DETROIT - As the Raptors continued their historic start to the campaign, the basketball world got a glimpse of the franchises future with the release of the teams new logo on Friday, a look that has been introduced to mixed reviews. Lucas Digne Jersey . Feeding off of last springs wildly successful We the North campaign, which was originally scheduled to be unleashed this season, the Raptors primary symbol will feature a red circular border encasing the team name in white lettering and a silver basketball with claw prints inside. Last year during the playoffs, We the North became a rallying cry for this team, and all of our fans, Raptors president and general manger Masai Ujiri said in a press release. Our new logo represents that attitude and will be an important part of our identity starting next season. The team is set to debut its new look to begin the third decade of Raptors basketball next season - a year in which Toronto will host the NBAs All-Star Game - but not everyone is on board with the rebrand. Originally launched by the club in a short video Friday afternoon, a black and white version of the teams new shield flashed across the screen, sparking a bit of a stir on social media, as it seemed to bear a striking resemblance to the Brooklyn Nets logo. Adopted by the Nets upon their move to Brooklyn, their logo shares the same circular shape, also utilizing a basketball in the centre with white lettering around the border. A simple and clean look, its a trend that has been popularized throughout professional sports in recent years. The consensus in Torontos locker room ahead of Fridays road contest with the Pistons could be described as indifference, verging on disapproval. Dwane Casey had not seen the new logo but indicated hed be content with whatever they gave him to wear on his shirt. Amir Johnson and Landry Fields both appreciated the clean look. But not everyone was impressed. Nope, responded a prominent Raptors player bluntly after being asked if he liked the new logo hell be wearing next season. At least I dont have to pay the bill. However, most of the team acknowledged that the logo itself is less important to them than the actual colour scheme, which they approved of, and the jerseys, which wont be unveiled until this coming summer. Several Raptors staffers, including Ujiri, insisted that once everyone - fans and players alike - see the teams new uniforms theyll come around. In addition to the regular home and away jerseys, theyll also wear a black and gold alternate inspired by Drake, their global ambassador, and the colours of his OVO brand. I think people are going to be floored with what we have in store for next season, the Toronto-born rap artist said ahead of Drake Night on Wednesday. The team said he played a big part in the redesign, in conjunction with Sid Lee, the same creative services agency that is responsible for the We the North campaign. Its gone really well. We have some exciting things in the works. Its going to be a full rebrand. Ultimately, as Ujiri has reiterated even prior to the teams recent success, it doesnt matter what logo they have across their chest as long they are winning. Anything you do, for me, is all based on winning, Ujiri had said on media day ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, his first with the organization. You can have the best name, worst name, you can have any colours you want if you have the right basketball players. TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Fridays win, Torontos fifth straight, followed a familiar formula. The Raptors eased their way into another contest against inferior competition, surrendering 31 first-quarter points to the Pistons, who shot 50 per cent in the frame. After closing the first half on a 22-11 run, thanks in large part to the contributions of their bench, they took control in the third quarter, outscoring Detroit 29-18. I give our bench a lot of credit, they came in and did the job, Casey said after his second unit poured in 59 points in Torontos 110-100 victory. Im really, really excited about the way theyre coming in and establishing a style of play, establishing an identity that you need with your second unit. Six players scored in double figures, including three off the pine. Jonas Valanciunas led the way with 17 points in a tough match-up against Andre Drummond, handing the 5-22 Pistons their 12th straight home loss at the Palace of Auburn Hills. THE DUNK With just over seven minutes to go and the Raptors up 18, James Johnson put the exclamation point on his teams win. Driving baseline, Johnson skied over Drummond, an elite shot blocker, in one of the most electric plays of the season. Best to let him describe it. That was nasty, right? I cocked that joint back and banged on him. That was a big part of the game, said the reserve forward. It was a big play, it boosted us up a little bit. Teams like Detroit, youve got to have plays like that so you dont let them back in the game. It was a big play alright. Less than a minute later, Drummonds frustrations would boil over. With Johnson driving into the lane again, Drummond turned into him with his shoulder. As veteran tough guy Chuck Hayes intervened, a skirmish ensued next to the Pistons bench. Greivis Vasquez held back Johnson, who has been