Upon arriving in Washington earlier this week, Capitals Coach Dale Hunter made clear that his first priority would be improving the team’s play in its own zone. Once a solid defensive structure is in place, Hunter believes, success in other areas of the ice will follow.
Washington is still seeking its first victory under Hunter, and the team struggled to create offense in his first two games, getting outshot by a combined 65-36. The first-time NHL coach sees progress, though, in the Capitals’ grasp and execution of the style of play he is preaching.
One of the significant alterations is that the Capitals are taking more of a man-on-man approach to an aggressive, pressure-based defense. In order to be successful, players must win one-on-one battles for pucks. By marking individual foes rather than rotating through zone coverage, there is less confusion among the defensemen and forwards over whom each should cover.
For example, against the Penguins on Thursday night, defenseman Karl Alzner was tasked with shadowing Sidney Crosby, and the Capitals’ blueliner managed to hold the all-star center off the scoresheet.
“The onus is on that individual player to win their battle every time,” Alzner said. “If you don’t win your battle and you get beat, then we’re going to have an issue and you hope someone’s going to bail you out — your goalie or a weak-side forward. But it’s good this way; it keeps everybody extremely honest. You’ve got to make sure you’re doing your job and winning your job or it’s not going to work.”
Defensemen say they’ve been tasked with being about a stick-length away from an opponent, close enough to limit options without being so tight that it allows them to be beaten easily.
The hitch with this approach is that it can be more physically draining. It also likely will challenge Washington’s defense, which has been vulnerable against speedy opponents this season.
“It’s all about being in the right position when you don’t have the puck,” said assistant coach Jim Johnson, who was hired this week to help implement a more defensive mind-set. “I think most players are adaptable to any system, and they’ve all been receptive to the changes we’re making and ready to learn.”
Johnson said one of his goals is for defensemen to have an extra second or so to make correct decisions. In order to buy some of that time, the Capitals are using a 1-2-2 trap to slow things down in the neutral zone.
By making sure players, both forwards and blueliners, are in defensively sound positions, Washington aims to reduce the odd-man rushes that have plagued its season and become an opportunistic team off the transition itself. If the Capitals have an edge in manpower, Johnson said he wants them to stand up and pressure opponents at the blueline and eliminate the need for playing in their own end entirely.
Cutting down on those breaks for foes is something that allows the Capitals to build up confidence and regain control in their end.
“In Toronto the puck would go up the boards, I’d try to step up and all they have to do is chip off the boards and if they have a step on our forwards it’s a 2-on-1 like that and creates a scoring chance,” defenseman John Erskine said. “By just accepting the rush, we take that away; that’s a good feeling.”
Said defenseman Jeff Schultz: “I think maybe a little bit easier, safer. I think at times [under former coach Bruce Boudreau] we were trying to force too many plays. The other teams were turning it over right at our blueline and they’d come back. Where now if we have nothing just chip it out and let our forwards skate on to it in the neutral zone.”
Hunter and Johnson are quick to point out that their system is solely the responsibility of the defensemen. There is pressure on the forwards to backcheck and pitch in to the effort in their own end. So far, players have been receptive. For example, in the last two games, Alex Ovechkin and other forwards rarely are seen floating near the offensive blueline waiting for a stretch pass.
“The biggest thing is he wants a three-on-three down low,” winger Mike Knuble said of the forwards’ role in the defensive zone. “There’s no switching, stay with your guy, and if there is a breakdown that extra winger has to be the last line of defense in front of the net.
After spending the bulk of the past four seasons becoming identified as an offensive juggernaut, the Capitals undoubtedly will take time to adjust to Hunter’s approach. But when asked this week if it’s tough to sell players on his approach, Hunter said any system that provides a better chance to win should be supported.
“Everybody wants to score goals; everybody does,” Hunter said before drawing on an example of why his system was suited to a game like his debut against St. Louis. “There was no room in the neutral zone; [the Blues] had four guys in there, so it’s a cat-and-mouse game out there where you can’t just go through it and turn pucks over. Instead of having a chance to win, you’re down, 6-1. You’ve got to stick to the system.”
2011年12月2日星期五
2011年4月24日星期日
MLB Recap: Athletics 5, Mariners 2
Willingham's two-out double off Aaron Laffey (0-1) gave the Athletics a 3-1 lead and helped Oakland earn a split of the four-game series. Willingham added a run-scoring single in the ninth inning.
Anderson (2-1) gave up two runs - one earned - and five hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.
