News sport : Damian Lillard sends another game to OT, Blazers best Thunder

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NBA fans often debate the best point guards in basketball, and for the most part it's hard to many points of agreement among the various factions. Yet one issue should leave little room for debate, because Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is pretty clearly the best clutch shooter in the league right now. The third-year pro has made a habit of hitting shots to win or extend games, from last spring's series-ending buzzer-beater against the Houston Rockets to several key moments in Friday's triple-overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs. The guy makes his presence known when he's needed most.


Lillard showed up in crunch time yet again in Tuesday night's game at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Playing without Kevin Durant for the third-straight game, the Thunder performed well and held a 91-78 lead with only 5:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. That's when the Blazers stormed back with a run to make it a 98-95 game with just a few ticks left. Not surprisingly, Lillard got the ball. He did not disappoint:





That three-pointer finished off a string of 11 points in the final 3:44 of the quarter for Lillard. Russell Westbrook missed a long three on the final possession to send the game to OT.


The Blazers controlled the final period seemingly with ease, with Lillard hitting a huge three-pointer off a tipped-out offensive rebound with 2:08 left to suggest that the night would not end with a Thunder win. Westbrook (40 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals) fouled out soon after to limit OKC's options. Yet there was still a notable close to the game, because power forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Serge Ibaka tussled during a rebound and had to be separated along the baseline:





Both players were ejected, likely more to avoid a last-second brawl than due to the behavior itself. It also did not stop the Blazers from ending up with a 115-111 win, their sixth victory in their last seven games.


Regardless of the fight's severity, it could not detract from Lillard's late-game theatrics. While his game-tying shot will get most of the attention, he was fantastic throughout, putting up 40 points (11-of-21 FG, 8-of-12 3FG, 10-of-11 FT), 11 assists, and six rebounds in a stellar performance.


At this rate, it would be very surprising not to see Lillard make his second-straight All-Star Game in February, even in a Western Conference with a glut of deserving guards. He's doing it all for the 23-7 Blazers in dramatic fashion.


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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Kobe Bryant misses Lakers vs. Warriors for rest

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Dec 15, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (8) walks up the floor in a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-91. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports) Despite playing at 36 years of age, Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant has taken on a massive workload for his team this season, taking part in the first 27 games at an average of 35.4 minutes (15th in the NBA) with a 36.4 usage percentage (tops in the league) even though the 8-19 Lakers are often out of games in the fourth quarter. Bryant's workload is unprecedented for a player of his age, and it's not surprising to find out that he hasn't been helping the team much. Kobe has been shooting the team out of games, has complained of not having his legs in those moments, and his PER is his worst since his rookie year (not including last year's truncated six-game campaign). He's looked like a guy in need of rest for several weeks, if not longer.


Head coach Byron Scott has finally answered those calls. Bryant will sit out Tuesday night's home game against the West-leading Golden State Warriors, and it looks like this could be a recurring theme for Kobe as the season continues. Here's Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report on Twitter:




Yahoo's own Marc Spears reported Sunday that this plan looked like a distinct possibility. It's a good idea for the future of the Lakers, both because Kobe is not succeeding at his current work rate and because the team's other players figure to benefit from playing in an offense that isn't so dependent on his high-volume scoring.


That's not to say that Bryant should welcome the decision as an overwhelming positive at this point in his career. We've said before that this Lakers season is less about the team's performance than its star's pursuit and capture of various records and milestones, the most notable of which occurred last Sunday when Kobe passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Sitting out with any regularity could extend Kobe's career, but it could also keep him from piling up points before age robs him of more of his athleticism.


This is the right move for all parties, at least in this particular case. However, it's important to note that the priorities of Kobe and the Lakers may not align forever. If Kobe wants to continue his pursuit of records, the team may eventually decide it's not for the betterment of the franchise.


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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Oregon State hires Utah DC and assistant head coach to same position

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New Oregon State coach Gary Andersen poached a former co-worker from a new conference rival to fill his defensive coordinator position.


OSU announced Tuesday that Kalani Sitake, Utah's defensive coordinator, would be the Beavers' assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.


Sitake and Andersen worked together when Andersen was an assistant coach at Utah. With Andersen, Sitake was the linebackers coach for the Utes and when Andersen left to be the coach at Utah State, Sitake was elevated into Andersen's old position of defensive coordinator.


He's been the Utes DC for six seasons and has held the title of assistant head coach for the past three.


