TORONTO - Following the final game in each of his first four NBA seasons, DeMar DeRozan has stood in front of the media contingent at the Raptors annual post-mortem gathering, vowing to work tirelessly on his game during the summer and return a more well-rounded player come the fall. Ryan Tannehill Womens Jersey . One of his most glaring weaknesses as a young guard in the league was his playmaking ability. As a 19-year-old rookie in 2009-10, DeRozan averaged less than one assist per game. Among NBA guards that logged at least 20 minutes per outing that season, DeRozan assisted on the lowest percentage of his teammates field goals (just under 5 per cent, tied with Orlandos Mickael Pietrus, per NBA.com/stats). Hes come a long way since then, making good on his yearly end-of-season promise. DeRozans four assists in Sundays win over the Magic raised his season total to 205, a new career-high, besting last years mark with 26 games left to play. "I want to make my teammates better," said the Raptors guard, who continues to evolve as a distributer, averaging a career-best 3.8 dimes this season. "It just comes with experience and understanding. Its something that I really enjoy doing, getting my teammates involved, looking for them." The 24-year-olds assist numbers have increased in each of his five seasons and his assist percentage this year (18.6) is more than three-times higher than it was in his rookie campaign (4.9). DeRozan had recorded five or more assists in just five of his first 222 games as an NBA player, his first three years in the league. Since then hes accomplished that feat 28 times in 136 contests, including 15 during his 2013-14 breakout season. "Thats huge," Dwane Casey said of his leading scorers improved court vision. "Now hes drawing so much attention from the other teams as far as double teaming, guys helping, theyre sinking in and hes making teams pay for it." "Hes one of the best wings right now in the league as far as passing the ball out [of the double team] and hes doing a great job of it," Casey continued. "So thats a big step in his growth process. Its good to see and the more attention he gets the more hes going to have to rely on that part of his game." A first-time all-star this season, DeRozan has had to adjust to the defensive attention hes getting now that he finds himself on the top of the oppositions scouting report. Theres nowhere left to hide, not after the trade of top dog Rudy Gay, but DeRozan has embraced the responsibility. "The game definitely does slow down," he noted. "You understand every defence. Theres not too many defences I havent seen yet and just watching film and understanding how teams play key players, especially key scorers, once you understand that a lot of things come a lot easier." As a team, the Raptors are just 14-17 when DeRozan scores 20 or more points, however theyre 18-8 when he tallies at least four assists. Steve McNair Womens Jersey . - A pitch clock will be used this season during minor league games at Triple-A and Double-A, but it has been ruled out for the major leagues this year. Bruce Matthews Womens Jersey . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.authentictitanspro.com/Amani-hooker-titans-jersey/ . At 11:06 of the first period, Neal struck Marchand with his knee when Marchand was down on the ice. Marchand remained in the game. Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand.(SportsNetwork.com) - After losing the longest shootout in NHL history, the Washington Capitals hope to rebound with a road win Thursday against the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets. Washington dropped a 2-1 decision against the Panthers on Thursday, losing after an epic 20-round shootout battle. Despite the loss -- the Capitals second in three outings -- Washington was able to extend its point streak to six games (4-0-2). Tuesdays game featured a total of two goals through 65 minutes, but the clubs combined to hit the net 11 times in the shootout phase. Both teams went through their entire lineup once, with the Capitals grabbing the lead five times only to see Florida answer on its last shot every time. Nick Bjugstad eventually won the contest for Florida in the 20th round after Washington star Alex Ovechkin missed the net on the previous attempt. Earlier Ovechkin had scored the first goal of the shootout when he beat Roberto Luongo to start the fourth round. Bjugstad got Braden Holtby to bite on a backhand deke before burying a wrister into the right corner of the net. Tuesdays epic battle surpassed the previous shootout record of 15 rounds between the New York Rangers and Washington on Nov. 26, 2005, which the Capitals also lost. At first you just want to get the victory, but when it went to 16, 17 rounds you just started to enjoy it, said Washington head coach Barry Trotz. You were just living in the moment and hoped that you would get the two points. Unfortunately we didnt. The wild shootout affair marked the start of a three-game road trip for the Capitals, who fell to 8-5-2 as the guest. Tuesdays tilt also began a road- heavy stretch that will have Washington closing the month with six of seven games away from D.C. The Caps will try to cool off the sizzling Blue Jackets tonight after Columbus earned its seventh straight win with Tuesdays 1-0 shootout victory in Detroit. Columbus entered December with a 6-15-2 record, but is a perfect 7-0 this month and is now only seven points out of a playoff spot in the East. The Blue Jackeets are six behind Washington in the conferences wild card standings. Amani Hooker Titans Jersey. The Caps and Jackets have split two meetings this season, with Columbus taking the most recent encounter in a 3-2 shootout win last Thursday at the Verizon Center. Nick Foligno provided the OT winner for the Blue Jackets with a power- play goal, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 39 saves for the victory. Last weeks triumph was Columbus third in the last four meetings against the Capitals. Washington also has lost two straight at Nationwide Arena, where Columbus is 6-8-1 this season. The Blue Jackets are beginning a five-game homestand tonight and wont play a road game until visiting Arizona on Jan. 3. The Blue Jackets have needed to go past regulation five times during their current winning streak, and Thursdays win in the Motor City was their fourth consecutive time going beyond the third period. Bobrovsky, who has won every game on the current winning streak, made 30 saves through 65 minutes and added another stop in the shootout to record the victory over Detroit. The 2013 Vezina Trophy winner has allowed just 12 goals on 242 shots this month for a sterling .950 save percentage in December. Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner beat Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard in the shootout and Bobrovsky had no trouble putting his pads on a weak shot by Henrik Zetterberg to give Columbus another win. Pavel Datsyuk was the only player to beat Bobrovsky all night, fooling his fellow Russian with a backhand to open the shootout. Gustav Nyquist fired Detroits other shot off the post. Bobrovsky notched his first shutout of the season, and 10th of his career. Bob was good, said Jackets head coach Todd Richards. But Ill tell you what, the 18 guys that were skating in front of him were good tonight, too. (Detroits) a good hockey team, and when you get a shutout like that, its a total team effort. Bobrovsky is 4-1-2 with a 2.81 goals against average in eight career games against Washington. Holtby is expected to face him and is 3-1-1 with a 2.79 GAA in this matchup. ' ' '