Brian Fuentes entered with two on and two out in the eighth and struck out pinch hitter Luis Rodriguez. Fuentes struck out two more in the ninth while recording his sixth save of the season.
Oakland picked up a pair of runs in the ninth with Coco Crisp scoring when Chone Figgins made an error on Conor Jackson's grounder and Willingham singling home Daric Barton.
The Athletics took a 1-0 lead in the first on Hideki Matsui's run-scoring single. Seattle tied it in the bottom of the inning when Ichiro Suzuki scored on Milton Bradley's groundout.
After Willingham's double drove home Crisp and Jackson in the seventh, the Mariners tallied in the bottom of the inning when Michael Saunders scored on Ryan Langerhans' infield out.
Crisp went 3-for-5 and scored three times.
Seattle starter Doug Fister gave up one run and four hits in six innings.
2011年3月31日星期四
Wichita State Wins N.I.T. And Hopes Best Is Ahead
Everyone knows not to run with scissors. But how about dancing?
Having just won the National Invitation Tournament championship by defeating Alabama, 66-57, the giddy Wichita State Coach Gregg Marshall already had scissors in hand to cut down the net while accepting his N.I.T. watch. As a recording of Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” played, he swung his hips on the Madison Square Garden floor, tapped his feet and cut the air with his scissors.
Before a small but partisan Shockers crowd of 4,873, Wichita State (29-8) won the N.I.T. for the first time in 12 appearances. The seniors Graham Hatch and J. T. Durley led Wichita State with 12 points apiece. Hatch, who called the night magical, made all four of his 3-point attempts and was named the tournament’s outstanding player.
“A special group of guys that deserve everything they now have coming to them,” Marshall said of his team.
The Crimson Tide, which ranked seventh in the country in scoring defense, frustrated the Shockers into 10 first-half turnovers with full-court pressure. But when Alabama’s leading scorer and rebounder, JaMychal Green, sat out for eight minutes after committing his fourth foul with 11 minutes to go, the Crimson Tide lost firepower.
What had been a tight game swung Wichita State’s way for good when Hatch made two 3-pointers to open a 12-point lead with three minutes remaining.
“I was just thankful to be there for my team when they needed me,” Hatch said. “I can die a happy man now.”
Tony Mitchell led Alabama (25-12) with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
After missing out on the Missouri Valley Conference’s automatic bid to the N.C.A.A. tournament, which Marshall said “decimated” his players, the Shockers ended the season on a positive note.
Wichita State, the No. 4 seed in the N.I.T., beat Nebraska of the Big 12, Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference, College of Charleston of the Southern Conference and Washington State of the Pac-10 on the way to the title game against Alabama of the Southeastern Conference. The Shockers, who beat Washington State by 31 points in the semifinals, won their five N.I.T. games by an average of 13.4 points.
Half the teams that played in the last four N.I.T. championship games have since earned an N.C.A.A. seeding of No. 3 or higher. Five of the top eight seeded teams in this year’s N.C.A.A. tournament (No. 1 Ohio State and the No. 2’s Florida, Notre Dame, San Diego State and North Carolina) advanced to the N.I.T. semifinals in the past three seasons.
“It should bode well for our future,” Marshall said.
Having set a program record for victories Tuesday, the Shockers can consider themselves a part of the Garden history that mesmerized Marshall when he first walked the halls this week — past photos of Mick Jagger and Red Buttons performing.
Nearby, a snapshot of the 1970 N.B.A. champion Knicks caught Marshall’s eye. The picture included two former Wichita State players, Dave Stallworth and Nate Bowman. Another alumnus, Xavier McDaniel, played for the Knicks in the 1991-92 season.
As Wichita State’s cheerleaders danced like the Rockettes in the postgame celebration, and Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “New York, New York” played on the public-address system, Marshall danced again. This time with a net in hand.
Having just won the National Invitation Tournament championship by defeating Alabama, 66-57, the giddy Wichita State Coach Gregg Marshall already had scissors in hand to cut down the net while accepting his N.I.T. watch. As a recording of Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” played, he swung his hips on the Madison Square Garden floor, tapped his feet and cut the air with his scissors.
Before a small but partisan Shockers crowd of 4,873, Wichita State (29-8) won the N.I.T. for the first time in 12 appearances. The seniors Graham Hatch and J. T. Durley led Wichita State with 12 points apiece. Hatch, who called the night magical, made all four of his 3-point attempts and was named the tournament’s outstanding player.
“A special group of guys that deserve everything they now have coming to them,” Marshall said of his team.
