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. Air Max 2018 . 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. Air Max 2018 Sale . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. Cheap Air Max 2018 China . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. http://www.cheapairmaxonlinesale.com/ . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then.ALLEN PARK, Mich. - As usual, Martin Mayhew chose his words carefully when assessing the off-season for the Detroit Lions — but the biggest issue facing the team is fairly obvious.Ndamukong Suh, Detroits All-Pro defensive tackle, can become a free agent now, and if he leaves, the Lions would have to scramble to replace his formidable presence in the middle of their defence.I had an opportunity to sit down and talk with him on Monday, said Mayhew, Detroits general manager. We had a good conversation. We look forward to working with him to try to get a deal done.Mayhew spoke to reporters for about a half-hour Thursday, recapping a solid year in which the Lions made the playoffs for only the second time in the past 15 seasons.Suh was a big part of Detroits 11-win season, helping the Lions become one of the leagues top teams against the run.Mayhew said Suh is open to staying in Detroit.We talked about that on Monday, had a good conversation with him, Mayhew said. He wants to be here and we want him to be here. As I said before, I think thats a pretty good combination. Well see how it all plays out.Mayhew said hes leaving all options open with Suh — including the possibility of using the franchise tag on him. The teams preference, though, is to reach a long-term deal.The fact that Detroit is coming off an encouraging season probably wont hurt.He likes to win, I know that, Mayhew said. I know he likes coach (Jim) Caldwell, I know hes very comfortable here in Detroit, so those things all play in our favour. At the end of the day money talks, so well have to step up in terms of pursuing him financially as well.Suhs situation — however its resolved — could have a major effect on the rest of Detroits plans this off-season.Defensive tackle Nick Fairley can also become a free agent, and the offence is coming off an uneven season in which the line struggled to protect quarterback Matthew Stafford.Although he addressed Suhs uncertain future, Mayhew wouldnt talk much about the status of any individual players. Veteran offensive linemen Rob Sims and Domiinic Raiola have reached the end of their contracts, and offensive lineman Travis Swanson — a third-round pick in last years draft — may be ready for a bigger role. Orange Air Max 2018. Making the playoffs was an important step in Caldwells first season as Detroits coach, but the Lions lost the regular-season finale at Green Bay with the NFC North title at stake. Then they fell 24-20 at Dallas in their post-season opener.We have to get better from a talent standpoint. We have to be a better football team, Mayhew said. I think were a good football team right now, but were not a great football team. We have to be able to go and win at Green Bay, which we have not done in a long time.Having a bye and having a home game would have obviously helped us in terms of the playoffs and advancing. In those games, the other team played better than we played and we lost.One thing Mayhew didnt want to do was dwell on the pass interference flag that was rescinded late in the loss to Dallas. The reversal by the officials cost the Lions what would have been a huge first down, and the Cowboys ended up rallying to win.I think that the focus on a couple bad calls takes away from the fact that two really good teams played an outstanding football game that day, Mayhew said. You know, when the penalty happened there were eight minutes left in the game when they got the ball back.We had every opportunity to do something to overcome that and do something positive to win that game and we didnt. ... Im from the old school of, No excuses, no explanations. Did you win the game? No, we didnt win it. They won it, they advanced. We hope to see them next year at some point.NOTES: Mayhew was asked about rugby star Jarryd Hayne, who visited Detroit recently during his tour of NFL teams. Were always on the lookout for players that can help us, Mayhew said. Well see what happens. Hes still out there and hes still looking at other teams as well. Im not sure whatll happen with him, but wed like to have him.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '