than just the Raptors running off a 48-win season, pushing a team to

TORONTO -- Toronto Rock forward Garrett Billings, the leading scorer in the National Lacrosse League, will miss the rest of the 2014 season after suffering a torn knee ligament. Billings suffered the injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in Torontos 17-9 road win over Vancouver last Saturday. He was examined by the teams medical staff Wednesday. "It was good to hear today that there doesnt appear to be any further damage beyond the ACL tear," Billings said. "Its a long road back and it will be tough not being on the floor, but Im confident in the other guys in the locker room that we are ready to make a strong push down the stretch." Billings, a 28-year old from Langley, B.C., leads the NLL with 101 points (32 goals, 69 assists) in 15 games. He was on pace for his first scoring title after finishing runner-up the last two seasons. The Rock (6-9) are currently in third place in the East Division. They host Philadelphia this Saturday. General manager Terry Sanderson has yet to announce what roster moves will take place to fill the spot on the active roster that will be vacated by Billings when he is placed on injured reserve. "You cant replace what we have lost in Garrett Billings," said Sanderson. "We will practice on Thursday night and plan to make a decision at that point and be prepared for Saturdays game." Nike Shoes From China . -- Chris Jones and Louisville have done a tremendous job protecting the basketball this season and thats led to easy victories. Nike Shoes China . The turf is scheduled to give way to actual grass that is bright green, so we dont have to complain any more—we just have to wait a few years. Instead, do feel free to complain if the roof is closed for any reason other than to allow a game to be played. https://www.nikeshoeschina.us/ .Y. - Major League Soccer is prepared to start its season this weekend even if there isnt a labour deal with its referees and other on-field officials. Fake Nike Shoes . The two teams will play through the completion of the game starting at 5pm ct on Wednesday. The regularly scheduled Wednesday night matchup will follow that and will now be seven innings. Nike Shoes From China Outlet .Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend.We saw what it looked like last spring. Toronto as a basketball-mad city captured not just our own attention but that of those from around the NBA. The buzz in the city, the crowds at Maple Leaf Square represented by fans from nearly every Toronto ethnic demographic ... and of course the atmosphere inside the Air Canada Centre – electric in a way it rarely, if ever, is for the local hockey team. It all felt like it might be a glimpse into the future. A future where the gap between the love of the local NBA and NHL teams might be small, where basketball might drive the sporting pulse of Toronto nearly as much as hockey. Were not there yet and we may never get there, at least for a long, long time. Outgoing Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Tim Leiweke promised an audience last month that within 10 years the Raptors would be more popular than the Leafs. That statement may say far more about Leiwekes brashness and lack of sense for the market into which hes been transplanted. But the truth is we dont really know how close the Raptors could get because theyve have been so underwhelming during most of their existence. There is little less inspiring in sports than a bottom third NBA team playing out an 82-game schedule where most nights against good teams they dont stand a chancee.dddddddddddd So to truly get a sense of how much basketball potential there is to unlock in Toronto, were going to need more than just the Raptors running off a 48-win season, pushing a team to seven games during the first round of playoffs and coming up with a splashy television ad campaign. Were going to need a sustained period of competitive basketball. One where the Raptors stay on the NBA radar, with Toronto players becoming part of the greater NBA conversation. Were going to need marquee matchups, games on national television in the US. And rivalries that matter. The challenge with the Raptors hasnt so much been about getting good for a season or two ... its been about staying that way. The Raptors have had six winning seasons in their 19-year history and one playoff series win. This time has a chance to be different. They appear to have the right management, the right coach and a team that is not built primarily around the skills of one player, whose discontentment or subpar performance could on its own completely reverse the direction of things. Theres momentum, youth and potential on their side this time. And while an NBA Championship at the end of the road would be nice, what could come from the journey getting there would be far more significant in the long run. ' ' '