~~**GÄSTEBEREICH**~~ » ned from his year-long absence to start

FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. TORONTO RAPTORS AND THE PLAYOFFS: After watching the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat game Tuesday night and once again witnessing the Nets beat the Heat, Im convinced that the best course of action for the Raptors will be for them to make sure they do everything in their power to secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division title. I want no part of the other current bracket (Heat/Nets/Chicago Bulls). Ill take my chances with the Washington Wizards or Charlotte Bobcats in the first round, though, either of those match-ups isnt a walk in the park, either. If you can win a series, and that wont be easy, and the current standings hold form, I feel confident that the Raptors could play a very competitive series against the Indiana Pacers. Im not saying they would win that series - the defence has to really improve down the stretch here and get back to early-mid-January form - but it would be quite compelling. There are five games left. Win all of your games and you write your own ticket. Stumble and the help will have to come from others and thats never a position you want to be in. 2. JOE DUMARS (Pistons): Rumours are swirling that hes going to step down as the teams president and GM and Im not a bit surprised. Too many coaching firings and going all-in on guys like Ben Gordon, Charlie Villaneuva, Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings sealed his fate in Motown. He had a terrific run in the early 2000s as the elite team in the Eastern Conference, but you see it often with coaches and GMs - you lose your fastball and get stale in your approach/creativity and you lose your way. Hes a good basketball man and some time away will reinvigorate him and Im sure hell be back at it again down the line. 3. MIKE DANTONI (Lakers): Watching some of his recent games, he looks like a beaten man and someone who knows that his fate is sealed in LA. DAntoni is an outstanding offensive coach who has had to deal with numerous injuries and drama there. At the end of the day, its a results-oriented business and when you evaluate his run in Denver, New York and LA, it doesnt look good. On the other hand, his teams in Phoenix - thanks in large part to Bryan Colangelos personnel moves - were awesome and entertaining to watch. Does he get another shot? Im not sure, but I do know that hes very capable if you give him a solid roster. If it ends there, I think hell be heard from again, at least as an assistant coach for a head coach looking for a guy who can upgrade his offence. Hed be a guy to talk to if hed consider being in that role. 4. INDIANA PACERS: Heard coach Frank Vogels interview where he said that being the top seed in the East was the "goal", but the "priority" is to be playing well down the stretch and be healthy/sharp heading into the playoffs. Well, what a change in approach. Theyve been obsessed with being the top seed since training camp. Now its about trying to rebuild your teams collective psyche, which wont be easy, but is doable. The talent is there to win the East, but the chemistry is off-kilter and Roy Hibbert needs a reality check. He is a defensive player who can block shots and rebound on both ends. Do what you do well, thats your strength, and play to it. Hes a quatenary or quinary offensive option in the grand scheme of things when hes on the floor. If they get him to buy into that, theyll be fine. Paul George and David West must have the ball in their hands a majority of the time, plain and simple. 5. STEVE NASH (Lakers): Congrats on becoming number-three on the NBAs all-time assists list last night. I watched the game versus the Houston Rockets and felt for him playing injured and in pain. Its ice to see him out there, though. What a career. Hell be a Hall of Famer. Itll be interesting to see if hes back next year for the Lakers for the final year of his contract, but its been a great run either way. Wholesale NCAA Football Jerseys . Parmelee hit a game-ending shot in the ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins overcame David Ortizs big night to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-6 on Tuesday. Cheap NCAA Jerseys For Sale . -- Kevin Harvick pulled away on a restart with 47 laps to go and ended Chase Elliotts two-race winning streak in NASCARs Nationwide Series with a dominating victory early Saturday at Richmond International Raceway. http://www.jerseysncaacheap.com/. Left-handed reliever Boone Logan agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Cheap College Basketball Jerseys . Despite Arsenals financial firepower, the 31-year-old midfielder was the only arrival in the January transfer window. Signed until the end of the season as injury cover, Kallstrom might not be fit until mid-March after arriving Friday at Arsenal having injured his back earlier in the week while training with Spartak Moscow. Discount NCAA Jerseys . The government says top golfers are expected to compete in the PGA Tour event at the Ashburn Golf Club in the suburb of Fall River from July 3-6 and again next year.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Baltimore Orioles are apparently set to bring back one of the dominant pitchers of the new Millennium. According to MASN.com, the Os have an agreement in place for a minor-league deal with left-hander Johan Santana, who did not pitch in the majors last season, and last took the mound for the New York Mets during an injury- plagued 2012. Santana missed the entire 2011 season after originally tearing his pitching shoulder in September of the 2010 campaign. The four-time All Star, returned from his year-long absence to start the 2012 opener for New York, and on June 1 tossed the first no-hitter in Mets history, on a career-high 134 pitches. Accomplishing the feat seemed to have devastating after effects, as Santana went just 3-7 over his next 10 starts with an 8.dddddddddddd27 earned run average. Battling ankle, back and shoulder issues, the Mets eventually shut him down for good in mid-August. Shortly after his arrival at last years spring training, Santana was diagnosed with left shoulder weakness. He had season-ending surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder in late March. The Mets decided not to pick up the 2014 option on his contract. Since arriving in the majors during the 2000 season with Minnesota, the 34- year-old native of Venezuela has compiled a 139-78 record and 3.20 ERA in 360 appearances (284 starts). He won the AL Cy Young Award in both 2004 and 06, while finishing third in NL voting two years later in his first season for New York. ' ' '