The Crimson Tide, which ranked seventh in the country in scoring defense, frustrated the Shockers into 10 first-half turnovers with full-court pressure. But when Alabama’s leading scorer and rebounder, JaMychal Green, sat out for eight minutes after committing his fourth foul with 11 minutes to go, the Crimson Tide lost firepower.
What had been a tight game swung Wichita State’s way for good when Hatch made two 3-pointers to open a 12-point lead with three minutes remaining.
“I was just thankful to be there for my team when they needed me,” Hatch said. “I can die a happy man now.”
Tony Mitchell led Alabama (25-12) with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
After missing out on the Missouri Valley Conference’s automatic bid to the N.C.A.A. tournament, which Marshall said “decimated” his players, the Shockers ended the season on a positive note.
Wichita State, the No. 4 seed in the N.I.T., beat Nebraska of the Big 12, Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference, College of Charleston of the Southern Conference and Washington State of the Pac-10 on the way to the title game against Alabama of the Southeastern Conference. The Shockers, who beat Washington State by 31 points in the semifinals, won their five N.I.T. games by an average of 13.4 points.
Half the teams that played in the last four N.I.T. championship games have since earned an N.C.A.A. seeding of No. 3 or higher. Five of the top eight seeded teams in this year’s N.C.A.A. tournament (No. 1 Ohio State and the No. 2’s Florida, Notre Dame, San Diego State and North Carolina) advanced to the N.I.T. semifinals in the past three seasons.
“It should bode well for our future,” Marshall said.
Having set a program record for victories Tuesday, the Shockers can consider themselves a part of the Garden history that mesmerized Marshall when he first walked the halls this week — past photos of Mick Jagger and Red Buttons performing.
Nearby, a snapshot of the 1970 N.B.A. champion Knicks caught Marshall’s eye. The picture included two former Wichita State players, Dave Stallworth and Nate Bowman. Another alumnus, Xavier McDaniel, played for the Knicks in the 1991-92 season.
As Wichita State’s cheerleaders danced like the Rockettes in the postgame celebration, and Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “New York, New York” played on the public-address system, Marshall danced again. This time with a net in hand.
2011年3月25日星期五
CONNECTICUT LOOK TO UPSET SAN DIEGO STATE ON TSN2
Anahemim, CA (Sports Network) - An epic season for the San Diego State Aztecs moves forward tonight as the team clashes with the Connecticut Huskies in the West Regional Semifinals of the 2011 NCAA Tournament at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
It's a game that you can catch on TSN2 starting at 7pm et/4pm pt.
Back home in the Golden State, the second-seeded Aztecs have far exceeded the success of any season previous to 2010-11, standing at 34-2 and having finally won a game in the NCAA Tournament after showing a 0-6 record heading into the event. The Mountain West Conference Tournament champions, the Aztecs defeated Northern Colorado in the second round of the tourney last week with a 68-50 final in Tucson, but then needed double-overtime to dismiss a pesky Temple Owls group over the weekend, 71-64.
As for the third-seeded Huskies, they improved their record to 16-1 in their opening-round games in the NCAA Tournament since 1990 with their 81-52 romp over Bucknell at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. just days after UConn turned the Big East Conference on its ear by winning five games in five days in order to capture the tournament title in New York City. Head coach Jim Calhoun, who is in his 25th season with UConn, guided his group to a hard- fought 69-58 victory against fellow Big East member Cincinnati last Saturday in order to advance to the Sweet 16.
For the Aztecs, getting this far in the postseason at the Division I level is new territory, but for UConn it is nothing new as the team owns NCAA championships from both 1999 and 2004 and is now 46-27 overall in the event all-time.
The winner of this first-ever meeting between these two schools will clash with the winner of the Duke/Arizona matchup on Saturday for the right to move on to the Final Four in Houston next weekend.
Recently named a finalist for National Player of the Year honors, the amazing Kemba Walker had another huge game for the Huskies last weekend as he delivered a game-high 33 points in the 11-point win over Cincinnati in the nation's capital. Walker knocked down a decent 8-of-20 from the floor but a far-more-impressive 14-of-14 at the free-throw line for a team that connected on 25-of-30 collectively at the charity stripe, compared to just 10-of-14 for the Bearcats. Jeremy Lamb added 14 points, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel 10 points off the bench and Alex Oriakhi a team-best 11 rebounds, but the big man in the middle missed on all six of his field goal attempts and finished with just four points. Oriakhi, who ranks second in the Big East in rebounding with almost nine per game, has accounted for a combined 21 rebounds in the first two games of the tournament for the Huskies, but he has been a forgotten part of the offense in terms of scoring with just 13 points after scoring in double figures in all but one of the team's five contests in the conference tournament. Clearly, the scoring has become even more crucial for Walker as the season has worn on and as one of the nation's leaders in that department with 23.6 ppg now is not the time to defer to anyone else anyway.
