night.The mid-range, thats his hot spot, Snell said. It was a tough sho

PHOENIX -- After one of the worst seasons in the franchises 48-year history, the Phoenix Suns believe they finally are headed in the right direction.A team plagued by injury and internal problems mostly traced to the presence of disgruntled Markieff Morris went 23-59 last season, the second-worst record in franchise history. Only the inaugural season of 1968-69 (16-66) was worse.But the Suns found a budding star in guard Devin Booker and drafted a pair of promising teenage power forwards -- Dan Bender as the No. 4 pick overall, Marquese Chriss as No. 8. General manager Ryan McDonough brought in a pair of popular ex-Suns, Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa, to provide veteran leadership.With Eric Bledsoe healthy and 37-year-old coach Earl Watson preaching enthusiasm and a family attitude, these Suns expect to be competitive, or at least entertaining.Phoenixs six-year playoff drought probably wont end, but this teams personality and energy might begin to win back some of a disillusioned fan base that once was among the most faithful in the NBA.Watson, who took over on an interim basis after Jeff Hornacek was fired, calls his team a group of high-character guys with enthusiasm and energy.Were really lucky to have this group, he said.Every Suns player stayed in Phoenix through the summer, playing together on the court and spending a lot of time together off it.Our foundation was built in stages, Watson said, relationships first, bonding, creating a unity of compassion for each other, which resulted in love and, when we got into the preseason, sacrificing roles.The players dont want to hear anything about low expectations.Were all about winning and winning now. Booker said. I dont feel like were in a rebuilding phase. I feel like were built.Here are some things to consider as the Suns enter the season.BOOKERS TEAM: Booker turns 20 on Oct. 30 and already is the face of the franchise.He averaged 13.8 points last year and made the all-rookie team, but he really blossomed when Brandon Knight and Bledsoe both were out with injuries. After Jan. 1, he averaged 18.3 points per game, second among rookies. Booker became the third-youngest player to reach 1,000 points. Only LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant did it at an earlier age.In a survey of general managers, Booker was voted the player most likely to have a breakout 2016-17 season.Just taking it all in, at the same time using it as motivation, he said of the accolades. I know where Im at right now and I know where Im trying to get. So Im just staying focused, staying humble and every time I touch the floor giving it my all.KNIGHTS SACRIFICE: Watson calls Brandon Knight the most important player on the team after he was relegated to a sixth man role with Bledsoe and Booker the starting guards.Knight teammates understand how important it is for Knight to accept what has happened.B-Knight has been the biggest sacrifice for our family, center Tyson Chandler said, because hes a starter. Hes a great player in this league. So him coming off the bench is going to be huge for us.IMPRESSIVE CHRISS: The 6-foot-10 Chriss was impressive in the preseason and is ahead of Bender in terms of being ready for the NBA game. Expect the ex-University of Washington star to be part of the rotation right away.Hes a raw talent, Bledsoe said. Hes got some stuff you really cant teach.Chriss, who turned 19 in July, impressed his teammates in a confrontation with Dallas Andrew Bogut in a preseason game.He kind of reminds me of me out there last year, Booker said. ... I think you see him in the Dallas game push Bogut around and thats what we need, someone who wont back down on anybody, so Im really proud of him.HEALTHY AT LAST: Bledsoe is back after missing 51 games and undergoing another knee surgery. Knight is healthy after missing 30 games. Small forward T.J. Warren is kind of a forgotten man after missing most of last season with a broken foot. Small forward P.J. Tucker expects to be back by the second game of the season after undergoing back surgery.YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM: Nine of Phoenixs core players are 26 or younger. Bledsoe is the old man at 26. Knight is just 24, Warren and center Alex Len 23.They bring enthusiasm that rubs off on everyone.An older team, you kind of relax and take it easy, said Chandler, at 34 the oldest player on the roster. But these guys have so much energy, they go non-stop. It kind of gets you going. Cheap Vans Shoes Australia .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Vans Shoes Australia . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. http://www.cheapvansaustralia.com/ . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Cheap Vans Shoes Australia Free Shipping .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. Vans Shoes Australia Sale . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. MILWAUKEE -- When DeMar DeRozan finds his spot, the Milwaukee Bucks learned just how hard he is to stop.DeRozan scored 26 points, including a contested jumper with 16 seconds left over Tony Snell and Giannis Antetokounmpo, to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 105-99 victory over the Bucks on Friday night.The mid-range, thats his hot spot, Snell said. It was a tough shot (against) good defense.DeRozan again tormented Milwaukee and Kyle Lowry scored 19 as Toronto hit a season-high 14 3-pointers to continue its dominance against the Bucks. The Raptors have won 11 of the last 12 meetings, and six straight in Milwaukee.Im not concerned about our offense, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. But until we commit to the defensive end, were kidding ourselves.Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and added 11 assists, while Snell had a season-high 16 points.But with the game on the line, Lowry hit from 27 feet out with 1:06 left and DeRozan knocked down a 16-foot jumper over Snell and Antetokounmpo to make it 101-97.We tried to throw different bodies at him, show him different looks, and he made the shot that counted, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.What did DeRozan see with two defenders bearing down?The basket, he said.TIP-INSRaptors: DeRozan, who has scored 25 points or more in 13 of 16 games, also finished with four assists, the eighth straight game hes had at least four. . . . Toronto also hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter.Bucks: Milwaukee recalled guard Rashad Vaughn from the NBA Development League, but did not play. The D-League didnt have practice for three days, so we had to bringg him back, Kidd said.dddddddddddd It was not a vacation. . . . It was the first of four `Fear the Deer games this season, featuring black jerseys and an alternate court design. . . . Milwaukees last lead came at 29-27 in the second quarter.THREE-POINT PROWESSTwo nights after the Raptors made 12 3-pointers in a win at Houston, they went 14 of 31 from behind the arc against the Bucks, who came in with the No. 1 defensive 3-point percentage in the league at 30.6 percent.We arent forcing anything, DeRozan said. We have guys who can penetrate and kick, and guys who can make wide open shots.GREAT TRIPThe Raptors completed their longest road trip with a 3-2 record, also including wins at Houston and Denver.We need to get all the wins we can on a road trip, said Terrence Ross, who finished with eight points. It is going to feel good to be back in front of the home crowd, getting to sleep in our own beds.MONROE SIGHTINGRarely seen Bucks big man Greg Monroe, who signed a $50 million, three-year max deal in 2015, scored eight points and adding 10 rebounds in 19 minutes of play.He had received just 20 minutes in the previous four games combined, scoring just eight total points and grabbing eight rebounds.UP NEXTRaptors: Host Philadelphia on Monday to start a season-high stretch of six home games in 11 days.Bucks: At Orlando on Sunday following Tuesdays 93-89 victory against the Magic, when Antetokounmpo notched his first triple-double of the season. ' ' '