Daily Archives: February 19, 2017

When the season was young, the Nets ranked as one of the biggest surprises in the NBA. A team widely panned as the leagues worst was 4-5, and two of those wins came after Jeremy Lin suffered his first hamstring injury in the fifth game.

That initial surge of optimism faded long ago as the Nets without Lin for all but 12 games have struggled. It turns out they are exactly what the critics forecast, a 9-47 team that is 8 12 games worse than the 29th-best team in the NBA at the All-Star break.

The Nets rank 30th in points allowed (114.2), plus-minus (-8.8) and turnovers (17). They are fourth in three-pointers attempted (32.4) but only 26th in three-point field-goal percentage (34.0).

In short, with the NBAs weakest roster, general manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson havent found any way to stem the tide of losing. The Nets have lost a franchise-record 16 straight home games and 25 of their past 26 games overall. Yet, as tough as it may be to sell to the fans, Atkinson maintains that his team has made incremental progress as the franchise overhauls the playing style and creates a new culture.

Describing the rays of hope he sees, Atkinson said: I think the intangibles are: Whats your teams work ethic? Whats their spirit like? How are they coming into practice every day? How are they approaching the games? Hows their focus? Those are the things were looking at, and we cast an eye towards our young players. How are they doing? How are they improving?

Considering the depth of their problems, the most amazing part of the Nets season is how hard they still are playing. Their past 11 straight losses all have come by 10 or fewer points. There was one brief locker-room flareup, but the Nets have held together despite constant lineup changes.

This is the most positive group Ive been around in my three years with three teams, said Spencer Dinwiddie, who was claimed out of the D-League and has been starting at point guard in Lins long absence. Its just a great group of guys. Spirits are always high even through the losses.

I think I was a little bit shocked at first, having been on other teams. Nobody can like losing or tolerate losing, but to be able to have that collective buy-in and stick to the program, I think it talks to the character of the guys. We have that belief in the coaching staff and the GM, the whole regime.

The most obvious area of progress is the development of the Nets three young core players, second-year forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, rookie wing man Caris LeVert and rookie Isaiah Whitehead. Atkinson credits the Nets recent defensive improvement to the decision to make Hollis-Jefferson the starting power forward. LeVerts athleticism and defensive prowess are eye-opening, and second-round pick Whitehead has surprised with his toughness and grasp of the system.

The major question as the Nets approach Thursdays NBA trade deadline is whether to take what they can get for long-time franchise center Brook Lopez or to give Lopez and Lin a chance to play together when Lin returns for the start of an eight-game road trip Friday in Denver.

That decision ultimately belongs to Marks, who has said he will listen to all trade offers. According to multiple reports, the Nets are asking for two first-round picks for Lopez, a high price that means theres a strong chance he will survive the trade deadline.

Id love to see them together, see how they mix, how they work, Atkinson said of the Brook-Lin pairing. I reminisce about those first games when Jeremy was throwing to Brook in the post and cutting off the post and all that kind of action that looked really good in the beginning. The post stuff I was surprised because Jeremys never really played with a pure post-up guy. So it was great seeing that. Id like to see more. Cant wait til Denver.

Lin, for one, is eager for the opportunity.

Im realistic enough to understand that we havent had a fair look at what this team is really going to look like, Lin said after returning to practice last Tuesday. I played like five games and then another [seven] games, which is just such a small sample size.

Right now, we have guys playing a little bit out of position and guys being asked to do certain things that maybe they havent had to do in their career. So thats not really fair to them. When I come back, I want to be able to help this team and be what they envision me to be. I think post-All-Star break is enough games to see that.

Atkinson has praised Lopez for all the adjustments he has made, from developing his three-point shot to fit in the spread offense and working harder to improve his defense to the positive attitude he has maintained. Missing out on the chance to show how effective he might be with Lin on the floor has been the biggest disappointment of the season.

I think we did a great job of jelling in the offseason through our workouts, Lopez said. Hes such a smart player, such a gifted point guard, and he elevates whoever he plays with. Were obviously missing him. Hes such a great player and great leader, hell improve a lot of players, including me.

Thats what Marks, Atkinson and the rest of the Nets organization need to find out.

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Kenny Atkinson sees hope and progress for his Nets at All-Star break - Newsday

Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., visited the University of Virginia law School today (Feb. 19, 1937), discussed the courses offered here and took application blanks away with him, it was announced by Dr. George Boardman Eager, dean of the law school. It has been reported for some time that young Roosevelt was considering entering the University next year but Dr. Eager stated that he had no communication from the Roosevelt family until he was visited this morning.