known to have a temper, as Patrick Patterson and Greg Monroe stepped in and exchanged a couple of shoves. I love it, Casey said of the scuffle. No harm. Drummond did what he was supposed to do and James and Chuck and Pat did what theyre supposed to do, which is stand up for their teammates. No harm, Ive seen far worse than that in the old days. Drummond was assessed a flagrant foul on the play and techs were assigned to Hayes, Monroe, Patterson, as well as Drummond. Thats basketball, man, said Johnson, still emotional after the game. Were competitors out there, man. I dont expect anything less from anyone if you really want to win, man. Everybody really wants to win out there, frustration sets in a little bit but other than that, man, no hard feelings. Our team, were built for that, he continued. Weve been brothers since the first day of pre-season. We go hard for each other. I do that for anyone of them, just like you seen Chuck, Pat and [Vasquez] do that for me. Were all a group, were all brothers, we all love each other and thats the big reason for our success. Cheap Barcelona Jersey . Which is to say, the top of this years draft class is not as dynamic or exciting as the 2013 class of Nate MacKinnon, Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Drouin and Seth Jones and its not as strikingly promising as the highly-anticipated 2015 slate of Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen Jersey . Price was hurt at the start of Wednesdays practice after facing just one shot as the team worked on their power play. He left the ice in discomfort and appeared to be favouring his leg. A Habs source told TSNs John Lu that Price suffered the injury in Sochi and not before the Olympics. http://www.fcbarcelonapro.com/Kids-Xavi-Hernandez-Jersey/ . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt.SALT LAKE CITY - Just four days after becoming one of the most disputed all-star omissions, Kyle Lowry received his consolation prize from the NBA. The Raptors point guard has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Feb. 2, the league announced ahead of Torontos meeting with the Jazz on Monday. Lowry led off the week topping 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career - including a season-high 33 points in Wednesdays win over the Magic - carrying his team to a pair of victories without injured leading scorer DeMar DeRozan. Overall, the eighth-year guard averaged 25.0 points and 8.0 assists as Toronto finished the week with a 3-1 record. For Lowry, the recognition is long overdue. "He is one of the best point guards in the league right now," Dwane Casey said in Denver Thursday evening, hours after the all-star reserves were announced and Lowry, despite his body of work this season, was left off the list. DeRozan, a first-time all-star, was voted in by the coaches and will deservedly represent the Raptors in New Orleans later this month but Lowrys case should have been just as, if not more, compelling. Since the early-December trade of Rudy Gay, Lowry has come out of his shell, emerging as the teams leader. Hes been the Raptors most reliable contributor and a big part of the post-trade resurgence. Toronto has won 19 of 29 games since moving Gay, recording 20 or more assists in 23 of those contests. "Me personally, I thought he should have made [the All-Star team]," DeRoozan said Thursday. Philippe Coutinho Jersey. "Especially [with] what he means to this team. There are not too many players that are doing the things he is doing." Lowry, sincerely happy for his teammate, shrugged off the coaches oversight, concerning himself with team success over individual accolades. Similarly, he downplayed a couple nominations for earlier Player of the Week awards and will likely do the same after winning one, but after putting the team on his shoulders this past week, the honour comes well deserved. With DeRozan sidelined for the first time this season, nursing an ankle injury, Lowry engineered a thrilling victory over the surging Nets in Brooklyn to begin the week. In that game, Lowry become the first player this season to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, something only LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant accomplished last year. The 27-year-old is also having a career year from beyond the arch, connecting on 16 of his 36 attempts from three-point range last week. Lowry goes into Mondays game in Utah needing nine more threes to match his career-high for treys in a season (129). Hell also chase down Morris Petersons franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single campaign (177). Lowry became the fifth Raptor to win Player of the Week, joining Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Mike James and Jalen Rose. Also left off the All-Star squad, Suns guard Goran Dragic - Lowrys former teammate in Houston - captured the award in the West. Cheap Ducks Jerseys Cheap Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Bruins Jerseys Cheap Sabres Jerseys Cheap Flames Jerseys Cheap Hurricanes Jerseys Cheap Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Blue Jackets Jerseys Cheap Stars Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Oilers Jerseys Cheap Florida Panthers Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Cheap Wild Jerseys ' ' '