May 4

Playoffs | Heat 102, Celtics 91: James Takes Command, and the Heat Pulls Ahead

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James dunked and danced Tuesday night, skipped around the court, nearly ripped down the rim and in one symbolic moment plowed through the Boston Celtics’ star point guard, leaving him dazed and distraught. Miami Heat to a 102-91 victory and a 2-0 lead in this second-round series.

This was not a night for bit players or unexpected scoring bursts from the bench. It was almost entirely about Wade and James, two of the most riveting players in the N.B.A., and their ability to thoroughly outshine a team with three future Hall of Famers.

The Celtics kept the game close for most of the night, Wholesale Cheap gucci snapback caps despite shaky performances from their stars. But whenever Boston made a run, “we had some kind of emotional basket from one of the two of them,” Spoelstra said of Wade and James — “a dunk, a big play, a 3-point play, a drive to the rim to get fouled. LeBron was physically, mentally and emotionally tough for us tonight.” Cavaliers career. Now he has a 2-0 lead against a team that, in its current form, has never faced that deficit.

The series resumes Saturday in Boston after a three-day mini-vacation that the Celtics seem to badly need. Paul Pierce injured his left Achilles tendon in the first quarter, although it was Wholesale Cheap Red Bull caps originally reported to be his left foot. Ray Allen had to leave the game briefly after getting his chest bruised by a James elbow. Rajon Rondo had back tightness and asked out of the game early in the fourth quarter. Doc Rivers said, adding, “It was tough for me out there, because I didn’t know who was healthy or who felt good out there.” Kevin Garnett, who became a focal point of the offense, took a team-high 20 shots and made just 8, finishing with 16 points. Allen had just 7 points. Rondo was the Celtics’ only consistent performer, with 20 points and 12 assists.

Then James asserted his authority. He hit Wholesale Cheap Red Bull hats consecutive 3-pointers to take the lead back, then steamrolled Rondo on his way to a fast-break dunk. Rondo went head over heels near the foul line as the crowd roared and James soared.

Boston tied the game one last time at 80-80 with 7 minutes 10 seconds to play. But the Celtics went scoreless for nearly four minutes as Miami put the game away with a 14-0 run, including 7 Wholesale cheap ED Hardy Snapback hats points from James.

“We got to get the ball to the right guys, and that’s always on me,” Rivers said.

The Celtics have not faced a 2-0 deficit in a series since 2004, three years before Garnett and Allen arrived to support Pierce. This is as vulnerable as they have looked in four playoff runs.

REBOUNDS Shaquille O’Neal prognosis was mixed. He took a major step Monday, scrimmaging for the first time in a month. But he was limping noticeably Tuesday, a sign that his injured calf is still an issue. “He looked great yesterday,” Doc Rivers said. “He went through the whole practice. He was phenomenal, actually. He had one stretch that was phenomenal, but then by the end of the practice, he was struggling walking.” Still, Rivers said it was likely that O’NealWholsale Cheap LV snapback caps would be ready for Game 3 on Saturday. He has not played in a game since April 3. Rivers said that O’Neal could be effective, regardless of the circumstances. “He’s still big,” Rivers said, “and height matters.” … Rather than hire a singer or musician, the Heat had the crowd sing the national anthem, in recognition of the successful mission to kill Osama bin Laden.

 

 

 

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May 3

Roundup: Kings Staying Put for Now, but Arena Is Key to Future

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The Maloof family, which owns a controlling interest in the Kings, announced Monday that it would not apply for relocation, as it had been preparing to do. The Maloofs had negotiated a deal to move

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the Kings to Anaheim, where they would have shared the Honda Center with the Ducks.

The Maloofs’ announcement, which was greeted with relief and elation by Kings fans, came with a heavy caveat. If city and regional leaders cannot complete plans for a new arena “in a timely fashion,” then the team will move before the 2012-13 season, with the support of N.B.A. owners. The league’s relocation committee, a subset Wholesale cheap snapback hats of other team owners, has signaled it will approve the relocation under those circumstances. David Stern said in a conference call.

Although Los Angeles is already home to the Lakers and the Clippers, Stern indicated that Anaheim — 30 miles away — was a viable home for a third franchise. Kevin Johnson, a former N.B.A. guard, who secured $10 million in sponsorships from local businesses to demonstrate the city’s commitment.