The Daily Progress account went on: Roosevelt visited the Monticello Hotel this morning but did not register for a room, employees there said.

A day earlier, The Daily Progress acknowledged the rumors swirling about town of the presidents son considering UVa. Roosevelt and his fiance Ethel du Pont had been spotted in town, and seen by passengers on the Florida-New York train.

Roosevelt Jr. did enroll in the School of Law at UVa that fall and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree in 1940. It was at his graduation that his father, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, delivered his famous Stab in the Back speech, criticizing Italys entry into the war. Soon after graduation, Roosevelt was commissioned in the U.S. Navy and following WW II, assumed his law career. He also served on President Harry S. Trumans committee on civil rights, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

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FDR visits UVa law school on this day in 1937 - The Daily Progress

VENTURA, Calif. The LA Galaxy bagged their first win of 2017 on Saturday afternoon when they defeated Alashkert FC 2-0 in a closed-door scrimmage at Ventura College.

Giovani dos Santos and Jack McBean provided the goals in opposite halves as Los Angeles controlled the tempo against the reigning Armenian league champions. The victory gives the Galaxy a 1-1-1 record this preseason as they sit less than two weeks away from the start of the regular season campaign.

There was major progress on our shape on both sides of the ball, Onalfo told LA Galaxy Insider. "We moved the ball against an opponent that competed real hard. When youre playing on turf on a narrow field, it becomes more difficult, but I was encouraged by the progress we made from last game.

Overall, mission accomplished.

Onalfos starting group dominated the first half, stringing together repeated opportunities that were denied by Alashkert goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov. However, the Galaxy broke through in the 40thminute when Joo Pedro, who was making his first start of the preseason, found Dos Santos for the finish from the doorstep.

The game opened up in the second half as Onalfo afforded nine of his starters 75 minutes. Just minutes after widespread changes, the Galaxy doubled their lead in the 85thminute when McBean headed a Jose Villarreal cross into the net.

For McBean who was consigned to the bench for the first time this preseason, the goal was an important confidence booster.

I really focused well this week in training after the Las Vegas match. Theres a lot of good competition up top between myself, Ari [Lassiter], and Jose [Villarreal]. I thought I went out there today and showed well, McBean said. The season is in the back of everyones mind, and I want to be able to help the team in any capacity that Curt has me.

With the Home Opener against FC Dallas on March 4 inching closer, Onalfo could not be more pleased with his squads growth this preseason.

With each minute were growing. Thats all part of the preseason. If you look at the first group thats out there, theyve played 45, 60, and then 75 minutes, and they have not conceded a goal, Onalfo said. Now we just have to synchronize better and get more precise in front of the goal because we created some good opportunities. Thats why you play those games because you can assess those things and make a game plan for moving forward.

Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com

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Curt Onalfo says LA Galaxy showing "major progress" with 2017 home opener looming - LA Galaxy

With MLB spring training underway, there's plenty to talk about. USA TODAY Sports

Mike Trout has more MVP awards than postseason appearances, two-to-one.(Photo: Chris Carlson, AP)

TEMPE, Ariz. The worlds best baseball player has a new teammate on each side of his locker in the Los Angeles Angels clubhouse, corner infielder Luis Valbuena to the left, second baseman Danny Espinosa to the right. Yet another newcomer, outfielder Cameron Maybin, is just a couple of stalls away.

Theyre part of a makeover intended to help the Angels bounce back from a 74-88 finish, their worst since 1999, and ideally get Mike Trout back to the playoffs.

Entering his sixth full season at 25, Trout has more MVP awards than postseason appearances, two-to-one. He has five times as many All-Star Game invites and three times as many runner-up finishes in the MVP race as trips to the playoffs.

Mike Trout's intense offseason training consisted of running with a barbell on his back

The personal achievements are great, but the lack of team success must be getting old.

Its frustrating, for sure, said Trout, pointing to a rash of injuries to the pitching staff as a prime reason for last years pratfall. You want to get to the playoffs. Its fun. Youve seen the World Series last year. You want to be in that atmosphere.

Several things would have to go right for Trout to experience the playoff vibe again this season. Years of neglecting the farm system while spending lavishly and often unwisely on free agents Josh Hamilton didnt pan out, and C.J. Wilson only in his first two seasons have put the Angels in a bind.

They dont have much help coming from the minors, and only enough room in the budget for modest additions.