Playing in their first overtime game of the season, the Aztecs needed some strong efforts in the paint to get them over the hump against the Temple Owls on Saturday in Tucson. Billy White responded with a double-double consisting of 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds as four of the SDSU starters scored in double figures. Kawhi Leonard dropped in 16 points and cleared nine rebounds, followed by Malcolm Thomas with 13 points and nine boards as well, while Chase Tapley tallied 12 points on a solid 4-of-5 shooting behind the three-point line. However, for the second time in as many games, starting guard D.J. Gay had a hard time shooting the ball as he converted just 3-of-13 from the floor, including 1-of-4 behind the three-point line. Although, the game was not a complete loss for Gay as he registered nine points, six rebounds and five assists in 50 minutes of action. In the team's first-ever NCAA Tournament win two days earlier, Gay was limited to just five points on 2-of-11 shooting from the floor and still the Aztecs cruised to the win so one has to assume that once he gets into gear SDSU will be that much tougher to slow down. As important as Gay is to this group, Leonard continues to be the one that opponents have to keep sight of as they plan for how to stop the All- MWC First Team selection and one of the top defenders in the conference in 2010-11 as well. Leonard, who played 46 minutes against the Owls, isn't flashy but he does get the job done and is a potential double-double waiting to happen.
2011年3月17日星期四
Marcum experiences tight shoulder
PHOENIX -- Right-hander Shaun Marcum exited his outstanding start against the White Sox on Thursday after only three innings and complained of a tight shoulder. It's an issue that would usually be considered minor if so many of his teammates were not dealing with their own medical matters.
"It's frustrating. We're this far along, we've got two weeks left [until Opening Day] and it seems like everybody is going down," Marcum said. "I want to be one of the guys who stays healthy and is able to play when it's my time.
"Then again, it is Spring Training. I'd rather miss two weeks of Spring Training than two months of the season. That's the way I'm looking at it right now."
The best case scenario, Marcum said, is that he misses a day or two before resuming his routine. He is slotted as the Brewers' No. 2 starter, debuting April 2 against the Reds.
Marcum probably would have been No. 3 or 4 had Zack Greinke not cracked a rib playing pick-up basketball earlier this spring. The Brewers are already facing limited options to replace Greinke at the start of the season, and would be further stretched if Marcum, their other major offseason acquisition, were to miss time.
"There's definitely concern there," manager Ron Roenicke said. "Geez, we're in a tough spot if he's down for a while."
Marcum, added in a December trade with the Blue Jays as part of Milwaukee's starting rotation makeover, has been dealing with periodic bouts of shoulder tightness all spring, and reported a stiff neck in recent days, Roenicke said.
But Marcum felt fine during his first two innings of work against the White Sox. He allowed his only hit to Alexei Ramirez leading off the third inning when Brewers left fielder Mark Kotsay lost a fly ball in the sun, then retired the next three hitters in order.
Somewhere between the second and third innings, Marcum's shoulder began to tighten. After a chat with head athletic trainer Roger Caplinger, Marcum left the game.
"We don't want to push it and take a chance of doing something stupid," Marcum said. "It's been a battle all spring." It's been a battle in the past as well. Marcum underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2008 and missed all of 2009. He bounced back in 2010 with the Jays, going 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 31 starts and 195 1/3 innings.
He offered this bit of perspective about his early exit:
"If it's the regular season, especially August, September, I'm pitching through it and not saying a word," he said.
It has been a tough first four weeks of Spring Training for Milwaukee's medical staff, which has treated possible Opening Day starter Greinke for a cracked rib, catcher Jonathan Lucroy for a fractured finger, center fielder Carlos Gomez and reliever Manny Parra for stiff backs, right fielder Corey Hart and left fielder Ryan Braun for rib-cage strains, second baseman Rickie Weeks for a tight groin, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt for a sore quadriceps and reliever Takashi Saito for a tight hip and hamstring. They also nursed closer John Axford back from food poisoning and have been closely monitoring LaTroy Hawkins as he makes his way back from shoulder surgery.
That's not even the full injury report, but merely the list of players originally penciled into the Opening Day roster. All have either exited a Cactus League game early, had an outing pushed back or missed a game or more entirely.
