News sport : DeMarcus Cousins is still being left in the dark about Sacramento's coaching choices

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This has not been a December to remember for DeMarcus Cousins. The once-glorified sales event that led to Vivek Ranadive’s purchase of the Sacramento Kings, allowing the franchise to stay in northern California, has also resulted in quite a bit of meddling as Ranadive tinkers with basketball operations as he sees fit.


The most infamous example of such came just a few weeks ago, when the Kings fired coach Michael Malone in the wake of a poor stretch of games, contests played without Cousins while he battled a debilitating strain of viral meningitis. Former Utah Jazz head man Tyrone Corbin was promoted to interim coach as rumors of George Karl and Mark Jackson’s candidacy swirled, and earlier this week Corbin was given the title of head coach for the rest of the season.


That was an ascension that Cousins had to find out about at the same time we all found out. Great:



That management had made the commitment to Corbin was news to his players.




“I didn’t know,” Cousins said. “I didn’t know officially until (Monday) night, either. That’s when a lot of us found out.”



You’ll recall that Cousins also found out about the Malone firing via Twitter.


The Kings are under no obligation to let even their best players know ahead of time about any such firings or hirings, but a simple call or text before a press release wouldn’t hurt. Asking a franchise player to concurrently hear important news and form an opinion at the same time while working on the record in front of the media probably isn’t the right thing to do. Cousins handled both awakenings professionally and properly, but it’s probably not wise to keep him or any other player in the dark. Everyone’s got a phone, now. Everyone’s checking their screen.


Cousins liked Malone, and for good reason. These are easy shots, with the Kings at their lowest ebb (Sacto is 2-6 since his firing), but Malone’s defensive instincts and penchant for slowly-paced basketball worked right into Cousins’ strengths on both ends. The Kings have been absolute garbage since Corbin took over and amped up the possession count, and while this may help DeMarcus’ points per game totals, he’s being asked to do things defensively that he’s just not capable of doing.


The sign of a great coach is to make your good players great, and your great players dominant. There is a very good chance the once-dominant Cousins will take a step back under Corbin through no fault of Cousins’ own.


Then again, he’s still capable of this:



With that in place, it still feels like we’re years away from this:



The Kings’ front office put themselves in this sort of situation, so it’s hard to feel bad for the crew. George Karl was never going to take over without the benefit of a training camp, the same goes for Kings personnel advisor Chris Mullin, and there’s no way Mark Jackson was going to walk away from his dual role of taking guaranteed money from the Golden State Warriors while annoying all of North America while calling NBA games. Corbin knows more about basketball than all of us, but time in Utah was unimpressive and his players understand that he won’t be coaching the squad in 2015-16. When management gives up on a season after a promising start, ensuring a lame duck season, players can’t help but follow suit.


With the Western Conference playoff bracket just about set in stone (Kevin Durant returns on Wednesday night, and his Oklahoma City Thunder are sure to rebound and grab the final postseason seed), Kings fans will have to wait yet another year for the payoff. That has to be incredibly frustrating, but apparently this is the unfortunate price they’re going to have to pay for having a team in Sacramento in the first place.


Cousins, who famously vowed to pick up just five techincal fouls on the season prior to the 2014-15 campaign, picked up his third and fourth technical in a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics. Celtic guard Marcus Smart made what should probably be categorized as a dirty move, Cousins responded to his entanglement by throwing Smart to the floor, and Cousins was shown the door.


This is frustrating. And there's a very good possibility that it's only going to get worse.


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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 : Citrus Bowl: Minnesota can reach 9 wins for second time since 1905 vs. Mizzou

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Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl

Missouri (10-3) vs. Minnesota (8-4)

Orlando, Fla.

Jan. 1, 2015


Oct 11, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Hutson Mason (14) throws a pass and is pressured by Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Shane Ray (56) during the first half at Faurot Field. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports) While most will be focused on the College Football Playoff-affiliated bowls of New Year’s Day, sandwiched in between is a solid matchup between No. 16 and No. 25 Minnesota in the Citrus Bowl.


A six-game winning streak helped Missouri unexpectedly make its second consecutive trip to the SEC Championship Game. The Tigers were blown out by top-ranked Alabama, but Mizzou reaching the 10-win plateau again was good enough for the invite to Orlando. And if the Tigers can beat the Gophers, Missouri will reach at least 11 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.