Second-year general manager Billy Eppler made some opportunistic moves in the offseason, trading for Maybin, Espinosa and catcher Martin Maldonado. He also signed free agents Ben Revere, Jesse Chavez and Valbuena, the latter costing the most at $15 million over two years.

Its debatable whether that will be enough to contend in a division where the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers loom as favorites. Los Angeles likely will need starting pitchers Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker to make strong comebacks from serious injuries to have a fighting chance.

We feel like were going to be competitive and need to stay healthy, and we have to play well in our division, owner Arte Moreno said. The Astros should be better, Seattles Seattle, and Texas won a lot of one-run games, thirtysomething one-run games. Its pretty hard to repeat that.

Regardless of whether the odds are stacked in their favor or against, the Angels can count on Trout maintaining an optimistic outlook, at least publicly.

In his first media session of the spring Saturday, the reigning AL MVP expressed a desire to steal 40 bases, revealed slightly longer hair Some of my teammates complained that I had the same buzz cut since third grade and confirmed he would not play in the World Baseball Classic, although he would not discuss why.

He also gave a hearty approval to the Epplers additions, especially Maybin, who will play alongside him in left.

Cams obviously fast, Trout said. I got to see him play when he was with Detroit. He brings a lot to the table. Last year we were trying to fill some holes in left field. Its going to be fun. The outfields going to be fast.

After his stolen-base total dwindled from a career-best of 49 as a rookie in 2012 to 11 in 2015, Trout returned to his aggressive ways on the basepaths last season, swiping 30. He also led the league with 116 walks and a .441 on-base percentage while batting .315 with 29 homers and 100 RBI on the way to his second MVP award in three years.

In addition, Trout cut down his strikeouts from 184 in 2014 to 137 last year, an indication of his ability to keep improving even when hes at the games top echelon. Teammates marvel at the way Trout answers the bell night after night he has played at least 157 games in each of the last four seasons while remaining remarkably consistent. In that four-year span, Trout has produced an on-base-plus slugging percentage of between .988 and .991 three times.

Hes the best player in the game and it shows on an everyday basis, thats the thing thats most important and special about him, right fielder Kole Calhoun said. He doesnt take it for granted. He tries to win, hes there to work every day and he wants to be in the lineup every day. Thats the making of one of the all-time greats in this game.

Now, if only fans could see him in the postseason.

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Mike Trout stays humble, but frustrated with Angels' progress - USA TODAY

Kamari Murphys jumpers were two of the positive signs for UM in its win over Clemson. (Getty Images)

CORAL GABLES Miami would like to have JaQuan Newton on the floor.

While hes suspended, however, the Hurricanes have proven more than capable of winning.

UM won its second game in a row without its junior point guard, beating Clemson 71-65 at the Watsco Center in a vital chance for both teams to add to their NCAA tournament resumes.

The Hurricanes (18-8, 8-6 ACC) offset the absence of Newton, a talented scorer who can break down the stingiest of defenses, by producing four players in double figures: senior forward Kamari Murphy (career-high 15), senior guard Davon Reed (14), sophomore center Ebuka Izundu (12) and sophomore forward Anthony Lawrence (10). Freshman guard Bruce Brown had nine points.

Miami needed everyone to contribute in a tight game, which it led by one possession for most of the first half, and two scores by most of the second. Its largest lead was eight.

We all play for each other, said Murphy. If everyone plays their role, well get the win. Whoever steps up that day, well take it.

What coach Jim Larranaga liked more: his team had more assists (19) and fewer turnovers (seven) Saturday than in any one of their ACC games this year. That result came against a Clemson team that leads the ACC in steals.

Brown, Reed and Lawrence each finished with five assists. Larranaga was beaming about some of those passes afterward.

Lawrence threw one behind his head to Murphy for a first-half lay-up. Freshman guard D.J. Vasiljevic stole the ball, read the fast-break defense and dropped it to Lawrence for a slam. With 1:34 left and Miami up three, Reed drove baseline and hooked a pass to the top of the key to Brown for a three-pointer. Ballgame.

Nineteen assists, Larranaga said. I like em all.

The crowd of 6,987 liked when Murphy, a 6-foot-8 redshirt senior known for defense and dunks, showed he has a little offensive game. He hit a jumper early, and later used a pump-fake, then Euro-stepped his way to the basket for two points. He rattled home another jumper on the next possession.

Teams have got to change their scouting report now, said a smiling Murphy, who made a career-best seven shots on nine attempts, and led Miami in rebounds (nine). He admitted the Euro-step was just instinct I dont think thats part of my game.

