| 908 Beiträge - Forenjunkie
|
|
|
MIAMI - This is why Dwyane Wade rested. nike roshe run saldi online . This is why the Miami Heat opted to go without their longtime franchise player for so many nights this season, why teammates hoped their frustrations about playing without him for 28 regular-season games would ultimately be rewarded, why he often seemed more comfortable in a suit than a uniform. News flash: The regular season didnt mean all that much to Wade and the Heat. Everything about the Miami franchise revolves around chasing more titles, and Wade is doing his part. He and the two-time defending NBA champion Heat will take a 2-1 series lead over the Indiana Pacers into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night, and Wade — who is playing without any significant injury issues at this point of the season for the first time in years — is looking as good as he has in months. "Im in the groove and the flow that I want to be in, and also understanding that the game of basketball is tricky," Wade said. "You can get out of it in a second, and youve got to figure out a way still to compete and help your teammates win." True, but that groove hes in is a pretty good one. Heres how good hes been in the fourth quarters of these East finals: Wade has as many field goals in those three final periods — 13 — as any other two players in the series combined to this point. Hes shooting 72 per cent in fourth quarters in this series, including a 6-for-7 effort in the last 12 minutes of Game 1 and a 5-for-5 showing in the final period of Game 2. "Weve got to make him a little bit more uncomfortable than he is," Pacers forward David West said. "Hes just playing the game at way too high of a comfort level in terms of were just not putting enough pressure on him. All the guys on the floor need to guard him and get him out of his comfort zone. Hes really lining his shots up, taking his time, which we cant allow. "He just cant be as comfortable as hes been." That sounds like things opponents were saying about Wade before the summer of 2010, when he helped lure LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami and formed the core of a team that is two wins from a fourth straight East title. But after hearing plenty of talk in recent years that his game isnt so much declining as it is freefalling, Wade seems to be reveling in the reminders that, yes, he can still be among the elite players in the NBA. The show Wade is putting on is so good right now that James wouldnt even leave to get some much-needed treatment for a hamstring cramp late in the third quarter of Game 3 until seeing what the 2006 NBA Finals MVP was going to do on Miamis final possession of the period. Wade wound up connecting on a 3-pointer, after which James immediately hobbled off, basically unable to work one of his legs. Worth it, James said. "Thats what our team is built for," James said. "When one of the guys goes out, were able to still hold the fort. Its great to see the way he closed out the quarter. The way hes been playing in the conference finals. We need it all." James never really hid his frustration about playing without Wade, though it never rose to the level of any obvious locker-room rancour, either. Whether they liked it or not, the Heat understood the plan for Wade and why it was crucial to preserve his balky knees with hopes that he would be at his best for the biggest time of the year. So far, so good. And Wades confidence — which wasnt perfect after he had to miss nine games late in the regular season because of a hamstring injury, an absence not related to the maintenance plan — is as high now as its been all season. "You need it, no question about it. We all do," Wade said. "So for me, the first round was me just kind of trying to get my footing a little bit, trying to do some of the things that I was capable of doing, trying to see if I could do it. Then the second round came a little more and then the third round. Like I said, ideally for me, missing the last 2 1/2 weeks wasnt ideal, but thats what happened." Its also now forgotten. He might not be the guy Heat President Pat Riley used to call "BIW" — short for best in the world — anymore, but Wade at his best makes Miami look its best. "Dwyane understands his game and where hes effective as much as anybody in this league," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Thats why youre seeing a shooting guard shooting an incredibly efficient field goal percentage that he does, and its gone up the last two years. He knows how to get to his spots." nike roshe run uomo . A year later, he was out of job. Phil Jackson fired Woodson and the entire coaching staff on Monday, making his first big move since becoming team president in March and saying in a statement that "the time has come for change throughout the franchise. adidas zx 700 prezzo .Ty Schultz and Chad Labelle also scored for Medicine Hat (28-9-2), while Marek Langhamer made 20 saves for the Tigers third straight win.Travis Browns goal at the 16:46 mark of the third brought Victoria (20-19-3) to within a goal, but it was not enough for the Royals.MONTREAL - Bolstered by winger Max Domi, Canadas top line was firing on all cylinders in the