CHICAGO - Its been nearly a month since the Raptors surrendered a 27-point lead - their largest collapse in franchise history - in an embarrassing road loss to the Warriors, a loss that surprised nobody. Edinson Volquez Royals Jersey . As the schedule flipped from November to December, they would go on to drop five straight, falling six games below the .500 mark before a franchise-altering trade turned them into an unrecognizable team. Now, the Raptors - winners of three straight for the first time this season and eight of their last 11 - are finding ways to win, rather than finding creative and increasingly frustrating ways to lose. The fourth-quarter comeback is becoming something of a nightly tradition, defying everything we thought we knew about the long-suffering franchise. A lot can change in a few weeks and for the Raptors, everything has. "Now when we face adversity we dont get down," said DeMar DeRozan moments after he and his teammates engineered the fourth-quarter comeback that sealed an 85-79 victory in Chicago on New Years Eve. "Before, a lot of the times we would make excuses if something didnt go our way and wed get frustrated. Now everyone just stays level." That level of confidence and self-belief is evident whenever this team has found themselves staring down any late-game adversity, and theyve encountered their fair share of it over the past month. A year ago, the Raptors won three games in which they trailed going into the fourth quarter. This season theyve already won five such contests, four in the last six games, all of them coming on the road. After scoring just 57 points, shooting 37 per cent through three quarter and trailing Chicago by as many as nine, Toronto bested the Bulls 28-17 in the fourth while holding them to 4-of-26 from the field. Naturally its been a wild ride for Dwane Casey, who has been proud of his teams resiliency but hopes this is not a trend theyll be relying on in the New Year. "You have to meet their force with force, if youre serious about winning," said the Raptors coach Tuesday evening. "We did that and we have to continue to do that and Im not going to let up, Im not going to relent from that because thats who we are, its who weve got to be." "I know, to win in this league you have to be a physical, bad-behind team." Calm, cool and collected, the Raptors quickly turned the tables in the fourth. For the first time all night they controlled the tempo and owned the paint, bodying up with the physical Bulls frontline. Again, nobody panicked and again, they owe a lot of that newfound resilient to their newest teammates. Reserves Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and John Salmons - all three acquired from Sacramento in the Rudy Gay trade earlier this month - began the final period on the floor alongside starters DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas. The three newcomers totaled just eight points in the first 36 minutes - the Bulls bench outscoring Torontos reserves 31-12 at the time - but combined to score 19 in the fourth. Vasquez ran the show for the first eight minutes of the quarter before Kyle Lowry finished the game, Patterson had eight points and clamped down on Taj Gibson, while Salmons was rock solid on both ends as usual. All three were crucial to the comeback, one that ignited the teams bench and had every Raptor on their feet supporting their teammates. "Honestly, those guys who started the fourth quarter… those guys won that game for us," said Kyle Lowry, who added 13 points and six minutes himself. "I tip my hat to them." "I think the guys in this locker room believe," he continued. "We believe in each other, we believe in what were trying to do. I think we know we have a chance to do some things and we can take care of business when times are tough. Were showing the team camaraderie and spirit that we have, were all happy for each other." The Raptors players are high on confidence, feeling good about themselves sitting atop a struggling division and closing in on a .500 record as they welcome in 2014. Still, theyre living proof that things, in this league can change in heartbeat. Having already navigated through the toughest early-season schedule of any team in the Eastern Conference, according to Basketball-Reference.com, the month that lays ahead presents yet another challenge. Toronto will play 17 games in 31 days to begin the New Year. Apart from a three-game trip and a three-game home stand at the outset, theyll alternate home and road contests for the remainder of January with two days in between outings only once. In just a couple weeks they have become a feel-good team in the disappointing Eastern Conference but all the progress theyve made can be undone just as quickly as they face a daunting stretch with a couple of games against the Pacers, a visit to Miami and a meeting