Bryan Colangelo has admitted to tanking. The former Toronto Raptors general manager spoke to the MIT Sports Analytics Conference in Toronto on Friday where he said that he intended for the Raptors to finish as close to the Eastern Conference basement as possible in the lockout shortened 2011-12 season in hope of winning the NBA Draft lottery. "Admittedly, I will say, I tried to tank a couple years ago," said Colangelo to the conference. "And I didnt come out and say, Coach (Dwane Casey), youve got to lose games. I never said that. I wanted to have him establish a winning tradition and a culture and all of that, but I wanted to do it in the framework of playing and developing young players, and with that comes losing. Theres just no way to avoid that, but I never once said, Youve got to lose this game." The Raptors finished the 2011-12 season 23-43, good for 11th in the Eastern Conference, 12 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the final playoff spot in the East, and the eighth-worst record in the NBA. The team neither rose, nor fell in the lottery, receiving the eighth-overall pick in the 2012 draft where they selected Terrence Ross out of the University of Washington. The 2007 NBA Executive of the Year (with the Phoenix Suns) was speaking on a proposal currently in front of the NBA Board of Governors which would see the draft lottery and any incentive to bottom out eliminated. Colangelo was relieved of his general manager position last May in favour of Masai Ujiri and eventually resigned his post as Raptors president the following month. Terry Rozier Jersey . Langer appeared to be in trouble when his second shot on the par-5 18th ended up in the rough short of the green. He hit a brilliant pitch to 5 feet and made the putt after Slumans birdie attempt rolled just wide. 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In his career, he has three goals and six assists in 43 NHL games.NEW YORK – A pall loomed over the tight quarters of the New York Rangers dressing room Tuesday afternoon, mere hours after their hopes of capturing Lord Stanleys mug dimmed to the very faintest light. A third straight loss has them staring dead in the eye of elimination and try as they might, belief of some valiant comeback was difficult to summon on this day. The faces were long, sour and glum ahead of Game 4 at MSG on Wednesday night, to be expected in light of a gaping 3-0 series hole. "Im not going to lie to you, its a tough day today," said a particularly downcast Brad Richards, the 34-year-olds dreams of a second Cup fading dramatically after a 3-0 loss in Game 3. "I mean, the goal is to get through today and [Wednesday] will be a Stanley Cup playoff game-day and Im sure everybody will be in a lot better mood, a lot better outlook to try to get in and win a game." "Belief is everything," Martin St. Louis said, his beard speckled with grey in the final days of the postseason. "Right now, its a big mountain to climb but once you get into battle … first shift you get into battle, get into the game, win a game and now its 3-1 and you go from there. You cant look at trying to win four. Youre trying to win one." Despite the appearance of a one-sided series, the Rangers know full well that this Cup Final has been anything but; two overtime games that couldve gone either way followed by Jonathan Quicks brilliance in a Game 3 during which they controlled puck possession. But as Rangers coach Alain Vigneault put it – his mood predictably sour – none of that matters now. One game is all that counts. One more loss and hope of adding the first Cup in New York in 20 years dies a quiet death. "Whatever talk you might use, at the end of the day for us right now, its about one game," Vigneault said. "Thats as simple and logical and realistic as I can put it for you. We have to focus on one game and thats what were going to do." Though it matters little at this point, as stressed by Vigneault, the even nature of the series does offer the slightest bit of belief for the Rangers. Heavy underdoogs coming into the series, theyve stood toe-to-toe with the Kings, felled by their opponents will under duress, unmatched depth and an unfortunate bounce or two.dddddddddddd "Its not like weve been outplayed here – thats not been the case," said Henrik Lundqvist, appearing most at ease amongst a tense New York group. "Theyve been good, but I think weve been playing pretty good, as well. It comes down to a couple plays here and there. Thats been the difference in these games. But it starts with your belief and it starts with how you approach this game and the games after that. But they know its possible and we know its possible." Only four teams have ever rallied from a 3-0 series deficit, including L.A. in the opening round against San Jose. New York dug out from a 3-1 deficit itself in the second round against the Penguins, winning Game 7 on the road in Pittsburgh. This task, however, opposite maybe the most complete and mentally-tested team in the league, is almost beyond comprehension. Felled by Quicks 32 saves in Game 3, adjustments for the next one are simple for the head coach. "Score," said Vigneault, hopeful that the 28-year-old Kings goaltender wasnt locked in again on Wednesday night. A power play goal for a group thats managed one in 14 opportunities might be of help as well. "You keep repeating the process," added Richards, the Rangers centre held without a point through three games, "firing more on net, and youd expect eventually something is going to go in. For sure, you can always will words and battle and all that, you can talk about it, be better. The third period of Game 1, the ice was tilted, but overall the ice hasnt felt that tilted in this series. Theyre a calm, cool, collected team that doesnt get rattled and it just seems that theyre scoring at the right times and getting big saves at the right times." At their darkest point, the sky notably cloudy in midtown Manhattan, the Rangers were simply trying to summon some kind of light. "Its the waiting and thinking thats the tough part," Richards said. "Weve gotta get back in the battle and see where it goes." ' ' '