TORONTO - The Raptors learned a little bit about themselves in a narrow defeat to the Chicago Bulls Wednesday, a game with playoff-type intensity and their third consecutive against an opponent directly behind them in the standings. Paul Posluszny Jersey . On Thursday theyll learn even more. Despite the cloud of uncertainty that has followed them around from the moment general manager Masai Ujiri was brought in to put his stamp on the franchise, the Raptors have surpassed all pre-season expectations. They have navigated through early-season tank speculation, theyve come together after a momentum shifting seven-player deal and they continue to block out the noise emitting from the incessant batch of rumours surrounding their starting point guard. At 3:00 PM et Thursday afternoon all that noise will be muzzled until the offseason, all the uncertainty finally put to bed. Finally, they will all know where they stand, at least for the next couple months. So, with the big day rapidly approaching, will Kyle Lowry - the primary subject of trade speculation - be losing any sleep on the eve of the deadline? "Nope," scoffed the Raptors point guard, as that question was posed following his teams 94-92 loss to the Bulls. "Not at all." "Any other questions about that," he asked, daring the hoard of local media to try their luck again. There were no more questions. It was worth a try, after all, its the question thats on everyones mind. Will Lowry be wearing a Raptors jersey when the team hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday? Still, it was a futile attempt to get a rise out of a player who has been relatively unshakable all season. Lowry, like the rest of his teammates, is fully aware of whats at stake as he waits to learn his fate. The upcoming deadline has been on the their minds, whether they care to admit it or not, but its not a subject thats welcome for discussion in the locker room. "Thankfully on this team, no, no ones talked about it, no ones mentioned it," said Patrick Patterson, ahead of the teams win in Washington Tuesday. "The only thing Ive seen is just stuff on Twitter, the internet, Bleacher Report, whatever, yada, yada, yada, rumours but as far as this group of guys from the coaching staff on down to each player on the roster, no one has mentioned anything." Patterson arrived in the trade from Sacramento on Dec. 9, along with Kings teammates Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes. Since then, this team has gelled in a way that no one could have possibly imagined, going 22-12 with the new additions in uniform. Chemistry is a word thats been used to describe this group both on and off the floor and, as Ujiri has insisted, its something the Raptors general manager values above all else. Ujiri, in conversation with TSN.ca over the weekend, expressed a reluctance to disrupt that newfound chemistry unless the right deal comes along. Hes not alone. Dwane Casey wouldnt mind seeing 15 familiar faces in the locker room when he comes into work on Friday. "I like our guys," Casey said. "I know Masai is working 24/7 on the phones and looking at different scenarios. We talked a long time today. But I like our guys. If we (bring) our team back Im happy." "I always said since I came (here), the players will dictate where we go and the team will dictate where we go," Ujiri told TSN.ca on Sunday. "Thats kind of how its been." The players have spoken. The Raptors hold third place in the Eastern Conference, a 1/2 game in front of the fourth-seeded Bulls after Wednesdays loss. They were outplayed on both ends of the floor in the second night of a back-to-back. It was a brutally physical and fiercely competitive game in which seven technical fouls were handed out. The Raptors were down and out early but they fought back, as they have done time and time again, showing mental and physical toughness. Theyre a resilient bunch, theyve proven that, and they believe theyve earned the right to see this thing out. "I believe that nothing will (happen Thursday)," Patterson predicted. "No trades will be made due to the success that weve had since the (Sacramento deal)." "Why break up something thats been going so well," he asked, rhetorically. "None of us are talking about trades, none of us are talking about wanting to leave and everyone is happy with the current situation." Chad Henne Jersey .J. -- Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch deservedly draw the attention for what theyve done in getting the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Brandon Allen Jersey .C. - Canadian ice dancing, it seems, is in good hands. http://www.shopthejaguarsonline.com/Elite-Dawuane-Smoot-Jaguars-Jersey/ . A larger-than-life personality known for his intimidating style in the 18-yard box, Schmeichels career spanned some 20 years -- including a memorable tenure at Manchester United.METAIRIE, La. -- Jonathan Vilmas season is over and his future on the football field is in doubt. The New Orleans Saints placed Vilma to injured reserve, ending his season -- and possibly his career -- only three days after he had returned for his first game of this season. Still, his teammates expect him to be around and play a role in their success going forward. "Hes the heart and soul (of the defence). His voice speaks very, very loud," veteran safety Roman Harper said. "Hes always with us. He taught me how to play this game. Theres a mental aspect of what he brings to a team and the leadership aspect is matched by none. Hell still be around and still be doing whatever he needs to do. "Weve always called him player-coach anyway," Harper added. "He knows everything." Vilma began the season on short-term injured reserve because of an arthroscopic procedure in August on his left knee, which has troubled him through multiple surgeries over the past two-plus seasons. The designation allowed the 10th-year linebacker to return to practice in Week 8 and to the active roster in Week 9. Vilma was activated Saturday and played 12 defensive snaps in a 26-20 loss to his former team, the New York Jets, on Sunday. That represented about 20 per cent of the Saints defensive snaps. He was credited with one tackle. Vilma was not present in the locker room at Saints headquarters when it was open to reporters on Wednesday. After Sundays game, Vilma said he "felt fine," but added that he was eager to see how his knee responded in the coming days. "It felt good to get back on the field to run around, really be with the guys, be with my teammates," Vilma said. Coach Sean Payton did not explain or even acknowledge the roster move when he met with reporters after practice Wednesday, about two hours before it had been formally posted by the NFL. Payton generally declines to address roster moves until theyve been made official. However, the coach on Monday offered few compliments when asked about Vilmas return to action in New York. "He looked OK, rusty," Payton said. "There are some tthings that we have to get cleaned up. Brandon Linder Jersey. " Vilma was traded by the Jets to the Saints in 2008 and was a captain of the 2009 Super Bowl championship team. For his first four seasons in New Orleans, Vilma started at middle linebacker and was designated as the on-field defensive play-caller, with the earpiece in his helmet that allowed him to hear the defensive co-ordinators instructions before each play. That ended last season, when Vilma was unable to train with the Saints for much of the off-season because of his suspension in connection with the NFLs bounty probe. The league named Vilma a ring-leader in a cash-for-hits program administered by former defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams. Vilma denied the allegations and his suspension was overturned, but he still missed the first five games of 2012 while rehabilitating his knee. His 2012 off-season procedures included one in Germany by a specialist in platelet rich plasma therapy, a relatively new blood-spinning technique also used by Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Vilma played the final 11 games of last season, but not at his regular middle linebacker spot, which was assumed by Curtis Lofton. "The thing about JV is hes very cerebral, just like having a coach in there. He sees stuff I dont see because Im playing. He sees the whole picture," Lofton said, describing Vilmas exhaustive studies of opponents game video. "Hes just been a great player for this team for many years. Its just a tough break for him. He spent a lot of time getting his knee ready to come back." Notes: The Saints re-signed veteran CB Chris Carr, whod been released last week to make room on the roster for Vilma. ... RB Darren Sproles, who left last Sundays game in New York with concussion symptoms, practiced fully on Wednesday. ... Those missing practice were: S Malcolm Jenkins (knee), G Jahri Evans (hip), TE Jimmy Graham (elbow,foot), LB David Hawthorne (toe) and DE Cam Jordan (ankle). ... Two players were listed as limited: S Kenny Vaccaro (chest) and WR Marques Colston (knee). Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '