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efore that, comes Saturday afternoons match fo
in Here is your first Forum Thu Jan 16, 2020 2:32 pmby sakura698 • 1.245 Posts
ORLANDO, Fla. Tai Streets Jersey . -- Orlandos last-second victory over Western Conference leader Oklahoma City on Friday had the potential to be a season highlight for a team seemingly already holding a one-way ticket to the lottery. It turns out the Magic werent quite done turning heads. Victor Oladipo had 23 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and the Magic rallied to surprise East-leading Indiana Pacers 93-92 on Sunday night. Indiana stole Orlandos inbounds pass with nine seconds left and Paul George was able to get off a 20-foot jumper. But it came up short and was rebounded by the Magic, who ran out the clock. "Today going into the fourth quarter (coach Jacque Vaughn) just simply told us whoever plays hard is going to win the game. If you really want to win youll play harder than them," said Oladipo, who played the entire fourth quarter for the second consecutive game. "That second unit played hard, played together, and most of all we just played D, let our defence juice our offence." Orlando has now beaten the top teams in both conferences in back-to-back games, following its 17-point comeback against the Thunder. The victory ties the Magics season-high win streak of three games. It also extends their home win streak to five consecutive games. Nik Vucevic added 19 points and 13 rebounds. Vaughn praised the energy that Oladipo played with late. "It starts with his enthusiasm for basketball, and its really infectious to his teammates," Vaughn said. "They want to play for him, they want to play with him and Im sure glad hes in a Magic uniform." Before the game, Pacers coach Frank Vogel said that he didnt think his team was taking any games for granted prior to the All-Star break. He went as far as to recite Chuck Dalys old line to "never trust happiness in the NBA." There wasnt much Sunday as the Pacers had multiple defensive lapses in both halves which helped the Magic to hang around and eventually steal the game late. George led the Pacers with 27 points. Lance Stephenson added 16. The loss ends Indianas win streak at four games. Vogel said his teams inability to stave off a third quarter push by the Magic was the difference. "They picked up their energy," he said. "Weve got to handle it. There was a stretch there in the third where we could have put them away. We were a little careless with some possessions ... and it was costly." The Pacers carried over some of their momentum from the first half and built as much as a 17-point lead in the third quarter. That advantage was cut to 10 entering the fourth. Orlando recovered some of its early-game energy, and started the final quarter on a 14-3 run to take its first lead of the second half -- 78-77 -- with less than 8 minutes to play. It would grow as high as 88-81 before the Magic cooled off -- missing four straight shots -- to allowed the Pacers to cut it to 88-86 on a 3-pointer by George. But the Magic found their shot and got their lead back up to six with just over a minute to play. Another 3-pointer by George on the other end trimmed it back to 92-90 with 37.7 seconds remaining. That was followed by an offensive foul on Oladipo which turned the ball back over to Indiana. George got free at the top of the key for another attempt from 3, but his shot bounced off the back of the rim and was grabbed by Oladipo, who was fouled. He connected on 1 of 2 free throw attempts, leading to a scramble for the rebound that ended up in a jump ball between David West and Glen Davis. West tapped it near midcourt, and George Hill was able to scoop it up and sprint ahead for a layup to cut it to 93-92 with just 14.9 seconds left. It wasnt enough, though. "We are good," George said. "This is obviously a game we got to take care of ... but we are still positive. It happens. We just have to do a better job and learn from this." And for the second straight game, the Magic were able to turn their early mistakes into late-game mettle. While it is only two wins, Magic veteran guard Jameer Nelson said they are certainly victories to build on for this young team. "Ive always said its a process," Nelson said. "Youre not gonna just become a great team overnight. Not too many teams have done that. You have to work on it; you have to learn and get better." Note: Nelson celebrated his 32nd birthday on Sunday. Tom Rathman Jersey . The thunderous cheers quickly changed to an appreciative chant: "Ma-son! Ma-son! Ma-son! Headed to New York with new life, Mason sure earned this curtain call. Jimmy Johnson Jersey . Jagr had a goal and two assists, Andy Greene scored 43 seconds into overtime and Marek Zidlicky had two goals as the Devils rallied past the Washington Capitals 5-4 Saturday night. http://www.custompatriotsjersey.com/custom-matt-light-jersey-large-181f.html . Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations.If there was any lingering doubt Montreal was not a proper football town, the events of the previous 48-hours must surely have dispelled them. Thursday lunch time, following recent shuttle diplomacy and negotiations, the Montreal Impacts founding owner Joey Saputo was announced as a major partner of the new ownership group of fabled Italian club Bologna. Only five other Serie A clubs have amassed more Scudettos (Serie A Titles) Quite some rise for the recently turned 50-year old Saputo, who cut his football teeth in the early 1980s as the Saputo Groups lead contact for their sponsorship of NASLs Montreal Manic. The announcement from Bologna came hot on the heels of Wednesdays launch for the Montreal Canadiens of Club 1909 - a worldwide marketing initiative which is broadly based along similar lines of Manchester Uniteds highly successful global strategy. You can be guaranteed as part of the process Canadiens owner Geoff Molson would have reached out to good friend Joey Saputo, to get his advice on Club 1909. Montreal is now a city with two owners with ambitious plans to reach well outside the local market place, as ways for their teams to benefit in their respective codes and leagues. Quite remarkably, just like the Habs, Bologna was also founded in 1909. Who though could have scripted that when Saputo and Nick De Santis travelled to Bologna in early 2012 to watch Marco Di Vaio play and to sit down with the Serie A marksman to negotiate becoming the Impacts original Designated Player, that less than three-years later, Saputo would return to the Italian city to purchase a club Di Vaio is so highly revered at. It was exactly this time last year that with rumours swirling Di Vaio was on his way back to Bologna that the Impact announced the MLS MVP candidate would indeed be returning for 2014. Now we know that with Di Vaios appointment to the new management structure at the Stadio Renato DallAra the 38-year old had much more than retirement on his mind when just two weeks ago the Impact announced their top scorer was hanging up his boots at seasons end. Di Vaio will have played a pivotal role in bringing together Bolognas previous ownership group with Saputo and his partners. New York Lawyer Joe Tacopina will take up the role of Bologna President. Impacts International Business Director Nick De Santis whho traveled back to Bologna with Saputo early this week has also been named to Bolognas management team. Johnny Strzykalski Jersey. It would seem the purchase of an Italian club was the natural progression of the Impacts flirtation with Italian football, which dates back well over a decade. They have had a long standing relationship with Fiorentina, and only late last month Saputo and De Santis were in Turin to meet with members of the Agnelli family, owners of Juventus. Saputo made it very clear in the media conference call his investment in Bologna was a personal one and not an investment for the Impact. From the purchase, the Impact will certainly benefit, primarily on the football side. This will not just be limited to the Academy but also for FC Montreal, the clubs reserve team which begins play in USL PRO next season and also for the senior team. The two clubs front offices will also benefit. With many Italian clubs in precarious financial positions, much can be learned from the MLS business model. Having already agreed a €7m [$10m] payout to the previous regime, Bolognas new ownership group has committed to inject €13m [$18m] into the club. Relegated last season, Bolognas immediate focus and priority is to return the club to Serie A. Eight games into a forty-two game season they are just a point out of top place. You can expect at the conclusion of the MLS season, Di Vaio will have his work cut out for him as the Rossoblu weigh up their options in the January transfer window and look to add players to best position themselves in their push for promotion. Before that, comes Saturday afternoons match for the Impact against Toronto FC. Di Vaio traveled to Toronto from Bologna earlier today. Having scored two very well taken goals in the Impacts penultimate home game of the season against the playoff bound Revs last Saturday afternoon. One of the top scorers in the modern era of Serie A will bring the curtain down on his professional career a week Saturday. It all started for Di Vaio, a native Roman, back in 1993 with his hometown Lazio and will end in Montreal at what is sure to be a sold out Saputo Stadium against the best story in MLS this season, DC United. Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel Toronto FC Vs Montreal Impact Live on TSN 690 – Saturday Kick Off 2:00pm et / 11:00am pt ' ' '
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