Marcum is holding out hope that his absence will be short.
"This may be one of those things where we take a day off or two of throwing and get the tightness out of there," Marcum said, "then pick back up right where we left off and get ready for April 2."
"It's frustrating. We're this far along, we've got two weeks left [until Opening Day] and it seems like everybody is going down," Marcum said. "I want to be one of the guys who stays healthy and is able to play when it's my time.
"Then again, it is Spring Training. I'd rather miss two weeks of Spring Training than two months of the season. That's the way I'm looking at it right now."
The best case scenario, Marcum said, is that he misses a day or two before resuming his routine. He is slotted as the Brewers' No. 2 starter, debuting April 2 against the Reds.
Marcum probably would have been No. 3 or 4 had Zack Greinke not cracked a rib playing pick-up basketball earlier this spring. The Brewers are already facing limited options to replace Greinke at the start of the season, and would be further stretched if Marcum, their other major offseason acquisition, were to miss time.
"There's definitely concern there," manager Ron Roenicke said. "Geez, we're in a tough spot if he's down for a while."
Marcum, added in a December trade with the Blue Jays as part of Milwaukee's starting rotation makeover, has been dealing with periodic bouts of shoulder tightness all spring, and reported a stiff neck in recent days, Roenicke said.
But Marcum felt fine during his first two innings of work against the White Sox. He allowed his only hit to Alexei Ramirez leading off the third inning when Brewers left fielder Mark Kotsay lost a fly ball in the sun, then retired the next three hitters in order.
Somewhere between the second and third innings, Marcum's shoulder began to tighten. After a chat with head athletic trainer Roger Caplinger, Marcum left the game.
"We don't want to push it and take a chance of doing something stupid," Marcum said. "It's been a battle all spring." It's been a battle in the past as well. Marcum underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2008 and missed all of 2009. He bounced back in 2010 with the Jays, going 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 31 starts and 195 1/3 innings.
He offered this bit of perspective about his early exit:
"If it's the regular season, especially August, September, I'm pitching through it and not saying a word," he said.
It has been a tough first four weeks of Spring Training for Milwaukee's medical staff, which has treated possible Opening Day starter Greinke for a cracked rib, catcher Jonathan Lucroy for a fractured finger, center fielder Carlos Gomez and reliever Manny Parra for stiff backs, right fielder Corey Hart and left fielder Ryan Braun for rib-cage strains, second baseman Rickie Weeks for a tight groin, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt for a sore quadriceps and reliever Takashi Saito for a tight hip and hamstring. They also nursed closer John Axford back from food poisoning and have been closely monitoring LaTroy Hawkins as he makes his way back from shoulder surgery.
That's not even the full injury report, but merely the list of players originally penciled into the Opening Day roster. All have either exited a Cactus League game early, had an outing pushed back or missed a game or more entirely.
Marcum is holding out hope that his absence will be short.
"This may be one of those things where we take a day off or two of throwing and get the tightness out of there," Marcum said, "then pick back up right where we left off and get ready for April 2."
2011年3月11日星期五
Stern will talk to Magic about Van Gundy comments
NBA Commissioner David Stern says he doesn't plan to talk to Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy about critical remarks Van Gundy made about him - he will speak to Magic team executives about the comments.
Stern made his remarks Thursday during an interview on ESPN Radio in response to comments Van Gundy made earlier this week in defense of Magic center Dwight Howard.
"I'm going to engage in a private discussions at this point with his franchise," Stern said Thursday on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd." "I actually am not going to talk to Stan Van Gundy. I'm going to talk to the ownership of the team."
Howard served a one-game suspension earlier this week after receiving his league-leading 16th technical foul.
Van Gundy responded to reporter's question about whether the Magic had addressed their concerns to NBA officials about the frequency Howard has been fouled this season. He took a shot directly at the league's top brass.
"This is the system David Stern and his minions like," Van Gundy said. "So that's the system you have. ... I certainly can't have an opinion because David Stern, like a lot of leaders we've seen in this world lately, don't really tolerate other people's opinion or free speech or anything. So I'm not really allowed to have an opinion. So it's up to him.
"He decides and he likes the system he has."
Stern, who fined Van Gundy $35,000 in January for critical comments about officiating, insinuated that he wouldn't fine the coach for his latest remarks.
"Because he tried to make it so personal, I'm not going to do anything about it this time," Stern said. "...It didn't bother me personally. I see somebody whose team isn't performing, whose star player was suspended, who seems to be fraying."