The Kings play at Power Balance Pavilion, formerly Wholesale cheap snapback hats known as Arco Arena, which was built in 1988. It is one of the league’s oldest buildings and lacks the level of luxury suites and other amenities that an N.B.A. team needs to remain competitive, especially in a small market. By the team’s count, 11 proposals to build a new arena have failed over the last 11 years. Even as they announced their decision, the Maloofs expressed skepticism that something would get done by the Wholesale cheap ED Hardy Snapback caps March 1, 2012, deadline.

HAWKS 103, BULLS 95

For the game, Johnson made 12 of 18 shots and all five of his 3-point attempts. Crawford scored 22 points and Jeff Teague added 10 while starting at the point for the injured Kirk Hinrich. The Hawks shot 51.3 percent against one of the league’s stingiest defenses. (AP) Television viewership for the playoffs is up Wholesale Cheap Monster Energy caps nearly a third from last season. First-round games on ABC, ESPN and TNT were watched by an average of 4.15 million people, up from fewer than 3.2 million last year. To this point of the playoffs, TNT has drawn the highest average rating ever for games on cable. ESPN’s first-round ratings were the highest since it began televising the playoffs in 2003, and ABC’s were the best since 2004. (AP)

 

 

 

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May 3

Hawks 103, Bulls 95: Johnson Scores 34 and the Hawks Beat the Bulls to Take Game 1

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The MVP’s ankle injury was just added to their pain.

“Joe really got on a run,” Rose said. “He hit a couple of tough shots.”

A person familiar with the situation confirmed reports Monday night that the award is his, making him the league’s youngest winner and the Bulls’ second alongside Michael Jordan.

“It’s fine,” said Rose, who expects to be ready for Wholesale Cheap LV snapback hats Game 2. “I just twisted it a little at the end. I’ll just get some treatment.”

Johnson scored eight points during that stretch, and the Hawks hung on.

“We’re the team that nobody talks about,” Crawford said.

As alarming as all that was for the Bulls, though, Wholesale Cheap guuci snapback hats the sight of Rose limping off sent a real shiver through Chicago.

Rose sprained the same ankle in the opening round against Indiana, but even before he limped off the court, this certainly wasn’t his best night.

Luol Deng scored 21 points for Chicago while Carlos Boozer

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added 14 points and eight rebounds despite a turf toe injury on his right foot. But it was a rough night overall for the Bulls — particularly on defense.

Rose said the communication has to improve.

Pushed by Indiana in a tough five-game opening series, Wholesale cheap New Era 59Fifty caps they fought through a brutal first quarter to pull within one point at halftime and led by as many as six in the third quarter before this one slipped away.

Johnson then hit a 3 off a turnover by Deng to start the fourth. Teague added a floater and Crawford nailed a 3 to make it 80-71.

NOTES: Boozer had strong praise for Tom Thibodeau, the Coach of the Year. “So proud of him, well-deserved. Incredible coach. I told you guys all year long I was really impressed by his approach to the game, Wholesale cheap new era snapbacke caps his preparation, the way he’s been able to use us all together — different guys from different teams, different talents — and put this team together the way he has, to make us be successful in this system.” … Besides having Teague start for Hinrich, the Hawks went with Marvin Williams at small forward after he came off the bench in the opening round.

 

 

 

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May 3

One Sunday Night That Brought America Together

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There are arguably two moments in the past decade where every American will remember for the rest of their lives.

The first came nearly ten years ago on September 11th, 2011.

The second came with two outs in the bottom Wholesale cheap snapback hats of the ninth inning in a fairly meaningless April matchup between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The score was tied 1-1 and Phillies reliever Ryan Madson was on the mound, facing Mets pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy. There were runners on first and second and Murphy had a chance to put his team up Wholesale cheap New Era 59Fifty hats and give them a win against a hated division rival. With two outs, Madson delivered the pitch.

Very few remember that next pitch,or the eventual outcome of the game.

It was at that very instant that it was announced at the ballpark that a team of Navy SEALs had killed Osama Bin Laden after a ten-year worldwide search.