This season, Utah's defense was No. 60 in total yards allowed per game and gave up 5.34 yards per play. In the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday, Utah held a potent Colorado State offense to just 278 total yards and 10 points.


In addition to announcing the hire of Sitake, the first Tongan defensive coordinator at the FBS level, Oregon State also announced the hires of four other assistant coaches including Chad Kauha’aha’a, who was Wisconsin's defensive line coach for the past two seasons under Andersen.


“One of my top priorities has been to put together a staff that helps student-athletes succeed academically, socially and athletically,” Andersen said in a school release. “These coaches all put the student-athlete first and are all proven professionals in their respective areas, excelling at the highest level. They have demonstrated the ability to recruit nationally and that experience ensures that we will be able to bring in student-athletes that fit Oregon State University, our community and our program.”


For more Oregon State news, visit BeaverBlitz.com.


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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Pro Bowl rosters released, who were the snubs?

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When an all-star team gets released, the story right away is always about who didn’t make it.


And there were plenty of Pro Bowl snubs.


The worst snub was probably Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, who has had a tremendous season but did not get a spot. He probably should have grabbed Denver Broncos tackle Ryan Clady’s spot, because Clady's play has been more up and down than usual.


But offensive linemen don’t move the needle, so there are probably three snubs everyone will focus on: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham and Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate.


Wilson’s case is a little harder to argue because it’s tough to remove any of the six quarterbacks who made it, but Beckham or Tate should have made it over Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson or A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson made it despite an injury-plagued season in which he barely got more than 1,000 yards and had just six touchdowns. Even though Johnson is headed to the Hall of Fame, this year’s Pro Bowl selection was a pick made on reputation. The same argument can be made for Green, who has just 959 yards this season but made it to the Pro Bowl.


Who are some others that were snubbed? Dallas tight end Jason Witten, Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox, Detroit linebacker DeAndre Levy, Oakland Raiders receiver Khalil Mack, New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins, San Francisco 49ers safety Antoine Bethea and Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith all have good resumes and were left off the team. Others have good cases too.


The teams weren’t picked by conference. The best at each position were selected and the teams will be selected playground-style by Hall of Fame receivers Michael Irvin and Cris Carter before the game in Glendale, Ariz. on Jan. 25. It's the second straight year for that format. Here are the players who Irvin and Carter will be picking from (although some will be dropping out due to injuries or if their team makes the Super Bowl), the 2015 Pro Bowl rosters:


Quarterbacks


Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo


Running backs


Le’Veon Bell, Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray


Fullbacks


John Kuhn, Marcel Reece


Receivers


Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, T.Y. Hilton, Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Jordy Nelson, Demaryius Thomas


Tight ends


Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, Julius Thomas


Offensive tackles


Ryan Clady, Jason Peters, Tyron Smith, Joe Staley, Joe Thomas, Trent Williams


Centers


Travis Frederick, Jason Kelce, Nick Mangold, Maurkice Pouncey


Guards


Jahri Evans, Mike Iupati, Kyle Long, Zack Martin, Josh Sitton, Marshal Yanda


Defensive ends


Calais Campbell, Robert Quinn, Cameron Wake, DeMarcus Ware, J.J. Watt, Mario Williams


Defensive tackles


Marcell Dareus, Aaron Donald, Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Williams


Outside linebackers


Connor Barwin, Elvis Dumervil, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Clay Matthews, Von Miller


Inside linebackers


Luke Kuechly, C.J. Mosley, Lawrence Timmons, Bobby Wagner


Cornerbacks


Vontae Davis, Brent Grimes, Joe Haden, Chris Harris, Patrick Peterson, Darrelle Revis, Richard Sherman, Aqib Talib


Safeties


Kam Chancellor, Tashaun Gipson, Glover Quin, Earl Thomas, T.J. Ward, Eric Weddle


Kickers


Stephen Gostkowski, Adam Vinatieri


Punters


Kevin Huber, Pat McAfee


Kick returners


Devin Hester, Darren Sproles


Special teams


Justin Bethel, Matthew Slater


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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Ryan Lavarnway joins fourth different team in December

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(USA TODAY Sports) Roster moves around Major League Baseball have slowed considerably in wake of the chaotic Winter Meetings. With the holidays fast approaching, that's not likely to change much between now and the new year. However, one major league player in particular, veteran catcher Ryan Lavarnway, has done enough moving over the past three weeks that he'd be wise to keep his figurative bags packed and his cell phone handy while enjoying the holiday festivities.


