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ere was a lot of opportunity there to giv
Topic Started: Jan 9 2013, 07:38 AM (86 Views)
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LONDON - With a massive budget, the U. Vernon Davis Womens Jersey .S. Olympic mens basketball team has a treasure trove of information on its opponents. There are scouting reports, game films, statistical breakdowns — anything and everything a coach or player needs to prepare for any upcoming game. So, with the Americans getting ready for their second preliminary-round game, forward Kevin Love was asked what he knew about Tunisia. "Not much," he said. He and his U.S. teammates are about to find out. Coming off a less-than-stellar, but still impressive 27-point win over France in its London 2012 Olympic Games tournament opener, the U.S. team will play Tunisia on Tuesday night in what has the potential to be a blowout of epic proportions. The U.S. and Tunisia have only met once previously with the Americans romping to a 92-57 win at the 2010 world championships in Istanbul after leading by only six points at halftime. During Mondays practice, the U.S. team got familiar with Tunisias offensive sets and will be briefed on the African champions personnel before taking the court. What the Americans will learn is that Tunisian team is tall with seven players on its roster over 6-foot-8. Other than that, there may be no worries. And although the game will likely turn into nothing more than a prolonged dunk contest for the Americans, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski wont let his team relax — or lower its gold standard. "Its about our performance," he said. "We should beat Tunisia, but we want to play well against Tunisia. When you play games in your pool and youre a significant favourite, you dont want to just win, you want to maintain and build good habits. We dont want to overlook anybody because then we overlook ourselves. And in short period of time you can fall into a bad habit that will have its impact on a game where youre not a significant favourite." Among the many positives to come out of the win over France was the re-emergence of Love. After struggling during most of the pre-Olympic exhibition tour, Love gave the U.S. a spark off the bench, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. A member of the 2010 world title team, Love hadnt figured out his role on this squad but is beginning to understand he can have a major impact. "I dont know if Ive finally gotten into a rhythm," he said. "Ive just had an opportunity. I got a chance and throughout my whole career I have worked as hard as I can to stay ready and I think I did that here. I think early on I couldnt really find myself in the offence — or defence for that matter. But I think now hopefully yesterday was a good omen for me going forward." At 6-10, Love can give the U.S. inside muscle or outside firepower. He won the NBAs 3-point shooting contest at the All-Star game this year. "We need him to be the guy he was last night, coming off the bench and getting rebounds and making outside shots," LeBron James said. "Hes another big body we can use." If there was one day to go sight-seeing, to check out Big Ben and Buckingham Palace or pick up an Olympic souvenir, Monday was it. But with their sights set on a gold medal, this group of Americans wanted to work on a few things. "We need to get better," James said before practice at East London University. "We know we dont have time to waste an opportunity to get better. This is a long, but short tournament. Weve got to take every practice, every film session, every game and try to improve. Were not going to let our guard down no matter who were playing against. "We cant waste a minute going backwards. We have high goals." Tunisia, which lost to Nigeria in its first Olympic game, doesnt figure to be anything more than a punching bag for the Americans to bludgeon. The U.S. might be able to name its score against a Tunisian squad ranked No. 32 in the world and without any NBA players on its roster. It could be more of the same on Thursday against Nigeria. However, Krzyzewski believes the opponent is inconsequential. Its about the U.S. playing up to its potential — and then some. Theres a standard to be met, an expectation that comes with being the best. Krzyzewski likened it to an actor on Broadway. "You have a performance to give, you know," said Krzyzewski, who would never demean any team. "Are you doing it on a Wednesday matinee, a Saturday night? Its not who youre playing. You should never judge how youre going to perform or potentially who youre going to play against. You are the person performing, your team is performing. You never want to get into the habit of just getting by, because eventually you dont get by." After Sundays game, French forward Nicolas Batum called the U.S. beatable and rattled off Brazil, Argentina and Spain as teams which could upset the U.S. Kobe Bryant wasnt aware of the comments, but he agreed with them. "Hes right," Bryant. "Everybody does have a shot to beat us, absolutely." And he meant it. Aldon Smith Camo Jersey . Scott Cullen looks at two competitive games in the NHL playoffs Monday. FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEATThe Washington Capitals played a bend-dont-break defence for 59:53, but the New York Rangers scored a late power play goal and another in overtime to escape with the Game Five win, taking a 3-2 lead in the series. Colin Kaepernick Game Jersey . The mismatch pitted the fourth-ranked Netherlands against No. 100 in FIFAs world rankings, but will at least have served to boost confidence in the Dutch camp that had been criticized for lacklustre performances in three other friendlies. http://www.shopsanfrancisco49ersgear.com/womens-frank-gore-nike-jersey/ . Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., now heads to the U.S. Open after losing his first meeting with Wawrinka 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. The 21-year-old came to the court leading the tournament with 54 aces and added 17 in his losing effort over nearly two and a half hours. Justin Smith Youth Jersey . The American took the opening set after Dodig double-faulted to give Querrey a 6-5 lead. In the second set, a netted forehand at 4-3 earned Dodig the only break, and in the final set a forehand error at 3-2 left Querrey in charge. Aldon Smith Elite Jersey .C. Lions 17-6 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in CFL action Saturday night.SEATTLE -- Robert Andino came up big at the right time for the Baltimore Orioles. A day after dropping a throw at second base that helped extend the seventh inning in a loss to Seattle, Andino homered in the top of the ninth to give the Orioles a 5-4 win Tuesday over the Mariners. "I had to make up for something from yesterday," Andino said. Andinos home run gave a boost to the Orioles. Baltimore starter Wei-Yin Chen was perfect for 6 1/3 innings, and left the game with a 4-1 lead. The Mariners rallied for three runs against reliever Pedro Strop to tie the game before Andino came through. His fourth homer of the year was his first since May 7 and ended Seattle reliever Charlie Furbushs (4-2) streak of 22 2-3 scoreless innings, the third longest by a reliever in Mariners history. "It was a two-seamer I wanted to have sink and it stayed flat," Furbush said. Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save. Darren ODay (5-0) pitched one-third of an inning, but picked up the win. Strop struggled in the eighth when the Mariners scored three runs and tied the game. Michael Saunders double ended Chens night. Strop faced Justin Smoak, who was 2-for-2 with a walk in his career against Strop. Smoaks single scored Saunders and John Jasos pinch-hit single drove in Smoak following a Dustin Ackley single. Jaso is 4 for 10 this season pinch-hitting. Strop walked Kyle Seager with the bases loaded to force in the tying run, ending his night after just one-third of an inning in which he allowed three hits, hit a batter, walked one and gave up two earned runs. Strop had allowed two earned runs in his prior 26 appearances combined. Chen threw 7 1-3 innings, the first 6 1-3 perfect, allowed two hits and two earned runs while striking out a career-high nine. He said he didnt think about the perfect game. Casper Wells seventh-inning home run to left on a 3-2 pitch ended Chens perfect run. "I know you got to throw a strike -- its a perfect game -- so Im pretty much sitting dead red," Wells said. "I got a fastball I could handle." Chicagos Phil Humber threw a perfect game against Seattle on April 21. Smoak led off the sixth with a soft liner after Chen had an extended wait during the Orioles four-run rally in the top of the inning. Ackley flew out to left and Brendan Ryan popped out in foul territory to catcher Matt Wieters. Chen was never threatened in the first five innings. He struck out eight, including the side in the fifth,, working a 93-mph fastball with an 80-mph changeup. Colin Kaepernick Limited Jersey. His strikeout of Miguel Olivo for the second out in the fifth set a career high in strikeouts. The Mariners managed only one out in the outfield through the first five innings when Ichiro Suzuki flew to left leading off the game. Ryan hit a line drive right back at Chen in the third that the left-hander snagged with his glove. Baltimore pounced on Seattle starter Felix Hernandez in the sixth for four runs and knocked him out of the game. The Orioles started the inning with four consecutive singles from Xavier Avery, J.J. Hardy, Chris Davis and Adam Jones. Jim Thome grounded out, but Wieters singled to centre to score two runs and chase Hernandez. "Its really tough to string something against him," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "You may get one or two shots at him in a ball game, and we took advantage of it." Hernandez lasted 5 1-3 innings, and allowed four earned runs and eight hits. He struck out eight and walked none. The first run of the inning snapped a 20-inning scoreless streak for Hernandez, who will be participating in next weeks All-Star game. The 2010 Cy Young winner had allowed two earned runs over his prior three starts combined. The four runs were more than the Orioles had scored in 13 of the previous 16 games. Ryan Flahertys one-out single to right in the third was the first hit of the night off Hernandez. After Andino struck out, Avery, activated Tuesday, hit a broken-bat grounder to left that moved Flaherty to third. Hernandez powered out of trouble with a strikeout of Hardy, Hernandezs seventh strikeout in the first three innings. "There was a lot of opportunity there to give in and keel over, but Robert had a big swing for us after a couple tough things," Showalter said. Notes: Baltimore placed second baseman Brian Roberts on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of a strained right groin. Xavier Avery was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. . Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Franklin Gutierrez, who is on the seven-day disabled list because of concussion symptoms, is unlikely to be back prior to the All-Star break. . Seattles Mike Carp (shoulder) participated in batting practice Tuesday, and will be worked back in primarily at first base. He is yet to throw. . Seattle signed No. 3 overall pick Mike Zunino on Tuesday. Zunino and his family were at Safeco Field, and Zunino took batting practice, hitting a handful of home runs. ' ' '
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