There arent too many teams that can boast having two point guards who have been starters in the NBA. Nike Air Max 270 React Discount . The Toronto Raptors will have that luxury this season. D.J. Augustin, a former starter with the Charlotte Bobcats, gives the Raptors some much-needed depth as they try to improve on their 34-48 record from last season. "D.J. has a very steadying effect and hes an excellent floor general," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Augustin, a New Orleans native whose family was forced to relocate to Houston by Hurricane Katrina, was a McDonalds All-American in high school. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a star guard at the University of Texas, and went on to be was selected ninth overall by Charlotte in the 2008 NBA draft. However, he seemed to have lost his confidence last season, recording career lows in scoring and field goal percentage and starting just five games as a backup in Indiana. Hes looking for a fresh start in Toronto. "Its just about getting an opportunity, getting a chance," he said. "Here Im getting a chance to play, and Im just trying to get comfortable and keep playing well." Augustin was impressive in the Raptors intrasquad game last weekend in Halifax, leading the black team in a win over the grey squad that was led by starting point guard Kyle Lowry. Augustin, who played almost 30 minutes, was the straw that stirred the drink for the black team. He notched five points, but doled out seven assists and did a great job distributing the ball, consistently finding DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas in the paint. "The more we practise, the more I get comfortable, the more confident I am and my teammates are confident in me, so that helps me out." said Augustin. Augustin had a shakier outing in Torontos 97-89 pre-season win over the Celtics in Boston on Monday, finishing with four points and three assists in 18 minutes. Augustin was the subject of one highlight-reel play that saw Bostons Jeff Green leap over Augustins head on a hard block. With last seasons deal that sent Jose Calderon to Detroit, it was obvious that the Raptors needed to acquire a point guard in the off-season. New general manager Masai Ujiri signed Augustin as a free agent in the summer could give the Raptors a great backcourt duo. With Augustin and Lowry, the Raptors can expect solid play from the point guard position for 48 minutes each night, Casey said. Augustin, a five-year NBA veteran, plays a "driving" style and describes himself as a pass-first point guard who shoots well enough to keep defenders honest. The 25-year-old, who has started 147 games in his career, doesnt expect to be a starter again this year. He said Casey has mentioned the idea of pairing him with another point guard to provide some ball movement if the team needs it, but hes prepared to play any role. "Whatever coach needs me to, whatever the team needs me to do," Augustin said. "This is all about opportunity and I think here, Im getting a chance." The Raptors trip to Boston marked their third city in almost as many nights, as they held camp in Toronto and then Halifax before opening their pre-season against the Celtics. Casey said he wasnt worried about the hectic travel schedule. "Its good because its like an NBA season," he said. "It gives us a feel of how its going to be." The Raptors continue the pre-season Wednesday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Air Canada Centre. Former Raptors No. 1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani returns to Toronto with the New York Knicks on Friday. Nike Air Max 270 React Bauhaus Cheap . 25 against Miami. Hillis left Browns Stadium about two hours before kickoff, a decision that has led to speculation he was upset over ongoing negotiations with the club on a contract extension. Nike Air Max 270 Flyknit Cheap . Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. http://www.max270cheap.com/ . -- New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has no concerns about the health of shortstop Derek Jeter, who was limited to 17 games last season due to leg injuries.South Bend, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - The 19th-ranked Michigan State Spartans have come calling on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Michigan State is 5-2 on the young season, and the team is hoping for a return to the win column after dropping a 61-56 decision to Kansas on Sunday to close out the Orlando Classic. The Spartans had won their previous four outings, with their only other setback coming in an 81-71 final versus Duke on Nov. 18. Notre Dame has won six of its first seven games, including the last two against inferior foes Grambling State (81-54) and Chicago State (90-42). The Fighting Irish are 5-0 at home this season, but they havent really been tested, save for a 75-74 loss to Providence on a neutral court four days before Thanksgiving. Notre Dame owns a 59-35 lead in the all-time series with Michigan State, but this is the first meeting between the two since an 80-68 triumph for the Spartans in the 1979 NCAA Championship Mideast Regional title game. MSU has won eight of the last 11 matchups overall. Despite losing to a pair of teams currently residing in the Top-25, Michigan State has performed well at both ends of the court this season. The team is producing 73.3 ppg in hitting 48.6 percent of its total shots, which includes a 42.1 percent showing from 3-point range. Defensively, the club in allowing a mere 59.7 ppg, with foes connecting on only 37.4 percent of their field goal attempts, including 29.8 percent from beyond the arc. Travis Trice (16.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.9 apg), Denzel Valentine (14.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.7 apg) and Branden Dawson (10.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg) are all averaging double figures in the scoring column, while serving valuable roles in other areas as well. Trice and Valenttine both hit for 14 points in the recent loss to Kansas, but the team as a whole managed just a 32. Off-White x Nike Air Max 270 Black. 2 percent shooting effort. Trice and Dawson went a combined 7-of-29 from the floor, but the Spartans did play well defensively in limiting the Jayhawks to 37.0 percent field goal efficiency, as they missed the mark on 11 of their 14 3-point tries. MSU lost the battle on the boards (44-36), and was outscored at the foul line (18-12). Notre Dame has been an offensive force in the early stages of the 2014-15 campaign, as it is putting up 86.3 ppg in knocking down 58 percent of its field goal attempts, which includes a 43 percent showing from 3-point land. Add in a defensive stand that holds the opposition to 56.9 ppg on typical shooting outputs of only .375 overall and .271 from beyond the arc, and its little wonder Mike Breys club is off to such a fast start. Jerian Grant is averaging 18.4 ppg as one of four double-digit scorers for the Irish, but he is much more than a scorer as he already has 50 assists (7.1 per game). Zac Auguste (15.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Pat Connaughton (13.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg) have performed well at both ends of the court. Grant used a 6-of-8 showing from 3-point range to compile 26 points, while Connaughton hit three treys to tack on 17 more, as Notre Dame had very little trouble dispatching visiting Chicago State last Saturday. In all, four players reached double figures for the Irish, who shot 58.5 percent from the floor, draining 14 3-pointers along the way. As for Chicago State, it made good on only 30.9 percent of its total shots, which included a dismal 5-of-23 performance from long range. The visitors also attempted only four free throws, while getting battered on the boards, 39-26. ' ' '