Stern also added: "... Whatever the pressures are that Stan is feeling, that he fell to whatever position he's in to say something like this, it made me sad."
He said he doesn't expect similar comments from Van Gundy going forward.
"I would render a guess ... that we won't be hearing from him for the rest of the season," Stern said. "When he stops and reads what he said and realizes what he did, he will say no more."
Stern made his remarks Thursday during an interview on ESPN Radio in response to comments Van Gundy made earlier this week in defense of Magic center Dwight Howard.
"I'm going to engage in a private discussions at this point with his franchise," Stern said Thursday on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd." "I actually am not going to talk to Stan Van Gundy. I'm going to talk to the ownership of the team."
Howard served a one-game suspension earlier this week after receiving his league-leading 16th technical foul.
Van Gundy responded to reporter's question about whether the Magic had addressed their concerns to NBA officials about the frequency Howard has been fouled this season. He took a shot directly at the league's top brass.
"This is the system David Stern and his minions like," Van Gundy said. "So that's the system you have. ... I certainly can't have an opinion because David Stern, like a lot of leaders we've seen in this world lately, don't really tolerate other people's opinion or free speech or anything. So I'm not really allowed to have an opinion. So it's up to him.
"He decides and he likes the system he has."
Stern, who fined Van Gundy $35,000 in January for critical comments about officiating, insinuated that he wouldn't fine the coach for his latest remarks.
"Because he tried to make it so personal, I'm not going to do anything about it this time," Stern said. "...It didn't bother me personally. I see somebody whose team isn't performing, whose star player was suspended, who seems to be fraying."
Stern also added: "... Whatever the pressures are that Stan is feeling, that he fell to whatever position he's in to say something like this, it made me sad."
He said he doesn't expect similar comments from Van Gundy going forward.
"I would render a guess ... that we won't be hearing from him for the rest of the season," Stern said. "When he stops and reads what he said and realizes what he did, he will say no more."
2011年3月4日星期五
Jefferson Carries Nets Into 2nd Round
LONDON -- The New Jersey Nets are still far away from their Russian owner's goal of making the team a global brand and NBA champion. But for now, at least, they're the league's most successful team in games played in Europe.
Brook Lopez scored 25 points and New Jersey ended a six-game losing streak with a 116-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday in the first regular-season game on the continent.
Kris Humphries had 18 points and 17 rebounds and Deron Williams earned his first win since being acquired from the Utah Jazz last week, adding 16 points and 11 assists.
"Happy with my first win as a Net," said the All-Star guard, who played despite injuries to both hands - a strained right wrist and bruised left hand. "We had a lot of energy today. We were all a little worried about how the trip would affect us, fatigue would set in. But we had a lot of energy. We had definitely some bright spots, some guys played great for us tonight."
Perhaps the brightest spot came from the bench.
Toronto led 81-78 at the end of the third quarter, but Jordan Farmar hit two straight 3-pointers to start the fourth, and Sundiata Gaines added seven points in a decisive 20-6 run sparked by the Nets reserves.
"They were huge for us in the second half," Lopez said. "They gave us a huge lift, pretty much blew open the game for us."
Lopez and Williams did the rest, combining for 11 points after coming back on to make sure Toronto never pulled closer than five.
DeMar DeRozan led Toronto (17-45) with 30 points and Andrea Bargnani added 23.
Williams had his fourth straight double-double since joining the team, and he and Lopez showed signs they can turn into the type of formidable duo the franchise hoped for.
"Our chemistry grows every game by the boatload," Lopez said.
Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said before the game that he plans to sit down with Williams in London and get the guard to commit to a long-term future with the club, saying the two share a common goal of being "No. 1." The two have only had a brief opportunity to chat so far, after a loss in San Antonio last week.
"Mr. Prokhorov met me in San Antonio and we talked for a couple of minutes, but in that short couple of minutes he definitely got me excited also about the move and the future of this franchise," Williams said. "I'm sure we'll have more chances to sit down and talk and get to know each other."
The Nets and Raptors will face each other again at the O2 on Saturday, as the NBA decided to bring regular-season games to Europe for the first time as part of its push to increase its fan base on the continent. The O2 has hosted preseason games for the last four years.
The attendance for Friday's game was an announced sellout of 18,689, but there were some empty seats.
"I loved the crowd," said Bargnani, who was the highest-scoring European player on the night. "I really felt the excitement. I was nervous in the first half. I think it's going to be better tomorrow."
