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> There were a couple
hongwei28
post Sep 4 2018, 02:42 AM
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Steve Kerr refers to Pelicans star Anthony Davis ”one of the very best players on earth.”

That means the Golden State Warriors‘ defense will face a far different test than what San Antonio presented in the first round of the NBA playoffs when New Orleans arrives for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday night on the defending champions’ home floor.

The pace. The playmakers. And Ryan Grant Jersey , of course, the load that is Davis.

Davis’ daunting playoff averages: 33 points, 12 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.

New Orleans got here even after losing All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins three months ago to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. That’s when Davis said the Pelicans became ”great.”

”It was tough. We were still learning when he was here,” Davis said.

”We were still in that early stage of trying to figure out how to close games, how to play for each other, defensive assignments. And we started to figure it out before he got hurt. … Then when he went down, we had to change everything again.”

Golden State gets it. There was a stretch last month the four All-Stars were out and the Warriors lost seven of 10.

Now, they might get back a big reinforcement: Stephen Curry. The two-time MVP was listed as questionable for Saturday’s series opener as he works back from a sprained left knee he hurt March 23.

”Totally different series from what we just faced,” Kerr said of a five-game first round with San Antonio. ”Very much about pace. They like to get out and run, where the Spurs are more of a half-court team, so it’s an adjustment, a big adjustment. And obviously, Davis is one of the very best players on earth.”

Here are some things to watch for as the best-of-seven series begins at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors have won a franchise-record 12 straight postseason games:

HEALTHY CURRY

The Warriors dominated the Spurs without Steph. Now Chad Thomas Jersey , he’s likely coming back and adds another dimension to a team already clicking as it chases a repeat championship.

Curry resumed full practice with contact Thursday and his status was still unclear, though it certainly appears he will play soon.

Full strength immediately or not, New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry realizes the tall task.

”I just think it’s a great opportunity for us to play the world champs and see where you are as a franchise and see what it takes to win a championship,” he said.

GENTRY’S ASSIST

Kerr knew he wanted Gentry on Golden State’s staff when hired to coach the Warriors before the 2014-15 season – and it’s among the first calls he made. Gentry served only one season as the team’s top assistant but was instrumental in developing the offense used today.

”I would say Alvin was critical for my growth as a head coach,” Kerr said.

He meant plenty to the players, too. Ask All-Star Klay Thompson.

”He was a great guy to be around. He was a huge part of why our offense opened up and was a huge part of our pace of play and our ball movement,” Thompson said. ”And I think he’s done the same thing in New Orleans. They play with great pace now. They play similar to us as far as spreading the court and you’ve got playmakers everywhere. So Alvin was instrumental in what we built here.”

PELICANS REST

New Orleans swept Portland in the first round, so the Pelicans got to watch the Warriors finish off the Spurs on Tuesday night.

”I do think we’ve had an advantage in that way just having time off and everybody locking in and watching them play,” Jrue Holiday said.

The Warriors know how much the addition of Nikola Mirotic meant to New Orleans since he was acquired to help fill the void left by Cousins’ absence.

”We pretty much threw out all three game tapes prior to Mirotic’s arrival,” Kerr said. ”Those don’t mean anything to us. Once he arrived, the whole team looked different.”

THOMPSON’S TOUCH

Thompson is feeling it.

After some ups and downs during the regular season, he shot 52.9 percent – 46 for 87 – in the first round including 16 of 31 on 3s for 51.6 percent.

”It always feels right, at least in my mind it does,” Thompson said of his shooting touch. ”It has to. Hopefully Mike Glennon Jersey , I can continue that (consistent) trend. But it’s something that I will never doubt myself when it comes to shooting. I put too much effort into it.”

ON A ROLL

Golden State has won 24 of the last 26 games including playoffs against the Pelicans, 12 of 13 at home dating to the 2012-13 season.

”Our guys know that to beat the defending champs is going to be extremely hard,” New Orleans guard Rajon Rondo said.



AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.




NHL teams seeking a center are in luck, especially the ones that can get an audience with John Tavares.

It’s no secret that Tavares is where free agency begins. He and his representatives have already met with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks and are set to speak with the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday to court the 27-year-old superstar.

”We’ve had a discussion on that front,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Saturday at the NHL draft . ”I think that’s still a bit to be determined.”