Suddenly, Citizens Bank Park wasn’t filled with Mets fans and

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Phillies fans. It was filled with Americans.

Almost as fast as the news broke, chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” broke out at the ballpark. Fans were seen texting friends and family about the news and scrambling to find news online on smartphones. People were rejoicing in the conclusion of a long manhunt and players on the field were even taken aback at what was happening.
113510974_crop_340x234 Elsa/Getty Images

Even veteran broadcasters in the booth couldn’t believe what they were experiencing.

ESPN announcer Bobby Valentine was perhaps most affected. Valentine was the manager of the New York Mets in 2001, when the Mets played the first game in New York City after the attacks of 9/11.

“It was pretty amazing,” Valentine said Monday in an Wholesale cheap ED Hardy Snapback capsinterview with the New York Times. “That game on Sept. 21, 2001, was the first time that many people came together in one place in New York, and last night it was probably the most people that were assembled in one place when the announcement was made that they killed Bin Laden. And the Mets were playing again. I don’t know what you would call it, but it is amazing.”

It’s fitting that this news came across the wires during a baseball game. An event that will arguably go down as one of the greatest days in American history broke while much of the country was tuned into America’s pastime, but baseball isn’t the only sport affected by the news.

Former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman left the team almost immediately after the attacks to deploy with the Army Rangers to Afghanistan to search for Bin Laden. He was killed in action by friendly fire, but will go down as a true American hero regardless of his numbers on the field.

It’s no doubt that what happened Sunday in a city in Wholesale Cheap Monster Energy capsPakistan will go down as a great American victory in the War on Terror. Over all the sports superstars and movie stars in Hollywood, the heroes that brought Bin Laden to justice will remain silent in name, but not in action. The recognition they received at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday, May 1, 2011 is proof of that.

By the way, the Mets won the game 2-1 in 14 innings. It’s safe to say, though, that this momentous event put a baseball game into perspective and showed it for what it really was–a game.

The fans…rather, the Americans in Philadelphia certainly showed that Sunday night.

 

 

 

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May 3

Vancouver Green Men, Canucks fans fight NHL ban on antics

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They’ve become as synonymous with Vancouver Canucks home games as blue sweaters and Swedish twins: The Green Men, merry pranksters of the penalty box, mocking opposing players as they sit in the sin bin with props, pantomimes and acrobatic taunts.

Against the Chicago Blackhawks in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they used a cardboard cutout of Vince Vaughn, Chicago fan, to mock Duncan Keith(notes); in Round 2 against the Nashville Predators, they moved on to Carrie Underwood, wife of Preds center Mike Fisher(notes).

While their prop comedy is safe, it turns out someone in the NHL isn’t cheap snapback hats wholesale a fan of their other antics. The league has informed the Green Men — who go by the monikers Force and Sully — that they’re no longer allowed to touch the penalty box glass or perform handstands to distract the visiting team’s players.

“It’s a liability thing,” Sully told us by phone on Monday. “Even though I’ve been doing them for a year and a half, and I’m sort of an expert on them.”

Sully said that a Canucks official informed them of the crackdown, passing along the edict from the NHL. “The Canucks have our backs. The NHL didn’t want to call us personally, so they had the Canucks do it for them.”

The Green Men believe it’s the Nashville Predators, the Canucks’ foes in the Stanley Cup Playoff Western Conference semifinals, that ordered the ban on certain antics. Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun reports that “a Predators spokesman denied any complaint was lodged.”

The Green Men, who are traveling to Nashville for Games 3 and 4 against the Predators, don’t plan on targeting the NHL in their newest taunts.

“I don’t know if we can go after the man,” said Sully. “cheap baseball caps new era We’re going to adhere to what the league is saying. But we’re not going to shut it down completely.”

While the Green Men modulate their routine, their fans in Vancouver have stepped up with “Save The Green Men” campaigns … even as one prominent Canadian broadcaster celebrates their restrictions.

First, a quick primer on what it is the Green Men do so well:

Glenn Healy, a former NHL goaltender, is a commentator on CBC’s “Hockey Night in Canada.” He discussed the situation on Saturday (video here), and criticized the Green Men’s antics:

“No one’s owning up to the fact that the league has looked into getting rid of these guys. We’ve simply had enough of looking at their rear ends and their crotches when players have to go to the box. And as a result … eh, day, their daddy owns the seats so they’re allowed to be down there, but they’ve been more than a pain in the neck to almost every team that’s played here.

