FIVE NBA THOUGHTS: 1. Rod Thorn Jersey . DEMAR DEROZAN (Raptors): His numbers of late are quite impressive, but more importantly to me, I see a guy who has matured and is very professional. Hes prepared to play and he hates to lose. He has good competitive spirit. His confidence is growing and he knows now what works for him and what doesnt. There have been some stretches this year where I look out on the court and see a guy who is the best player on the court on either team. Can he build that into being a guy who is at that level consistently game to game? Only time will tell, but Im definitely seeing a guy this season from the start of training camp until now who is totally engrossed in his craft and has paid the price in the off-season working on his skills, strength and conditioning to move himself to another peg in the progression of his game. 2. DERRICK WILLIAMS (Kings): The former second-overall pick of the Timberwolves (2011) is shipped to Sacramento. Maybe a fresh start will help him. Hes a combo 3-4 or 4-3, whichever way you want to put it. Hes a guy more comfortable with his game working 15 feet and in, though hes capable of making threes. The bottom line is, when a team that invested heavily in you gives up on you so early, youve got to look in the mirror and ask why and make the adjustments in your game and approach to improve. The Kings need scoring and hell be able to provide that. It goes to show that in todays NBA, you need to bring at least one or two discernable high-end skills to the table and excel at those to carve out your niche. If youre pretty good-to-average at everything and are stuck between positions, you kind of get caught in no mans land. Williams is young player who still has plenty of time to figure it out. This is a wake-up call though. 3. ERSAN ILYASOVA (Bucks): Hes had a disappointing season so far, only averaging nine points per game and four boards per game, but injuries have been a factor. Ive always been a fan of his game because hes a tough competitor who battles on the glass, plays hard and shoots it well from distance. It just seems something always gets out of kilter for him with Milwaukee. Hes a guy, if they sour on him, whos worth a look from a bunch of teams if he gets dangled out there on the market. I firmly believe that hes a good player and with the right point guard situation, could thrive. 4. BRADLEY BEAL (Wizards): Hes now out for a few weeks with a leg injury. I saw him on Friday night in Toronto and I gotta tell you: I love his game. Hes got a beautiful stroke. When I watch him and John Wall together, Im fascinated by their potential as a back court. Hes greatly developed the ability to create his own shot and he and Wall could be an intriguing duo for a long time. Hopefully, this injury doesnt set him back too far, as hes really starting to come into his own. 5. JOSH McROBERTS (Bobcats): With big free agent signee, Al Jefferson being out for most of the start of the season (Hes played in only six games, so far,) coach Steve Clifford has needed steady play in his front court on a back court-dominated team. McRoberts stats (9 PPG, 5 RPG and 4 APG) wont jump off the page at you, but hes been reliable. Hes a good system guy with nice versatility in his game. You dont need to run plays for him and he can shoot threes and is a very clever passer. McRoberts is a good teammate who knows and accepts his role and has allowed his team the ability to keep the floor spaced with his face-up game. Sometimes less is more and McRoberts does what hes supposed to do and keeps his ego in check. Hes a good role player. Vin Baker Jersey . -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday. Gary Payton Jersey . Jesus Navas bookended yet another huge home win for City by scoring after 14 seconds and again in second-half stoppage time, with Sergio Aguero also netting in each half to add to an own goal by Sandro and a brilliant strike by Alvaro Negredo. https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/440s-eddie-johnson-jersey-supersonics.html . - Bryan Price sat down in the cushy chair.ST. LOUIS -- Michael Morse rewarded his manager for giving him a rare day off. Morse homered and drove in three runs and Pablo Sandoval homered and scored twice to propel the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. "It looked like the day off served him well," said manager Bruce Bochy, who sat Morse for the first time this season Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. "A home run and that big hit off of one of the more dominant closers in the game with the