As the No. 1 pending free agent, Tavares not only gets to hand out his rose like hockey’s version of ”The Bachelor,” he can set the tone for the rest of the players available.

Only the Islanders can offer an eight-year contract – unless they execute a sign-and-trade to recoup some value – and he could very well become the league’s second-highest-paid player behind Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who makes an average of $12.5 million a season.

”I think that (at)91Tavares should join the Sharks!” San Jose captain Joe Pavelski’s grandmother Mary Ann tweeted .

As soon as Tavares decides to stay with the Islanders or sign elsewhere, the movement will begin.

Paul Stastny should be the next-best center available after putting up 15 points in 17 playoff games with Winnipeg. Another 32-year-old, Toronto’s Tyler Bozak, could be a fallback plan for teams that don’t sign Tavares, and Buffalo will continue to get calls about two-way star Ryan O’Reilly as the push from contenders to add talent heats up.

The Sharks are right in the middle of a lot of those conversations. Owner Hasso Plattner, GM Doug Wilson and coach Peter DeBoer made their pitch to Tavares at Creative Artists Agency’s Los Angeles office Tuesday.

”We explore everything Kyle Long Jersey , every opportunity,” Wilson said Saturday after Ilya Kovalchuk chose to sign with Los Angeles. ”It’s a good thing that I think players look at our place as a place they want to consider to play.”

The Lightning, who re-signed J.T. Miller to a $26.25 million, five-year deal, provide an attractive destination for Tavares and others after reaching the Eastern Conference final with a young core, but Tampa Bay’s salary cap space is tight.

”We would have to make room,” GM Steve Yzerman said. ”We would have to make room if we brought in a significant salary.”

Dallas could soon agree with center Tyler Seguin on a long-term contract, but has much more free cap space than Tampa Bay to use this summer. Expect GM Jim Nill to be active.

”We’ll be getting a lot of calls from players,” Nill said. ”It’s exciting just to see what’s out there.”

Tavares’ hometown Maple Leafs are the most intriguing destination because they’re a playoff team with a Stanley Cup-winning coach in Mike Babcock and young talent everywhere, from forwards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander to defenseman Morgan Rielly. They also have almost $25 million in salary-cap space, and GM Kyle Dubas hopes Toronto can add a substantial player in free agency.

”We’ll try to figure that out if the opportunity presents itself,” Dubas said. ”We’re confident right now with our cap situation that we can do really whatever we want to do at this point. Nothing is going to stop us or hold us back and that’s how we’ll proceed here through the entire summer.”

Here are some things to watch in free agency beyond Tavares:

WINGING IT WITH JVR

Only two unrestricted free agents scored 30 goals this past season: Tavares and Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk, who had 36 a year after recording a career-high 62 points in 2016-17. Teams don’t ordinarily let a 6-foot-3 Tony Dorsett Jersey , 217-pounder such as van Riemsdyk get to July 1, but the Maple Leafs are in on Tavares, will need to give Nylander a raise as a restricted free agent and can talk extensions for Matthews and Marner this summer.

With that in mind, van Riemsdyk could easily get a maximum-length, seven-year deal in free agency – perhaps from the New York Rangers he grew up rooting for, or the nearby Islanders or Devils. New Jersey trade acquisition Patrick Maroon and veteran Rick Nash also fit the bill for teams looking for big forwards who can fill the net.

”We’ve had great communication with Rick and his representatives,” Sweeney said of Nash, whom the Bruins traded for in February. ”The time is in his court and stage to initiate whatever talks he wants wherever he wants to go. I think he strongly indicated that Boston is a place that he would consider and as would we.”

FLAWED GOALTENDERS

The crop of available puck-stoppers has a shortage of sure-thing starters. Veterans Jaroslav Halak, Kari Lehtonen and Cam Ward have done it before, but may be at the stage of their careers that they’ll have to split time.

Late-blooming 32-year-old Carter Hutton hasn’t been a No. 1 in the NHL, but looks to have that potential after his .931 save percentage last season was the best among goalies who appeared in at least 20 games.

Teams could also take a shot on goalies who were not tendered contract offers as restricted free agents and are now to open to sign anywhere: Robin Lehner and Petr Mrazek.

DEPTH DEFENSEMEN

After John Carlson, who re-signed with the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals at $64 million over eight years, there’s a significant drop-off to rest of the available defensemen and not many out there who are particularly product Mohamed Bamba Jersey ,

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