: It was Montreals first loss to Seattle in three MLS meetings. . . | Forum
miaowang123
Sep 1 '19
OKLAHOMA CITY - Thunder coach Scott Brooks isnt known for making bold declarations. Diego Reyes Jersey . He is not shy about Russell Westbrook.I believe Russells the best point guard in basketball, Brooks said. And thats been happening over time. Ive seen Russell every practice every game every film session, and hes really put a lot of time into being the best point guard in basketball.Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul could argue with Brooks, as could several others. But Westbrooks numbers and overall success show that the statement isnt far-fetched.Westbrooks Thunder beat Pauls Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals last year. Westbrooks playoff stats were jaw-dropping a€” he posted averages of 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 19 games. And the Thunder have reached the Western Conference Finals three of the past four years and the NBA Finals once.I feel like Im the best player on the floor every time I step on the floor, and thats just my mindset, Westbrook said. Thats kind of something thats the way I played since college. Its not just this year, and not just last year, its how I think when I get on the basketball floor.One might consider reigning MVP Kevin Durant the best player on the floor in most cases during Oklahoma Citys games, but at times during the playoffs last season, Westbrook simply took over. He had three triple-doubles during a five-game stretch and had 40 points and 10 assists against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.Brooks said the 6-foot-3 Westbrook doesnt solely rely on his dynamic leaping ability and speed. At age 25, Westbrook has honed a work ethic that has made him a leader on the team.Russell puts a lot of effort, a lot of energy into getting better, Brooks said. Hes demanding of himself, he holds his teammates accountable, and hes improved. Hes learned a tough position at an early age, and hes done a great job of leading us at early age, and I think all of that hard work over the years is starting to pay off over the last few years. Hes athletic, but his skill level is matching that.Westbrooks weaknesses have been his high turnover ratio and number of forced shots and occasional unwillingness to defer to his teammates. He acknowledged that the team needs to improve its ball movement.I think thats key, he said. Moving the ball is definitely a big part of our improvement as a team. Its something that we made a conscious effort to be able to go into this year trying to do. So its something you should see new from us.Westbrook missed 36 games last season as he recovered from knee surgery. He said he was fully healed late in the season and feels even better now after an off-season of rest.I wouldnt have played if I wasnt (fully healed), he said. I wouldnt have put my team or my body in jeopardy to come out and play if I wasnt. I feel great now.Westbrook is an Olympic gold medallist and a three-time All-Star, but he hasnt won a ring, something that would give his claim of being the best more validity. He expects to get his title this season.We know what it takes to win games, we know what it takes to get to the top, but we dont know what it feels like to win a championship, he said. The steps that we have to make as a unit a€” Im pretty sure were going to make it.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP ;Carlos Vela Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Alfredo Talavera Jersey .Sinclair, from Burnaby, B.C., led the Canadian team with three goals at the four-nation competition. She also earned tournament most valuable player honours.The Canadian captain scored on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and added the winning goal a minute later.MONTREAL - Without suspended scoring star Marco Di Vaio, the Montreal Impacts disappointing start to the MLS season may have been predictable. Montreal (0-3-0) directed 25 shots toward the Seattle goal on Sunday, but couldnt find the net. And then the Impact fell victim to defensive lapses as the Sounders spoiled its home opener at Olympic Stadium with a 2-0 victory on Sunday. An own goal off a Lamar Neagles header only eight minutes in and a goal from Obafemi Martins early in the second half was all Seattle (2-1-0) needed against a punchless Montreal attack. "When you look at the game in terms of possession and our ability to get in good spots and get quality crosses in, to come away with nothing — it just seems were not getting any little breaks," said the Impacts still-winless new coach Frank Klopas. "The guys worked hard and nothings going for us right now. Thats the frustrating part." Di Vaio, a 20-goal scorer last season, and midfielder Andres Romero finished serving the three-game suspensions they incurred in a skirmish at the end of a playoff game in October. Both will be back for Montreals game Saturday in Philadelphia. Without their 38-year-old Italian striker, they have managed only two goals in three games. But the hard part for Klopas, whose mandate was to tighten the defence, was that they have conceded six. Defender Matteo Ferrari said it would be unfair to expect Di Vaio to step in and solve all the teams problems right away as he hasnt played a real game in five months. He hopes to see better all-around play from the team. "We have to work hard on the defensive part — not just the four on the defence but the attitude of the team," said Ferrari. "We took six goals. Its too much. "But I want to stay positive. Its the beginning of the season and the coach knows what to do, so forget about the standings right now and just keep working." Still, it should help to have an experienced finisher. The Impact had a 25-9 edge in attempts on goal and 6-4 lead in shots on target. What was missing was someone to bury the chances as forward Andrew Wenger and midfielder Felipe Martins fired blanks for a second game in a row. Down 2-0 in the second half, the Impact went on full attack. Substitute Blake Smith nearly had one in the 84th minute, but his shot was swept off the line by Djimi Traore. "Two factors (Di Vaio) brings — fear to the other team because maybe theyre more on their heels, and maybe more confidence to our team knowing that we have a guy that can change a game on the spur of the moment," said Impact mmidfielder Patrice Bernier, who played his first home game since he was named team captain. Jose de Jesus Corona Jersey. . "Thats a benefit, but still, as a team, we have to be a unit. We create chances, but maybe give a little to much to the other team. Maybe his fresh legs that can give us a spark in Philly so we come out with some points." The Sounders, coming off a 2-1 defeat last week to Toronto FC, could easily have been up by three goals in the first half. Neagle, who spent the 2012 season with Montreal before being traded back to the Sounders, headed a Gonzalo Pineda free kick out of a crowd and saw it hit the crossbar and deflect off goalkeeper Troy Perkins and into the net in the eighth minute. "It comes off the bottom of the crossbar, hits me in the arm and goes in," said Perkins. "You can sit there and say hed have been better off just watching it, but I tried to make a play and was a little unlucky." Seattle nearly had another in the 17th minute, but Perkins reached back to get a hand on Martins header. And in the 32nd minute, Neagles long low shot went off a goalpost. The Sounders struck again in the 58th minute, when Neagle passed across the front of the goal and Kenny Copper chipped it back for Martins to head into an open side with the Impact defence standing still in front of Perkins. "I knew wed absorb some pressure," said Seattle coach Sigi Schmid. "We wanted to get forward on the counter and I figured we could create some chances off that. "Its been a long road trip with the extra day, but I thought we did a good job. Perkins makes an unbelievable save on Obafemis header and Lamars unlucky when he hits the inside of the post and it goes across in the first half. But I thought we did what we needed to do." The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed a day due to fears of an accumulation of snow on the domed stadiums roof, which is slated for replacement. Montreal is 4-2-3 in games played at the Big O. "When we trained on Saturday we had a little more of a fun training session,"said Schmid. "The guys had a bit of fun with it. We just told them it was Groundhog Day and well repeat everything again." Notes: It was Montreals first loss to Seattle in three MLS meetings. . . The Sounders were without their big off-season signing Clint Dempsey due to a two-game suspension for hitting Toronto FC defender Mike Bloom in the groin last week. ... Montreal has two more games at Olympic Stadium, April 5 against New York and April 12 against Chicago before moving outdoors to Saputo Stadium. ' ' '
Share:
