their perfectly imperfect quest and whats next for the squad. October 31, 2013: Start of the 2013-14 NBA season. Fresh off a solid training camp with a full complement of players and outwardly optimistic, questions about the future of the franchise under president and general manager Masai Ujiri remained. With a highly publicized and strongly projected 2014 Draft Class, uncertainty about roster stability, quality and identity of the team and what appeared to be a lame duck head coach in Dwane Casey, RaptorNation and TankNation seemed to be in accord. Not having sniffed playoff pay dirt since a 2008 first round ouster at the hands of the then-Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic, an uneasy relationship with multiple monikers on what lay ahead for Canadas Team abounded: Mishandle For Randle, Concede For Embiid, Be Sorry For Jabari, Stop Caring For Aaron and of course Riggin For Wiggins. A shrewd and savvy front office executive, Ujiri has proven to be in just a few short months north of the border, jettisoning the personages and albatross-like contracts of Andrea Bargnani and Rudy Gay for more than just flotsam and salary cap relief. The deft moves brought in team players and quality, unselfish veterans in Steve Novak, Greveis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and the gritty, gutty Chuck Hayes, all fully aware of their roles and willing to lend to an ever-developing chemistry under head coach Dwane Casey. Now leading the Atlantic Division at 24-21 and in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Raps begin a week-long West Coast swing on Friday and a short homestand before the All-Star break. The energy around this team, despite recent injuries to Amir Johnson and the newly-minted All-Star DeMar DeRozan, has been at a fever pitch. Despite bucking for home court advantage in the playoffs, there is an overwhelming consensus that Ujiri will move Kyle Lowry by the NBAs trade deadline instead of losing the unrestricted free agent in the offseason. But dont be so sure. Any day between now and February 20 may well be The Tomorrow You Should Have Feared Yesterday as the Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri in particular, face a dilemma of potentially franchise-changing dimension. At the crossroad to this predicament, the twisted fates of Lowry and Casey stand. The Question is: Are they all headed in the same direction? "Where our team is, I dont know if, as a team, were where we can get two guys (on the All-Star team). Thats the truth, but were getting there," Ujiri said. "Well see how we continue to grow as a team." Is Masai Ujiri willing to roll the dice on Lowry, not move him and hope that he can make a cap friendly and competitively respectful offer in July for his starting point guard to stay in Toronto? All-Star snub aside, Lowry is averaging career highs in points and assists at 16.8 and 7.6 respectively. Arguably one of the Top 10 point guards in The Association, his real growth may be in areas that dont show in the box score, however. "Im going to keep grinding no matter what, All-Star or not," said Lowry. "Im always going to work hard and continue to be the best player I can be to help my team win. So for me, hey I didnt make it, it didnt happen, youve got a game, youve got to worry about the rest of the season and you go on." Does Ujiri have confidence that Casey is the right man for the job to lead the Raptors to heights unseen by the franchise? "My wish, my hope and my desire is to not let this be a one year flash in the pan," said Casey. "We want to develop something and thats why I keep talking about the process." With the Raptors at well beyond tanking level, the delicate ballet of managing expectation, fruitful return on any trade and current chemistry on this team falls in the apt hands of Masai Ujiri. As the exhaustive hype over the strength of the 2014 Draft Class continues to dissipate, Raptor fans might wish to envision the success of Ujiris "No Superstar" team in Denver of 2013. Or look to the steady build of a solidly great team in Oklahoma City by their GM, Sam Presti, who has effectively retained his very best players while building through the Draft, key veteran acquisitions and stability on the bench. Then again, RaptorNation might rest well on the notion of Ujiri standing pat with Casey, Lowry and the rest of the team for this season by thinking about the 2004 Detroit Pistons. It was that unit, led by a highly motivated and well-travelled point guard in former Raptor Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups, a tough, veteran guard, an athletic young wing, two workhorses down low doing the dirty work, a solid bench and a very good coach, who defeated the seemingly invincible Los Angeles Lakers, fronted by Phil Jackson, Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant, 4-1 in the NBA Finals. Reaching? Perhaps... But dreams have to start somewhere... What "more perfect" place than Toronto with these perfectly imperfected Raptors? Cheap Craig Biggio Jersey . The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was still dealing with the right shin he broke in a crash which ended his Tour de France on Stage 10. 