Following their end-of-season collapse, Dave Nonis told TSN Radio 1050 that hes looking to get the Leafs back to where they were two seasons ago when the team broke their seven-year playoff drought. The GM said the additions of Leo Komarov, Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak were made with the expectation that the veterans would set an on-ice example of the way the Leafs want their top players to compete. “Those players can generate a lot of emotion and they can bring players into the fight with them, and thats what we had two years ago and we need to get it back this year,” Nonis said. Despite the addition of two defencemen, Nonis said he wasnt overly concerned about his back-ends overall talent level, but felt like their fit as a group of six wasnt ideal. “We wanted to change the way we played the game. With Robidas and Roman, youre talking about guys who play very very hard and the compete-level of those guys is a big part of their game and we think itll rub off with the rest of our group.” Besides the players he did sign and acquire, Nonis also weighed in on the loss of centre Dave Bolland, and the Josh Gorges situation, in which the veteran blueliner accepted a deal to the Sabres after vetoing a trade that would have sent him to Toronto. “We did put a significant offer on the table for him,” Nonis said of the Bolland negotiations. “We felt it was reflective of his value to us, where he should be paid and there was another team that felt like he should be paid more.” On Gorges: “I may find that odd, but thats his choice and hes earned that right.” To round out his roster, Nonis mentioned he is still in the market for forward depth, pointing out the Leafs are looking to put an emphasis on increasing the reliance on their fourth line. “Your third and fourth lines have to contribute,” Nonis said, adding that he recognizes the leagues top teams use their fourth line for between eight and 12 minutes a game in order to lighten the ................ on top-end players and prevent them from wearing down. In addition to possible future free agent additions, Nonis speculated Josh Leivo, David Broll and possibly Sam Carrick could challenge for a roster spots up front next season, while on the back-end, Petter Granberg and Stuart Percy could work their way into the mix. Addressing the rumours surrounding back-up goaltender James Reimer, Nonis said he is fielding offers for the 26-year-old, but if a deal cant be reached expects him to be ready for the start of camp. “If theres a deal that makes sense for us to move James Reimer, and makes us better and gives us assets that are reflective of what he is, which is a goaltender who has been a no. 1, who could challenge for a no. 1 here, then youll look to do it,” Nonis said. “But its difficult finding quality goaltenders. We think he is one and I would expect if there isnt a deal that makes sense that he would come to camp in the best shape that he could possibly be in with the mindset to play in as many games as he can.” Nonis: Leafs looking to increase compete-level
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Matt Belisle Nationals Jersey . Take a look at TSN. PORTLAND, Ore. -- LaMarcus Aldridge wasnt even sure he was going to play against the Clippers. Portlands top scorer and rebounder had his wisdom teeth removed on Sunday. So on Thursday night he was still in some pain. Worse, he hadnt had much to eat. But Aldridge came out and had 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers in a 116-112 overtime victory over the Clippers. "Ive had nothing but soup for the last four days," he lamented. "So I was a little worried about my energy levels." In the end, he didnt even have a turnover as the surprising Blazers upped their record to an NBA-best 24-5. Portland has won seven of their last eight games, and theyve dropped just two at home this season. The Clippers, playing the second of a back-to-back, mounted a challenge after trailing by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter. Blake Griffin had 35 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Paul finished with 34 points and 16 assists. Aldridge hit a fadeaway with 39 seconds left in overtime and Portland went ahead 110-109. Griffin missed a layup on the other end before Nicolas Batum made a pair of free throws to make it 112-109 with 26.5 seconds to go. After Griffin dunked to narrow it again, Damian Lillard made two free throws for Portland. Portland clung to a 114-112 lead with 13.4 seconds left and padded it with Wesley Matthews foul shots. Paul missed a 3-point attempt as time ran out. Aldridge scored all of Portlands field goals in overtime, and finished with his ninth game this season with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds, second only to Minnesotas Kevin Love. As for his teeth? "Its a little bit throbbing," he shrugged. It was the second of back-to-back losses for the Clippers. Earlier Thursday, the NBA said its referees made a mistake when they ejected Griffin in the teams 105-103 loss to the Warriors on Wednesday night. Griffin got his second technical with 10:43 left after scuffling with Andrew Bogut, following Warriors forward Draymond Green to the showers after they got into it at the end of the third. "A common foul should have been called on Griffin for initially attempting to dislodge the Warriors Andrew Bogut and a technical foul should have been asssessed to Bogut for grabbing Griffin by the shirt and wrestling with him," Rod Thorn, the NBAs president of basketball operations, said in a statement.dddddddddddd Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he thought Griffin handled the situation well. "Everyone is a target at some point in their career," Rivers said. "You just have to play through it." It was the second ejection for the Clippers in as many games. Forward Matt Barnes was ejected with 56 seconds left in the third quarter of a 120-116 OT win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. Barnes fouled Love. "Its a long season. Were in a bad ejection rut right now," Rivers said. "Well get out of it." No one got tossed on Thursday. Mo Williams made back-to-back 3s to give Portland a 34-22 in the first half. The Clippers responded with a 9-0 run to close to 34-31, but Aldridge scored six straight points in an 8-2 run and Portland stretched the margin to 42-33. Pauls 3-pointer closed the Clippers to within 47-46 at the intermission. Dorell Wright hit a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers an 84-75 lead early in the fourth quarter. But the Clippers clawed back in, and Pauls pull-up jumper made it 97-96 for Los Angeles first lead of the second half. After Aldridges tip-in, Paul added another jumper to give the Clippers a 99-98 lead then nailed a step-back 21-footer from the corner with 9.3 seconds left. Undaunted, Batum hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 101 with 5.3 seconds to go. Paul missed a 17-footer to send the game into overtime. "I got right where I wanted to -- I probably tricked myself too much, I dont even know if they had a foul to give," Paul said. "And with five seconds left I think I went a little too quick because I thought they were going to try and use one of their fouls. I didnt think I would end up as wide open as I was -- Ive got to make that shot. " Notes: The game was the first of three meetings between the two teams this season. The Clippers claimed last seasons series 3-1. ... The Clippers 14 first-quarter points are the fewest theyve scored in the first quarter. ... DeAndre Jordan finished with 19 rebounds before fouling out in overtime. ... Barnes also fouled out in OT.
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