power arm that he has." The Giants, at the start of a seven-game trip to St. Louis and Cincinnati, have won seven of eight. The Cardinals have dropped three of four to start their nine-game home stand. Gregor Blanco scored from second on Angel Pagans single to centre to tie the score at 4-all in the eighth. Third base coach Tim Flannery initially held Blanco at third because of centre fielder Peter Bourjos strong arm. But Blanco scored when the throw bounced on the home plate side of the mound and past three Cardinals, including Carlos Martinez (0-3), who was in front of catcher Yadier Molina rather than backing up the throw. Pagan moved up to second on the throw. Trevor Rosenthal came in after Martinez intentionally walked Sandoval, but Morse doubled just past a diving Bourjos to drive in Pagan and Sandoval and give the Giants a 6-4 lead. "I knew he was going to come with something hard," Morse said. "I just tried to be short. I just tried to touch something." Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Martinez stopped when he saw Blanco stayed at third. He stabbed at the throw from Bourjos, keeping Molina from making the catch and allowing the ball to go to the screen. "Yaddy never was able to see the ball," Matheny said. "As soon as that balls hit, they all know, theyve got to get behind the catcher. He was in the wrong spot and it ended up hurting." Javier Lopez (1-0) got two groundouts in relief of Ryan Vogelsong for his first win since Sept. 22, 2013, at the New York Yankees. Sergio Romo gave up a run on Matt Carpenters two-out single, but held on for his 17th save in 19 chances. Romo has surrendered four runs in the past three games and had his ERA rise to 3.52. Morse, in his first season with the Giants, has nine hits in his past 16 at-bats, with five doubles, a triple and the home run. Hes driven in eight during that five-game span and has a team-high 37 RBIs for the year. "Were just playing," he said. "The mentality we have aand the fun were having, I think winning is contagious and we love to win. Al Wood Jersey. Were just going to keep going at it." Vogelsong allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in 6 1-3 innings. Sandovals eighth homer of the season tied the score at 3-3 in the sixth inning. The third baseman has an RBI in each of the past nine games. Hes the first Giant to do that since Barry Bonds in 2000. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia went seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He struck out seven and has yet to issue a walk this season. He was in line for the victory after Allen Craig hit his sixth homer of the season and second in three games off Vogelsong in the bottom of the sixth. "We definitely had a bead on that game," Craig said. "It felt like we were going to win it, but thats baseball. We didnt make enough plays." Vogelsong got into trouble in the fourth when the Cardinals loaded the bases with none out on Matt Hollidays single and consecutive walks to Craig and Molina. Jhonny Peralta, batting .111 (5 of 45) with runners in scoring position, grounded into a double play, plating Holliday. John Jay drove in Craig with a single to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead. Morse tied the score at 1-1 with his ninth homer of the season, a 442-foot blast to left centre to lead off the second. Brandon Hicks scored on Blancos single to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. St. Louis snapped Vogelsongs scoreless streak at 13 2-3 innings with a run in the first. Craigs ground-rule double brought home Carpenter, who singled to lead off and stole second with two outs. NOTES: Carpenters first-inning single extended his NL-best hitting streak to 11 games. ... The Giants improved to 9-14 when their opponents score first. ... Holliday has reached base safely in all 25 home games. . San Francisco C Buster Posey didnt play because of an ongoing back issue. Bochy said he is day to day. ... St. Louis 1B Matt Adams sat for the second consecutive night with a stiff left calf, though he was available as a pinch hitter. . The Cardinals entered the game without a home run off Vogelsong in 68 at-bats, and all but three of their 24 hits were for singles. The Giants had just one homer off Garcia in 66 at-bats, but seven of their 19 hits went for extra bases. . Cardinals prospect Tim Cooney had a no-hitter broken up with two outs in ninth Thursday for Triple-A Memphis. He settled for one-hitter. . St. Louis is set to start Adam Wainwright (8-2, 1.67) against San Franciscos Madison Bumgarner (6-3, 3.15) on Friday night. ' ' '