with the red-hot Wizards. The final month of 2013 has been kind to them but their resolution is simple; stay hungry in 2014. Joakim Soria Royals Jersey . Richard Jefferson scored 17 points and Diante Garrett had a career-high 15 points as the Jazz had seven players with 10 points or more in Utahs largest margin of victory this season. Jarrod Dyson Jersey . This weeks Raptors Report puts a bow on Gays brief, 10-month tenure in Toronto and ponders how his absence will affect the teams offence. Are they a better team without him? In addition to acquiring some valuable cap flexibility, what impact will the four incoming players have this season and beyond? Click here for the Dec. http://www.baseballroyalsofficial.com/eric-hosmer-jersey-c-12/ . -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released veteran guard Davin Joseph, a mainstay on their offensive line over the past eight seasons. GREEN BAY, Wis. -- So much quarterback drama with the Packers. Aaron Rodgers is tossing the football around again at practice. But dont expect to see Rodgers to be healed enough from his fractured left collarbone to play Thursday when Green Bay visits Detroit in a critical NFC North game. "This was a big day actually for him as far as doing throwing and doing some of the things ... the training staff wanted to hit with him. They definitely hit it," coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday after practice. "So, he feels good but I dont think hes going to make it this week." Tuesday marked Rodgers return to practice since the Nov. 4 injury as anything more than an unofficial assistant quarterback coach. He was formally declared "limited" on the injury report. Asked for more clarity after having pronounced Rodgers chances as "slim to none" earlier this week, McCarthy told reporters: "Closer to none. Im trying to help you out, the drama ... that you guys need. So, there it is, all right." So then the starter is ... Matt Flynn. Probably. Flynn took starter reps Tuesday, two days after helping to lead the Packers back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the Vikings 26-26 in overtime. "Thats where we are. Business as usual," McCarthy said. "Getting him ready. Getting ready to go." Flynn hadnt actually been told as of early Tuesday afternoon that hell be the starter. He said he didnt know when that decision will be made, though it seems like its headed in that direction. "But Im preparing like Im going to start. My mind is set to go out there and take the first snap and play, and do the best that I can, and try to move the ball," said Flynn, a one-time Packers backup who was re-signed two weeks ago. The Packers problems at quarterback started when Rodgers went down during the first series of the 27-20 loss to Chicago on Nov. 4. Green Bay, 5-2 at the time, has been winless since then. Seneca Wallace replaced Rodgers, then started against the Eagles and played one series before leaving with a groin injury. Salvador Perez Royals Jersey. . Hes now on injured reserve. Scott Tolzien replaced Wallace, and started the previous two weeks, but was relieved by Flynn on Sunday for ineffectiveness. Flynn threw for 218 yards and a touchdown. Working in his favour is that hes familiar with the Packers system after having been drafted by the team in 2008 and serving as Rodgers backup for four seasons before leaving as a free agent in 2012. "I think were so much further ahead than we were last week," McCarthy said. "Just as far as going into this game, I feel a lot better that both our quarterbacks will be better prepared." With Flynn, the Packers moved the ball against the Vikings going without a huddle, a staple under Rodgers but something that McCarthy has said the team wasnt really as prepared to do on Sunday. "You get the no-huddle out there, you kind of press their conditioning a little bit," centre Evan Dietrich-Smith said. "It really starts stressing out their guys that are on the field for that time because maybe theyre not as used to it." The equalizing factor, though, might be the Packers having to recover from playing an overtime game. Practice schedules have been juggled a little this week to help the players. Besides Rodgers, the Packers are starting to get other key players back like cornerback Sam Shields (hamstring) and Johnny Jolly (groin), who were both full participants Tuesday after missing the Vikings game. Right tackle Don Barclay (knee) also returned on a limited basis Tuesday. What was new with Rodgers, though, was the primary topic of conversation. How did he look? How did he throw? Will he play? "Youre talking to the wrong person. I would be surprised, I guess," receiver Jordy Nelson said with a smile. "Theres nothing wrong with being surprised, though. Anyway, next question." Jerseys NFL Cheap Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2020 ' ' '