On Tuesday, Lavarnway was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles, meaning he's officially represented four different times since Dec. 5.


Lavarnway's winding holiday road comes after six years of stability with the Boston Red Sox. He was drafted by Boston in the 6th round of the 2008 amateur draft and worked his way up their system, spending parts of four seasons as their backup catcher. After appearing in nine games in 2014 and 97 overall for Boston, he was designated for assignment on Nov. 25 to make room on the roster for Pablo Sandoval.


After spending 10 days in limbo, Lavarnway was claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Dec. 5, who at the time were looking for catching depth. Six days and several Winter Meetings transactions later, they had one too many catchers. The Dodgers had added Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes to the roster in separate trades involving Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon, making Lavarnway expendable. He was officially designated for assignment on Dec. 11.


Next up, the Chicago Cubs claimed Lavarnway on Friday, Dec. 19., but he didn't even make it through the weekend on their roster. Ironically, Lavarnway's time with Chicago was so short in part because former teammate David Ross agreed to a two-year, $5 million contract to reconnect with Jon Lester.


That brings us to today's transaction and Lavarnway's new team, the Baltimore Orioles.


Of course, the question now is whether or not he'll have a chance to stick there, or is this just another detour on the way to his ultimate destination? That could ride on the health of Matt Wieters, who is hopeful to return by opening day after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Until that's sorted out though, Lavarnway should serve as insurance for backup catchers Steve Clevenger and Caleb Joseph, meaning his stay in Baltimore could be extended in relation to his wild December.


It should be added that it's really not unusual for fringe major leaguers to change teams several times during the offseason. As a .201/.249.315 lifetime hitter, Lavarnway certainly qualifies as a fringe player, though at least one with experience at an important position. However, the short time frame is unique, and it's also interesting to note the bigger transactions that he's been indirectly linked to, like the Pablo Sandoval signing and the Dodgers' trades of Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon.


It just shows that the MLB offseason is as unpredictable as it is wild, and that the impact is felt perhaps more by guys like Ryan Lavarnway than the established All-Stars and hyped prospects who steal the headlines.


More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:



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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : President of Florida Bar defends Winston hearing officer after lawyer's comments

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The President of the Florida Bar has stepped in to defend retired Florida Supreme Court justice Major Harding after a lawyer for the woman accusing Jameis Winston of sexual assault said the code of conduct hearing for the quarterback was biased.


On Sunday, Harding, who oversaw the hearing, ruled there the evidence was "insufficient to satisfy the burden of proof" that Winston violated Florida State's code of conduct in the incident on Dec. 7, 2012. Throughout the entire process, Winston had maintained that the encounter was consensual.


As part of Title IX regulations, universities are required to investigate accusations of sexual assault. The code of conduct hearing was held earlier in December. Had Winston found to be in violation of the code of conduct, he could have faced sanctions from the university that prohibited him from playing in Florida State's Rose Bowl game against Oregon on Jan. 1.


''I don't want to impugn the proceeding as corrupt, but I think it was biased and the fix was in,'' attorney Baine Kerr told the Associated Press. ''It's all about a football game 10 days from today. It turned out to be just a predetermined whitewash to keep a guy playing football.''


Kerr also said that "'The proper forum to getting to the truth is going to be the court of law, not, essentially, a sham court like this one turned out to be," and that "It was not an impartial ruling. It was a ruling that went to great lengths and improper lengths to try to find a way to exonerate Winston.''


Though because of appeals, the chances of Winston missing the game were slim. The woman and her attorneys have 10 days to appeal Harding's ruling and Kerr said he took issue with Winston's definition of consent at the hearing.


Kerr's comments were published on Monday evening. On Tuesday, Gregory Coleman posted a statement on the Florida Bar website.



"Comments in a recent AP news article attributed to Baine Kerr, a Colorado attorney who represents the young woman accusing Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston, are too outrageous for me to ignore.




"Major Harding, a former chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court who presided over the FSU code of conduct hearing, is one of the most highly respected lawyers in Florida and in the United States. To say that he is anything but thoroughly unbiased and of the highest integrity is unacceptable.




"I have known Harding for nearly 20 years. His reputation and integrity are beyond question and thousands of lawyers would agree. FSU President John Thrasher's recognition of Harding for conducting a thorough hearing was on target. Kerr's comments were completely off-base and irresponsible.




