SAN ANTONIO -- Gregg Popovich was reflective, loquacious, funny and even answered questions from the media without prompting.
Juventus Jerseys . Its easy to say it was all a bit out of character for Popovich, but the circumstances were new to the San Antonio Spurs coach and all those who have followed them. San Antonio was 28 seconds away from going a perfect 5 for 5 in the NBA Finals under Popovich when everything went wrong. The Miami Heat rallied from a five-point deficit to tie Game 6, eventually winning in overtime Tuesday and then closing out their second straight title Thursday with a victory in Game 7. So, instead of preparing for a victory parade along the San Antonio River, the Spurs spent Saturday morning cleaning out their lockers at the teams practice facility. "I dont really want to do a soliloquy, but the elephant in the room is that were all hurting because we had an opportunity to win a championship right in the palm of our hands and it didnt happen," Popovich said. "So, that hurts, and it will dissipate over time, but right now it hurts everyone to varying degrees." San Antonio never trailed in the NBA Finals previously under Popovich and Tim Duncan, but they also never faced a player like LeBron James, not even when they swept a then 22-year-old James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2007 championship. James 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation helped tie Game 6 and his jumper with 1:43 left in overtime proved to be the winner in a 103-100 victory. He earned his second straight Finals MVP after finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 6 and 37 points and 12 boards in a 95-88 victory in Game 7. Will losing the title in such heartbreaking fashion makes it tougher for the Spurs to rebound next season and compete for another title? "Thats the kind of articles you guys write," Popovich said, deflecting the question before cracking a smile, "that we always read. ... I read every one of them, I swear, I swear, I read every one." Popovichs mood, along with the rest of the team, was lifted by the thousands of fans who greeted them at the airport Friday afternoon upon their return from Miami. The reception shamed, humbled, inspired and ultimately touched Popovich. "Ill be honest with you, when you saw the crowd, the first feeling I had was embarrassment," Popovich. "We wanted to bring it home for them so badly. Was just embarrassed that we didnt get it done and then as you look at them all and they just keep cheering you realize, my gosh, you really felt the love and the way they care for these guys and their team and then it did make it easier. Like, Hey, theyre with us. " Fans will likely be rooting for essentially the same team next season, which is good news for a franchise that won the Southwest Division title while reaching the post-season for the 16th consecutive year. Along with All-Star point guard Tony Parker, the most critical returning player is Duncan, who revived his career with two strenuous offseasons. The 37-year-old forward has lost 30 pounds over the past two years, enabling him to earn All-NBA First Team honours for the first time in six years. He averaged 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and shot a career-best 82 per cent on free throws this season. "I have a contract that says I am," Duncan said following Game 7 when asked if would return next season. Asked specifically if he was planning on retiring, Duncan said, "Not right now." Manu Ginobili is another matter. His contract expires this summer and the 35-year-old guard was unsure of his plans following Game 7. Ginobili battled injuries and a declining game all season, and those struggles only exacerbated in the post-season. He averaged 11.5 points in the playoffs, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2003, and he committed eight turnovers in the Game 6 loss. Barring a career renaissance like Duncan is enjoying, Ginobilis place amongst the teams Big 3 is likely at an end. If Ginobili doesnt bounce back, the Spurs discovered a replacement in Kawhi Leonard. After averaging 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in the regular season, the second-year forward averaged 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in the post-season while stymieing James defensively for much of the finals. "(He is) unbelievably coachable, a hard worker," Popovich said. "Hes going to be a future star because hes like a babe in the woods, still. I dont even call plays for him and you see what he does out on the court. Hes just beginning to feel his way and he will be getting the ball more and more as time goes on." Leonard was invited to play for USA Basketball, but his availability is in doubt because of chronic knee soreness he experienced in the final months of the season. "Its obviously an honour, to be involved in USA basketball in any way, shape or form and Kawhi is thrilled with the selection," Popovich said, "but we need to talk to the doctors to make sure he is able to do it." Leonards continued development, along with those of younger players such as Danny Green, Gary Neal, Cory Joseph, Tiago Splitter and Nando De Colo will be key to the teams continued success because the Spurs are not expected to make any major trades or free-agent signings. "People have been telling us to get younger for the last 15 years, I think," Popovich said. "So, we stopped listening to that a long time ago. At one point, I guess we will be too old, who knows when that is. Going to the conference finals last year and Finals this year kind of proves that something is going right." With that, Popovich figuratively doffed his San Antonio Spurs cap at the media that had gathered on a Saturday morning and went back into the teams practice facility to continue working towards next season. "Thanks for everything," he said. "You guys were great all year long, and ladies, but I am happy I dont have to do it again until September." 18:25ET 22-06-13
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Stefano Sturaro Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training.
