ekansekans's blog: "df"

(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks had a golden opportunity to seize control of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals set against a Boston team without its star point guard Rajon Rondo. Instead, the Celtics persevered behind Paul Pierce and the Hawks will limp into Boston without a banged-up Josh Smith for Game 3 of the series. Actually Boston was without Rondo and veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen on Tuesday when Pierce put the Celtics on his back, scoring 36 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to lead Boston to an 87-80 victory over the Hawks in Game 2 of their set at Philips Arena. Rondo, of course, missed the contest after being suspended for one game by the NBA for making contact with referee Marc Davis with 41 seconds left in the Celtics 83-74 Game 1 loss Sunday, while Allen missed his 11th straight game with an injured right ankle. Kevin Garnett recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Rondos replacement, Avery Bradley, added 14 points to help the Celtics even the best-of-seven series. "I told our guys, it was just a team win," said Boston head coach Doc Rivers. "You can pick out so many different little things that every single guy that played on the floor did for us and thats how you grind out wins and thats who we are." Joe Johnson led the way for Atlanta with 22 points and Jeff Teague chipped in 18. Smith added 16 points and 12 boards, but departed the game with a left knee sprain with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter. "We will not hang our heads at this point," said Atlanta head coach Larry Drew. "Theres just too much basketball to be played. It gives us an opportunity to go up (to Boston) and show what were all about and show what weve been about all season." Smith was diagnosed with s strained tendon on Wednesday and was ruled out for Game 3 on Friday. The athletic forward has been Atlantas best player this season, averaging 18.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists a game this season, while posting 19.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists over the first two postseason contests against Boston. Allens injured right ankle, meanwhile, will likely require surgery after the season but the veteran remains day-to-day going forward, according to the Celtics. "I think he has a better shot [of Allen playing in Game 3]," Rivers said. "Id rather take 10 minutes of him on the floor than not." The Hawks have had their own injury problems on top of Smith. Two-time All- Star big man Al Horford has missed most of the season recovering from surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle and his replacement in the starting lineup, Zaza Pachulia, has missed the last nine games dating back to the regular season with a sprained left foot. Third-stringer Jason Collins, who had just two points and three rebounds in Game 2, continues to start. With Rondo back in the lineup on Friday, Drew understands things get tougher for Atlanta. "We know what we are going to be facing with him back," the Hawks coach said. "Hes the head of the snake. He makes so many things happen." Rivers on the other hand didnt want to dwell on Rondos selfish act and is looking toward the future. "The way to do it [come back ] the best is to come out in Game 3 and play a terrific game," Rivers said. "You want to make sure he doesnt try to do too much, just do what he does." In the playoffs, this rivalry dates all the way back to the 1956-57 season when the Hawks called St. Louis home. Since moving to the Peach State in 1968, however, the Hawks have never beaten the Celtics in the postseason, losing six straight series (1972, 73, 83, 86, 88 and 2008.) Boston also won two of three over the Hawks in the regular season, including the lone contest at TD Garden. Game 4 is slated for Sunday, also in Boston. Cheap Jerseys China . The 26-year-old winger signed a four-year deal worth $17.6 million with the Panthers, keeping him in Florida through the 2015-16 season. Cheap NFL Jerseys From China . Presley injured himself while attempting to make a diving catch in Tuesdays 8-7 victory over Houston. Presley stayed in the game briefly before complaining of neck pain and whiplash. http://studyworx.org/china.html . He raised a few eyebrows Saturday when asked if he could ever see himself managing as long as a Walter Alston or Tommy Lasorda. Ventura said he couldnt and was just hoping to get through this season.TORONTO -- Two weeks after a devastating loss to Sporting Kansas City, the memories were still painful for Toronto FC. Kansas City won 1-0 on a Kei Kamara free kick in the 83rd minute that was deflected at the wall before going in off the fingers of goalkeeper Milos Kocic. "The last Kansas game left a sour taste in our mouth," said Canadian international midfielder Terry Dunfield. "For sure, I think that was a nil-niller all day. Someone leaves the wall and all of a sudden they score on a deflected free kick and you get beat 1-0 at home. That was tough to swallow." The Reds (5-15-6) will have a chance at redemption today at Livestrong Sporting Park when they play Kansas City for the third time in this Major League Soccer season. Kansas City won 2-0 at home on June 16 in TFCs first match under Paul Mariner after he took over as head coach from Aron Winter. Kansas City (14-7-5) will be without speedy forward Teal Bunbury who had season-ending knee surgery and defender Aurelien Collin who is suspended for the game. "Theyve got massive depth," TFC defender Richard Eckersley said. "Whoever steps in is going to be a threat. Were not going to have a day off by any means. Weve just got to be on our game and on our front foot constantly." Toronto forward Eric Hassli has a rib injury and wont play Saturday. The injury forced him from the 3-1 loss to Santos Laguna of Mexico in a CONCACAF Champions League match at BMO Field on Tuesday. That was another disappointing result for Toronto. The Reds had tied the game in the 68th minute on a goal by Quincy Amarikwa and they felt they played well enough for a draw. But a familiar theme for their season played out when Santos scored in the 90th and 92nd minutes. "Over the past month weve been getting real close without getting past the finish line, seeing the games off," Dunfield said. "I think 1-1 was probably a fair result the other night. I dont think it was a 3-1 game.dddddddddddd "I think its lots of little mistakes that are leading to goals right now. Were making poor decisions, especially when it counts in the last five minutes. In general were making naive mistakes maybe. Mistakes that shouldnt be made when youve put in 85 minutes of hard work). It seems like we cant get away with anything, we really are being punished." Dunfield feels there have been positives. "Were keeping the ball better now, were creating chances and I always feel weve got a goal in us," he said. Toronto worked on ironing out the kinks during Thursdays session at Downsview Park. "Possession, out of possession, in possession," Mariner said. "Determination to get it back. Tempo. If in doubt get it out, its such an old adage. "When you watch Brazil, Argentina, Barcelona, all the great teams, all the highlight reels show the attacking play. You never see them when theyre under real pressure, they just put it up the field. Theres no shame in that, its just a way of winning football matches or keeping yourself in football matches." Notes: Dunfield and defender Ashtone Morgan have will play for Canada in World Cup qualifying matches against Panama Sept. 7-11. ...After Saturdays game, centre back Darren ODay will join the Republic of Ireland for a World Cup qualifier at Kazakhstan on Sept. 7 but will be miss Irelands next game, a friendly, so that he can play in Torontos game against Chicago at BMO Field on Sept. 12. ... Hassli picked up the rib injury in the 2-1 loss at Columbus on Aug. 22. He also had back spasms, which cleared up but the rib injury persisted. ....TFC defender Jeremy Hall was at Rogers Centre Thursday to renew acquaintances with Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez. Hall, who is from Tampa, played soccer and baseball with Martinezs son Josh. ...TFC had a short workout Friday before departing for Kansas City. ' ' '