asked for time off from a hectic summer of winning bac | Forum
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Oct 11 '17
SAN ANTONIO -- The open shots that fell so easily for the San Antonio Spurs in the first half were bouncing off the rim and the collapsing defence was suddenly on top of them. Tyrone Crawford Jersey . San Antonio was out of energy and emotion, which is usually when coach Gregg Popovich turns to Manu Ginobili for a boost. Ginobili is no longer the only player giving the Spurs a jolt of enthusiasm and showmanship off the bench. Six Spurs scored in double figures, led by Tony Parker with 16 points, and San Antonio never trailed in strolling to a 92-79 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Boris Diaw had 15 points, Kawhi Leonard added 13 points, and Ginobili and Marco Belinelli each had 10 for San Antonio, which has trailed for only 11 seconds in its last four games. Tiago Splitter had 12 points and nine rebounds. Martell Webster scored 21 points, Bradley Beal added 19 points and John Wall had 14 points and eight assists for Washington, which has lost three straight. Wall left the game after being raked across the face by Jeff Ayres under the basket. Walls right eye immediately began to swell and was puffy at the bottom and outside following the game. San Antonio had 28 assists, with 17 coming from its reserves, including a season-high eight by Belinelli. "When you have a team like that, not just the first group, but the second group plays the exact same way and third group plays the same way," Beal said. "So, its really tough when you have a team like that who is capable of just moving the ball, passing the ball, cutting every second; and not getting tired on top of that. Thats a great team." After the starters exploited defensive mismatches early in the game, the second unit of Ginobili, Belinelli, Diaw, Ayres and Patty Mills put on a passing clinic late in the third quarter to keep the Spurs unbeaten at home. "I was very happy about that," Ginobili said. "The unit that started the third quarter was beginning to wind down on energy. We talked about it with Pop and he asked us to bring it back up, play with more emotion, push the ball and be more aggressive. It really worked out in the end." After trailing by double digits since early in the second quarter, the Wizards got within 60-57 on a 14-foot, turnaround jumper by Webster with 3:27 left in the third. San Antonios second unit regained the edge, with Ginobili hitting a layup high off the glass over three defenders and consecutive 3s by Belinelli and Mills to put the Spurs ahead 68-57 with 1:44 left in the third. "After 60-57, we came down and took six of the worst shots you could possibly take," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "Six. It might be more after I look at the film. Zero or one pass. All of a sudden, were going to play hero. We cant do that. We dont have a hero here. We got to play with five guys." The Wizards need only look to the Spurs to see how to share the ball. After dribbling the ball into the frontcourt, Belinelli fired a pass through the lane to Diaw past several unsuspecting defenders for an open layup. Belinelli, who signed as a free agent after playing with the Chicago Bulls last season, was 2 for 2 on 3-pointers and doubled his season high in assists. "I think offensively the last two or three games he has really looked comfortable," Popovich said. "Pump-faking, getting his shot off, finding open people while hes dribbling the ball. Hes working hard on defence, so I think hes fitting in really well." Popovich emptied its bench with about 6 minutes left in the game. The third unit continued the ball movement, with Nando De Colo picking up two assists in 8 minutes. De Colo drove to the basket and flipped a no-look, two-foot pass to fellow Diaw under the basket for a tip-in layup. The Spurs held a double digit lead for all but about 15 minutes. Leonard scored San Antonios first eight points, first rising over Trevor Ariza for a short jumper off the glass and then draining consecutive 3-pointers. The Wizards started 2 for 12, having their shots blocked as many times as they went in over the first 7 minutes. Wall rallied Washington, scoring three consecutive baskets and running Mills down from behind to block an attempted fast-break layup. NOTES: San Antonio wore camouflage uniforms in honour of its Military Celebration Night. The jerseys were auctioned and autographed by each player after the game with all the proceeds going to the teams Silver and Black Give Back program. ... Spurs F Matt Bonner missed the game with tightness in his left calf. ... Wizards forwards Otto Porter (right hip flexor) and Chris Singleton (fractured left foot) both sat out the game. ... Ariza left the game late in the first half after straining his right hamstring while attempting to run down Leonard on a fast break. Ariza gingerly walked toward Washingtons bench after grabbing Leonards arm from behind to prevent a layup. ... The Wizards have not beaten the Spurs since a 99-89 victory Dec. 11, 1999, in San Antonio. Orlando Scandrick Jersey . For the Athletics, hes extremely important at the top of the order, especially with Coco Crisp hurting. Jaso drove in three runs Sunday night, helping Scott Kazmir and Oakland beat the Texas Rangers 9-3. Chuck Howley Jersey . Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy.NAPA, Calif. - A new PGA Tour season starts Thursday, and its about time.The last thing American golf needs right now is another idle week to rehash a Ryder Cup loss that is getting overcooked by the minute. Its probably good that Phil Mickelson is not expected to play again until we know which two teams are going to the Super Bowl.To spend a week or more looking back at the pivotal moments is standard fare for a great event like the Ryder Cup.What if Justin Rose had not made that 45-foot putt in Sunday singles at Medinah, or if Ian Poulter had missed any one of his last five birdie putts Saturday afternoon? If only Stewart Cink had made either one of those short birdie putts over the last four holes at Celtic Manor. And dont think Europeans havent seen enough of Justin Leonard and that putt heard round the world at Brookline.But that hasnt been the case this year. When it comes to a Ryder Cup review, no one is talking about the golf. For the Americans, it seems as though the Ryder Cup only got started after it was over.One story says U.S. captain Tom Watson scoffed at his gift from the players — a replica of the Ryder Cup they signed. Another story said Watson wasnt dismissive of the gift, rather he tried to motivate his players by telling them he wanted the real thing.Watson was not the Great Communicator. On that point everyone can agree.But to prattle on about Watsons stubborn leadership style — did that catch anyone by surprise? — or the pairings he never seemed to get right is to overlook the obvious.The better team won.The Europeans were favoured to win, were they not? They had Rory McIlroy with his two majors and No. 1 ranking. When the teams were set, they had four of the top five players in the world. And they were playing at home.They also had captain Paul McGinley, who blended supreme confidence with an extraordinary eye for detail. Most telling about McGinley was when he was asked last week the one thing he feared when he was appointed captain. Honestly, I didnt have a fear. I had a real clear idea of what I wanted to achieve.Did he win the Ryder Cup for Europe?McGinley certainly helped. The players took it from there. Rose was unbeaten. McIlroy played his best golf Sunday. Graeme McDowell unselfishly accepted the role of taking on a rookie (Victor Dubuisson) as his partner and sitting two sessions. Dan Bailey Jersey. They combined to go 5-0-1.Thats what should be remembered about this Ryder Cup.The U.S. press conference wont be forgotten, which is why Mickelson said what he did and when he did. Lefty spoke of a winning formula from which the Americans have strayed, and he had a point. While his frustration might have been geared toward Watson, the message was for the PGA of America and the unilateral way it goes about the business of picking a captain and running the Ryder Cup.Thanks to Mickelson, change is inevitable for Team USA, and thats a good thing.But does that guarantee a change in the outcome?No.To suggest the Americans will look back at Gleneagles as the turning point 10 years from now is dismissive of the opponent. Even if the America has the ideal captain, Europe still has McIlroy, Rose, Poulter, McDowell, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer. It still has the cup. And its no accident.The Europeans once had a heavy-handed captain in Seve Ballesteros, and they managed. Its still down to the players, and the Americans as a whole didnt perform as well. Their top three qualifiers — Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk — combined to go 1-8-3.More than its players, what makes Europe so formidable is the culture of winning it has cultivated for nearly 30 years. Everyone is involved. That much was clear when McGinley was leaving the press room at St. Andrews, and Ken Brown — a player on four teams, vice captain on another, now a TV analyst — approached to congratulate him.A handshake quickly turned into a hug.Youre a part of this, McGinley told him.Europe celebrates. America contemplates. And its time to move on.Does golf even matter this time of the year? It sure did to the six players who won tournaments in the fall start to the wraparound season. All six began the FedEx Cup playoffs in the top 20, and all but one (Harris English) qualified for the Tour Championship.The Frys.com Open was supposed to have Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods until one asked for time off from a hectic summer of winning back-to-back majors, and the other was forced into time off because of injury.McIlroy and Woods are expected to be at the Frys.com Open next year. Think anyone will be grousing about the schedule then? Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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