The unusual venue meant the public announcer had to do some extra work, explaining some of the basic rules every now and then to the British crowd - like pointing out that a player fouled while shooting gets two free throws.
And with crowd support split between the two teams - despite the Nets being listed as the home team - players had the rare experience of being booed by rival fans before every free throw, and then cheered by their own supporters if the shot was good.
While the game featured two teams with losing records and lacked a nailbiting finish, there were plenty of highlights. Lopez provided two of the biggest in the first half, first driving through the lane for a one-handed dunk to cut Toronto's lead to 39-34, and then jumping over Leandro Barbosa for an alley-oop slam on an assist from Williams to give his team a 42-41 lead.
"These games are great for global basketball, great for the NBA," said Williams, who scored all but two of his 16 points in the second half. "And I thought the crowd tonight was great, they cheered for both teams pretty equally. When both teams did something good out there, they liked it. And I hope this is just the start of many, many more games."
Brook Lopez scored 25 points and New Jersey ended a six-game losing streak with a 116-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday in the first regular-season game on the continent.
Kris Humphries had 18 points and 17 rebounds and Deron Williams earned his first win since being acquired from the Utah Jazz last week, adding 16 points and 11 assists.
"Happy with my first win as a Net," said the All-Star guard, who played despite injuries to both hands - a strained right wrist and bruised left hand. "We had a lot of energy today. We were all a little worried about how the trip would affect us, fatigue would set in. But we had a lot of energy. We had definitely some bright spots, some guys played great for us tonight."
Perhaps the brightest spot came from the bench.
Toronto led 81-78 at the end of the third quarter, but Jordan Farmar hit two straight 3-pointers to start the fourth, and Sundiata Gaines added seven points in a decisive 20-6 run sparked by the Nets reserves.
"They were huge for us in the second half," Lopez said. "They gave us a huge lift, pretty much blew open the game for us."
Lopez and Williams did the rest, combining for 11 points after coming back on to make sure Toronto never pulled closer than five.
DeMar DeRozan led Toronto (17-45) with 30 points and Andrea Bargnani added 23.
Williams had his fourth straight double-double since joining the team, and he and Lopez showed signs they can turn into the type of formidable duo the franchise hoped for.
"Our chemistry grows every game by the boatload," Lopez said.
Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said before the game that he plans to sit down with Williams in London and get the guard to commit to a long-term future with the club, saying the two share a common goal of being "No. 1." The two have only had a brief opportunity to chat so far, after a loss in San Antonio last week.
"Mr. Prokhorov met me in San Antonio and we talked for a couple of minutes, but in that short couple of minutes he definitely got me excited also about the move and the future of this franchise," Williams said. "I'm sure we'll have more chances to sit down and talk and get to know each other."
The Nets and Raptors will face each other again at the O2 on Saturday, as the NBA decided to bring regular-season games to Europe for the first time as part of its push to increase its fan base on the continent. The O2 has hosted preseason games for the last four years.
The attendance for Friday's game was an announced sellout of 18,689, but there were some empty seats.
"I loved the crowd," said Bargnani, who was the highest-scoring European player on the night. "I really felt the excitement. I was nervous in the first half. I think it's going to be better tomorrow."
The unusual venue meant the public announcer had to do some extra work, explaining some of the basic rules every now and then to the British crowd - like pointing out that a player fouled while shooting gets two free throws.
And with crowd support split between the two teams - despite the Nets being listed as the home team - players had the rare experience of being booed by rival fans before every free throw, and then cheered by their own supporters if the shot was good.
While the game featured two teams with losing records and lacked a nailbiting finish, there were plenty of highlights. Lopez provided two of the biggest in the first half, first driving through the lane for a one-handed dunk to cut Toronto's lead to 39-34, and then jumping over Leandro Barbosa for an alley-oop slam on an assist from Williams to give his team a 42-41 lead.
"These games are great for global basketball, great for the NBA," said Williams, who scored all but two of his 16 points in the second half. "And I thought the crowd tonight was great, they cheered for both teams pretty equally. When both teams did something good out there, they liked it. And I hope this is just the start of many, many more games."
2011年2月20日星期日
NASCAR moves Daytona 500 back a week in 2012
http://myjerseysfactory.blog.com/
The Daytona 500 is on the move.
NASCAR and track officials announced Sunday that the Great American Race will be a week later in 2012, allowing the sport to shorten its season and avoid any potential conflicts with the NFL's cheap jerseys Super Bowl.
NASCAR's 2012 season opener will be Sunday, Feb. 26.