"It is unfortunate that Kerr chose to attack someone like former Supreme Court Justice Harding. I would caution Kerr to follow his oath as an attorney to be professional and to maintain the respect due to all who are unquestionably dedicated to fairness and impartiality."



Winston was not criminally charged regarding the incident due to a lack of evidence in the case. Civil action could still be forthcoming.


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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : The Shutdown Corner Podcast 2014 Awards for NFL Excellence, Awfulness

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Here we are almost at the end of the line for 2014! It's been a tough year for the NFL, yet there are still high moments to recognize. Today, we run through the best of the best, including:



• Man of the Year



• Team of the Year



• Story of the year



• Ridiculous story of the year


• Play of the year


• Disappointment of the year


• Surprise of the year


• Biggest story heading into 2015


All this and more as part of the Shutdown Corner Podcast. Listen below, and while you're listening ...



Subscribe via iTunes right here.



Non-iTunes subscription link here.



Leave us a nice review here.



The Shutdown Corner podcast is the product of Kevin Kaduk (@KevinKaduk), Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) and Jay Busbee (@JayBusbee). New episodes every Tuesday and Friday, with bonus episodes when you least expect it. Enjoy!


____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



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News sport : 2014 Driver Reviews: No. 18 Jamie McMurray

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After doing exit interviews for Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2013, we're turning the tables. We want the drivers to sell themselves. So here are the resumés for all full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2014. Then, at the end, we'll provide a summation of the driver's season in 150 words or less.


Name: Jamie McMurray


NASCAR Experience: 12+ seasons in the Sprint Cup Series. Seven wins. Eight wins in the Nationwide Series too.


Most recent team: Chip Ganassi Racing


Most recent season finish: 18th


2014 accomplishments: Seven top five finishes and two pole positions. Started first at at Sonoma and Martinsville. Finished third at Charlotte in the fall and fourth at Sonoma, Richmond and New Hampshire.


Most memorable moment: Won a race. Yeah, screw you and your technicalities that it wasn't a points race and wasn't worth anything for the Chase. It paid $1 million REAL DOLLARS. And caused real tears.



Strengths: Potentially the fastest driver week-to-week in the high groove at a track. Showed speed at all types of tracks in 2014.


2015 goals: Win a race that pays real dollars and real points to make the Chase.


FTM's Take: You can make the argument that this was McMurray's second-best Cup season. Yeah, he didn't win a points-paying race, but he led 368 laps, a career high. Yes, that's 22 more laps than he led in 2010, when he won the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and at Charlotte.


And if there was no Chase, McMurray would have been 14th, tied for his fourth-best points finish. Instead, he had to settle for the second-best driver who didn't make the Chase. McMurray and Kyle Larson should make a formidable tandem at CGR for the foreseeable future. They just have to win races to get into the Chase.


Previous reviews: No. 19 Clint Bowyer, No. 20, Austin Dillon, No. 21 Paul Menard, No. 22 Brian Vickers, No. 23 Marcos Ambrose, No. 24 Martin Truex Jr., No. 25 Tony Stewart, No. 26 Casey Mears, No. 27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 28, Danica Patrick, No. 29, Justin Allgaier, No. 30, David Gilliland, No. 31 Cole Whitt, No. 32 David Ragan, No. 33 Michael Annett, No. 34 Reed Sorenson, No. 35 Alex Bowman


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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : South Carolina WR Shaq Roland no longer with team

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GAINESVILLE, FL - Shaq Roland #4 of the South Carolina Gamecocks warms up before the game against the Florida Gators on November 15, 2014. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) Shaq Roland’s time at South Carolina has come to an end.


Head coach Steve Spurrier announced that the junior wide receiver is no longer with the team. GamecockCentral.com reported that Roland is “currently not expected to be back” for his senior season.


Roland did not practice with the team on Tuesday before its departure for the Duck Commander Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., which will be played against Miami on Dec. 27.


Roland was fourth on the team in receptions (26) and third on the team in receiving yards (356) and receiving touchdowns (4) this season. As a sophomore in 2013, Roland caught 25 passes for 455 yards and five scores. He also had five catches for 80 yards and a score as a freshman in 2012.


A native of Lexington, S.C., Roland was a four-star recruit in the 2012 class and was rated as the No. 66 overall prospect in the country. Additionally, Roland was named Mr. Football in South Carolina that year.


