SACRAMENTO - Regardless of how the rest of the campaign shakes out, when its all said and done December 8 will be a date that jumps out as a turning point, not only for the Raptors but for Rudy Gay himself. Its been two seasons in one for both parties and neither will look back on the first 18 games fondly. "I think I took the fall for a lot of things," said Gay, reflecting on his short time in Toronto ahead of Wednesdays game against his former club. "But its happened before and itll happen again." Rightly or wrongly, Gay has and will continue to shoulder most of the blame for Torontos 6-12 start, the same way his exodus will be credited for the teams remarkable turnaround. Theres no avoiding it. In Toronto, Gay was the offence, more or less. He was taking more shots than ever before, shooting the lowest percentages of his career and as a result the team was losing. The numbers are pretty conclusive, the Raptors are a better team without him on the roster. However, Gay has also taken off since the trade to Sacramento, which goes to show you that finding the right fit - although its easier said than done - can make a big difference. "I think here theres just more space [in the offence]," said Gay, who is averaging more points and taking fewer shots with the Kings. "Obviously with the kind of season Kyle (Lowry) is having and with DeMar (DeRozan) sometimes it would be a little cluttered out there, especially at the guard position. Here theres just more space for me to do what I do." Gay has shot 50 per cent or better in 17 of his 25 games with the Kings after doing so in one of 18 contests to begin the season in Toronto. Overall, hes hitting 53 per cent of his field goal attempts since the trade, having shot 39 per cent before it. "It just wasnt working up there for whatever reason," said Kings first-year head coach Mike Malone. "But when we made the acquisition we looked at Rudy as a complete player and his whole history, including his years in Memphis and you see how efficient and effective hes been for us." He credits most of that improvement to a system thats more conducive to his style of play, a system that revolves around dominant centre DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is one of just three NBA players averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds this season. The attention he attracts in the paint has created space for Gay to operate on the perimeter. "You look at Torontos roster and no disrespect to Jonas (Valanciunas) or Amir (Johnson) but they dont have a true low-post presence," Malone said. "When Rudy was in Memphis he had two [frontcourt] guys that he could play with in Marc (Gasol) and Zach (Randolph) and we just thought the idea of putting him on the perimeter with the inside presence of [Cousins] could really allow him to showcase his abilities." "So it is a fit and guys have to compliment each other and thats what putting together a roster is all about," he continued. "Up there, for whatever reason, DeMar and Rudy on the court maybe wasnt a mesh, maybe [there] wasnt enough shots to go around. Im not sure what it was but all I can tell you is that the games that weve had Rudy hes been a great fit." The marriage between Gay and the Raptors, which lasted less than a full year, was flawed from the outset. He and DeRozan had repetitive skill sets that clashed on the court, restricting Lowry from playing to his strengths and stunting the growth of Valanciunas. Dwane Casey tried his best to fit square pegs into round holes until the inevitable split up freed his team and their most expensive player. The pieces just didnt fit. Though his pre-trade numbers may suggest otherwise, Gay never threw in the towel or lost hope that they would figure it out. "I think we had a chance to be a really good team," he said, two months removed from the deal. "I mean obviously theyre a really good team now but I still dont feel we had a lot of time to build and become a big threat in the East." Without Gay the Raptors have a record of 20-10, third best in the Eastern Conference behind only Indiana and Miami. They have recorded 20 or more assists in 24 of those 30 games, averaging 22.9 per contest, ninth-best over that stretch after ranking last in that category before the trade (averaging 17.3). They have gone from the 19th ranked three-point shooting team (34 per cent) to the fifth best (38 per cent) and find themselves in the top 10 in both offensive (10th) and defensive (fifth) efficiency since Dec. 8. "I think the trade helped both of us," Gay said. "Im here, I have more room and they have a solid bench. [Theres] no hard feelings. I love the fact that those guys are winning." Meanwhile, Gays reprisal hasnt translated to team success in Sacramento, at least not yet. The Kings are 11-19 since the trade, tied for the worst record in the West overall. Theyre last in the NBA in assists since Gays arrival but its been their defence, among the worst in the league, that has held them back more than anything else. Yet with Gay on board, paired with a young core of Cousins and breakout point guard Isaiah Thomas, the Kings are optimistic about the future. They have reason to be. "We couldnt be happier with Rudy and hes shown that hes much more than just a scorer," Malone said. "Hes proven to everybody that he can be a very efficient player so thats been a bonus." Fake Retro Air Jordan . Manager Ryan Nelsen has confirmed Brazilian No. 1 Julio Cesar will be rested for Wednesdays first leg of the semifinal. That opens the door for Bendik, who started 33 games for Toronto last season. Air Jordan Black Friday . -- Chad Labelle scored the winner 17:36 into the third period to give Medicine Hat a 2-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday and lift the Tigers into the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. https://www.fakejordanwholesale.com/. Watch the announcement live on TSN.ca at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. This years honourees will be recognized at the 2014 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, scheduled for June 23-24 in Vancouver. Cheap Air Jordan Online . James Erskine said Tuesday that Thorpe was "quite sick" in a Sydney hospital but dismissed media reports the swimmer might lose the use of his left arm. "Hes not in the intensive care," Erskine said. Wholesale Air Jordan . