Forum » ining sessions this preseason. Englishman Adrian Lamb has joined

Preseason is a time for new beginnings - the chance to start afresh with a belief that anything can happen. That was certainly true for Toronto FC as they opened up their training camp in Bradenton last week. The troubles and uncertainties that surrounded the club in recent years have been replaced by a new hope and optimism after an incredible offseason transformation that has included the signings of three new Designated Players, Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto. I was in Florida for Torontos first training session. The energy and enthusiasm was on a completely different level compared to other years. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the squad has already been assembled and most of the key pieces are already in place. A far cry from a year ago, when Nelsen was heading into his first coaching job with a preseason squad filled with trialists. "Its a wee bit different, Ive got to admit," Ryan Nelsen told me after training in Bradenton. Its nice to have a proper squad together all pulling in the right direction. As you can see by today, the work ethic is there, the character is there and everybody is extremely excited." The difference compared to 12 months earlier is evident in all areas, but especially in personnel. Over half of the squad currently in Florida were not with the team for preseason in 2013. However, Nelsen and the players are talking up the fact that the core of the team that finished the season is still in place. "We havent changed that much, weve probably changed the same as most teams, but weve done it in big names so it makes it even more dramatic. But thats what we had to do with this club. Thats why what we did last year had method in our madness. Weve got some big names and we will have to gel them in, but its a progression and we have to keep moving the club forward." The theme Nelsens rookie season as head coach was "short-term pain for long-term gain," and things have now changed quickly. With multi-million dollar signings amongst a re-shaped squad, expectations are high. But after dealing with a tumultuous first year with the club, Nelsen laughed off the suggestion that there is pressure on him to find a winning formula quickly. "Theres absolutely no pressure," he said. "Whenever you put yourself in a situation where youve brought in good players, everybody else thinks there is expectation but for us we just try and improve every day. In everything we do, we try to become perfect. Whatever people think from outside we dont really care." "I knew the league last year but we didnt have the right pieces to be successful. Now I think we are moving in the right direction, but Im still learning as well. Ill always keep learning. When I stop learning I may as well give up," he said. Theres a new face heavily involved in Torontos training sessions this preseason. Englishman Adrian Lamb has joined the club as Fitness Coach. He has previously worked with Newcastle United, Preston North End and Aston Villa, and he was at Blackburn Rovers during Ryan Nelsens time as a player at Ewood Park. Nelsen told me Lambs preparation and attention to detail is immaculate, and that was easy to see during my time in Bradenton. He has very clear ideas of what he wants from the players and was impressive in the way he communicated to them. Lamb will bring a very professional approach to the teams conditioning this season and will be a key addition to Nelsens staff. In 2013, Toronto FC won just six matches and missed the playoffs by 20 points, but Nelsen and his staff have now been handed the tools they need to turn the ship around. The foundation for success will be laid over the next six weeks, as Nelsen and Co. make sure their team is ready to hit the ground running when the season opens in Seattle on March 15th live on TSN. Fake NBA Jerseys . 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The Raptors general manager has his list of possible draft selections whittled down to a handful ahead of Thursday nights NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The Raptors, who have auditioned dozens of players over the past couple of weeks, have the 20th overall pick in the first round, as well as the 37th and 58th picks in the second. MIAMI -- LeBron James is dealing with a few aches and pains, which obviously is not the best news for the Miami Heat with two weeks left in the regular season. Come game time, though, nothing seems to be ailing him. Bringing the crowd out of its seats with a pair of highlight-reel dunks in the first half, then drilling a deep 3-pointer to end the third quarter, James was his typical effective self on Wednesday night. He led Miami with 17 points, and the Heat stayed atop the Eastern Conference with a wire-to-wire 96-77 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. "If I feel like I can give something, Ive got to be out there for my teammates," James said. "Its my obligation to be out there for them. Im dealing with a few things, but for me to sit out, I have to be dealing with a lot more." Chris Bosh scored 15 and Mario Chalmers scored 14 for the Heat. "I like our effort," Bosh said. "We just have to take care of business and do what were supposed to do." Ramon Sessions scored 19 points for Milwaukee, which got 14 from Jeff Adrien, 11 from Brandon Knight and 10 from John Henson. Zaza Pachulia grabbed 16 rebounds in 26 minutes for the NBA-worst Bucks, who have now had 11 games this season in which they never led. "Getting down against a team like that is definitely tough because they continue to play hard," Knight said. "They dont let up and they dont make many mistakes. ... Credit to them but we didnt execute defensively and we didnt play hard enough." The Bucks fell to 14-61 with seven games remaining and are now only one loss away from tying the franchise record for most defeats in a season. "As we wind this thing down with seven games to go, the thing I want is see them compete," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "Were dealing with adverse times. This is really a good time to see what guys are truly made of." James said he doesnt currently plan on sitting out any of Miamis final eight games, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he probably wouldnt even think about any strategy to get him some rest for at least anotherr week -- a stance that cant come as a surprise, considering the East No.dddddddddddd. 1 seed is hardly secure. With the win, Miami (52-22, .703) remained percentage points ahead of Indiana (53-23, .697) in the East race. The Pacers beat Detroit 101-94 earlier Wednesday. "Its tempting to start to look ahead. Were only two weeks away," Spoelstra said. "But theres so much basketball left in these two weeks. And it is very compelling at this time of year, and we are trying to accomplish some things. So as guys start to get back into the lineup we want to take a step forward as a group. And theres a process to that." At some point, that process will presumably include getting Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen and Greg Oden back into the lineup. Wade missed his 23rd game of the season, his fourth straight with a hamstring problem. The Heat are 11-1 in the last 12 games that Wade has missed. Allen has been sidelined by a flu bug that struck his entire family, though hes nearing a return. Oden has been sidelined by back spasms, with Spoelstra saying hes also close to getting back. "Were sharpening our swords," Spoelstra said. Milwaukee opened the fourth quarter with six straight points, cutting Miamis lead to 14 and getting the Heat to call time-out. Whatever doubt existed at that point, if any, didnt last long. Norris Cole snapped Miamis scoreless drought with a beat-the-shot-clock 3-pointer as he was leaning to his right with 8:35 left, Rashard Lewis swished another 3 on the next Heat possession to restore the 20-point cushion, and that basically ensured James would remain in his warmups for the rest of the evening. NOTES: The Bucks led the Heat for a total of 2 minutes, 21 seconds this season -- in three games. ... Miamis Udonis Haslem earned a technical late in the half after a bit too much physicality with Adrien under the basket. Haslem also got his 1,500th career offensive rebound. ... The Heat moved to 30-6 at home, the seventh time in franchise history theyve won that many in Miami. ... Milwaukees O.J. Mayo missed the game with an ankle injury. ' ' '