Missouri’s offense, led by sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk, was one of the weaker units in the SEC. Mauk had an up-and-down season, completing just 52.9 percent of his passes, but after throwing nine interceptions in his first seven games he threw only two interceptions (along with nine touchdowns) in his final six games.


The Tigers feature a productive timeshare at running back between junior Russell Hansbrough (970 yards, 9 TDs) and senior Marcus Murphy (767 yards, 4 TDs) while 6-foot-2 senior Bud Sasser (70 catches, 935 yards, 10 TDs) leads a talented group of receivers.


Those backs face a tough task with Minnesota linebackers Damien Wilson (111 tackles, 10.5 TFL) and De’Vondre Campbell (71 tackles, 6.5 TFL) swarming to the ball.


On the other sideline, Minnesota can reach nine wins for the first time since 2003 and register its first bowl win since 2004 if it wins the Citrus Bowl – the program’s first New Year’s Day bowl since 1962. The 8-4 Gophers headed into the final week of the regular season with a shot to play in the Big Ten title game, but they fell 34-24 to Wisconsin on the road.


The Gophers rely heavily on their running attack, which is led by record-setting senior David Cobb and sophomore Mitch Leidner. Cobb set a single-season Minnesota record with 1,548 yards and also reached the end zone 13 times. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound Leidner also had a nose for the end zone – scoring 10 times to go with 462 yards.


The Gophers rarely look to pass and when they do, Leidner (1,540 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs) looks for All-Big Ten tight end Maxx Williams. Williams led the Gophers with 29 catches for 471 yards and seven touchdowns in his sophomore campaign.


The Gophers may look to Williams to combat a ferocious Missouri defense that will surely key in on Cobb. The Tigers ranked 31st nationally in rush defense, allowing 135.8 yards per game. Missouri also totaled 42 sacks on the season to lead the SEC. All-American defensive end Shane Ray led the way with 61 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks while Markus Golden added 68 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.


If Minnesota can’t run on the Tigers, it could be a tough afternoon for Jerry Kill’s team.


ODDS


Missouri (-4.5)


FUN FACT


If Minnesota wins, it will reach nine wins for the first time since 2003. Before the Gophers went 10-3 in 2003, the program hadn’t reached nine wins since 1905.


PREDICTIONS


Graham: Minnesota has had a great season, but it hasn't seen anything like Missouri's defensive front and Shane Ray should have a great game if he manages to not get tossed from it. Missouri 35, Minnesota 17.


Nick: Missouri has been gashed by teams with power running games this season in Georgia and Alabama. And while Minnesota's rushing attack is very good, it's not as good as either of the two SEC teams. The Tigers get win No. 11. Missouri 27, Minnesota 17.


Sam: Minnesota is tough on both sides of the ball, but if it can’t put together a somewhat competent passing game against Missouri, I don’t see any way in which the Gophers can pull out a win. Missouri 24, Minnesota 14.


For more Missouri news, visit PowerMizzou.com.


For more Minnesota news, GopherIllustrated.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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Sturridge set for January return

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Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge is set for a January return, according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who hinted he was unlikely to dip into the transfer market to solve the club's current striker issues.


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London - Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge is set for a January return, according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who hinted he was unlikely to dip into the transfer market to solve the club's current striker issues.


Sturridge last played for Liverpool in August after suffering a thigh injury on international duty with England and his absence has been keenly felt as the Merseysiders have struggled for goals and consistency in a disappointing start to the season.


With close-season signing Mario Balotelli failing to score a Premier League goal and Rickie Lambert, another summer arrival, struggling to cement a place in the side, Sturridge's return to action cannot come soon enough for last season's runners-up.


“He's coming back into the country in early January to finalise his rehab here,” Rodgers told reporters on Wednesday.


“Hopefully at some point in January - the middle to end - he'll be available to play.”


Rodgers has drafted Raheem Sterling into a makeshift centre forward role in recent weeks in an effort to replicate last season's scintillating attacking play, but he said he does not expect any new arrivals in January.


“My first look is always within,” he said. “We have seen how we have adapted the team and the structure of the team in order to make that work. I still think we've got players that can do that for us.


“So there won't be much activity for us in January. We brought in a lot of players over the course of the summer that we feel can develop, and those players are now starting to adapt to the life here at Liverpool and our way of working.