The new date allows NASCAR to eliminate a traditional off week following the first three races of the season. It also gets NASCAR ahead of any potential changes to the NFL schedule, including an 18-game schedule or NFL labor strife that might force the Super Bowl in Indianapolis to be delayed a week.
“We're not going to deny the fact that part of this also is in dealing with the NFL,” said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's vice president of racing operations. “Who knows where they'll go with an 18-game schedule. But we want to get ahead of that.
“Either way, we think it's the right thing to do for our season to kick off. The Super Bowl's certainly a big event, but so's the Daytona 500. To give fans an opportunity to go to both of those we think is the right move, it's a win-win for everybody.”
The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 5. But Colts owner Jim Irsay and host committee officials have said the NFL asked city officials to keep blocks of hotel rooms and city venues open for that weekend and the next.
The current collective bargaining agreement runs out at the end of the day March 3. The players believe that team owners are preparing to lock them out as soon as the following day, which could threaten the 2011 season. The NFL has not lost games to a work stoppage since 1987.
Nonetheless, NASCAR officials are anticipating changes to the NFL's schedule. Whether it's an 18-game schedule and/or an extra bye week thrown in, they certainly don't want Speedweeks trying to compete with America's biggest sporting event, the Super Bowl.
They even declined to say that the date for the next Daytona 500 — the fourth Sunday in February — would remain the same in future years.
They also stopped short of announcing other races during 2012 Speedweeks, including the exhibition Budweiser Shootout. That could mean NASCAR officials are considering condensing Speedweeks from a two-weekend event spanning 11 days to a weeklong extravaganza.
“I'm not prepared to ask for that,” Daytona International Speedway president Joey Chitwood III said. “I like having the Shootout, I like having the ARCA event and I like having that weekend. It's a good weekend for our fans.”
NASCAR officials don't feel the same about the off weekend early in the season. Drivers and owners have complained that the 36-race season is too long already, insisting there's little need for a bye week in March.
“It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that hurts our momentum throughout the season,” O'Donnell said. “So by being able to move the date back a week, we close up that off week, NASCAR's able to keep the momentum throughout the season, which we think is great.”
The Daytona 500 is on the move.
NASCAR and track officials announced Sunday that the Great American Race will be a week later in 2012, allowing the sport to shorten its season and avoid any potential conflicts with the NFL's cheap jerseys Super Bowl.
NASCAR's 2012 season opener will be Sunday, Feb. 26.
The new date allows NASCAR to eliminate a traditional off week following the first three races of the season. It also gets NASCAR ahead of any potential changes to the NFL schedule, including an 18-game schedule or NFL labor strife that might force the Super Bowl in Indianapolis to be delayed a week.
“We're not going to deny the fact that part of this also is in dealing with the NFL,” said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's vice president of racing operations. “Who knows where they'll go with an 18-game schedule. But we want to get ahead of that.
“Either way, we think it's the right thing to do for our season to kick off. The Super Bowl's certainly a big event, but so's the Daytona 500. To give fans an opportunity to go to both of those we think is the right move, it's a win-win for everybody.”
The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 5. But Colts owner Jim Irsay and host committee officials have said the NFL asked city officials to keep blocks of hotel rooms and city venues open for that weekend and the next.
The current collective bargaining agreement runs out at the end of the day March 3. The players believe that team owners are preparing to lock them out as soon as the following day, which could threaten the 2011 season. The NFL has not lost games to a work stoppage since 1987.
Nonetheless, NASCAR officials are anticipating changes to the NFL's schedule. Whether it's an 18-game schedule and/or an extra bye week thrown in, they certainly don't want Speedweeks trying to compete with America's biggest sporting event, the Super Bowl.
They even declined to say that the date for the next Daytona 500 — the fourth Sunday in February — would remain the same in future years.
They also stopped short of announcing other races during 2012 Speedweeks, including the exhibition Budweiser Shootout. That could mean NASCAR officials are considering condensing Speedweeks from a two-weekend event spanning 11 days to a weeklong extravaganza.
“I'm not prepared to ask for that,” Daytona International Speedway president Joey Chitwood III said. “I like having the Shootout, I like having the ARCA event and I like having that weekend. It's a good weekend for our fans.”
NASCAR officials don't feel the same about the off weekend early in the season. Drivers and owners have complained that the 36-race season is too long already, insisting there's little need for a bye week in March.
“It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that hurts our momentum throughout the season,” O'Donnell said. “So by being able to move the date back a week, we close up that off week, NASCAR's able to keep the momentum throughout the season, which we think is great.”
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