For more South Carolina news, visit GamecockCentral.com.


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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : David Lee offers a typically-tactful response to coming off the Golden State bench

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The David Lee Debacle That Isn’t will look rather silly in a few months.


For the duration of the early part of the 2014-15 season, many outside the Golden State Warriors’ camp have wondered if the team’s highest-paid player would submit to coming off of the bench. Lee, sidelined for all but one of the season’s first 25 games with a hamstring injury, seemed to be the odd man out as former reserve Draymond Green shot his way into everyone’s hearts from the stretch four position. The Warriors boast the league’s best defense and the team nearly has a top five offense despite a slippery start, and they don’t want to mess with chemistry.


Finally healthy, does Lee understand why rookie coach Steve Kerr would want to bring the former All-Star in off of the bench? From Diamond Leung at Bay Area News Group:



"Absolutely," Lee said Monday. "Whether I start tomorrow, or I get a DNP or anything in between, I trust Coach (Steve Kerr) that he's doing this to help our team win games, and that's his only agenda.




"If this is a temporary thing, a permanent thing, that doesn't matter to me at all. I'm so excited that I'm on this winning team."



We shouldn’t have expected anything less from Lee, and for various reasons.


To start, the “winning team” aspect of things is well taken. The Warriors made the playoffs with Lee starting the last two seasons and they at least seemed like a championship contender last year, but this year is entirely different. The Warriors have raced out to a quite credible 23-3 season thus far and they’re on pace for 73 wins. That mark likely won’t hold up even if Andrew Bogut returns with alacrity from his most recent knee procedure, but this is still a killer squad that has designs on turning into something different than the typical 1-through-8 Western powerhouses.


Secondly, Lee’s rookie season was spent under Larry Brown – the sort of guy that would complain about Stephon Marbury to no end prior to running out to push for a trade for a diminished version of Stephon Marbury in Steve Francis so as to hope to convince his bosses that general manager Isiah Thomas was insane. Thomas was insane, but even Thomas (as a future Knick coach) never decided on starting lineups based on where that player went to college or where he grew up.


Lastly? Lee is going to get his.


David’s presence wasn’t really needed as the Warriors dumped the Sacramento Kings on Monday by 20 points, nor will he be needed much in Tuesday’s contest against the reeling Los Angeles Lakers. He missed six of nine shots but still contributed six points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of action, not bad for someone who is likely far out of shape in recovery from an injury that tends to linger.


Lee and fellow benchmate Andre Iguodala are going to be counted on as the team’s bench saviors, an incredible luxury to have at a cost of a combined $17.3 million in salary this season. The Warriors’ offense noticeably drops off with MVP candidate Stephen Curry on the bench, and there was some worry as to the pick and roll partnering between Dre and Lee – teams aren’t exactly rushing out to cover Iguodala as he attempts to set up his sweet-shooting big forward.


If Monday’s contest was any indication, though, there will be plenty of overlap with Lee, Iguodala, and Curry on the floor. Stephen played just 26 minutes in the blowout win, and yet he saw significant time on the floor with Lee in the big forward’s first contest of the season.


This could work. This could truly in a way that wouldn’t force the Warriors to shop Lee in anticipation of Draymond Green’s upcoming free agent turn, and a possible luxury tax hit next season. It’s not our money to throw around, but that shouldn’t preclude NBA observers from insisting that the Golden State Warriors owners pay the tax with Lee, Iguodala, Curry, Andrew Bogut and Green’s large contracts all on the roster next season, in a campaign that could turn out to be a title defense. The hit would likely last for just one season, prior to the NBA’s salary cap bump in 2016.


In the meantime, the Warriors have built up so much win/loss capital – 23-3 entering a game with the Lakers followed up by what could be a contest against the Kevin Durant-less Oklahoma City Thunder – that they can afford to take their time with both Lee and Andrew Bogut. It’s true that the West is intensely competitive and that every little slip to the rotation hurts – but the teams directly in back of the W’s in the Western standings (Portland and Memphis) both feature similarly stricken frontcourts, and a January slide of a relative nature won’t matter much if things are going swimmingly come June.


David Lee knows this can work, which is why he’s handling his “demotion” appropriately. He knows that he can be part of something special, while still being paid handsomely to do his work on the offensive end.


