TORONTO - It wasnt until practice let out that Raptors players learned about the news sending shockwaves around the NBA early Sunday afternoon. [url=http://www.cheapraptorsjerseys.com/]Cheap Toronto Raptors Jerseys[/url] . Kevin Durant, the leagues reigning MVP, could be sidelined for up to eight week

TORONTO - It wasnt until practice let out that Raptors players learned about the news sending shockwaves around the NBA early Sunday afternoon. Cheap Toronto Raptors Jerseys . Kevin Durant, the leagues reigning MVP, could be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a right foot fracture that may require surgery. The Raptors were already in the gym as word of the injury spread over social media. Its very tough, man, its very tough, said Raptors guard Greivis Vasquez, a good friend and high school teammate of Durant, as he processed the information. I didnt know about KD, I just found out and Im going to pray for him and hopefully he comes back even stronger. Durant is just the latest star player to sustain a significant injury before the start of the upcoming regular season. Wizards talented third-year guard Bradley Beal broke his wrist in an exhibition contest last week, an injury that required surgery and will keep him out of action for roughly two months. Celtics all-star point guard Rajon Rondo broke his hand in a freak accident at home. And then theres Paul George, whose gruesome leg injury in a Team USA scrimmage over the summer will cost him his entire season. Its just hard, Vasquez added. Our sport is very physical and injuries are part of the sport, unfortunately. The NBA is going to continue. Like many others around the Association, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has taken notice and plans to exercise caution before the stakes rise at the end of the month. Were going to be smart with it, Casey said Sunday, promising to monitor the minutes of his prized backcourt - DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry - closely for the duration of the pre-season. The list of recently fallen star players serves as further proof that injury prevention is not a simple proposition. High performance athletes, like anyone else really, can get hurt anywhere, at any time, whether its the result of overexertion or simply bad luck. You can slip down the stairs and hurt yourself, DeRozan noted. The Raptors were fortunate with good health a year ago, losing just 52 games to injury or illness, fewest in the NBA. While Torontos training and medical staff, one of the leagues finest, deserve credit there are far too many variables - some of them luck dependent - to count on that good fortune repeating itself in 2014-15. For a team with their sights set on April and May, the risk of setting an impact player back before games begin to matter is just not worth it. You can work hard but weve got to be smart in making sure we are efficient with [their] minutes on the floor, said Casey. That way [they] maintain that rhythm offensively and also establishes our defensive identity but we dont want to wear out everything in exhibition, especially with the guys who are going to have high minutes in regular season play. Both of Torontos starting guards logged career-highs in minutes played last season. Only two players, Durant and the Mavericks Monta Ellis, saw more court time than DeRozan. By late March, Casey and his staff were forced to cut back on Lowrys minutes as the aches and pains of a long season began to catch up with him. Meanwhile, DeRozan - coming off a busy summer, playing for USA in the FIBA World Cup - hasnt had much time for rest since the Raptors were eliminated in seven games during the first round of the playoffs. Looking to be in mid-season form, theyve each hit the ground running in exhibition but, through three games, Lowry is playing just over 26 minutes per night and DeRozan has logged an average of 22. The Raptors will be halfway through their eight-game pre-season slate following Mondays contest in New York. Casey intends to utilize the next couple weeks to experiment with different lineups, take a look at some of the teams younger players and, hopefully, manufacture some much-needed rest for his two workhorses. He didnt rule out the possibility of giving them a night off before the regular season gets underway on Oct. 29, at home to the Atlanta Hawks. Cheap Raptors Jerseys Authentic . Kuper, a fifth-round pick in Denvers 2006 draft, started 79 games at guard over eight seasons. He dislocated his left ankle in the last game of the 2011 regular season, and though he started another seven games after that, he never returned to his previous level. Cheap Raptors Jerseys China . Lupul injured the hand in a fall at practice on Thursday. He will wear a cast for a minimum of 10 days before he can put a glove back on it and get some mobility back, said Carlyle, who added the winger wont go on the teams upcoming road trip. http://www.cheapraptorsjerseys.com/ . The All Blacks played their best rugby of recent years when they beat South Africa 38-27 in Johannesburg two weeks ago, clinching the Rugby Championships in a match which has been hailed as one of the best ever played.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Doug Marrone probably didnt envision this when he walked away from the Buffalo Bills last month.After interviewing for at least three NFL head coaching jobs, Marrone landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as assistant head coach and offensive line coach Tuesday.He interviewed with the New York Jets, the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons, and also was considered in the mix in Denver, but didnt get a single offer — not as head coach or offensive co-ordinator.So he ended up in Jacksonville, where hes returning to his roots as an O-line coach.Its a great opportunity, Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Had a great visit with him. Its been a process that we tried to evaluate every piece that we can. We wanted to uncover every stone, lift it and check it all out, and I think its been a really good process.Marrone replaces George Yarno, who left the team last June to begin cancer treatment. Assistant Luke Butkus served as the interim line coach this season.With two rookies and two second-year players starting on the line, the Jaguars gave up a franchise-record 71 sacks. Two days after the season ended, Bradley said he expected Yarno to return in 2015.Clearly, something changed.Bradley interviewed Marrone last week. The Jaguars, who are coaching the South team at the Senior Bowl this week, still need to hire an offensive co-ordinator.Bradley met with six candidates for the job, which opened when Jedd Fisch was fired after the season. Oakland offensive co-ordinator Greg Olson and former Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase appear to be finalists for the opening.No major decisions have been made yet, Bradley said. Were still going through that, the process with that, but hopefully itll come together sooon. Wholesale Raptors Jerseys. The Jaguars will sell Marrones hiring as a home run, being able to get someone with his experience to help steer a young offence.Just about everyone else will see it as Marrone making a questionable choice to leave Buffalo.Co-Bills owner Terry Pegula said he was shocked, by Marrones abrupt departure on New Years Eve. Safety Aaron Williams blasted Marrone in a tweet, posting Lost all respect!!Running back Fred Jackson referred to Rex Ryan as an upgrade at coach. And Ryan said during his introductory news conference that the Bills deserve to have a loyal coach — a clear shot at Marrone.Marrone stepped down after leading the Bills to a 9-7 record. It was the teams first winning season since 2004.An opt-out clause in Marrones contract was triggered when Pegula and his wife, Kim, bought the team in October. The club was sold after Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson died in March.Marrone went 15-17 in Buffalo. He was hired after four seasons at Syracuse, where he helped revive his alma maters struggling program.Marrone spent seven seasons in the NFL (2002-08) before becoming a college head coach. He served as offensive co-ordinator for New Orleans (2006-08), and was offensive line coach for the New York Jets for four seasons before that.What he brings to the table is experience, Bradley said. Hes had a great background with the offensive line. Hes a developmental coach and hes proven that over the years that he coached the offensive line with things that he did when he was in New Orleans, and just the impact hes had even in Buffalo and Syracuse. I think thats what we need with our offensive line.___AP Sports Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, New York, contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '