ce Mike Hazen as their general manager. The 4 | Forum

MIAMI -- If youre healthy or close to it, youre playing. Kobe Bryant Shoes For Sale . And if youre tired and we need you, youre also playing.Thats what Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas learned on Friday night, when he returned from a groin injury in a win over the Charlotte Hornets.On Sunday, the Celtics (14-12) will visit the Miami Heat (9-18). Boston is in third place in the Eastern Conference but the Celtics also surely know that the Eastern Conference is tightly bunched and that the 11th-place Washington Wizards are only 2 1/2 games out of third place.In other words, this is no time to let up, even if you are trying to work back from an injury that caused you to miss four games, which was the case for Thomas.Isaiah was gassed, Celtics teammate Jae Crowder told the media after Fridays game. He was talking in the locker-room about how gassed he was. But he gives us a better chance to win.Thomas played 35 minutes on Friday, including the entire fourth quarter. But Celtics coach Brad Stevens expressed similar thoughts to those of Crowder.You know, Stevens said half-jokingly, (Thomas) didnt do anything all week.Thomas did plenty on Friday, scoring a game-high 25 points.On Sunday, Thomas will match wits with Heat point guard Goran Dragic. Thomas may all see some of Tyler Johnson, who missed Fridays game due to an illness.Johnson is averaging 13.0 points this season. And while he has started all 25 of his games this season on the bench, he usually ends them on the court -- he leads all NBA players in fourth-quarter minutes.But there is something else Johnson has added to his game this season, and thats his defense. He had a career-high four blocks in the last game he played, on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers. His previous high in a game was two.Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who is hoping to get Johnson back in time for Sunday nights home game against the Boston Celtics, said hes pleased with his teams defensive effort so far.We emphasize challenging a lot and that doesnt necessarily mean blocking shots, Spoelstra said. Some people have a better feel for it and better physical gifts to do it.Johnson, at 6-foot-4 and with good leaping ability, seems to fall into that category.He is holding offensive players hes guarding to 41.5-percent shooting, which is 2.7-percent lower than their averages. Johnson is sixth on the team in that category. James Johnson is No. 1 on the Heat, holding shooters to 11.8-percent below their averages.In addition, Tyler Johnson is third on the Heat with 17 blocks. Hassan Whiteside is obviously first, and James Johnson is second.Among guards, Tyler entered the weekend ranked third in the NBA in blocks with 17 -- tied with ex-Heat star Dwyane Wade.Dwyane is arguably the best shot-blocking guard of all time, and I think he is, Spoelstra said. J-Rich (Josh Richardson) has that ability. Tyler has that ability. Justise Winslow has that ability.Even Goran has become better at it just by working hard, challenging and taking pride on making it tough.Having those defenders healthy and active is part of the blueprint that Spoestra envisions. It hasnt really happened yet this season due to injuries, but the potential is there.And then theres this: When Tyler Johnson is able to get two blocks per game, the Heat wins. Its a small sample size, but they are 5-1 in those instances.Perhaps Johnson learned something from Wade in the shot-blocking department.Maybe in just seeing someone taking pride on the defensive side of the floor, Spoelstra said. Those guys (Johnson, Richardson and Winslow) have taken it to the next level to finish plays off.And if those opposing perimeter players get past the Heat guards, Whiteside is often waiting for the block.A lot of the times, I know where his guy is going, Whiteside said of the player Tyler Johnson is guarding. A lot of those (blocked) shots, Im just watching (Johnson) get. Kobe Bryant Shoes Outlet . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Clearance Kobe Bryant Shoes . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. https://www.cheapkobebryantshoes.com/ .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. A look at whats happening all around the majors Monday:---FLYING HIGHTrevor Bauer and the Indians take a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series into Game 3 at Toronto. Bauer had been scheduled to start Game 2, but was pushed back after he said he cut the pinkie on his right hand while fixing a drone. Bauer, who needed stitches to close the wound, is a self-described nerd and big Star Wars fan who studied mechanical engineering in college and enjoys playing around with the flying objects. Marcus Stroman will start for the Blue Jays.TAKE A BREAKIts workout day at Dodger Stadium with Chicago and Los Angeles tied at one game apiece in the NL Championship Series. Rich Hill is set to pitch Game 3 for LA on Tuesday against Jake Arrieta. Hill has been bothered by blister trouble, and didnt make it out of the fifth inning in either of his two starts vs. Washington in the NLDS.THE 0 IN TORONTOThe Blue Jays totaled one run over Games 1 and 2, and of their 10 hits, just one came against the Indians bullpen. Jose Bautista is 0 for 6, Edwin Encarnacion 2 for 7, Troy Tulowitzki 1 for 8 and Russell Martin 1 for 7. TToronto was fourth in the majors in home runs during the regular season got off to a powerful start in the playoffs, but hasnt hit one in 27 innings, since the first inning of Game 3 in their AL Division Series against Texas. Kobe Bryant Shoes Free Shipping. WARMING UPInjured Indians pitcher Danny Salazar threw what appeared to be a simulated game after Clevelands workout Sunday night in Toronto. The All-Star righty has been sidelined since Sept. 9 because of forearm trouble and isnt on the roster for the ALCS. Salazar threw to hitters at Rogers Centre a day before Game 3. He was 11-6 with a 3.87 ERA during the regular season.LINEUP SWITCHThe Diamondbacks plan to formally introduce Mike Hazen as their general manager. The 40-year-old served as Bostons GM this season. Hazen replaces Dave Stewart, who was fired along with manager Chip Hale a day after Arizona finished 69-93 -- its fifth straight year out of the playoffs. Hazen graduated from Princeton and played two seasons in the minor leagues. ' ' '