NEWS » day squad as an option at right centre-bac

HOUSTON -- Before panic could set in following an awful defensive performance than many predicted would be common given their roster construction, the Houston Rockets delivered on Friday night a performance that produced a measure of redemption.In their 106-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas, the Rockets (1-1) avoided the repeated gouging of their defense that marred their season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers two nights earlier.The teams will play again on Sunday night in Houston.The Rockets struggled to contain Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes, who poured in a career-high 31 points, and occasionally labored to limit dribble penetration and supply weakside help.But in the third quarter they allowed only 17 points and seized control of the game.We got stops, Rockets forward Ryan Anderson said. We did a good job starting the third quarter. We wanted to have a lot of energy and make this game ours, have them play our tempo. We did a great job of that.(Barnes) is a talented scorer and they have a good player in him. But Im glad that we did a good enough job of stopping everybody else and got the win.It certainly helped the Rockets cause that Dallas (0-2) played without perennial All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who was sidelined by an illness but is expected to return when the teams square off again on Sunday night at Toyota Center.Also serving the Rockets well was the second-half commitment to a hastened pace, with the shift in tempo providing the offensive spark needed to complement the defense.With the Rockets clinging to a 67-65 lead, guard James Harden drilled three consecutive 3-pointers to push the advantage to 10 points and set a comfortable cushion for the remainder of the game.Pace will serve as a hallmark for the Rockets this season. Their constant adherence to it is a necessary aspect for their success.Harden finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, while Rockets forward Trevor Ariza scored a team-high 27 points on 5-for-7 3-point shooting.One of the problems early in this game is we didnt have pace to our offense, Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said. And once James picked up the pace for himself and the team, he got off and that helped us a lot.While the sample size of two games shouldnt merit too much concern, Dallas must be mindful of its exposed perimeter defense.The Indiana Pacers torched the Mavericks behind the arc in the opener for both teams earlier this week, hitting on 10 of 19 3-point shots. The Rockets followed suit with 15-of-32 shooting from behind the arc.Having allowed two opponents to make 25 of 51 3-pointers grabbed the Mavericks attention and set in motion a specific focus for the rematch.Weve just got to do a better job with communication, Barnes said to Mavs.com. You know, we either got too sucked into the paint or guys were over helping. And with a team like this, they shoot a lot of threes.If you let one guy get going, then you start reacting to him and theyre getting wide-open dunks. So, well have to look at some tape before Sunday. Cheap Jerseys 2019 . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. NFL Jerseys From China . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. http://www.nfljerseysstitched.com/ . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Cheap Jerseys From China . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Chelsea are Premier League contenders once again.Despite slipping up in EFL Cup play this week, they will try for a fourth consecutive top-division victory Sunday against Southampton at St. Marys Stadium.The 2014-15 champions capitulated to an embarrassing mid-table finish in their title defence season. But the appointment of Antonio Conte as manager this summer appears to have been a masterstroke by the clubs hierarchy.Conte has strengthened the squad in the transfer market and rekindled the form that saw it climb to the top of the tree just 18 months ago, to the extent that his new-look version of Chelsea (6-1-2) enter the weekend a point off the league leaders.The cornerstone of that Chelsea revival has been a switch to a new three-at-the-back formation, which has added defensive stability to a side lacking an obvious first-choice centre-back pairing. But while a more solid defence had been the primary benefit, the change of shape has simultaneously freed up attacking midfielders Eden Hazard and Willian to drift in-field and offer greater support to the previously isolated lone striker Diego Costa.Last Sundays 4-0 demolition of Manchester United showed the potential of Chelseas new -- and Contes preferred -- shape. Even the disappointing EFL Cup defeat to rivals West Ham United in midweek is not a sufficient reason for Conte to abandon the formation.I think it is not a win or a defeat that can change my idea or the players confidence, he said. I think it is the right way for the players because it is a good fit for the team, this system. We have found a good balance and also we have a good offensive situation because in every game we scored a goal.For sure we must continue to work with the offensive situation, to memorise some movements, and also in defensive situations because it is not easy.It is different when you defend with the four and when you defend wwith the three, but I see a lot of positive things and we want to continue on this aspect and we are working hard to improve.dddddddddddd. We understood this way is the right way.One of the unlikely success stories at Chelsea this season has been the revival of Victor Moses. The Nigerian had either languished on the bench or been shipped out on loan for much of his time at Stamford Bridge, but was brought in for his first Chelsea start in over three years when the Blues first aired their back-three idea against Hull City on Oct. 1. And Moses has since excelled in his new wing-back role, offering the energy to get up and down in the system with enough attacking intent to avoid making the shape simply a back-five, which is so often the pitfall of the formation.Moses is fit to start against Southampton (3-4-2) while Branislav Ivanovic could also be fit enough to return to the matchday squad as an option at right centre-back. Central midfielder Cesc Fabregas remains unavailable due to injury.Though Southampton have not lost in five matches since opening 0-2-2 in the league, they boast a few injury issues of their own. Forwards Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez are out, as is full-back Matty Targett. Cedric Soares and former Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand face late fitness tests.We will see tomorrow whether Ryan can come back into the squad for the weekend, manager Claude Puel confirmed on Friday.The Saints are looking for what would be only their second win against Chelsea in their last nine Premier League meetings at St. Marys.However Puels side will take encouragement both from a solid start to the season and from last weekends hard-fought draw with title favourites Manchester City. They also won 1-0 over Sunderland in EFL action this week. ' ' '