“There won't be a lot of transfer activity from us - if any - over the course of the January period. My job is to coach and manage the players that are currently here and work hard at maximising the talent that they have. That's what we'll look to do.”


Liverpool, chasing a third successive Premier League victory, host Leicester City on Thursday.


They will be without centre back Martin Skrtel, who is suspended, but could welcome back Dejan Lovren after a groin injury.


“Dejan has only been back training in the last couple of days. We'll see how he is today and then we'll take it from there,” Rodgers said. – Reuters






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://www.iol.co.za/sturridge-set-for-january-return-1.1800569
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Serero not good enough

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Shakes Mashaba was unwilling to explain the shock omission of Thulani Serero from the final 23-man Afcon squad.


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Shakes Mashaba remained steadfast in his unwillingness to explain the shock omission of Thulani Serero from the final 23-man squad that will represent South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations finals next month.


The Ajax Amsterdam star, who contested European Champions League matches against world giants such as Barcelona, was declared not good enough for Bafana Bafana yesterday when a highly philosophical Mashaba named the players that will try to conquer the continent in Equatorial Guinea.


All the coach would say was “Serero is not in the team because other players proved to be better than him”. That explanation, however, did not seem to wash with most of the press corps who had gathered in downtown Johannesburg for the announcement.


The general feeling was that Serero – who was key in Bafana’s qualification for the biennial, continental soccer showpiece – could have been left out due to his failure to avail himself for the recent camp that ended yesterday, despite football in the Dutch league being on a break.


Not that Mashaba would have been bothered about any speculation as to why he left the star midfielder out. “I explained the criteria we followed in getting to where we are and I do not have to justify why I have not included some players or why some are left out,” the stern-faced coach said.


And among the criteria were factors such as “a player’s good standing with his club, patriotism and a good attitude” – and Serero’s no show for the mini-camp that ended yesterday probably failed to meet the last two. Mashaba spent no less than half-an-hour reading what would have made for a successful university thesis as he explained the long process he took to get to the final 23-man line-up.


Phrases ranging from “the genesis of every success is a dream” to “we can only reap rewards if we apply the necessary work” littered his talk in an uncharacteristic address that helped explain the enormity of what the veteran coach is facing.


Mashaba should have led South Africa at the Afcon 10 years ago, having presided over Bafana’s qualification for Tunisia 2004. But he was fired just before that for refusing to be dictated to in terms of team selection. Yesterday he spoke of his elation at finally getting the chance to go to the continent’s premier soccer event.


“I feel like a champion,” he said with a smile. “I’m excited. It’s an opportunity to gauge my coaching abilities at the highest level.”


Serero’s exclusion aside, the squad was pretty much what most would have predicted – Mashaba having kept faith with most of the players who did duty in the qualifiers as well as taking along a few players he termed “prospectives” in the form of Bongani Zungu and Thamsaqa Sangweni.


SuperSport United’s Thuso Phala also got the nod, no doubt for his great form for his club towards the end of the year.


While the inclusion of Bernard Parker surprised, given that the Chiefs striker did not start playing until deep into the new season, Mashaba explained why: “As a country we’re bankrupt in the striking force. So we brought him (Parker) to help strengthen us,” he said of the experienced striker.


Not that he rates experience highly: “For me, experience is just a name we give our yesterday’s mistakes. Experience doesn’t guarantee us a win.”


Not even the fact that Bafana are in what most view as the tournament’s toughest group (alongside Algeria, Senegal and Ghana) seems to have Mashaba shaken.


“Have you bought coffins,” he asked Natasha Tsichlas, the Safa technical boss who chaired the conference.


“They talk of a group of death. I don’t know who is going to die. We’re definitely not going to die there. We’re going there to compete.” - The Star






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Villa fined for player disorder

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Aston Villa have been fined £30 000 for failing to control their players during their recent 1-1 draw with Manchester United.


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London – Aston Villa have been fined £30,000 ($46,700, 38,400 euros) for failing to control their players during their recent 1-1 draw with Manchester United, the Football Association (FA) announced on Tuesday.


The charge relates to the reaction of Villa's players after Gabriel Agbonlahor was sent off for a challenge on Ashley Young during the 1-1 draw at Villa Park earlier this month. The red card was later rescinded.


“Aston Villa have been fined £30,000 for failing to control their players in or around the 65th minute (of) their recent fixture with Manchester United on 20 December 2014,” the FA said in a statement.


Villa were also warned as to their future conduct.


