Funkerstation » istory to reach the 500

NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis doesnt accept the premise that the New Orleans Pelicans will struggle again this season simply because they let two of their best shooters walk this offseason and didnt make a splash in free-agency.For now, Davis has faith that the acquisitions of hard-nosed, two-way players including Solomon Hill, ETwaun Moore and Terrence Jones will make up for the departures of more offensive-minded players like Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson.Its not about having the most talent, Davis said. Its about what (players) can bring to the table to help our team, and all these guys bring something to the table.Davis said he sees the Pelicans aspiring to be kind of like Boston last year, not having a lot of talent but guys play hard.Thats how they were able to win games, Davis added. Thats what we bought into and thats what were looking forward to.Beset by injuries to virtually all top players, the Pelicans went 30-52 last season, which was Alvin Gentrys first as head coach in New Orleans after winning a championship as a Golden State assistant the year before that.Gentry imported the Warriors up-tempo style to New Orleans, hoping it would suit Davis, whose speed and shooting range are exceptional for a 6-foot-11 front-court player. The Pelicans saw possessions per game rise by a league-leading 5.2 over the previous season, to nearly 99 possessions per game, but defensive deficiencies caused their up-tempo approach to backfire.So this offseason, We tried to make sure we were getting two-way players, Gentry said. We also signed guys that play with a lot of grit and added toughness to our team that maybe we were missing last year.---Some other things to watch as the Pelicans try to return to playoff contention:SIDELINED REGULARS: New Orleans will start the season without three prominent players: guard Jrue Holiday, guard Tyreke Evans and small forward Quincy Pondexter. Holiday is on indefinite leave to care for his wife, Lauren, a retired soccer star who was diagnosed with a brain tumor while pregnant. Treatment for the tumor could not start until after the birth of their daughter in late September. We told Jrue, forget about the basketball part of it. This is where you take care of your family, Gentry said. Were going to welcome him back whenever he feels its time. Evans and Pondexter are coming off knee surgeries. Pondexter missed all of last season and Evans most of it. Both hope to return by December.ROOKIE RANGE: The Pelicans know first-round draft choice Buddy Hield, their first round draft choice, can shoot. Hield, a unanimous AP All-American when he averaged 25.4 points for Oklahoma last season, routinely scored in double digits this preseason. But there are other aspects of NBA basketball the sixth overall pick is still learning, particularly on defense, so the Pelicans intend to have him come off the bench to open the regular season. Moore is slated to start at shooting guard for now.DAVIS IN THE MIDDLE: Gentry said Davis, who has filled out substantially during his first four pro seasons, now has the strength and skill set to routinely play at center when opponents dont have physically dominant big man on the floor. It gives us a huge advantage when were not playing overpowering centers, Gentry said. When Davis is at forward, the Pelicans top centers will again be 7-footers Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca.HILLS MISSION: When Hill played for Indiana, he routinely guarded opponents most dynamic scorers. He said hell embrace such a role with the Pelicans while helping instill a more defensive-minded mentality across the roster. We all love the style that coach Gentry wants to implement, but everythings going to be on defense, Hill said. We cant get out and run if we cant stop anybody. Whats the point of having points in the 100s if you only have 100 and the other team has 120?TOGETHER AGAIN: Davis and Jones are teammates for the first time since winning the 2012 NCAA national title with Kentucky (in New Orleans). I always loved Terrences game. He can score. He pays hard. He defends. He rebounds. And of course we all know hes got a winning mentality, right? Davis said. Its good to have one of your guys that you went to war with come back and play with you. Discount Shoes Stores . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Air Max 270 Fake . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.cheapshoesstorewholesale.com/air-max-97-online-outlet.html . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Shoes Outlet Store . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Yeezy 350 v2 Store . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Red Sox slugger David Ortizs career has been filled with clutch hits and memorable moments. Here are some of Big Papis biggest feats as he enters the finale of his regular-season career on Sunday at Fenway Park:---April 20, 2013WORDS FOR HURTING CITYFive days after two bombs went off at the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 200 others, Ortiz was handed the microphone and spoke to the crowd on the field at Fenway before the Red Sox played the Kansas City Royals.He expressed a passionate comment that will go down in Boston lore:This is our (expletive) city, and nobody is going to dictate our freedom, he said. Stay strong.After the Red Sox beat the Royals in the first game at Fenway following the bombings, he said: This past week, I dont think theres one human being who wasnt affected by what was going on down here. I was emotional, very angry about the whole situation.---Oct. 17, 2004ALCS: TWO IN A DAYIts the 24-hour period that will mark Ortizs career as a clutch hitter.Facing elimination against the rival Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway, Ortiz belted a 2-1 pitch from right-hander Paul Qauntrill into the Yankees bullpen for a two-run, walkoff homer in the 12th inning, giving the Red Sox a 6-4 victory and keeping their season alive.SAME DAYLess than 23 hours later, Ortiz was at the plate in the 14th inning of a 4-4 game and Boston trailing the series 3-1. With runners on first and second and two outs, the slugger had an epic, 10-pitch at-bat that he capped by lining a soft single to shallow center against righty Esteban Loaiza, sending Johnny Damon home with the winning run and propelling the Red Sox as the first team to rally from a 0-3 deficit en route to their first World Series title in 86 years.---Oct. 13, 2013ALCS GRAND SLAMWith Boston trailing 1-0 in the series to the Detroit Tigers and down 5-1 in Game 2 of the ALCS, Ortiz stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth against right-hander Joaquin Benoit. Big Papi hit a fly ball into Bostons bullpen, just over the reach of right fielder Torii Hunter, who went tumbling -- both feet high in the air -- over the wall. One inning later, Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a game-ending RBI single and Boston was even in the series.Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino said it best about Ortiz: The guys an actor at work. Its fun to watch. Its great to see.---Oct. 27, 2013THE SPEECHBoston trailed thee St.dddddddddddd Louis Cardinals 2-1 in the World Series and 2-1 entering the sixth. Before the inning started, the Red Sox slugger huddled his teammates together in the middle of the dugout and implored them to relax and play the way theyve been all season. The Red Sox responded with three runs that inning, won the game and the next two to capture the title, his third with the club.Stud, former Red Sox catcher David Ross said. Thats why we call him `Cooperstown. He does it every day. Its unbelievable.Ortiz earned the MVP award by hitting .688 with two homers, eight walks and six RBI in the series.---Oct. 8, 2004ALDS SERIES-ENDING WALKOFFAfter blowing a 6-1 lead in Game 3 of the ALDS against the then-Anaheim Angels, Ortiz came to the plate with a runner on first and two outs against left-hander Jarrod Washburn in the bottom of the 10th. He belted a homer into the Green Monster seats, giving Boston an 8-6 victory and a sweep of the series.---Sept. 12, 2015500 CLUBEntering the game with 498 career homers -- having reached that mark three days earlier in Fenway -- Ortiz didnt wait long to become the 27th player in history to reach the 500-home run club. He hit a three-run shot in the first on the road against Tampa Bay lefty Matt Moore. Leading off the fifth, he sent a 2-2 pitch from Moore into the right-field seats.---Oct. 20, 2004COMPLETING HISTORYBoston came into Game 7 of the ALCS in Yankee Stadium looking to become the first team in major league history to finish a comeback trailing 3-0. Ortiz stepped to plate in the top of the first and hit a pitch from Kevin Brown into the right-field seats, giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead en route to a 10-3 victory. Ortiz was named the ALCS MVP.---Oct. 23, 2004WHAT A FIRSTPlaying in his first World Series game, Ortiz batted in the bottom of the first with two runners on and hit the second pitch from Woody Williams down the right-field line, inside the Pesky Pole and into the seats, giving Boston an early lead.---April 1, 2014THE SELFIEDuring Bostons trip to the White House to be honored as World Series champions, Ortiz pulled off a rare feat, taking out his cellphone and persuading President Barack Obama to pose for a selfie with the slugger. Holding a Red Sox jersey with a No. 44 and Obama on the back, the president obliged, saying Its a Big Papi selfie before the photo. ' ' '