http://www.juventusfcpro.com/Kids-Sami-Khedira-Jersey/ . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others.CHICAGO -- Miguel Cabrera probably shouldnt even have been playing Wednesday. Hard to tell, though, after the aching slugger hit a majestic three-run homer in the third inning to spark the Detroit Tigers to a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. With a day game following an extra-inning night game, and with a crucial five-game series against a division rival coming up this weekend, the rest would have been a prudent prescription for the leg injury Cabreras been playing with for several days. "He actually has a shin thats all black and blue," Jim Leyland said. "It terrible, its terrible looking, but it actually looked a little bit better today. Hes still pretty sore. As a manager, you almost feel bad playing him. I can tell that hes hurting, but he wanted to play today, so I put him in there." Leyland certainly didnt feel bad about the decision afterward. The home run erased an early three-run deficit and gave the Tigers some much needed momentum. "Hes been banged up for about a week," teammate Torii Hunter said of Cabrera. "Miggy, instead of him having to run, he just hits the home run." Cabrera has homered in five of the last six games. Despite allowing a season-high 11 hits, Tigers starter Rick Porcello (9-6) allowed just three runs in six innings. Porcello hasnt lost a decision since June 30 at Tampa Bay. Porcello got off to a miserable start, giving up three runs on four hits in the first inning. Worse, he needed 40 pitches to get the first three outs of the game. Avisail Garcia, and Conor Gillaspie had run-scoring singles, with the other run coming on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Keppinger. After Cabrera tied the score with his 38th homer, the Tigers broke the game open in the top of the sixth, thanks to some clutch hitting and a White Sox miscue. Omar Infante drove in the go-ahead run with a single, and the final two runs came courtesy of an error by Gillaspie, the third baseman. The White Sox added a run in the bottom of the eighhth on a run-scoring single by Alexei Ramirez to make it 6-4.
Medhi Benatia Jersey. Taking no chances, Leyland brought in closer Joaquin Benoit with one out in the eighth. Benoit then proceeded to strike out Adam Dunn and Garcia to end the inning without further damage. He worked out of another jam in the ninth inning for his 15th save in 15 chances. Even though it occurred in the third inning, the talk of the postgame was Cabreras homer off of White Sox starter John Danks (2-10). "He was quick on it," Leyland said. "He just fired his hands -- it looked like a cutter -- and he just pulled his hands in and they were like lightening through the zone. Hes remarkable." Said Danks: "Bad pitch to him. I got him out the first time and I tried to go a little farther inside. I dont think it would have been called a strike." The way Hunter sees it, thats the key. Pitchers dont want to throw Cabrera fat pitches in the strike zone. "Some of those pitches are balls and hes still hitting them out," Hunter said. Cabrera, in his bid for an historic second straight Triple Crown, leads the American League in batting average (.360) and is in a tight battle with Baltimores Chris Davis for home runs and RBIs. With his blast on Wednesday, Cabrera has 114 RBIs. Hunter believes Cabrera is actually having a better season this year. "No doubt," he said. "I wasnt here last year, but hes definitely better this year than last." NOTES: Manager Robin Ventura gave White Sox veteran Paul Konerko the day off. "Guys at that age get a little tighter a day game after a night game," Ventura said. "Let him have a little spa day." . Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 11 games. . The White Sox open a series at Minnesota Thursday night with RHP Andre Rienzo (0-0) facing RHP Mike Pelfrey (7-11). The Tigers are home for the start of a five-game series with the Royals, with RHP Anibal Sanchez (10-7) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (12-8).
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