“So, from that standpoint, the league is looking into ‘you can’t touch the glass, you can’t stand up’. It’s probably not appropriate to do a handstand on the seat and to make faces at the players that are in the bench.”

“We’ve had enough. It’s about the game, it’s about the cheap nfl jerseys players, it’s not about guys doin’ handstands. And the league’s looked into it and they’re going to make amends.”

Sully said Healy was off-base. “I don’t think he represents the fan base. He covers more Leafs games than Canucks games working for the CBC, so I guess he’s not used to seeing that sort of fan base,” he said.

“He works in the entertainment business, and that’s all we’re going for. We’re trying to entertain the fans and give the fans a good time. We’re not trying to hamper the game. Glenn took it personally, it seems.”

So have fans of the Green Men. Their Facebook page, home to 84,125 followers, has been lit up with messages of support for the spandexed pranksters. A protest site, “Listen up NHL, the Fans have Rights — Support the Green Men” has started. A rally in support of the Green Men has been organized for Saturday, May 7 before Game 5 of the series against Nashville:

Show up in green! Green shirts, green wigs, green cheap snapback hats wholesale face paint, or even a green Superfan Suit for you brave ones! Bring signs that say “Go Green Men Go!”. It doesn’t matter if you are attending the game or not – be there Vancouver!

Will it be like the end of “V for Vendetta,” when thousands of disaffected Londoners show up in Guy Fawkes masks to protest the government? A sea of Green Men?

“I’d be down with that,” said Sully.

The Green Men have also put out their own “History Will Be Made” video that focuses on what they feel is at the heart of their antics: Entertaining the fans.

So much like with the octopus tossing ban in nfl jerseys from china Detroit and a Vancouver car dealership prohibited from putting “Go Canucks Go” on its window, the NHL comes across as a petty killjoy, willing to crush the enthusiasm of fans to soothe the trivial complaints of others. The same Debbie Downers that believed water bottle showers for abusive fans needed to be banned have now turned their draconian response to human emotion onto the fans themselves.

Sully sees it as something else entirely: an attack on the cheap hats wholesale Canucks’ home-ice advantage.

“It’s always been our thing that we get into the players’ heads. But with this thing, now we know we actually are making a difference,” he said.

“Clearly, this shows there’s a home-ice advantage, and the NHL is trying to take that out of the game.”

 

 

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May 3

Puck Headlines: Boucher starts Game 2; snowing Jimmy Howard

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? No word if this was Jack Skille’s(notes) “Oh (my god we had to rally to beat Norway) Face”. Team USA played its 4-2 victory under increased security and with players instructed not to discuss the death of Osama bin Laden. [Y! Sports]

? Philly anthem singer Lauren Hart on blaring “God Bless nfl jerseys from china America” before tonight’s game and after the death of bin Laden: “Not until (Monday) morning while listening to the radio and hearing the people talk about ‘God Bless America’ tonight did it dawn on me that this would be important to people and it would be a special moment for everybody in that building tonight.” [NHL.com]

? Brian Boucher(notes) gets the start for Game 2 of the Philadelphia Flyers’ series against the Boston Bruins. Peter Laviolette: “Today, for me, is a game where we all get to go back in there and try and right some wrongs. So everybody gets an opportunity. He deserves it.” [CSN Philly]

? The Atlanta Thrashers are for sale for $110 million, as that’s the price tag cheap snapback hats wholesale for the investors led by Tom Glavine. From Forbes, if the Coyotes remain in Phoenix: “True North [of Winnipeg] would pay $170 million of which $60 million would go the NHL as a relocation fee.” [Forbes]

? Looking at the counseling of Matt Cooke(notes) during this suspension, as the Pittsburgh Penguins winger reminds us that he’s not going to put a tutu on and dance. Sorry, bachelor parties in need of entertainment … [Pensburgh]

? Your VERSUS ratings for last week; the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks not exactly setting the ratings world on fire. [Puck The Media]

? The Canucks have a problem and his name is Pekka Rinne(notes). [Kurtenblog]

