Schwarzesbrett » 6-5 win over the New York Mets on Friday night.

TORONTO - Dwight Buycks is not your typical NBA rookie. The lone first-year player on Torontos roster, Buycks has taken a different path than most of the leagues rookies, one that should afford him a greater appreciation of this opportunity he has chased so relentlessly. Buycks comes to the Raptors following an MVP season in the French league, a worthwhile detour for him after spending the year prior in the NBA development league and going undrafted in 2011. "My dream has always been to play in the NBA," said the 24-year-old guard after practice Tuesday. "So that was the route I had to take at the time and it wasnt a problem for me to take it." Choosing to go play overseas was a difficult decision for the former Marquette Golden Eagle and Milwaukee native. He had heard both pros and cons about making the move - an increasingly popular option for players on the cusp of the NBA - but knew it was the best way for him to get back on the radar. "Its always been something that was talked about," he remembered, "so when the time came [there] wasnt too much to think about." Still a young man, his basketball career had hit several unexpected roadblocks but his willingness to fight through them and adapt to his new surroundings allowed him to excel. "It definitely was a great year, my first full season overseas," said Buycks, who averaged 18.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists with Gravelines of the French Pro A league in 2012-13. "I got over there and we connected real good, the team, the players, the coaches, they put a lot of trust in me with the basketball and to lead them to win games." Many young players, and recently some veterans at the end of their celebrated careers, have headed overseas looking for an easy paycheque and a fast track path (back) to the NBA. Generally, it doesnt take long for those players to realize the experience, the brand of basketball and the culture change is far more than they bargained for. Buycks, on the other hand, committed himself to it, which allowed him to reap the benefits. "It definitely is a grind to go over there for that long a time," he admitted, specifically citing the food and general way of living being different from what he was used to. "When I went over there I made the choice to not go home. "I wanted to stay there the whole time, so for our little Christmas break I decided to stay there and not go home because I didnt want to get comfortable with being home and then have to go right back. So that was definitely a tough decision for me to make but I think it paid off." Buycks turned enough heads to score an invite to the Orlando Summer League with Oklahoma City, where he continued his strong play and ultimately received a guaranteed contract offer from Masai Ujiri and the Raptors. Averaging 7.0 points and 2.8 assists in four preseason games with Toronto, Buycks has been the recipient of significant praise from his new head coach. "He played well in Summer League, hes played well in training camp and hes done a decent job in the exhibition games," Dwane Casey said of Buycks. "[Hes made] typical rookie mistakes but I dont know if there are any guards [taken] in the late first or second round [in this years draft] that are as good as Dwight." "For us it was a steal," he continued. "It was a good eye for his talent because he has speed and quickness you cant teach." Not surprisingly his work ethic has caught Caseys eye and his commitment to defence - something hes familiar with having played in a hard-nosed defensive system with Marquette - has helped him fit right in. With Kyle Lowry locked in as the starter, Buycks is competing with the more experienced D.J. Augustin for playing time as the back-up point guard. Both players bring different strengths to the table meaning, at least for now, this battle has all the makings of a platoon. "Its going to be a fluid back-up situation," Casey has stated, dependent on match-ups and who has the hot hand. Buycks would appear to be the underdog in this scenario given Augustins experience and past success but underestimate the reigning French league MVP at your own risk. Hes been overlooked before. "It wouldnt be a problem whatever my role is for the team," he said. "Im just trying to help the team win games anyway I can. Whether thats playing or not playing Im going to help these guys off the court when Im not in the game." Preseason schedule, a double-edged sword After playing four exhibition games last week the Raptors have just one on the schedule for this week, a Wednesday affair with Kelly Olynyk and the Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Centre. You can hear it live on TSN 1050 Radio at 7pm et. For Casey and the coaching staff this is both a blessing and a curse, as the team will get the additional practice time theyve desired but have a limited opportunity to implement their work in-game. "Its a double-edged sword," Casey said. "So were going to spend our time on the practice floor working on our timing, defensive rotations