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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Report: Florida hires Michigan's Doug Nussmeier to be offensive coordinator

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Doug Nussmeier is introduced as Michigan's NCAA college football offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during a news conference at the Junge Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Nussmeier is the former Alabama offensive coordinator. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Doug Nussmeier is reportedly headed back to the SEC.


According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Nussmeier is expected to be hired as offensive coordinator at Florida under new Gators head coach Jim McElwain.


Nussmeier recently completed his first season as offensive coordinator at Michigan under Brady Hoke, who was fired on Dec. 2 after going 5-7 in his fourth season with the program.


Before accepting the job at Michigan, Nussmeier was the offensive coordinator at Alabama in 2012 and 2013. He also served as offensive coordinator at Fresno State in 2008 and at Washington from 2009 to 2011. Previously, he had stints as a quarterbacks coach with the BC Lions and Ottawa Renegades of the CFL in 2001 and 2002, at Michigan State from 2003-05 and with the St. Louis Rams in 2006 and 2007.


Nussmeier previously worked with McElwain on John L. Smith’s staff at Michigan State. McElwain was the Spartans’ associate head coach and wide receivers coach while Nussmeier coached the quarterbacks.


Additionally, when McElwain left Alabama to accept the head-coaching job at Colorado State, Nussmeier succeeded him as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator. Alabama won the BCS National Championship in Nussmeier’s first season as offensive coordinator.


McElwain, who was hired on Dec. 4, is still in the process of rounding out his staff. Before his reported hire of Nussmeier, McElwain hired Mississippi State’s Geoff Collins to be his defensive coordinator.


For more Florida news, visit InsideTheGators.com.


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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : AAC commish, school ADs disappointed in Miami Beach Bowl fight

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Players scuffle after Memphis defeated Brigham Young, 55-48 in double overtime during the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) A day after an ugly fight overshadowed a terrific game between Memphis and BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl, athletic directors from each school expressed disappointment in the incident.


Memphis athletic director Tom Bowen said he and head coach Justin Fuente will review the video footage of the fight, which took place immediately after the Tigers beat the Cougars 55-48 in double overtime, over the next few days. At that point, “appropriate disciplinary measures” will be issued to student-athletes.


“Hopefully, it will be a learning lesson for both teams,” Bowen said, per the Associated Press.


After the game, Fuente said the fight was not representative of the Memphis program.


“I don't know what happened at the end, first of all, so I don't know how upset I am," Fuente said. “I'm sure I'll see it eventually. It's not who we are, it's not what we want to represent. I hope it doesn't take away from an incredible football game, for both sides.”


Memphis is a member of the American Athletic Conference, and in a statement, AAC commissioner Mike Aresco expressed his displeasure and said that the conference will work with the school to review the incident.



“I have communicated with the University of Memphis, which is committed to the highest standard of sportsmanship for its student-athletes. The conference office is working with the university to review the Miami Beach Bowl post-game altercation pursuant to our conference’s Code of Sportsmanship review process. The university will respond accordingly following this detailed review. Needless to say, we are extremely disappointed that this happened, as we expect the highest standard of conduct from our student-athletes.”



BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe issued an apology to Cougar fans on Twitter on Monday night.



As an independent, BYU is not subject to any potential punishment from a conference. However, the athletic department may decide to punish individual players.


“You want them to rise above that and have fantastic sportsmanship,” BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said after the game. “I'm sure if you go back and look, there'll be an instance or two that ignited. Probably the majority wanted to handle it really well.”


For more Memphis news, TigerSportsReport.com.


For more BYU news, visit CougarNation.com.


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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







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Study confirms Arsenal injury woes

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Arsenal and injuries have gone hand in hand over the last decade when the Gunners have had more players spending lengthy spells on the sidelines than many of their Premier League rivals.


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London - Arsenal and injuries have gone hand in hand over the last decade when the Gunners have had more players spending lengthy spells on the sidelines than many of their Premier League rivals, a study has shown.


Premier Injuries Ltd has produced a database of comparative Premier League injuries over the past decade which was published in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.


From the 2003-04 season to 2013-14, Arsenal suffered 312 significant injuries which led to players being out for 10 days or more.


That is exactly 100 more than Chelsea, while Arsenal's total number of injuries was above the Premier League average in 10 of the 11 campaigns, including each of the last seven completed seasons.


This term is proving to be no different.


Arsenal have racked up 25 injuries since August, more than any other Premier League club.


