FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. NBA GMs PICK RAPTORS TO WIN THE ATLANTIC DIVISION: Hows this for some earned respect? Can they do it? Yes, but far from easy. The Nets and Knicks will be the main competition, yet I think if they stay healthy and humble, they can win the division in back-to-back years for the first time. Bottom line, this year is all about improvement and getting back to the playoffs and peaking at the right time (mid-April 2015) to make a run at winning a series and then let it all hang out from there. Keep getting better. Hopefully, an enjoyable ride. 2. JABARI PARKER and ANDREW WIGGINS: On Wednesday, they hook up for a preseason game and the first of many NBA meetings between these two potential stars. I like Parker to win the Rookie of the Year. I think his game is more polished and refined at this stage of his career but I think Wiggins has more long-term potential. Its not where you start but where you finish 10, 12 years from now. Both will be a blast to watch. 3. NIKOLA VUCEVIC (Magic): Smart move getting this youngster locked up to a long-term deal. I like how hard he plays and his effectiveness both facing up and with his back to the basket. Hes a major bright spot and recipient in the Dwight Howard trade. Gotta get value back in those transactions and I feel that hes a good fit for this young squad. 4. KEVIN DURANT (Thunder): Patience is key. I like what hes saying. Steady as she goes. He loves to play so much hes the classic guy that rushes back but Im glad hes going to make sure that hes right before returning to action. His team will hang around and stay competitive in his absence - the keys is having him for the last 75-80 per cent of the season and the playoffs. Might be a blessing in disguise for him. 5. NBA LOTTERY REVISION REJECTED: Lots of chatter out there that the League was going to change the format and it makes complete sense to me. Something has to be done to make sure that teams arent giving it their best to improve. Im surprised that the vote failed. Usually a league as smart as the NBA doesnt have a vote on something like this until its got all the votes it needs to make this happen. Odd decision. Sammy Baugh Jersey .Y. - Major League Soccers independent review panel has taken back the fine and one-game suspension it placed on Toronto FC forward Luke Moore earlier this week. Dwayne Haskins Jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. http://www.cheapredskinsjerseysauthentic.com/. Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. Doug Williams Jersey . - The Seattle Sounders busy off-season continues with the team acquiring defender Chad Marshall from the Columbus Crew in exchange for a 2015 third-round pick and allocation money. Charley Taylor Jersey . -- Phil Hughes ended a personal losing streak that dated to last July, pitching into the seventh inning Sunday and helping the Twins top the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to avoid a three-game sweep.Oklahoma City, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Westbrook made an emphatic return to the court, pouring in 32 points in just 24 minutes to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-78 blowout of the punchless New York Knicks at Chesapeake Energy Arena. In his first game back since fracturing his right hand on Oct. 30, Westbrook went 12-of-17 from the field while amassing eight assists and seven rebounds and providing a much-needed spark to the injury-plagued Thunder, who won consecutive games for the first time this season. The Knicks, meanwhile, struggled mightily on offense with their star out of the lineup. As Carmelo Anthony sat out a second straight contest with back spasms, New York shot a meager 38.7 percent and missed 17-of-19 attempts from 3-point range to fall for the 12th time in 14 games. Amare Stoudemire was New Yorks lone bright spot, recording 20 points on 7- of-8 shooting and pulling down nine rebounds. Serge Ibaka added 14 points and Jeremy Lamb had 13 off the bench in the Thunders wire-to-wire win. Steven Adams posted 13 rebounds. Westbrook wasted little time making an impact, dropping in 12 points over the games first eight minutes as the Thunder sped out to a 23-6 lead. The All- Star point guard finished the opening quarter with 14 points and four assists while hitting 6-of-7 shots.dddddddddddd While Westbrook was red-hot, the Knicks were ice cold over the initial 12 minutes. New York made a woeful 4-of-22 tries from the floor while falling behind 30-13 at periods end. Those struggles continued into the early stages of the second quarter, which began with a 10-0 Oklahoma City run in which Lamb sunk a pair of threes. The Thunder led by as many as 28 during the frame before cruising into the break owning a commanding 59-33 advantage. The Knicks continued to miss shots during a third quarter in which they managed just 17 points to trail 82-50 heading into the fourth. Oklahoma City was ahead by as much as 37 in the final stanza, building a 98-61 lead with five minutes to play. Game Notes The Knicks are now 1-6 at Chesapeake Energy Arena since the Thunder relocated to Oklahoma City from Seattle ... J.R. Smith, starting in place of Anthony, mustered just two points while going 1-of-9 from the floor ... Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 11 points off the bench for the Knicks ... Lamb went 3-for-4 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. 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