and all those things but then too we want to see those things executed in the game. Youd like to have it where it wasnt so spread out but it is what it is." Just about halfway through training camp, the team has reached a juncture where maintaining focus is one of the biggest challenges with everyone looking ahead to the regular season. "Today I had to ramp them up a couple times but thats normal NBA training camp," Casey said after practice Tuesday. "But the good teams, the teams that are serious about winning maintain that focus, that edge." "Youve got to take advantage of preseason to get out all the kinks, all the rustiness, all the things youve been working on in training camp," DeMar DeRozan acknowledged, having been though this process four times before, going into his fifth year. "For a player like me, Im ready to play now, but were just going to use these last couple games to get ready." Laquon Treadwell Jersey . The Toronto Maple Leafs were holding a news conference, so they got curious. It didnt take long for them to find out via social media that coach Randy Carlyle was coming back — with a two-year extension — and assistants Greg Cronin, Scott Gordon and Dave Farrish were being let go. John Randle Jersey . The three Calgary natives will compete after the sport was skipped by the Vancouver Games in 2010 but later included on the program for Sochi, Russia. 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Brignacs RBI single in the bottom of the 14th inning gave the Phillies a 6-5 win over the New York Mets on Friday night. Domonic Brown hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the Phillies, who snapped the Mets six-game winning streak at Citizens Bank Park, dating to last season. Marlon Byrd reached second when right fielder Chris Young dropped his fly ball for an error leading off the 14th. Carlos Ruiz followed with a single to centre off Jenrry Mejia (4-2) that sent Byrd to third. After pinch-hitter Cesar Hernandez was intentionally walked, Brignac drove an opposite-field shot that one-hopped the wall in left. Brignac rounded first base and kept running into shallow right field before he was swarmed by teammates. "I was just messing around, trying to make them catch me," Brignac said. "It felt great coming through." Brignac started at third base for Cody Asche, who is on the disabled list. Hernandez had played third since Asche got hurt. "That was a big swing," manager Ryne Sandberg said. Young refused to blame the wind for his error, even though it was blowing in hard by the end of the game. "I was looking dead at it when it was coming down," Young said. "I cant explain it. I have no idea how I dropped a routine fly ball, but it happened." Justin De Fratus (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win. Phillies starter A.J. Burnett had a season-high 11 strikeouts, but allowed five runs and five hits in seven innings. He had to pitch out of trouble often because of six walks. "Im missing here and there, but six is a lot," Burnett said. "I have some work to do." Mets rookie Rafael Montero lasted just 3 2-3 innings, allowing four runs -- three earned --- and seven hits in the shortest of his four career starts.ddddddddddddComing off a 10-strikeout performance last Sunday against Arizona, Montero didnt fan any of Philadelphias strikeout-prone batters. The Phillies struck out 15 times in a 4-1 loss to the Mets on Thursday night. Bobby Abreu hit a two-run double to give the Mets a 5-4 lead in the fifth after David Wright and Curtis Granderson struck out with two runners on. But the Phillies answered in the bottom half against Daisuke Matsuzaka. Byrd walked, went to third on Ruizs double and scored on Browns groundout to tie it at 5. Byrd walked to start Philadelphias fourth and Ruiz singled. Brown then hit a high drive out to right to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. Brown, an NL All-Star last year, was hitting .199 before connecting for his fourth homer this season. Brown hit 12 of his team-high 27 homers last May. Burnett helped himself with a leadoff single in the third. He went to third base when Abreu booted Jimmy Rollins single to right for an error. Chase Utley followed with an RBI groundout to cut it to 3-1. The Mets took a 3-0 lead in the second on Lucas Dudas RBI double, Travis dArnauds RBI groundout and Ruben Tejadas RBI single. NOTES: Abreu stole second base in the eighth for his 400th career steal. The call was upheld after a video review. ... Rollins had two hits, moving within 12 of passing Mike Schmidt for first on the Phillies career list. ... The Mets are playing five consecutive days in the same city on the road for the first time. ... Granderson was 0 for 3 with a walk. He is in an 0-for-19 slump. ... Burnett has walked five or more batters in four of his 12 starts. He had double-digit strikeouts for the 33rd time in his career. ... RHP Jacob deGrom (0-2, 1.83 ERA) pitches for the Mets on Saturday against Kyle Kendrick (1-5, 4.04). deGrom struck out as a pinch-hitter in the 14th. 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