TORONTO – There is still a long ways to go for a Raptors team that drew rave reviews following their first full day of training camp. Wholesale Air Jordan 9 . There is nearly a month left in camp, eight exhibition contests around the corner and 82 regular season games ahead of them. This was one day. Still, after a 2012-13 season laden with disappointment, the team will happily take the small victories wherever and whenever they come. The end goal is far greater, but this is a start. "Very high level," coach Dwane Casey said of his teams effort following the first of two practices Tuesday afternoon. "We had a lot of little mistakes but guys are playing hard, diving on the floor, knocking the crap out of each other and thats what we need. "Well clean up the little things." Although the majority of Caseys team has been in Toronto for a few weeks now participating in individual and player-organized workouts, Tuesday marked the first day that coaches could facilitate an actual practice. Not wasting any time, they held two. Despite the long day, the team got through it unscathed and Casey was impressed with the conditioning of his players, although he did note some expected fatigue throughout the afternoon. As expected, there was an immediate emphasis placed on defence after the team regressed on that end of the floor a year ago. "[Defence] was a big focus," said Rudy Gay, who is in camp with the Raptors for the first time after opening the previous seven seasons with Memphis. "Its just picking up your level. Defence is all about competitiveness and as long as we stay competitive and also stay true to our principles well be a good defence team." Casey estimated that 90 percent of the days contact drills were defensive in nature and anticipates that will mostly be the case for the remainder of this week and perhaps into next. Not surprisingly, the tone was set by one of the newest Raptors: spark plug Tyler Hansbrough who comes to Toronto with a reputation for getting after it in games and in practice while also getting under the opponents skin. "Tyler Hansbrough, I call him Freddy Krueger," Casey said, comparing the forward to the fictional horror movie character. "Thats what made him such a great monster, every once and a while you think you have him dead and here he comes back again, thats Tyler Hansbrough." "Hes added that to our team, so either you stay with it, with that effort, or you get your butt kicked and thats one thing thats really amped up the effort and the intensity in practice and we need that." Passion, as Casey put it, is contagious and has spread around this organization quickly, seemingly from the top. The Raptors held a team meeting last night, prior to the start of training camp and the person leading the charge was the very man who put this group - or at least some of it - together. "Masai gave a passionate speech last night about what he expects [and] the passion guys have to play with," Casey said. "Leaving all the complaining and all the problems, all the issues, check them at the door and then set the tone. Hes empowered everybody to do their job." "Our new GM is very passionate and were taking his lead," point guard Kyle Lowry added. "It starts at the top and we all take his passion, his ferocity and take it on the court with us and to practice with us. The intensity that Masais bringing to us is definitely a ramp up from anything Ive ever seen." The hope for Casey and this organization is that the passion that filled the Raptors practice gym on day one will stick around for the remainder of camp and throughout the season. For now, the vibes are all positive but maintaining that togetherness through the inevitable adversity of a long NBA season will be the clubs real challenge. "The copouts are gone so now its about playing [and] having fun," said Casey. "How you have fun is kicking peoples butt and competing and I think thats what were seeing. "I hope thats what were seeing." Jordan 9 For Sale Cheap . They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66. Cheap Air Jordan 9 . Right-hander Todd Redmond took the loss. Jose Bautista hit his second home run of the spring. Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring. http://www.cheapairjordan9.com/ .Leicester won 25-21 in a heated European Rugby Champions Cup group match on Sunday.Toulon said on its website on Wednesday that it decided to open an investigation after Leicester complained about the behaviour of prop Martin Castrogiovanni and fullback Delon Armitage.Stefan Ratchford is set to be recalled to the England squad and this time hopes to make it across the line. The Warrington utility player went on the 2014 Four Nations tour down under but never got to play a game while he was ruled out of last years Test series against New Zealand through injury.Now the 28-year-old is set to be rewarded for a stellar season with the Wolves and that will help ease his pain from Saturdays 12-6 Grand Final loss to Wigan. Ive got my fingers crossed, Ratchford said. The dream is to get the England call and, if that happens, it will ease the pain slightly. Ratchford scores against St Helens I went on tour in 2014 as a non-playing member and was not selected last year when I had a couple of operations.Obviously Im never going to give up, its the ultimate honour to represent your country. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. You just want to do as much as you can to put yourself in the frame for an England jersey. If it comes, Ill be over the moon.If not, Ill havve a good rest and rip back in pre-season and hopefully get the call sooner or later. Air Jordan 9 Clearance. Ratchford was in the 2014 Four Nations squad but did not play Ratchford could be one of up to nine inclusions from the Grand Final when new coach Wayne Bennett unveils his 24-man squad for the international against France on October 22, which will help England prepare for the Four Nations clashes with New Zealand, Scotland and Australia.Ratchfords Warrington team-mates Ben Westwood and Ben Currie are ruled out through injury but club captain Chris Hill and hooker Daryl Clark are sure to be called up.A question mark still surrounds the availability of England captain Sean OLoughlin despite his late inclusion in Wigans Grand Final team, but Dan Sarginson is expected to get a call, along with team-mates George Williams, Liam Farrell and John Bateman.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! 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