Murphy would like to have the soft lefty jump-hook of his 6-10 frontcourt mate, Izundu, whom he said scores easiest out of anyone on the team. After early-season foul trouble plagued him, Izundu is provingit. He scored 13 points in his first nine conference games, but is averaging 8.8 in his last five, beginning with a career-high 16 on Feb. 4 at North Carolina State.

Vasiljevic, a 6-2 guard from Australia, has shot mostly assisted 3s so far. But Larranaga said he attacks the basket in practice, and was quite satisfied when Vasiljevic (five points) scored Saturday by splitting a double-team and throwing an off-balance floater at the rim.

He also noted 6-10 freshman forward Dewan Huell (six points), a former McDonalds high school All-American battling a foot injury,called his own name on a play called Chin Rip, where he scored on an up-and-under layup through contact.

Were making a lot of progress, Larranaga said. Young guys. You just dont know their timetable. Bruce Brown was ready by the time the season began. Then youve got guys like Dewan, who really needed to add strength. D.J. needed to play against the fast, quick athlete. In one of our early practices, I forget what Dewan did, but D.J. said, Yeah, we dont have those kind of dunks in Australia.'

I think our upperclassmen have played well all year, but our freshmen and sophomores are gaining more confidence.

Reed, Miamis steadiest player, grabbed seven boards and played excellent defense on Clemsons 6-7 star Jaron Blossomgame (17.3 points per game), who made 13 of his last 27 threes entering the game. He missed all five he took Saturday and scored 16 points. The Tigers didnt make a 3 in the second half (0-for-8) and finished 3-of-17.

That defense will help Miami on Monday at Virginia, currently ranked No. 14 and one of three ranked teams Miami will face in its final four games. The Hurricanes host No. 12 Duke on Saturday and finish on the road at Virginia Tech (Feb. 27) and at No. 17 Florida State (March 4). If they win one of those, it will greatly boost their resume heading into the ACC tournament (March 7-11 in Brooklyn, N.Y.).

We dont want to think too far down the line, but every game is crucial, Murphy said. We want to have a postseason. Youve always got to protect home court.

For Clemson, Saturdays loss struck a major blow. The Tigers (14-12, 4-10) have a few wins in a loaded ACC, and the fifth-toughest schedule according to KenPom.com, but are now 2-6 on the road in conference play.

Not for me to say, coach Brad Brownell said when asked what the loss did to his tournament chances. We lost the game to a top-50 RPI team. I dont think it does much.

Both teams were hot to start, each opening 6-for-7 and 13-for-20 from the floor. Thats typical for Clemson, which was ranked 27th in offensive efficiency by KenPom.com. The Hurricanes, stingy defensively all year, settled in and held the Tigers 10 points below their season average.

Clemson cut it to two points with 11:11, and one point with 7:43, but Reed and Lawrence sank threes in response both times.

Making both free throws, making a big three, a timely shot, Brownell said. We just didnt get any momentum-type plays in the second half.

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Basketball: Miami Hurricanes showing progress in critical win over Clemson - MyPalmBeachPost (blog)

Work continues for the Garfield County Sheriffs Office on a K-9 Training Facility on its grounds at West Oxford.

Its still a work in progress, Sheriff Jerry Niles said. Were waiting for the weather to warm up and finish up the concrete.

The facility occupies the northeast portion of the property on Oxford and work is being done in two phases.

We have concrete to pour for the kennels and we have some fencing to finish up, he said.With that work done, Niles said phase one should be entirely complete.

Were going to add electricity to the building and were going to put up some interior walls for training building searches and simulation training, the sheriff said. Were also going to have an area to do some corrections on the dogs for scenario-based training.

Some of the stuff were doing ourselves, Niles said. Theyre doing it off duty. Were trying to keep the costs as low as we can.

Last February, the Garfield County Sheriffs Office received a $15,000 donation from Ray Davis to get the project underway.

Its been one of our longterm goals, to have a regional training facility, Niles said. Its basically a facility that the northwest region, north-central region, will have thats accessible 24/7. When we include our classroom training facility for those officers, I think we offer a lot more for our K-9s, not just for our K-9s but all K-9s, in the area for dealing with training issues.

Niles said those wanting to make a contribution to construction of the facility can do so by mailing donations to the Garfield County Police K-9 Association, a 501(c)(3) entity, at216 W. Oxford, Enid, OK 73702.

He said contributions made to theGarfield County Police K-9 Associationare tax deductible.

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Sheriff: K-9 training facility is a work in progress - Enid News & Eagle