Meanwhile, Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has lost his appeal against the red card he was shown for a foul on Jordi Gomez during his side's 0-0 home draw with Sunderland on Sunday.


“DELPH NEWS: The appeal to have Fabian Delph's suspension reduced has been unsuccessful. #AVFC,” Villa said on Twitter.


Delph, who made his England debut in September, will now serve a three-game ban. – Sapa-AFP






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Herrera, Januzaj boost for United

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Manchester United midfielders Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj have returned to training ahead of the Premier League trip to Stoke City.


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London - Manchester United midfielders Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj have returned to training ahead of the Premier League trip to Stoke City, manager Louis van Gaal said.


United have climbed to third in the table after winning seven of their last nine games going into the match against Stoke on Thursday.


“Herrera has trained today for the first time with us and Januzaj has also trained two training sessions with us,” Van Gaal told a news conference.


“They don't have match rhythm. Januzaj was ill and you have to recover from your illness, not from your tiredness. Maybe it's worse to recover from illness.”


Defenders Rafael, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw have returned to the squad after recovering from injuries but Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini and Marcos Rojo are still sidelined.


“It's a problem for me to come through this two weeks around Christmas and New Year, all these matches,” Van Gaal said. “That is difficult now.”


The Dutchman sent out an unchanged team for the 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the first time United have named the same starting line-up in 85 league matches going back to November, 2012.


That was surprising since they had played Newcastle United less than 48 hours earlier and Van Gaal has been a fierce critic of English soccer's heavy Christmas fixture schedule. – Reuters






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Bale is not for sale at any price

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Real Madrid have made it clear to Manchester United and other possible suitors for his signature that Gareth Bale is not for sale.


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Madrid - Real Madrid have made it clear to Manchester United and other possible suitors for his signature that Gareth Bale is not for sale at any price.


Real president Florentino Perez told Spanish newspaper Marca that Welshman Bale, who signed for the European champions for a world record 100 million euros ($121.6 million) last year, was key to the club's present and future.


“Just as I can't imagine Real Madrid without Cristiano (Ronaldo), I can't imagine Real Madrid without Bale either,” Perez said.


Bale has been linked with a move to Premier League giants United, who have been undertaking very expensive rebuilding under manager Louis van Gaal.


“We have not received an offer from Manchester or any other club for Gareth Bale,” Perez said.


“We haven't received any offers for one simple reason: every club knows that Gareth Bale will never leave Real Madrid and that the club will not discuss their star, no matter how much is offered.”


It has not taken Bale long to woo the Bernabeu fans, with his goals in the King's Cup and Champions League finals establishing his credentials as a world-class performer on the big occasion. At 25, he is growing into his Galactico boots.


“Bale is a key player,” Perez said. “He has already done so much for the team and is a key part of our club's future.” – Reuters






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Shelvey facing violent conduct charge

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Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been charged with violent conduct over an incident involving Liverpool's Emre Can.


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London – Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been charged with violent conduct over an incident involving Liverpool's Emre Can, the Football Association (FA) announced on Tuesday.


Shelvey appeared to swing his arm into Can's face during Swansea's 4-1 Premier League defeat at Anfield on Monday, but although referee Andre Marriner allowed play to continue, the FA has taken retrospective action.


“Swansea City's Jonjo Shelvey on Tuesday has been charged by the FA for violent conduct, following an incident in his side's fixture with Liverpool,” the FA said in a statement on its website.


“The incident, which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video, occurred during the fixture between the two sides at Anfield on Monday 29 December 2014.”


Shelvey, who joined Swansea from Liverpool in 2013, has until 1800 GMT on Wednesday to respond to the charge.


In a message posted on Twitter after the game, the 22-year-old claimed he had caught Can by accident.


“Just wanna say didn't intentionally elbow Emre Can was just trying to get my arm across to get round him and it's come off as (if) I'm trying to hurt another play and I can assure you that that isn't the case,” he wrote.


“And I had apologised to Emre Can for catching him.”


Having been sent off at Everton at the start of November, Shelvey faces a four-match ban if found guilty. – Sapa-AFP






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Three-match ban for Newcastle’s Cisse

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Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has accepted a charge of violent conduct during the Premier League match against Everton, the Premier League club said.


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London - Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has accepted a charge of violent conduct during the Premier League match against Everton, the Premier League club said.


