#1

clean up.So, if the tight end stuff doesnt work out, perha

in Here is your first Forum Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:01 pm
by sakura698 • 1.245 Posts

MIAMI -- Strange as it sounds, missing shots worked wonders for the Miami Heat. Al Leiter Jersey . And after the Brooklyn Nets went nearly 2 minutes -- a basketball eternity -- without the ball down the stretch, the two-time defending NBA champions would soon find themselves two wins from another trip to the Eastern Conference finals. LeBron James scored 22 points, Chris Bosh added 18 and the Heat pulled away late to beat the Nets 94-82 on Thursday night, taking a 2-0 lead in the East semifinals. "To be able to get some stops like that at the end, and then execute, its something thats critical in this series," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Dwyane Wade had 14 and Ray Allen scored 13 for the Heat, who tied a franchise record with their eighth straight playoff victory. Theyll go for No. 9 on Saturday night, when the best-of-seven series shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3. For the second straight game, Miami had five players in double figures. "Thats what our team is all about," James said. "We dont really care who scores." Mirza Teletovic set a Nets playoff record with six 3-pointers, on his way to a 20-point night off the bench. Shaun Livingston scored 15, and Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson each added 13 more for the Nets. Deron Williams was 0 for 9 from the field, the worst shooting night of his career. "That one hurt," Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "We were right there. We gave ourselves, on the road, an opportunity against the world champs. We let the game slip away. That one possession when they got four offensive rebounds, it didnt lose the game for us." It was three rebounds, but no matter. It was still a backbreaker for the Nets. Teletovic scored inside with 3:39 left to get Brooklyn within eight. For the next 100 seconds, Miami kept possession. James missed a 3-pointer, and Allen -- who led Miami with eight rebounds -- manoeuvred his way around four Nets to grab the rebound. James missed again, and Wade grabbed that board. James missed a layup, but Bosh controlled that board. And finally, almost mercifully, Wade found James for a layup with 1:59 remaining. The lead was 10, the outcome decided. "That was a killer," Johnson said. Wade had just six points in the games first 37 minutes, then eight more in the next three, setting the tone for a grind-it-out fourth quarter from Miami. "Youve got to do the little things until you get your opportunity," said Wade, who finished with seven rebounds and seven assists. "Thats what I was able to do." The Heat led 79-77 when Brooklyns Marcus Thornton missed a 3-pointer with 6:21 left -- which, had it gone down, would have had the Heat facing a fourth-quarter deficit for the first time in these playoffs. But it missed. And thats when the Heat found separation for the first time all night, at the most critical point. James was in trouble with less than 4 seconds on the shot clock and still found a way to get a bounce pass out to Mario Chalmers in the left corner for a 3-pointer. James passed on the fadeaway, deciding it would be a bad shot, and made the decision to send the ball to Chalmers. "Just get it there," James said he was thinking. He got the pass there, Chalmers made the shot, and after a stop on the ensuing Brooklyn trip, Allen hit from the same spot as Chalmers for an 85-77 lead. "As the game wore on we started picking up the pace," Allen said. "We started to getting how we play basketball." Teletovic kept the Nets afloat. He made his first four 3-pointers, needing less than six minutes to do so after checking in for the first time late in the opening quarter. He had 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc by halftime alone, a boost that Brooklyn definitely needed. And his shots came at big times. Of Teletovics five 3s in the first half, three broke ties. His sixth 3 of the game, late in the third, tied the game at 61. But in the end, Miami was too much. "This series is far from over," Johnson said. NOTES: Trying to save a loose ball in the third quarter, James leaped over a row of people sitting along one sideline, then ran about 10 more rows deep into the stands. ... Mason Plumlee had three first-half fouls for the Nets, matching the entire Heat total. Brooklyn didnt take any free throws until the third quarter. ... Miami went scoreless for the games first 3:32, its longest drought to open a home game since Feb. 26, 2005 -- 443 contests ago. ... Nets F Kevin Garnett, who went scoreless in Game 1, had four points but led everyone with 12 rebounds. Jorge Guzman Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Sandy Alcantara Jersey . Orlandos Glen Davis tried to get in the way, only to be driven back into the padding under the basket as the Pelicans forward slammed home a windmill jam. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/1591r-ed-vosberg-jersey-marlins.html .com) - Tonight will go a long way in determining the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Zach Sudfeld always figured hed be the guy avoiding tackles, not making them.But the New York Jets backup tight end has been consistently taking down kick returners this season, leading the team with 15 total special teams tackles. Not bad for a guy who, as far as he can remember, last regularly tackled someone in his high school days.Oh, man, it feels great, Sudfeld said Friday. When you make a good tackle, its like, Man, this is awesome. I can see why people love playing defence so much. Its a lot of fun.At 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, Sudfeld — nicknamed Sasquatch by coach Rex Ryan — isnt exactly the prototypical special teams player.You just dont see it from that body type too much, said linebacker and special teams standout Nick Bellore. Not from a guy that tall, that big.Sudfeld has a nose for the ball carrier, though, and he has become one of the biggest surprises this season for special teams co-ordinator Thomas McGaughey.When I got here last spring and I saw him on tape, McGaughey said, if you would have told me that that guy would be our lead tackler this year, and if he was sitting right there, I would say the same thing — and Ive said this in the meetings — its unbelievable.Sudfeld is third on the depth chart at tight end behind Jeff Cumberland and rookie Jace Amaro and has just two catches for 35 yards this season. While he works for more snaps on offence, Sudfeld has made himself a valuable part of the special teams unit.Hes starting to become more of a leader, McGaughey said. Hes more vocal. He has more confidence because he has been making plays. The one guy that I would say that really shocked me is Zach.And, it came about almost by chance.Sudfeld didnt play special teams in high school and rarely did so in college at Nevada. He had some spot duty as a blocker on punts last season, his first with the Jets, but didnt see much time on special teams in the preseason this year. But in the season opener against Oaklandd, McGaughey needed someone to cover a kickoff and Sudfeld was sent in. Adam Conley Jersey. He assisted on the tackle — his first since he played some linebacker at Modesto Christian High School in California.I kind of just jumped out there and no one blocked me, Sudfeld said. No one accounted for me, so I was in on the tackle. From then on, it was like, Hey, I could do this. I dont have much technique, though. I just try to grab them and wrap em up somehow.Its not pretty all the time, with some awkward-looking arm tackles and near-body slams, so it makes for some laughs among the other special teamers who tackle for a living. But, it gets the job done.We dont really mess with it because some of the ways he gets guys down is pretty creative, Bellore said. I mean, he had one last week where he kind of got his arm in between a guys feet and tripped him up. Its been working for him.Sudfeld has spent extra time with assistant defensive backs coach Brian Smith working on tackling techniques, and he also asks questions of teammates Bellore and rookie linebacker Trevor Reilly.I think they all know that its not just second nature for me, Sudfeld said. Its a credit to a lot of the other guys making plays in there, so the returners kind of bounce out to me and Im just kind of there to clean up.So, if the tight end stuff doesnt work out, perhaps Sudfeld could think about a position switch.I dont know, man, he said, laughing. You see guys like Calvin Pace and David Harris and Quinton Coples, and those guys are pretty spectacular at what they do. I dont think Id be a very good defensive end or something like that in this league.But, making 15 tackles — including eight solo — isnt too shabby.Really, 15? Wow, Sudfeld said, smiling. I didnt know that. Thats a lot, man. To really be contributing, you go into meetings and you feel like you can really provide a service to the team. Its just great.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '

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