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports.BOCA RATON, Fla. -- All talk and no major changes didnt make this a dull NHL general managers meeting. A handful of GMs considered the three-day get together an excellent use of time because of the amount and quality of ideas that were discussed, including expanded video replay, coachs challenges and three-on-three in overtime. "Theres been a lot of discussion about a lot of different aspects of the game," Mike Gillis of the Vancouver Canucks said. "In my six years now, I think its one of the most productive meetings weve ever had." Ultimately only three things are set to be recommended for consideration to the competition committee: changing ends in overtime for a longer change, making faceoff violators move back instead of being tossed out and altering the faceoff circles to push players on the outside further away from each other. Those must go to the competition committee in June and then potentially to the board of governors for approval. A more liberal interpretation of kicked-in goals - allowing them to count if a players skate blade is on the ice - does not need to be approved by those parties. Commissioner Gary Bettman says the recommendations made represented the best ways to tweak a game that got rave reviews this week at Boca Beach Club. The feeling was that GMs didnt want to make changes just for the sake of it. "Were not looking at any core fundamental problems," Bettman said. "Thats a testament to the work the general managers do on an ongoing basis. In a meeting like this you can have a good, candid discussion, you can raise ideas and talk about why they work and why they dont work." Figuring out why a lot of ideas dont work, or at least bringing up unsolved issues that could lead to unintended consequences, was a large part of what the general managers did. Three-on-three in overtime, longer overtimes, video review, a coachs challenge system and goaltender interference engendered plenty of conversation and debate, but there was no consensus to move ahead with immediate changes in those areas and others for next season. Bettman said more "homework" can be done on those issues before the competition committee meets in June and then the GMs re-convene during the Stanley Cup final. But even though not much came of this meeting, count Craig MacTavish of the Edmonton Oilers as someone who believes one of the best changes was one that wasnt made. "I am happy there wasnt more done about video review," MacTavish said. There could be tweaks in thhat area in the not-too-distant future, including giving the situation room in Toronto more leeway on goals and possibly even putting video monitors in penalty boxes so that referees can make a better determination of goaltender interference.dddddddddddd A last-minute goal by the Philadelphia Flyers against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night was waved off and likely could have been reviewable in that process if it were available. Calgary Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke wondered if that might get a look during the pre-season. Hes all about ideas being discussed and tried out. "I just keep putting the stuff on the agenda, and I figure sooner than later some will pass," he said Tuesday. The lockout eliminated one opportunity to throw scenarios and possibilities around, as the GMs didnt have their normal three-day Florida meeting last year. Kevin Cheveldayoff of the Winnipeg Jets thinks thats why this was such a productive meeting. "I think theres lots of maybe pent-up thoughts from the last time that were able to have a multi-day discussion like this," Cheveldayoff said. George McPhee of the Washington Capitals thinks these meetings are always productive because of the exchange of ideas. "Even if we dont implement a new rule theyre productive because youve had comprehensive discussion about it and you do whats right for the game," McPhee said. The GMs dismissed a few things that they dont think need to change, such as goaltender fights. That was a hot topic at Novembers one-day setup meeting, which came soon after the incident involving Ray Emery of the Flyers and Braden Holtby of the Capitals. There simply wasnt enough support to even consider changes there after one event. "The rules are what they are and from a whole variety of constituencies, including the players, there doesnt seem to be any change in the consensus right now," Bettman said. "To effectuate a change there would have to be a change among the constituent groups and Ive been told is that if you ask the players it would be 99 to one that you leave it the way it is. So, it is something well continue to look at it, but there was nothing to report." There wasnt much to report overall. Thats not necessarily a bad thing. "There are no major announcements or major changes," Bettman said. "There will be some recommendations, some things people will look at ... but you should continue to enjoy the game principally the way its being played." ' ' '