Cisse, who has scored nine league goals this season, elbowed defender Seamus Coleman in the game on Sunday and will serve a three-match suspension.


He will miss league games against Burnley and leaders Chelsea and the FA Cup third-round trip to Leicester City. – Reuters






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FA must ban divers - Wenger

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on the Football Association to ban players who dive in order to rid the game of play acting to win free kicks or penalties.


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London - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on the Football Association (FA) to ban players who dive in order to rid the game of play acting to win free kicks or penalties.


Diving is once again a hot topic in the Premier League after three Chelsea players, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Willian, were all booked for simulation this month.


Chelsea defenders Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic have also recently been accused of diving by opposition managers with Blues boss Jose Mourinho countering that there was an agenda against players at his club.


Wenger said the only way to solve the problem would be for the FA to take retrospective action against players who have clearly dived.


“I'm against diving,” Wenger told reporters. “We should punish it after the game. The problem will be to decide when it was obvious diving or not. That's a big issue and sometimes it's not obvious,” the Frenchman added.


“Punish only obvious cases but not mixed ones. “You have to suspend the players, I don't know how long. It depends. I am not a specialist in this kind of thing.


“But the only way that the players will stop doing it, is if they feel they can get punished. Whether it is Arsenal, or Manchester United, or Liverpool or Chelsea, it is for everybody the same.”


The Arsenal manager was also quick to dismiss speculation linking forward Lukas Podolski with a move to Inter Milan.


The German has found himself largely out of favour this season, having started only two matches, but Wenger was adamant that any move to Italy was not imminent.


“That is a joke. Inter Milan are not serious. There's only talk,” he said.


Arsenal are currently fifth in the standings, level on 33 points with fourth-placed Southampton, who they face on Thursday. – Reuters






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News sport : Stanford dominates Maryland in Foster Farms Bowl

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Maryland was no match for Stanford in the Foster Farms Bowl.


On a blustery night in Santa Clara, Calif., Stanford's offense capitalized on short fields and the Terrapins weren't able to do much productive with the ball as the Cardinal rolled to a 45-21 win.


After Maryland tied the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter, Stanford, 8-5, scored three unanswered touchdowns. The first drive was a quick 5-play 49-yard drive that was capped by Remound Wright's second touchdown. Wright got a third on the next drive, which was a 5-play 70-yard drive. And then Kevin Hogan tossed his first touchdown of the night on the 10th play of a 54-yard drive.


The score was 28-7 at halftime and it might as well have been 56-7.


Maryland QB C.J. Brown wasn't incredibly effective until it was late in the fourth quarter and was hampered by the lack of a ground game. After tying the game, Maryland's next seven drives accrued a grand total of 60 yards while Stanford's in the same timeframe tallied over 300. The lone bright spot in the second half was a 100-yard touchdown return by William Likely after Stanford went up 42-7.


Hogan finished 14-20 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns before being given a break early in the fourth quarter. Brown finished 16-28 passing for 214 yards as Maryland finishes the year 7-6.


For more Maryland news, visit TerrapinSportsReport.com.


For more Stanford news, visit CardinalSportsReport.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 : LeBron sits with knee pain as the Cavs fall to the Hawks

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David Blatt wants answers. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James turned 30 years old on Tuesday, a momentous occasion in most adults' lives. For the four-time MVP and two-time champion, though, this December 30 marks a different kind of transition, not so much a move into full-on adulthood as an opportunity to look back on what he has accomplished as an athlete and wonder if the future holds the same level of success. The Cavs are both struggling to meet lofty expectations and embroiled in a great deal of media controversy. There are reports that first-year head coach David Blatt has lost the attention of the team (if he ever had it) and that LeBron could consider leaving Cleveland as a free agent if things don't get better. At the very least, everyone around the team agrees that they're not very good team, including James himself.


It did not help that matters that James opted to sit out his birthday game at the Atlanta Hawks with left knee soreness apparently sustained during a leap into the stands in the Christmas loss to the Miami Heat. James played in the Cavs' two games since that contest (a nine-point win over Orlando and embarrassing 23-point loss to Detroit), but it appears that the team wanted to hold him out as a precaution. LeBron also missed the team's December 11 game vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder with similar soreness, so it would seem to make sense not to put too much pressure on the team's best player.