? On the many snowjobs of Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard(notes). Said Coach Todd McLellan of the San Jose Sharks: “I have no time for gimmicks and that type of crap. If our players are doing that [intentionally], they’re going to hear from me first. But they’re going to hear from me even more when they don’t go to the net and stop on a loose cheap baseball caps new era puck. If you go back and look at them the pucks are bobbling around.” [Fear The Fin]

? Emotions are getting more intense between the Sharks and Wings. [NHL.com]

? Top-20 worst bang-for-the-buck NHL forwards in 2010-11. [HI]

? Tom Fornelli, Chicago Blackhawks fan, looks at the remaining playoff teams and decides which one would be the most palatable for a Chicago fan to root for in the Stanley Cup race. (Spoiler: Not Wholesale cheap new era caps Detroit.)  [Foul Balls]

? Aubrey Huff, Capitals vs. Lightning and trash talking … good times. [Homer McFanboy]

? Hey, it’s not just you: There are a crap ton of overtimes in these playoffs. [Houses Of The Hockey]

? Grading the Minnesota Wild’s front office. Turns out Chuck Fletcher did a rather average job. [Hockey Wilderness]

? Ken Campbell believes the Tampa Bay Lightning are sucking the fun out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and is worried about other coaches adopting their scheme: “We risk going back to the days of the Dead Puck Era without the hooking, holding and obstruction.” So, “defense” then. [THN]

? Looking at the influence of Dominik Hasek(notes) on Dwayne Roloson(notes). [Globe & Mail]

? BREAKING: The more people in downtown Winnipeg, the better it is for local businesses. [QMI]

? Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney cheap nfl jerseys announced today that Coyotes Associate Coach Ulf Samuelsson has accepted the head coach position with MODO in the Swedish Elite League. In a related story, spearing is expected to increase in the Swedish Elite League by close to 150% next season. [Coyotes]

? Fantastic find by Kevin Delury: “Here’s a pic of Mark Messier donning the fire helmet of fallen FDNY Chief Ray Downey during the Rangers home opener on October 7, 2001 as a tribute to him and all the first responders who died that day as well as a thank you to all the heroes of 9/11.” Oh, sorry, we thought this was the anti-concussion helmet. Our mistake. [NY Rangers Blog]

? Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown(notes), Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green(notes) and Vancouver Canucks forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin(notes) are the finalists for the 13th Annual NHL Foundation Player Award, the National Hockey League announced today.  The award recognizes an NHL player who applies the core values of hockey — commitment, perseverance and teamwork — to enrich the lives of people in his community. SHANE O’BRIEN(notes) WUZ ROBBED.

? How hockey took over Buffalo. [Thrive]

? The Pittsburgh Penguins have promoted Travis cheap hats wholesale Williams to Chief Operating Officer, it was announced today by David Morehouse, the team’s CEO and President. [Penguins]

? Radek Martinek(notes) is out of a Slovak hospital and “does not have any injuries to his neck or spine, but is still experiencing headaches. He will not return for the remainder of the tournament.” [Islanders]

? Handling conference trophy voodoo in the OHL. [Buzzing The Net]

 

 

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Apr 29

LaMarcus Aldridge needs to step up his game, isn’t thinking about it

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Throughout this season, LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) took it upon himself to become a true star, the best player on the Blazers in the wake of several huge knee injuries to presumed franchise mainstay Brandon Roy(notes) (and Greg Oden(notes), if you count him). Accomplishing that feat made him the big name for the Blazers in their first-round series against the Mavericks. If they were to pull off the upset, he was likely to be the reason.

Dallas now leads the series at 3-2, with Game 6 set to tip Wholesale Cheap gucci snapback caps off Thursday night in Portland. Despite the series being tight, though, Aldridge has 20.2 ppg and 7.0 rpg. If those numbers sound good, please note that Aldridge is shooting 46.7 percent from the field and has seen his scoring numbers drop with each successive game.

With the Blazers facing elimination Thursday night, Aldridge needs to step up. Except he is not really thinking about it. From Matt Calkins for The Columbian:

“Nah, I don’t feel like this is a defining moment for me. I’m sorry if I should,” said Aldridge, whose team trails the series three games to two. “It’s a team sport. I didn’t get here by myself. I feel like this is a defining moment for our team.”

Aldridge’s averages of 20.2 points and 7 rebounds

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in the playoffs aren’t too divergent from the 21.8 and 8.8 he posted during the regular season. But he does appear to be growing more and more fatigued as the postseason progresses — Blazers coach Nate McMillan acknowledging as much Tuesday afternoon. [...]

And that’s a point Marcus Camby(notes) emphasized, as well — that because Aldridge has been such a consistent performer throughout the the year, putting added pressure on him to supply a breakout playoff performance is unfair.

“He’s been our guy all season long. What more can he possibly do? In my opinion, he was robbed as an All-Star and robbed of being the Most Improved Player,” Camby said. “He’s had a phenomenal season. … You can’t put all that pressure on him. He’s been the focal point of the whole defense and is still getting the job done.”

As Calkins notes, Aldridge’s averages for the series are not terribly far off his regular-season averages of 21.8 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Given the five-game sample size, it’s tough to say that Aldridge is failing his team. He could have a good Game 6 and see his averages rise even higher than his season marks. If he does that, will he be great again?

Still, there is something a little weird about Wholesale Cheap Red Bull hatsLMA’s progressive worsening over the course of the series from 27 points in Game 1 to 12 points in Game 5. That drop could be explained by the fact that defenses get to key in on stars over a seven-game series, adjusting their game plans based on previous performances. Coaches get to focus on one team, rather than the many they must track during the regular season. It makes sense that certain players would see their numbers drop over the course of the series.

The trouble here is that, even with these drops, Aldridge is playing reasonably similar to how he did during the season. Any criticism directed his way arises from the bizarre point of view that the real stars need to play better in the playoffs, and that anyone who doesn’t is somehow a failure. Wholesale cheap ED Hardy Snapback hatsThis is unfair — it presents a fanbase’s desires as logical expectations for an athlete’s performance. In truth, the playoffs are an assortment of games, and performance can be expected to meet a player’s average production over a larger sample size.

In other words, Aldridge has not suddenly

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become a failure over the last week. He is the same player he was during the regular season. If he can’t perform well Thursday night, it doesn’t change the fact that he carried the Blazers to a better-than-expected win-loss record this season. If he scores fewer than 30 points Thursday night, he’s still the team’s best player and a rising star.

 

 

 

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Apr 28

PHI – Two PBA players confirmed for Smart Gilas; two more likely

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Two PBA players Dondon Hontiveros and Asi Taulava have been confirmed to play for Smart Gilas, when the Filipino capital hosts the 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup from 28 May – 5 June.

Smart Gilas, a development project started by Philippines two years ago under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, will continue to utilize the experience of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in their pursuit of a top finish in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China later this year.

The team formed with a group of young collegians caught Wholesale cheap snapback hats the eye when they made their debut in the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Cup at Jakarta in 2009.

“We really need them. They’ve become more of a necessity for us right now with Kelly Williams and Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text playing in the PBA Finals,” said Toroman on Tuesday.

Williams and Alapag too are expected to join the Smart Gilas as Rajko chases the dream of leading another FIBA Asia team to the Olympics after leading Iran to victory in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship ensuring qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

But the quantity and quality of time the TnT duo spend with the Smart Wholesale cheap New Era 59Fifty hats Gilas depends completely on how the franchisee fares in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, which start on Wednesday.

“We want to give these guys some rest. But if they can play in the Champions Cup, we’ll see,” Toroman said about the TnT duo.

“We’ll ask Asi and Dondon to join us in practice on Monday.Wholesale cheap ED Hardy Snapback caps We’ll see if they can join us in the Champions Cup. It’s possible,” Toroman said.

With American Marcus Douthit playing now as a naturalized Filipino, Smart Gilas will play the FIBA Asia Champions Cup without any imports.

The Smart Gilas were in impressive form recently before losing to Ginebra Kings in the Commissioner’s Cup semi-finals, and earned rave responses.

“They have really improved a lot. They’re very dangerous team,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico after his team beat the Smart Gilas in the semi-finals.

But Toroman was equanimous about the result saying “we’ll show Wholesale Cheap Monster Energy caps where we are right now in the Champions Cup.”

