TORONTO -- After playing eight of their past 10 games on the road, the Toronto Raptors open a season-long six-game homestand Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers.When the Raptors defeated the Bucks 105-99 Friday at Milwaukee, they finished their 10-game grind with a 6-4 record.On the road, youve been edgy, youve been uptight, youve got the you-against-the-world mentality, Toronto coach Dwane Casey said Sunday. Now you come home to the comforts of home and relax and we cant do that. Weve got some good teams coming in, the young, athletic Philly team coming in, Memphis is playing well, the Lakers are playing well and Atlanta. Its going to be a tough homestand, it wont be a piece of cake whatsoever. The homestand will end with games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.The Raptors (10-6) are 4-3 at home and Philadelphia is 0-5 on the road this season.The 76ers (4-13) are coming off a 112-108 loss to the Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday after leading for the first three quarters.Philadelphia center Joel Embiid, who is coming back from foot injuries that cost him the past two seasons, will not make the trip to Toronto after scoring 22 points with nine rebounds in 25 minutes on Sunday.We played hard, Embiid said. We had a good defensive game. They just played better.The game Monday will be the sixth he will have missed this season. The restriction in minutes and the skipping of some games fit in with his rehabilitation program. He also did not play in the 105-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday.You come up with some really hard decisions that maybe dont favor me or us or whatever, 76ers coach Brett Brown said. But for the long-term lens that we all have, we have to be responsible with Joel Embiid. Winning a game in the middle of November in 2016, sometimes that takes a back seat.The 76ers were without point guard Jerryd Bayless on Sunday because of a sore left wrist. Bayless, a former Raptor, missed the first 13 games of the season after suffering a torn ligament in the wrist during training camp. The free-agent acquisition played in only three games. Bayless said his wrist was sore when he played against the Bulls on Friday.The Raptors made a season-best 14 3-pointers against the Bucks and had double-digit scoring from six players.While the offense is working, the concern remains the defense.Weve got to be more conscious of letting teams get easy buckets, transition buckets, make everything a lot tougher on them, said Toronto guard DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging 30.2 points. Especially from the 3. Just be more disciplined. We cant have mistakes. Once we get clicking defensively and everything comes together as one, we have a chance to be really good.Improving the defense is constantly on Caseys mind.If we have to get guys in there that are going to be committed to the defensive end, weve got to do that because to get where we want to go, were kidding ourselves if were not committed to that end, Casey said.Forward DeMarre Carroll is improving as he returns from knee surgery and that should help the Raptors defense. He also scored 14 points on Friday.Thats what Ive got to do, Carroll said. Theyre double-teaming Kyle (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan). Ive got to be able to space the floor, especially in the first unit. Im just trying to do my part. I know at the beginning of the season I wasnt doing my part, but now Im trying to step up, and Im just trying to progress and not look back. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys . Tracey comes to the Blue Bombers after spending over a decade with Queens University. Most recently he was the schools assistant football coach. http://www.wholesalenfljerseysofficial.com/ . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. 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Or so the Rockies are banking on, finalizing a $70 million, five-year contract Tuesday with the two-time All-Star whos gone from shortstop to outfielder and now back to the infield.I have all the faith in the world that Ians going to be a good first baseman, Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said.The 31-year-old Desmond will take over for Mark Reynolds, whos now a free agent. And while Desmond cant recall ever playing the position, even as a kid, he did prove to be a fast learner last season when he moved from shortstop to the outfield for the Rangers.I know what it takes to be prepared every day and thats what Im going to do, said Desmond, who had his wife and young kids sitting in the front row for his introductory news conference.Desmond played at an All-Star level for the Rangers in 2016, hitting .285 with 22 homers and 86 RBI as he split time between left and center.Before that, he was a shortstop for the Washington Nationals.The Rockies gave him a lucrative deal to learn a new skill set at Coors Field, where hes a .379 career hitter in 23 games.Yes, the ball does fly here. Yes, it is a good place to hit, Desmond said. For me, personally, the reason I play well here is because I like coming here. I enjoy coming to Colorado. I enjoy the people in the city. Im from small town in Florida, where when you put the blinker on to change lanes, the people behind you wave. Thats very common here.Desmond will get salaries of $8 million next year, $22 million in 2018, $15 million apiece in 2019 and 2020, and $8 million in 2021. Colorado has a $15 million option for 2022 with a $2 million buyout.He would get a $1 million assignment bonus if traded, and if traded he could not be dealt additionnal times without his consent.ddddddddddddTo hone his fielding skills, Desmond borrowed one of the gloves of Correlle Prime, who just so happens to be a first baseman in the Rockies system. Years ago, Desmond took Prime under his wing when Prime worked out at the same hitting facility in the Sarasota, Florida, area.Little did the friends realize one day they would be in the same organization -- playing the same position.Its bittersweet for me, Desmond said. Trying to get this young man prepared for the big leagues and hes a first baseman and Im proud of how far hes come and the progress hes made. Now, I come in and play first base. Were talking and its like, I would rather it be me than anybody else.Now I get to go to spring training with him. Now he gets to watch me work during the season. I get to see what he does firsthand and see if theres anything I can help him with. Just be there to support him.One things for sure: Desmond has a talented infield to work with in third baseman and perennial Gold Glover Nolan Arenado, shortstop Trevor Story and second baseman DJ LeMahieu.Desmond certainly wont force his way into a leadership dynamic, either. Not his style. Hes more of a quiet leader.You cant come here and expect to be the man, Desmond said. Im going to come in with a lot of respect for those guys, just get in where I fit in.Hes not sure where he might bat in a potent lineup that also features outfielders Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra. Hes on board with wherever first-year Colorado manager Bud Black pencils him in.Im going to work as hard as I can right now to be the best first baseman I can be, Desmond said. Ill keep the other tools fresh also, just to try to be as much of a help as I can.I think about the opportunity here and I think about how much of a sports town this is, how deserving these fans are. That is what brought me here. First base just happened to be the position I was able to fill. Its not about the ball flying (at Coors Field) -- this is about the opportunity to bring winning back here. 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