On the other hand, the context surrounding LeBron's night off does not do much to help the Cavs' public image. There are questions as to whether James or Blatt — who had never coached in the NBA in any form before this season — should (or does) hold more decision-making power in the organization, and missing a game on a birthday can cause more skeptical fans to wonder if LeBron sat out just because he didn't want to play. That belief relies on several assumptions, but we are also at a point with the Cavs where minds may wander as people wonder why things have gone wrong for a team that was expected to lay waste to the Eastern Conference.


Cleveland's performance vs. Atlanta may hold some insight into those questions, because their play was fairly similar to what's transpired when LeBron has been a part of lineup. Once again, the offense relied on two players to do most of the damage. Kyrie Irving carried the team with 35 points on 13-of-27 shooting in 43 minutes as Tristan Thompson helped make up for the loss of James with 18 points on 9-of-12 FG and 13 rebounds. Beyond that, almost everyone struggled — Kevin Love continued to occupy the fringes with 1-of-8 shooting in 24 minutes before missing most of the second half with back spasms, Dion Waiters shot 3-of-10 from the field with his usual number of poor decisions, and Mike Miller didn't even attempt a field goal.


For as one-dimensional as the offense looked, the defense was still the Cavs' biggest problem. The extremely well-balanced Hawks shot 50.6 percent from the field as five players scored in double figures. Jeff Teague (23 points and 11 assists) and Paul Millsap (26 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, two steals) helped control the game late as the Hawks won 109-101 without a sick Al Horford, their own best player. The Cavs challenged, but it was clear which team defined the terms of the game.


It's an open question as to how much blame Blatt deserves for the Cavs' underwhelming 18-13 start, but it's clear that the optics are not in his favor right now. Certain things, like Blatt getting a nosebleed in a pre-game press conference, are meaningless moments that can gain resonance for those who don't support him. Yet, no matter if he has a point, claiming moral victories after a third loss in four games is not going to help his case:



It's much too early to reach complete conclusions regarding Blatt's fitness for the Cavs' unique challenge, but we can already begin to see a negative narrative forming. As 2014 closes, things are definitely not going his way.


- - - - - - -


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 : Nick Chubb runs all over Louisville as Georgia wins Belk Bowl

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There's only one running back in Georgia history who's had better rushing yardage seasons than Nick Chubb. Yes, it's Herschel Walker.


Chubb ran for a Georgia bowl-record 269 yards and two touchdowns during Tuesday night's Belk Bowl as the Bulldogs steamrolled Louisville 37-14.


The freshman entered the game with the seventh-best rushing season in Georgia history and moved to No. 4 ahead of Garrison Hearst thanks to a final drive that was simply unstoppable.


Leading 30-14, the Bulldogs, 10-3, got the ball from Louisville with just over 4 minutes left. All four plays of the 45-yard drive were runs by Chubb, and on the fourth, he scampered into the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown to put his season total at 1,550 yards, three ahead of Hearst.


Walker, who was at Georgia for three seasons from 1980-1982, has the three best rushing seasons in Bulldog history.


Chubb's standing among Georgia's greats is even more astonishing when you consider he opened the season as UGA's No. 3 back. He didn't have more than 78 yards or 11 carries in each of Georgia's first five games, but when he assumed lead back duties after Todd Gurley's suspension for receiving money for autographs, his season took off.


In Georgia's final eight games of the year, Chubb broke the 100-yard mark in every single one and his lowest output was a nine-carry 113-yard game against Charleston Southern, where he wasn't vital to Georgia's success.


And his performance against Louisville was even more noteworthy after Georgia lost quarterback Hutson Mason near halftime to an undisclosed injury and WR Michael Bennett, the Bulldogs' leader in catches, also departed to injury. With freshman Brice Ramsey in at quarterback (and who threw an interception on his first pass attempt to boot), Georgia's game plan was clear. And Louisville was still gashed by the run.


It also didn't help that Louisville, 9-4, didn't get much production from the quarterback position. Kyle Bolin started the game and played the entire second half after Reggie Bonnafon saw some time in the first half. However, Bonnafon threw a pick in three pass attempts and Bolin finished 20-40 for 301 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.


For more Georgia news, visit UGASports.com.


For more Louisville news, visit CardinalSports.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!







from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/nick-chubb-runs-all-over-louisville-as-georgia-wins-belk-bowl-033346368.html
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News sport : Florida player accidentally scores game winner for Florida State

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The strangest game-winning buzzer beater of the college basketball season left the team that surrendered it dancing with joy and the player who scored it burying his head in his jersey.


With rivals Florida and Florida State tied at 63 and three seconds remaining in regulation, Seminoles guard Devon Bookert attempted a fadeaway 3-pointer from the right corner that fell well short. Florida forward Jacob Kurtz attempted to grab the rebound but accidentally tipped the ball off the backboard and into his own basket with 0.4 seconds remaining, giving Florida State a most improbable 65-63 win.


That fluke play snapped Florida's five-game win streak over its in-state rival and made an already disappointing opening two months of the season all the more deflating for the Gators.


A Florida program that reached the Elite Eight each of the past four seasons has failed to live up to its top 10 preseason ranking so far this season, falling to Miami, Georgetown and Florida State in addition to national powers North Carolina and Kansas. The 7-5 Gators have one last chance to notch their first noteworthy win before SEC play begins when they host defending national champion UConn on Saturday.


Florida wouldn't have been in position to lose at the buzzer Tuesday night had it not wasted so many possessions earlier in the game. The Gators committed 17 turnovers against the Seminoles and got little production out of their frontcourt.


It's a shame that the freak play had to come at Kurtz's expense because the junior forward deserves better.


Kurtz is a former student manager who walked onto the Florida team and has been pressed into significant playing time due to injuries to some of the Gators' top big men. The 6-foot-6 forward is averaging 4.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 22.9 minutes per game this season. He had contributed four points and seven rebounds before his stunning last-second gaffe.


Credit Kurtz's teammates for not blaming him for the loss.


"We wouldn't have even been in position to win without him," starting guard Michael Frazier told the Gainesville Sun. "We didn't lose on just one play."


Indeed one play didn't beat the Gators. But the legacy of Florida's latest disappointing loss will certainly be Kurtz's stunning last-second "own basket."


(Thanks for the video, NZAU.TV)


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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!


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from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/florida-player-accidentally-scores-game-winning-basket-for-florida-state-032133816.html
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News sport : Jazz guard Alec Burks will miss the season after shoulder surgery

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Burks will have to return next fall (Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports). The Utah Jazz have not and will not challenge for a playoff spot this season, but the team has still had a fairly successful campaign so far in new head coach Quin Snyder's first season. With players like Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, and others, the Jazz boast one of the best collections of young talent in the league. They're not especially good yet, but they're growing together game by game.


It now looks as if one of those players is going to have to progress at a different rate than the rest of his teammates. The team announced Tuesday that shooting guard Burks will miss the rest of the 2014-15 season after undergoing surgery for an injured left shoulder. From the press release:


After examination by the Utah Jazz medical staff it has been decided that Alec Burks will undergo a surgical repair on his injured left shoulder. The procedure will be performed by Jazz head orthopaedic team physician, Dr. Travis Maak, on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at the University of Utah. As a result, Burks will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season. He is expected to be ready for the start of 2015 Jazz training camp.

“Alec's long-term health has been our top priority throughout this process, and although it is unfortunate that we will be without his services on the court the rest of this season, we commend Alec's commitment and continued effort to play through considerable pain to this point,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey. “After continued consultation with our medical staff, Alec and his representation, we have unanimously agreed that it would be most prudent for Alec to have this procedure performed now in order to ensure that he will be healthy and ready for the start of next season.”

Burks broke out last season with an average of 14.0 on 45.9 percent shooting, which was enough to earn him a four-year, $42-million extension before the deadline this October. He has plateaued a bit so far in 2014-15 — roughly the same scoring average, worse shooting overall but better from deep, etc. — but has improved in several areas and looks to be a fixture in the starting lineup when healthy. The Jazz will miss his outside shooting and the spacing it helps bring to their offense. Expect a bigger role for rookie Rodney Hood in Burks's absence.


Apart from the on-court impact of the injury, this news should serve as a reminder why players often consider taking less money in an extension instead of waiting to test the market as a restricted free agent the next summer. Burks is perhaps not the best example of a player who opted not to zero in on the biggest payday possible — his contract is probably somewhere near his upper bound in salary — but he does prove that a young player seemingly establishing himself in the NBA can have his progression derailed very quickly. If Burks hadn't agreed to his extension, he'd be looking at a very difficult decision this summer. At least he has some security during this tough time.


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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!







from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/jazz-guard-alec-burks-will-miss-the-season-after-shoulder-surgery-030131441.html
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