final pre-tournament game before the start of the junior world championship.Along with Domi, Sam Reinhart and Anthony Duclair combined for seven points in Canadas 6-0 romp of Switzerland on Tuesday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.Domi led the way with three goals, all of which were assisted by Duclair, while Reinhart added an assist on Domis second.Its pretty easy to play with those two guys, said Domi of his linemates. Reinhart and Duclair are two great hockey players. Its fun to be a part of that line and get the opportunity, but it comes with hard work too, and I work really hard away from the puck.Before camp opened, we wanted to see if those guys can have chemistry together, and obviously I think they do, said head coach Benoit Groulx. They seem to have a lot of fun playing together. Theyre a good mix — two guys (Domi and Duclair) with speed and skills on the wing, and Sam in the middle who controls the game. Theyre a good line for us.With Canada already up 1-0, Domi scored twice in 13 seconds in the second period.His first of the evening came on the power play at 15:46 after two Swiss defencemen gave him far too much time with the puck. The Winnipeg native skated towards the net with ease and found an opening between Ludovic Waebers pads.With the Bell Centre public address announcer still belting out the details of Domis goal, the Arizona Coyotes prospect quickly made it 3-0 for Canada as he deflected home a pass from Montreal-born Duclair.The goal was initially attributed to Duclair, but an official scoring change gave the goal to Domi instead. Domi, however, added to the boxscore confusion by claiming he did not even get his stick on the puck.That was Duclairs goal, said Domi. I didnt get a piece on it at all. It was all him.Canada scored a fourth goal 40 seconds after that — its third in 53 seconds — to effectively put the game out of Switzerlands reach.Domi, son of retired NHLer Tie Domi, completed his hat trick at 8:16 of the third period with a sharp wrist shot from the face-off circle.Besides Domi, Duclair was consistently the most threatening player on the ice. The New York Ranger weaved his way through defenceman with bursts of speed and fancy stick work on more than one occasion.Its working on the ice, said Duclair of Canadas top line. Weve been having a lot of success. I dont exactly know how to explain it, but its working between us.Canada is now 2-0-1 in its three exhibition matches, having outscored its opponents 12-4. The 11-day world junior event, which takes place in Tooronto and Montreal, opens on Boxing Day. Nike Roshe Run donna. The Canadians have not won gold in five years, and have been kept off the podium in the last two tournaments.Were a great contender, said Duclair. Our past is behind us, and were looking towards the future. We have a new team, a new coaching staff, and were gunning for gold, thats for sure.The Canadians hope to have set the tone for the tournament with a six-goal effort and a 14-save shutout from goaltender Zach Fucale against the Swiss on Tuesday.Getting the start in Canadas final exhibition game means Fucale will likely get the nod over goaltender Eric Comrie when Canadas tournament officially gets underway versus Slovakia on Dec. 26.Fucale had little to do against the Swiss in the first period, as the Laval, Que. native faced only two shots in the opening 20 minutes.Its not easy when the rhythm is broken like that, said Fucale, whose saves werent terribly difficult overall. But whatever number of shots I face, I want to be sharp for the entire game. I have to be there when it matters.At the other end of the rink, Waeber had to be on his toes throughout the contest. The 19-year-old stopped 37 of 43 shots for Switzerland, which finished 0-2-0 in its exhibition games.Canada flexed its muscles from the very get-go— and hardly let up— outshooting Switzerland 14-2 after the first period.Though things could have been much worse for the Swiss early on. Despite the double-digit shot count at the first intermission, Canadas best chances were shots that missed the target. Fourth-liner Frederik Gauthier missed a wide-open net in the first, and so did forwards Nic Petan and Nick Paul.The Canadians got the breakthrough they thoroughly deserved at 13:34 of the first after Brayden Point completed a nice tic-tac-toe play. With the teams playing 4-on-4 hockey, defencemen Josh Morrissey and Madison Bowey combined with Point for a pretty finish.The Swiss pushed back in the second, largely on the back of three consecutive penalties to Canada. Switzerland threatened, especially on a brief 5-on-3, but couldnt solve Fucale.Thats when Domi and Jake Virtanen combined for three goals in less than a minute late in the second period to put the game out of Switzerlands reach.Nick Ritchie also scored for Canada.Notes: After their game against Slovakia, the Canadians welcome Germany to the Bell Centre (Dec. 27), Finland (Dec. 29), and finally the United States (Dec. 31) in group-stage action. … After Canadas round-robin matches, its tournament moves to Toronto for the knockout phase. … The final will be played Jan. 5 at the Air Canada Centre. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
|