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"Who knows whats going to happen on the horizon here and right now I dont know if I want to talk about it too much.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The two men vying to put their fingerprints on the Lombardi Trophy are testament to the axiom that men who flop in their first NFL head coaching job can subsequently flourish.Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick were busts in their first go-around.Carroll was jettisoned by the Jets after one season and then fired by the Patriots after three years in New England, where his replacement was none other than Belichick, who had been banished by the Browns after a mediocre half-decade in Cleveland.One of them will be fitted for another diamond-encrusted ring this off-season.When the confetti falls on either the Seahawks or Patriots next Sunday, 12 of the last 18 Super Bowl champions will have been coached by men who had felt the sting of the pink slip as an NFL head coach.Before this streak, all 23 Super Bowl champions between 1974 and 1996 were led by men who were on the first NFL head coaching job.Now, retreads are all the rage.That should bode well for fans of the Broncos, Bears, Raiders and Bills. Of the six openings that have been filled so far, four have gone to men who bring head coaching experience to their new jobs: Gary Kubiak in Denver, John Fox in Chicago, Jack Del Rio in Oakland and Rex Ryan in Buffalo.Their respective resumes were cited by their new employers as a crucial factor.Fired after going 50-52, counting playoffs, with the Jets from 2009-14, Ryan landed in Buffalo, where Doug Marrone had stepped down abruptly.We were basically the only team looking for a head coach who did not fire their head coach the year before. So we decided ... that maybe we should go the veteran route, said Bills owner Terry Pegula.Others did, too.Experience was paramount, Oakland GM Reggie McKenzie said after hiring Del Rio, whose 69-73 record in Jacksonville from 2003-11 looks all the better given the Jaguars 11-42 record since.Del Rio, who spent the last three seasons as Denvers defensive co-ordinator, said hes much more comfortable and confident calling the shots and the plays now.You have an idea when youre a young coach of what you think it would be making all the decisions, and then the reality of being a head coach sets in, Del Rio said. I think theres been tremendous growth. It also was very beneficial after being a head coach, getting the past three years too go back and be a co-ordinator in a successful group, because I was able to see things from a different perspective.ddddddddddddKubiak had that same viewpoint in Baltimore last year when he helped rejuvenate the Ravens as their offensive co-ordinator after going 63-66 in Houston from 2006-13.That year in Baltimore was invaluable for me as a coach, being around John Harbaugh, being around that organization, being around Ozzie Newsome, watching them go about their business, how they go about being successful week in and week out, Kubiak said. I take all that with me as I move forward and I know Im a lot better coach now than I was when I left Denver in 2006 after a decade as the Broncos offensive co-ordinator.Said Ryan: Im a different man right now than I was six years ago because I lacked experience as a head coach. ... I will be a better coach now. Through experience, I dont think theres any doubt that you become more of an expert.Fox is the most experienced of all the recycled coaches. Hes 127-96 overall, including 49-22 in Denver, where his 3-4 post-season record led to a split with GM John Elway.When John became available, the game changed, Bears chairman George McCaskey said.Never mind that Fox is pushing 60, either. After all, Carroll is 63 and Belichick 62.You saw his energy. Hes got the fire in the belly, McCaskey said. Ryan Pace, the 37-year-old Bears new GM, added: I look at John as being my age.Hes a youthful personality and I think its great because he has the experience, still with the energy, Pace said. So its a perfect combination. ... You look around the league, you look at Belichick and Pete Carroll, theres a track record of these guys who come in and learn from these experiences, and get better every step of the way.Ryan said head coaches with second chances have an extra edge to them that first-timers lack: theyre driven to prove theyre not only a good coach but a better one for having failed.Yes, it is personal, theres no question about it, he said. Its embarrassing. I see myself as a good football coach and I cant wait.To join the club of recycled coaches who know that sweet taste of redemption.___AP Sports Writers Josh Dubow, John Wawrow and Andrew Seligman contributed.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '