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| Author: | khm1997 [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 8:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | e Flyers to back-to-back Cups |
SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs are on an unprecedented post-season roll that not even a boatload of turnovers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals could stop. They probably ruined Tim Duncans hopes of a career change, though. Duncan wants to be a point guard, coach Gregg Popovich revealed Saturday, a wish that wont be granted. But Duncan would gladly settle for another championship, and the Spurs would be halfway there by beating Miami on Sunday night in Game 2. The Spurs have won eight straight post-season home games by 15 or more points, an NBA record, but know as well as anyone that a one-game lead means nothing against the Heat. "Thats why I think we cant be satisfied," said point guard Tony Parker, who isnt worried about losing his job to Duncan. "Because we was in the same situation and we know they can win here, and so we just have to go out there and play our game and try to win this one. I think its a big game for the series." LeBron James expects to be fully ready for the Heat, who also dropped the opener last year in the finals against the Spurs, and in 2012 to Oklahoma City. Miami is 5-0 in series with James when dropping the opener, rebounding to win Game 2 every time. A 2-0 deficit would surely bring loads of unwanted attention to whats already one of the most scrutinized players and teams in sports. "Im sure the series would be over from the outside," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said, laughing. "Our focus is on how we can win ballgames and understand in the series its the first one to four; not the first one to one, not the first one to two, not the first one to three. You win a series by being the first one to four. We understand the journey, we understand the path and what it takes to get there." The Heat were in position to win Game 1 before James departed with cramps. The Spurs committed 23 turnovers that not only led to 28 Miami points but also prevented them from getting the ball more often to Duncan, who shot 9 of 10 from the field. Popovich said Duncan never demands more shots, even when he is in a good rhythm like he was Thursday. "No, the only thing Timmy has ever demanded is he wants to play the point and he thinks Ive held him back," Popovich said. "True story. He thinks hes a point guard." Duncan is one of the best power forwards in NBA history but likes to think like a little guy, though he realizes he hurt his chances of getting to actually play the part of one. "After my five turnovers the other night, I think I took a step back from that," he said. "I dont think that Im going to be able to step up and fill that role for a little while. But, no, I enjoy getting in the middle of the floor and making decisions and getting the ball to the right place, and thats what a point guards got to do." The Spurs dont need one, not after Parker looked healthy while posting 19 points and eight assists in the opener after missing the second half of the Western Conference finals clincher because of a sore left ankle. He laughed when told that Popovich and Duncan had brought up his teammates aspirations. "Are we still talking about that? I cant believe they brought it up in the NBA Finals," Parker said. "Its been a joke that Timmy thinks hes a great quarterback, that he can be a good passer. I disagree with that. I want to keep my spot." With Parker seemingly fine, James health remained the focus. He practiced Saturday and was still receiving treatments in hopes of preventing more cramping. It also should help that the air conditioning inside the AT&T Center has been repaired, but he wont be worrying about that, anyway. "You cant think about what may happen in the third or fourth quarter. Live in the moment," James said. "And for me, whatever I can give my teammates if it happens again, hopefully I can make an impact while Im on the floor and thats all that matters to me." The Spurs knocked James into a 2-0 hole in the 2007 finals, but that was when he was still in Cleveland. The team James is on now gets out of trouble just as quickly as it gets into it. "Thats why they are two-time champs," Parker said. "To win championships, you have to face adversity and come back from any situation, and theyve proved that over the years. Thats why its our job to stay focused and we know its just one game, and we know theyre capable to come back and win at our place." . Cilic cruised to victory, beating the seventh-seeded Seppi 6-1, 6-3 in just 72 minutes. He faced only one break point, winning 24 out of 29 points played on the first serve. . The punch happened in the fourth quarter of Milwaukees 116-102 loss to the Kings on Wednesday when the two players became entangled while battling for rebounding position. http://www.cheapraysjerseysauthentic.com/. -- Chicago manager Darold Butler has a message for the Windy City. . You can catch all of the action LIVE on TSN2 at 6pm et/3pm pt. The Heat reached that mark Saturday night when they ruined the Philadelphia 76ers home opener. . On Wednesday, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas hit back. In a passionate defence of himself and the London clubs medical staff, the Portuguese coach rebuked the "incompetent people" who have attacked Tottenham for allowing Lloris to continue playing after being briefly knocked unconscious against Everton on Sunday.At the age of 46, Dominik Hasek was still playing hockey. He put on his goalie pads for the final time Feb. 27, 2011 in the KHL. At the age of 49, "the Dominator" is expected to be part of the class of 2014 at the Hockey Hall of Fame, which will be announced this afternoon on TSN2 at 3pm et/Noon pt. Though nothing is guaranteed, the six-time Vezina Trophy-winner should be a lock. "For me its a no-brainer," former Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said earlier this year. Hasek won one Stanley Cup as a starter with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002, then split time with Chris Osgood and became the backup in the playoffs for the 2008 title. He came close to the Cup in 1999 with Buffalo, only to be beaten by the Dallas Stars on Brett Hulls foot-in-the-crease overtime goal. Haseks best years came with the Sabres, when he had seven straight seasons with a save percentage of .930 or higher. He finished with 234 career regular-season victories in Buffalo and 389 over his 16-year NHL career. Veteran goaltender Tomas Vokoun "knew all along" Hasek would be great from watching him play in their native Czech Republic. "It took him a little bit just because of his style and all that to convince people here," Vokoun said in a phone interview. "I definitely consider him, if hes not the best, one of the top three to ever play. ... He definitely deserves to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer." Swedish centre Peter Forsberg is also expected to get the call to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. American-born centre Mike Modano leads the other new candidates and is the most likely to be inducted, ahead of three-time Cup-winner and first-ballot dark horse Mark Recchi. Forsberg, who began his career with the Quebec Nordiques following the blockbuster Eric Lindros trade with the Philadelphia Flyers, went on to win two Cups with the Colorado Avalanche.dddddddddddd He finished with 885 points in 708 regular-season games as his career was cut short by foot injuries. With 1,374 points over 21 seasons, Modano became the most prolific American-born scorer in NHL history. Late coach Pat Burns remains a candidate in the "builder" category, a year after Fred Shero was posthumously elected 38 years after leading the Flyers to back-to-back Cups. Burns, a three-time Jack Adams Award winner as coach of the year, died in November 2010 at the age of 58. This is the first year John Davidson is serving as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee, replacing Jim Gregory. Bobby Clarke, David Poile and Luc Robitaille were appointed to the committee for the first time. Clarkes addition raised the question of whether Lindros would stand a better chance of being elected. Despite a contentious relationship with the Lindros family, the longtime Flyers general manager is considered a proponent of his Hall of Fame case. Lindros has similar numbers to Forsberg — 865 points in 760 games over 13 seasons — and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1994-95. The three-time Canadian Olympian and world junior standouts resume isnt as Hall of Fame-worthy as Haseks. The goaltender is all but certain to be inducted Nov. 10. "I appreciate it, its very nice to be among all these big players," Hasek said recently when asked about impeding election to the Hall of Fame. "I appreciate to be one day, maybe, in the Hockey Hall of Fame, however ... it was never my goal when I was playing hockey." ' ' ' |
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