While the Gunners trail Newcastle United and Manchester United in terms of significant injuries this season, it is hardly surprising they are sixth in the Premier League table with 27 points from 17 matches - 15 behind leaders Chelsea.


Arsenal's treatment room is bursting at the seams with Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere all sidelined.


Other first-team regulars, including Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal, have also paid regular visits to the club's doctors this season.


“It is frustrating for everyone that the run of injuries we have sustained in the first third of the season has meant we have only seen flashes of this talented squad's true potential,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis wrote in his quarterly update to shareholders.


“We continue to work hard to improve our prevention of injuries and to accelerate recovery but it is clear there is no single contributing factor.”


In attempting to ease their injury woes, Arsenal are working on a new athletic development centre within their London Colney training base, while construction work on new medical and educational facilities and a gym will take place at the club's Hale End Youth Academy.


Arsenal won their last Premier League title in 2004 when Arsene Wenger's “Invincibles” went unbeaten - the season when they also had their fewest injuries. – Reuters






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News sport : Top football recruit takes a bath in recruiting letters

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A top college football recruit had some fun with the process this week, pouring all of his letters into a bathtub and diving in.



Quart'e Sapp is an outside linebacker at Milton (Ga.). He's currently ranked No. 13 on the Rivals 100 for the Class of 2015.


Whether the letters hanging on the wall above the tub are a preview of his top choices, he didn't say. Various recruiting sites rank Florida State, Tennessee, Miami, Michigan State, and Missouri as potential picks.


No word on when Sapp will make a final decision, but it will likely be in the end of January. He took an official visit to Michigan State on November, and he's scheduled to visit Tennessee on Jan. 16, 2015.






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News sport : Hawaii Bowl: Fresno State tries to break its bowl losing streak against Rice

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Hawaii Bowl

Fresno State (6-7) vs. Rice (7-5)

Honolulu

Dec 24, 2014


The reason this bowl was ranked the worst of all the bowls this season by the Dr. Saturday staff is pretty simple — it’s not a good game and these are not good teams.


Both team’s records are products of subpar teams playing even worse teams and scraping by with wins. Fresno State got into its conference title game just because it wasn’t as bad as everyone else, though it did nearly blow a 28-0 lead against Hawaii, which would have cost the Bulldogs that championship spot. Rice had a chance to play for its conference title but lost 76-31 to Louisiana Tech in the final game of the regular season. In fact, of Rice’s seven wins, only one came against a team with a winning record and that was UTEP.


So now we bring these mediocre teams together and hope that the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii will somehow make this game just a little bit better.


Fresno State has been here before. Two years ago, SMU beat up the Bulldogs in the Hawaii Bowl. Fresno State also lost to USC in its bowl game last year.


Fresno State does have two dynamic players in running back Marteze Waller, who has rushed for 1,292 yards and 11 touchdowns, and receiver Josh Harper, who leads the Bulldogs with 86 catches for 1,072 yards. However, Fresno State’s hopes of winning this game will rest on quarterback Bryan Burrell, who has played inconsistently all season, He threw three interceptions against Boise State in the Mountain West title game and two against Hawaii in the game before that. These performances were after he had the best game of his season in a 40-20 win against Nevada.


Rice actually has the longest active bowl streak in Conference USA at three games, but the Owls lost 44-7 to Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl last season. It did win its previous two bowl games, however.


These teams are evenly matched on paper, so it might be a back and forth defensive affair. The team that can stop the run could have the advantage as neither Burrell or Rice quarterback Driphus Jackson has been consistent this season.


Vegas odds: Rice (-2.5)


FUN FACT


Fresno State is the only team to earn a bowl berth this season despite a sub .500 record.


PREDICTIONS


Graham: Is it possible not to like anyone in a game? I’m giving the nod to Fresno State simply because the competition it faced was better than what Rice face. Also, Josh Harper and Marteze Waller can be difference-makers. Fresno State 24, Rice 21.


Nick: Is there anything better than watching this game on Christmas Eve? OK, it depends on how much you like your family and how addicted to college football you are. The pick here is to go with the team that's above .500. Rice 30, Fresno State 20.


Sam: Fresno has lost bowl games in the last two years in embarrassing fashion, but I can't bring myself to pick a Rice squad that just gave up 76 points to Louisiana Tech. Fresno State 31, Rice 24 .


For more Rice news, visit OwlsInsider.com.


For more Fresno State news, visit FSBulldogs.com.


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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!


And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook






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