NAPA, Calif. -- Coach Jack Del Rio walked off the field after the first training camp practice and was quickly asked about the buzz surrounding his Oakland Raiders team that might finally have the ingredients to end a 13-year playoff drought.We play a little buzz coverage, Del Rio joked Friday before acknowledging and accepting the heightened expectations heading into his second year as Raiders coach.Its a tough division but we come in expecting to win our division, he said. Thats our goal. Thats our goal every year. I started that last year. We certainly arent going to back away from anything like that.Talking tough and actually contending are far different but this years Raiders team appears to have the necessary pieces to help the franchise reverse a downward slide that has featured 13 straight years without a playoff berth or a winning record.Quarterback Derek Carr took a major step forward in Year 2 in the NFL and has ended the revolving door at the position that had hindered Oakland ever since former MVP Rich Gannon left following the 2004 season.Carr has a strong offensive line to protect him, a 1,000-yard back in Latavius Murray to relieve some pressure and most importantly a big-time receiver in Amari Cooper, who caught 72 passes for 1,070 yards as a rookie last year.Carr has heard plenty about the hype surrounding his team as friends around the league spent the offseason praising moves like the additions of linebacker Bruce Irvin, cornerback Sean Smith, safety Reggie Nelson and guard Kelechi Osemele and told him the Raiders are a team to be feared.As much as he appreciates those compliments after starting his career in 2014 on an overmatched team that lost its first 10 games and changed coaches before finishing 3-13, he mostly tunes them out.I put so much pressure on myself I dont get caught up in `we expect this, we expect that, Carr said. I already expect greatness and perfection.Carr said he keeps a close eye on the team to make sure that the outside praise doesnt lead to complacency.He is pleased with what he saw this offseason as players put in the same extra work and effort they did even when the team struggled his rookie season.When the extra stuff stops, when the hard work stops, thats when you need to worry, he said.It helps that two of the hardest workers are the top players on both sides of the ball in Carr and edge rusher Khalil Mack. The teams top two picks in the 2014 draft talked about changing the culture in Oakland soon after they were drafted and they have done a good job so far in their short time as pros.They have produced as well.Carr is coming off a 32-touchdown season and is now seeking to become more efficient and consistent as he hopes to take another step forward. Mack emerged as one the top defensive players in the league last year, recording 15 sacks to go along with stout run defense that helped him get named a first-team All Pro at both defensive end and linebacker.Now they hope to contribute to some team success as well as the Raiders seek to improve on last years 7-9 record.I feel like were in the midst of a great turnaround, Mack said.Game notes First-round S Karl Joseph (knee) practiced for the first time with the full team after undergoing knee surgery last season at West Virginia. ... The Raiders hosted about 90 former players as part of alumni weekend. The team also hosted military members for the opening day of practice. ... Oakland signed DT Derrick Lott and placed RB Roy Helu Jr. on injured reserve. ... G Vadal Alexander practiced after starting the week on the non-football injury list.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLNike Air Max Plus Tn Nere . 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Scarpe Air Max 96 Scontate . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs guard Tony Parker said Saturday the strained right hamstring that wore him down this week could tear "any time now" heading into Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. But hes giving no thought to letting the injury properly heal. "If it was the regular season, I would be resting like 10 days," Parker said. "But now its the NBA Finals. If it gets a tear, its life." It would also deal a major blow to the Spurs chances of winning this title. Yet despite the blunt assessment of his hamstring, the All-Star told reporters he is getting stronger on the eve of San Antonios final home game Sunday night. Parker said he is confident, staying disciplined with treatment and still aspires to be "close to 100 per cent" by tipoff. Thats exactly how the 31-year-old point guard looked to start Game 4 on Thursday night, two days after straining the hamstring in a blowout win. But Parker faded badly after a sizzling start, going scoreless in the second half while the Heat pulled away and tied the series 2-all, reclaiming home-court advantage. Parker acknowledged feeling fatigued as Game 4 dragged on. His scoring average in the Finals has dipped to 13.8 points after arguably the best season of his 12-year career. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich downplayed the severity of Parkers injury and the struggles of another of his Big Three, guard Manu Ginobili, who is shooting a career-worst 38 per cent in the playoffs but whose need to pick up the slack heightens when Parker is ailing. "Theyre fine," Popovich said Saturday. Popovichs concern instead: turnovers. Especially now that the Spurs are faced with needing another win in Miami -- and mmaybe two -- in order to claim a fifth championship.dddddddddddd They stole Game 1 in South Beach behind an exceptionally careful and disciplined game by NBA standards -- playoffs or regular season -- tying a Finals record with just four turnovers. But since then, the Spurs have 49 turnovers, including 36 in two losses. Sloppy play is one culprit. But so is the sheer athleticism and talent of the Heat, which has scored 42 points off turnovers in its two victories. Making matters worse for the Spurs in Game 4 was the resurgence of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who combined to score 85 of Miamis 109 points on Thursday night. San Antonio has survived careless ball protection this season, going 25-13 when committing 16 or more turnovers. But against Miamis Big Three, the margin for error shrinks. "You got to be close to perfect to beat them," Ginobili said Saturday. "And we were pretty far from that (in Game 4). If theyre having an OK game, we can make a few mistakes here and there and we can mask it. But when theyre playing like we just cant make mistakes." Popovich has stressed movement and not playing in crowds against the Heat, which is 43-3 when forcing teams into 16 or more turnovers. Spurs guard Gary Neal put a comfortable -- and realistic -- range of turnovers for the Spurs to win around 10 or 12. That leaves Parker with two goals for Game 5: hope his hamstring holds up better, and play less recklessly. "We have to understand that their identity is to play aggressive defence, and they gamble, and theyre going to take a lot of chances with steals and blocks," Parker said. "We just have to be smarter with our decisions." ' ' '