“The level of competition is going to be tough in the Champions Cup as teams from Iran, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan will also see action. We hope to do well in this tournament since we’re playing in front of the home crowd,” he added.

Smart Gilas have been drawn with Asean Basketball League semifinalists KL Dragons of Malaysia, Jordanian champions ASU, a top club team representing Japan and the

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representative of FIBA Asia Sub zone Middle Asia.

Smart Gilas had qualified for the quarter-finals in both their previous appearances in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

They finished sixth at Jakarta on debut in 2009 and seventh at Doha last year.

 

 

 

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Apr 28

Did Keith Smart get a fair chance with Golden State?

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The news broke a few hours ago, and it is not terribly surprising: Keith Smart has been dismissed as head coach of the Golden State Warriors after just one season at the helm, as first reported by Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com, confirmed by Yahoo!’s own Marc Spears, and announced by the Wholesale Cheap LV snapback hats

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franchise itself. Smart got the job just before training camp this fall after new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber deposed the increasingly erratic Don Nelson, and he had a season to prove to his new bosses that he was the man for the long-term job. As these developments indicate, he did not do enough to please them.

The question is whether or not he got a fair Wholesale Cheap guuci snapback hatsshake, or if Lacob and Guber just considered him a convenient stopgap after Nellie and before their own handpicked successor. While Smart almost certainly would have received consideration in a full coaching search, he was given this job in the fall because he was already on the coaching staff, was generally well-liked, and had head-coaching experience from an interim stint with Cleveland in 2002. The new owners wanted no part of Nelson and had another option close. It was a no-brainer move, but Smart could hardly be called the perfect choice for the job.

On the other hand, he was far from incompetent. Faced with a very thin bench (especially in the backcourt) and several question marks in the frontcourt, Smart guided the Wholesale cheap New Era 59Fifty capsWarriors to 36 wins, a 10-game improvement over 2009-10. Some of that improvement can be chalked up to better injury luck, but the Warriors also began to resemble a real basketball team for the first time in two seasons. Stephen Curry(notes) and Monta Ellis(notes) appeared to reach an understanding with each other at the offensive end of the court, even if their defense still leaves a metric ton to be desired. After the barely organized mess of the last two Nellie seasons, having any sort of organization was the greatest improvement of all. It was possible to envision this squad improving and growing together instead of festering in an incoherent approximation of the NBA game. Perhaps that would have happened under any coach not named “Don Nelson.” Wholesale cheap new era snapbacke caps But Smart made it happen, and he deserves credit for it.

Still, he was not without fault. Andris Biedrins(notes) had another terrible season at center and looks like he hates basketball. His regression can be explained in part by Nelson’s extreme mishandling, but it’s still Smart’s job to get the players interested. Additionally, while the Warriors looked more like a real basketball unit this season, they remain fundamentally averse to defense and working to get good shots. Again, the roster can be blamed for those issues. But if the new higher-ups are looking to change the identity of the team, it stands to reason that a man who spent eight years in the organization wouldn’t be the best man for the job. The fact that Smart was rumored to have a testy relationship with Curry, a near-universally loved young player, only made the choice easier.

The Warriors have had a horrible history over the last 20 years of keeping coaches — as Tom Ziller notes at SB Nation, only Don Nelson (on two occasions) has spent more than three years in the job since the late ’80s. However, Lacob and Guber didn’t consider that history when they made this choice. Their interest lies in molding the franchise as they see fit, not making decisions based on recent examples. Smart was never their guy; he was just an available replacement.

Ultimately, we won’t know if letting Smart go was a good decision until we find out who will take his job. Several high profile candidates could be interviewed — including Jerry Sloan,

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apparently — but it’s unclear whom Lacob and Guber will pick. Whoever it is, though, will be their choice. He will have no ties to the old regime.

So, depending on how you view the circumstances, Smart either had a fair chance to prove himself or no chance at all. Many assistants would kill to get a season to show they can be capable head coaches. Smart got that shot, and his career will be better for it in the long run. His dismissal was always a strong possibility, and it should come as no shock.

