FIVE HOOPS THOUGHTS: 1. Rafael Marquez Jersey . MATTHEW DELLAVEDOVA (Cavs): This young man really impresses me. Shoots the three, passes it, tough as nails, supremely confident and a very good defender. Terrific second unit glue guy. Did a wonderful job for his team on Tuesday. No back down from him whatsoever in Kyle Lowry matchup last night. 2. RAPS AT QUARTER POLE (16-6): Gotta be pleased with 60 games to go. I like this team. This is a good team that can potentially be very good. They are only 3-3 without DeMar DeRozan - they really missed him in the fourth quarter last night. Schedule has been favourable and look at the next six games they play (New York, twice / Indy / Orlando / Brooklyn / Detroit) - all games that they have a shot in. Its a big six-game stretch that without DeRozan they have to develop a new winning identity as a group before the schedule turns absolutely brutal (Road Games at Chicago, Clippers, Denver on a back-to-back, Portland, Golden State and Phoenix). Big challenges are ahead. After 22 games when I evaluate this team in spite of their record, they are in the same tier as Washington and Atlanta (and are 3-0 versus those squads) in the East while I still put (if totally healthy) Cleveland and Chicago (Raptors are 1-3 against those opponents) as the teams to beat in East. With all due respect to Chuck Hayes and Tyler Hansbrough, Raps still lack that fourth big man to provide consistent rebounding, shot blocking and a bit of offensive punch. There are also questions of consistency at the 3-spot with Terrence Ross - but hes improving. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out here over the next few weeks without DeRozan. Overall, this team is close. How close? Hard to tell yet if that window is truly open to make the run at winning the Conference. You need to win three rounds (12 games) in brutally hard-fought matches to do that and in order to do that they probably need another legit guy to do it. Love the patient building approach of management and coaches - they know theyre improving yet not there yet. As you go along - thats the toughest decision to make - when do you know that Window of Opportunity is truly open? Theyre on the right path yet still have a challenging road to travel. Fun start - enjoying it and hopeful that they can continue improving. The games are a lot more fun, thats for sure. 3. TONY ALLEN (Grizzlies): Team is having an awesome season yet this guy never gets enough credit. Hes an adequate offensive guy but man, this dude competes and guards you every step of the way. Hes a stopper and in this league youve got to have a wing who can stand up to great offensive players and make them at least earn their points. He does that and does it quite well. 4. JOSH MCROBERTS (Heat): His former club (Hornets) really misses him and it was nice to see his line last night at Phoenix (10 and 4, 7 assists). Hes been banged up and now starting to find his groove. Tremendous passer, sound shooter and rebounder. Overall good complementary player who makes the right plays. Hell be a guy to keep an eye on now that hes healthy. 5. GREG MONROE (Pistons): Have always liked his game. Smart and fundamentally sound player. Averaging close to 15ppg and over nine boards a game for a struggling squad. Hes a free agent at end of season and it will be interesting to see what Stan Van Gundy and Jeff Bower decide to do with him. Do they trade him for an asset or just use the cap space if he walks at end of year? Do teams roll the dice and try to get a rental player for the stretch run and take their chances re-signing him? Good player to keep an eye on. Fascinating to see how it will play out. Hirving Lozano Jersey . -- The Washington Redskins coaching staff distanced itself from other coaches Thursday by siding with ownership -- and not the players -- in the NFLs labour dispute. Hector Moreno Jersey . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season. http://www.soccermexicojerseysteamstore.com/andres-guardado-mexico-jersey/ .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman John-Michael Liles on injured reserve Tuesday.INDIANAPOLIS - Colts coach Chuck Pagano says right guard Hugh Thornton will not play Sunday against Cincinnati. Pagano ruled out Thornton following Fridays practice. Thornton missed four of the last five regular-season games with injuries and played just 18 snaps in the regular-season finale before hurting his right shoulder. Hell join right tackle Gosder Cherilus on the sideline Sunday. Cherilus went on injuured reserve Wednesday. Edson Alvarez Jersey. . Pagano isnt saying what the Colts (11-5) plan to do, though he noted one possibility is starting Joe Reitz at right tackle and Lance Louis at right guard. Louis has made seven starts this season, six at right guard. Reitz missed the last three regular-season games with an ankle injury but has practiced all week. Hes made one start at right tackle this season. ' ' '