ll finding his legs at this level from corse178's blog
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers introduced Al Jefferson, Thaddeus Young and Jeremy Evans on Friday, with the hope that the revamped frontcourt can help push the team closer to the top of the NBAs Eastern Conference. Cheap Swingman Heat Jerseys .We feel that we added some players that we think are going to help us contend for the East, Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said.Indiana acquired Young in a draft-night trade with Brooklyn, while Jefferson signed a three-year, $30 million deal earlier this week.The 28-year-old Young, entering his 10th season in the league, averaged 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season.The 31-year-old Jefferson averaged 12 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season for Charlotte, but he missed a large chunk of time because of a midseason injury to his right knee.Ive got the injury thing taken care of now, Jefferson said. Once Im 100 percent I dont think theres any doubt in my mind, or anyone elses mind, of what I can do on the court.Evans, who won the 2012 NBA slam dunk competition, was traded to Indiana from Dallas. He didnt play much in his only season with the Mavericks, averaging 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 30 games. He played his first five seasons in Utah.The Pacers also will have a new point guard next season. They acquired Jeff Teague from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team trade that sent George Hill to the Utah Jazz.The new players will join holdovers Paul George, Myles Turner and Monta Ellis in an effort to improve on last seasons 45-37 record. The Pacers were the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and lost to Toronto in the first round.I think this roster allows us, with the versatility we have, to establish the tempo that we want to play, Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. We definitely should be able to play fast, and then with the addition of Al Jefferson, you can play in a halfcourt offense. Cheap Heat Jerseys China . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in.Cheap NBA Jerseys . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto.http://www.cheapheatjerseys.com/ . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The visiting Seattle Mariners aim to sweep their three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday while peeking toward the future.The Angels are looking, too.Seattle, locked in the AL wild-card race, is aching to end its streak of not reaching the postseason since 2001. Playing past Octobers opening weekend is the goal for a team that has won a season-high seven straight games.The Angels were hoping Tyler Skaggs could fuel their turnaround.Then word came Tuesday night that Skaggs had been scratched because of forearm tightness.Were being cautious, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. But youre always concerned with any pitcher. With Tyler, obviously, we are going to err on the side of caution.So instead of Skaggs, Jhoulys Chacin (4-6, 5.69 ERA) gets the nod.Skaggs (3-3, 4.13) was solid his last three starts. Skaggs is among the Angels starting pitchers undergoing and coming back from Tommy John surgery. He was to make his 10th start since his operation.It appeared Skaggs, a southpaw, had found his groove after some early detours. In his last three starts, he was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA.The common denominator from his good games is pretty clear, Scioscia said. Its his ability to get his fastball into a good zone; he has great secondary stuff.But the Angels havent had great luck with their starters. This season they have lost C.J. Wilson, Andrew Heaney, Garrett Richards and Matt Shoemaker.Thats why Skaggs outing was so critical on Wednesday. Now it appears Skaggs, who will undergo an MRI, might be challenged to pitch again this season.Theres not much gray area to the Ms plight. Wholesale Heat Jerseys. They need to win at every opportunity as they jockey to reach the playoffs.Seattle counters with its ace; and, if you said Felix Hernandez, think again.Instead, Hisashi Iwakuma (15-11, 3.96) is the bellwether.Iwakuma, a right-hander, leads the staff in victories while setting a career high.Hernandezs season was interrupted by a stint on disabled list.Taijuan Walker is still finding his legs at this level, although he was sensational on Tuesday in blanking the Angels.Lefties James Paxton and Ariel Miranda have contributed, but not nearly to the level of Iwakuma.In four of Iwakumas last five starts, he has pitched at least six innings. But over that span, one start stands alone: his last one. Iwakuma went 6 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs in a win over the Oakland As.From the first inning, he had all of his pitches working, Mariners manager Scott Servais told the Associated Press. We got off to a pretty quick start and we kind of faded offensively, so we certainly needed the pitching.Iwakuma is pitching with something on his mind. Of course its among the thoughts of all Seattle backers hoping the Mariners qualify for the postseason.We all fight and play to play in the playoffs, Iwakuma said through a translator.In any language, this is a big game for both teams.The Ms need all the wins they can get.The Angels need to know whether Skaggs will be a key piece in the future. He still might be, but his road back has hit a detour. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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