TORONTO - Coming off a pair of wire-to-wire victories, the revamped Raptors offence will come face-to-face with the Charlotte Bobcats (11-14) and their improved defence at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday. Oscar Lindberg Jersey . Listen live on TSN 1050 Radio beginning at 7pm et. Although the Raptors (9-13) have had a renewed confidence about them since dealing Rudy Gay - theyve won three of four games since the trade - the lowly Bobcats continue to be a perplexing thorn in their side. The Bobcats, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a 95-87 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday, have lost their last three games in Toronto but theyve won six straight over the Raptors in Charlotte and their most recent meeting is one that still haunts Dwane Casey. "Theyre a very difficult team for us to play against, to defend, to score on," Casey admitted after practice on Tuesday, reflecting on a crushing 92-90 Nov. 6 loss in Charlotte. "They came out and attacked us at their place and did what they wanted to do to us." "Charlotte happens to have our number and weve got to come out in attack mode against them and try to get that corrected." Toronto got off to a slow start in that contest and the comeback ultimately fell short in the dying seconds when Caseys team failed to commit a foul to extend the game. "For us, we definitely have to match their energy," said Amir Johnson, who had 13 points and seven rebounds against the Bobcats earlier in the season. "We looked over film [from that game] but weve got a new team. We know what they like to do and the main thing weve got to do is outwork those guys." This Raptors team is looking and playing a lot different than the one that fell to Charlotte last month. Gay, who led them in scoring with 20 points in that loss, is gone and Torontos offence has been more cohesive as a result. Last in the league in assists prior to the trade, the Raptors have recorded 20 or more dimes in three of the last four games, also shooting at least 45 per cent from the field in a season-high four straight contests. "[The ball is] moving pretty well," said newcomer Greivis Vasquez, averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 assists in two games with the Raptors. "I think our offence is so smooth, any offence is so smooth when you pass the ball and were doing that lately." For more on the Raptors improved offence and the beneficiaries of the seven-player trade, listen to TSN 1050s Raptors Report podcast. Although the Bobcats rank next to last in scoring, theyre much improved on the other end of the floor under new head coach Steve Clifford. Charlotte is allowing fewer than 93 points per contest, only two NBA teams surrender less. On Tuesday the Bobcats held Sacramento to 87 points, their 21st time holding an opponent under 100, the most in the league this season. "Theyre packing the paint, guys are making you shoot jump shots against them," Casey said of Charlottes improved defence. "Protecting the paint is a big thing, youre going to have to make jump shots, youve got to get open on the wings, youve got to be strong with the ball because theyre getting into it." Trends and Tidbits With back-to-back wins over Philadelphia and Chicago, the Raptors havent trailed in eight quarters of basketball. Its the first time theyve won consecutive games without trailing since January 2013 against the 76ers and Bobcats. The Raptors held Chicago to an opponent season-low 77 points on Saturday. It was also the first time Toronto has held an opponent under 40 per cent shooting this year. Caseys Raptors teams are 23-9 when holding teams under 40 per cent, including an 11-1 mark last season. Although the Bobcats entered Tuesdays game last in both threes per game and three-point field goal percentage, they shot 8-for-17 from long range against the Kings and are now 4-2 on the season when making six or more treys. Bobcats guard Kemba Walker, who is heating up after a rough start to the season, is averaging 20.4 points over his last eight games. What to Watch For Boxing out Although the Raptors opened the season as one of the best rebounding teams in the league, Coach Casey has noticed a slippage in that category of late and has used practice time this week to address it. "We had that same issue in the exhibition season and we corrected it," Casey said, concerned about his teams effort boxing out and establishing rebounding position in practice. "Weve just got to continue to work on it. Its a very difficult thing to do now because you dont want to do a lot of banging on the bodies just because of the time of year it is but mentally you can focus in and lock in." The Raptors coach penalized players for giving up offensive rebounds in Tuesdays practice, forcing them to do running drills and hopes he has gotten through to his team going into a matchup with the physical Bobcats frontcourt. Throw the first punch Although the Raptors loss to Charlotte in November ended with a controversial final play, Casey stressed that it should have never come to that. Toronto was dominated in the first quarter, outscored 32-18 as the Bobcats shot an astonishing 15-for-20 from the field in the period. "It was the worst quarter, other than the Golden State fourth quarter, that weve had," Casey admitted. "So weve got to come in this game energized, ready to attack." The Bobcats got off to another hot start on Tuesday, besting the Kings 35-22 after 12 minutes. However, Toronto seems to have rectified its slow starts of late. The Raptors have won all four first quarters since the trade, outscoring opponents by a combined total of 40 points. Although theyve won all four fourth quarters as well, theyve lost six of eight second and third frames over that span. Who to Watch For Amir Johnson After a slow start to the season, Johnson has picked up right where he left off following last years breakout campaign. The Raptors forward was sent to the bench for a couple games until an injury to Tyler Hansbrough helped earn him his job back. Since then hes been lights out. Johnson is shooting 71 per cent, averaging 20.0 points and 9.0 boards in his last six games. "Players go through slumps, hes had is, hes