 

 

 

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Apr 27

2011 NFL Draft: How the Denver Broncos Can Dominate Round 2 of the Draft

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What the Broncos plan to do with the second overall pick will continue to stir up debate until Thursday night, when the team finally makes their selection—or trade announcement.

But it’s safe to say that the Broncos will be coming out of that round with Wholesale cheap snapback hats an exceptional athlete who can provide an immediate impact on that terrible, terrible defense. It could be Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, Patrick Peterson and let’s not rule out Nick Fairley. The Broncos can get their man with the second pick, and possibly even the fifth or seventh should the team find a trading partner.

It’s all just details.

The name remains uncertain, but fans should be certain that the Broncos will come out of Round 1 with an exciting new player.

It’s the 2nd round that has me wondering.

The Broncos have a lot of needs. Thankfully, they picked the perfect draft to add talent to a pretty lackluster roster; with first-round talent at positions like running back, tight end and cornerback getting pushed back into the second round thanks to a glut of talent at two highly-desired positions (quarterback and defensive line), the Broncos can become the biggest winners in the second round. In fact, don’t be surprised if they find a way to completely dominate second round action.

Ammunition: The Broncos have the means to really focus on the 2nd round

The Broncos will have at least two draft choices in the second round (36th and 46th overall picks), and should they trade down from the second overall pick, then they will likely add at least one more pick to their second round selections. Having three picks in the round could mean finding first-round Wholesale cheap ED Hardy Snapback caps talent at a discounted price. It’s all about value, and finding guys who can compete for starting positions. That can easily happen this time around.

On the offensive side of the ball the Broncos could have their choice of talented offensive weapons like Mikel LeShoure (RB, Illinois), Taiwan Smith (RB) and Kyle Rudolph (TE, Notre Dame).

On defense, players like Rahim Moore (S, UCLA), Jaiquawn Jarrett (S, Temple), Ras-I Dowling (CB, Virginia), Marvin Austin (DT, North Carolina), Kendrick Ellis (DT, Hampton), Martez Wilson (LB, Illinois) and Allen Bailey (DE/DT, Miami) could all be intriguing options for the Broncos.

It’s also possible that names that are almost a lock for the first round (what if the Dolphins pass on Mark Ingram?) will still fall to the second round.

Regardless, the pool of talent available when the Broncos come up at 36 and 46 should be impressive. That much is a lock. And it wouldn’t be too surprising if the Broncos even decided to Wholesale cheap New Era 59Fifty hats trade back into the second round using future picks or the ones they have for the third and sixth rounds in this year’s draft. Trading up is not something Broncos fans want to hear right now (cough, cough Alphonso Smith) considering all the holes that need to be filled, but if the draft plays out as expected, it could be too hard to pass on some of the names that will fall to the 2nd round.

Remember, these guys could have easily gone in the first round in any other draft year.

So, can the Broncos find two or three starters from this group?

A lot of teams will be moving around and spending high picks on quarterbacks. The Broncos have their quarterback.

When the dust settles, a record number of quarterbacks may be taken in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. The Broncos will not be a part of this rat race because despite all the hype, John Elway is not serious about drafting a quarterback with one of their top picks. (Not in my opinion, at least.) Because the Broncos have their quarterback, Tim Tebow, they can focus their attention on elite prospects at other positions.

It’s possible that they can land a top running back (maybe Mikel Wholesale Cheap Monster Energy caps LeShoure, who has been compared to Steven Jackson, or possibly Taiwan Jones, who can provide the kind of speed and burst that the Broncos haven’t seen in a while), a top tight end (Kyle Rudolph is the complete package) and even a top linebacker to pair with D.J. Williams (Martez Wilson has a lot of upside, quickness and can flat out play).

The Broncos should have their choice of top safeties, and Ras-I Dowling looks like a great candidate to be the guy who succeeds Champ Bailey at cornerback.

The Broncos can still add players in later rounds that could provide depth. And should the lockout stay lifted, the team would also be able to add a whole slew of players that go undrafted.

In other words, the first round doesn’t deserve all of our attention.

In the second round the Broncos should

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make out like bandits.

It’s a big mountain to climb for the Denver Broncos (thanks Josh McDaniels!), but finding a few immediate impact players in one of the most-talent heavy rounds of the draft?

Yeah, that’s not a bad start.

 

 

 

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