back now," Casey said of his starting four-man. Without Gay in the lineup, the Raptors are moving the ball and running more pick and rolls, which has been largely responsible for Johnsons reemergence. He has also found instant chemistry playing alongside Vasquez. "Hes a great pick and roll player," Vasquez said of his new teammates. "He can catch, he sets good screens and its going to open up so many different things, its only been two games." Gerald Henderson Like Johnson, Henderson is one of the more unheralded players in the association and the Bobcats guard has proven himself to be a bona fide Raptor killer over the years. In 11 career games against Toronto, Henderson is averaging 14.4 points on a red-hot 54 per cent shooting. Most recently, he scored 23 on 10-of-17 shooting in this seasons win over the Raptors. Joe Kocur Jersey . Next years tournament is also within sight for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in a World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo looks destined for the playoffs with Portugal after a night when the qualifying picture in the nine groups became much clearer. Kevin Shattenkirk Jersey . Setting United on its way to a 2-0 victory, Rooney sent the ball high from inside the halfway line over goalkeeper Adrian after just seven minutes. "Its just instinct, Ive turned and had a quick look and seen the goalkeeper off his line," Rooney said. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/anthony-deangelo-hockey-jersey/ . -- Canadian mens rugby coach Kieran Crowley has made four changes to his starting roster for Saturdays Pacific Nations Cup clash against the United States.Mason gets the Flyers to even, Toews lifts the Blackhawks to another OT win and Getzlafs return helps Ducks pull away from the Stars. Also, notes on Richards, Leddy, Horcoff and more. FREE MASON Steve Mason, making his first start of the playoffs, stopped 37 of 38 New York Rangers shots to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 win in Game Four, evening the series at two games apiece. It was the first postseason win in six career playoff appearances for Mason, who last started April 12 when he suffered an upper-body injury. The Flyers defence had some possession extremes. The pairing of Braydon Coburn and Kimmo Timonen were on for better than two-thirds of the 5-on-5 shot attempts, while the duo of Andrew MacDonald and Luke Schenn were at the other end of the spectrum. Rangers C Brad Richards had all kinds of opportunities, generating a playoff-high 14 shot attempts, but their only goal was scored by Dominic Moore early in the first period. Flyers D Nicklas Grossman was forced to leave early after suffering a lower-body injury. If hes not able to get back in the lineup for Game Five, then Erik Gustafsson or Hal Gill will be available to join the lineup. Now that the series is even, the goaltending battle between Mason and Henrik Lundqvist will be in the spotlight. That figures to be an advantage for the Rangers, but it wasnt in Game Four. CAPTAIN SERIOUS WITH THE WINNER After Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane pulled the trigger on the overtime winner in Game Four, Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews managed the feat, with a backhand deke on a breakaway to win the game in OT. Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa had a strong game, scoring his first goal of the series and registering a game-high seven shots on goal. Blues C David Backes, who missed the past two games with a concussion, returned to the St. Louis lineup and had a game-high eight hits in 21:35 of ice time. Blackhawks D Brent Seabrook, suspended three games for knocking out Backes, is due to return for Game Six. His replacement, Sheldon Brookbank, has chipped in a couple of assists in three games, but has struggled in terms of puck possession. Over the past two games, Blackhawks D Nick Leddy has been on for 41 shot attempts for and 12 against (77.4%) at 5-on-5. 61.8% for the series. Walt Tkaczuk Jersey. In a series that is so close that there is a five shot attempt difference between the teams at even strength, Leddys doing his part to win his matchups. Losing back-to-back overtime games is tough for the Blues, who now have to find a way to win back-to-back games, starting with Game Six in Chicago. DUCKS TAKE FLIGHT The Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks were engaged in a competitive game, with the Ducks holding a one-goal lead entering the third period, before the Ducks broke the game open with three goals in the first seven minutes of the third period, wrapping up a 6-2 in in Game Five. The big news for the Ducks was that C Ryan Getzlaf returned to the lineup, after missing Game Four, and recorded a goal and two assists to lead the way. Getzlafs linemate, Corey Perry, also contributed a goal and two assists. Ducks G Frederik Andersen, who was pulled from Game Four, responded with a strong effort, stopping 34 of 36 shots by the Stars. At the other end, Stars G Kari Lehtonen was pulled after surrendering five goals on 21 shots, giving way to Tim Thomas, who stopped one of the two shots he faced in the final 14:38 of the third period. Stars D Brenden Dillon appeared in his first game in two weeks and played 20:18, but he struggled at times, and finished with Dallas worst possession stats for the game. One positive to take from the game for Dallas is that LW Jamie Benn was a force, scoring a shorthanded goal and creating a bunch of chances. Also, C Tyler Seguin was firing shots as the Stars attempted to come back, finishing with 13 shot attempts, eight of which ended up on net. Through the first five games Benn, with five points, is tied with veteran C Shawn Horcoff for the Stars playoff scoring lead. For Anaheim, its Getzlaf, who has seven points in four games in this series. The Stars have lost some lopsided games in the series, but have solid enough possession stats to feel like they are still in this series. If they can hold serve at home in Game Six, that will set up an interesting winner-take-all matchup in Game Seven. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China China NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys ' ' '