NEWS » tournamentSindhu has only dropped one game in her

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The New Orleans Pelicans are on a roll. The Portland Trail Blazers are not.Much has changed since the teams met a week ago at the Smoothie King Center in New Orelans.The Pelicans (6-10) won that one 113-101, beginning a four-game win streak they hope to increase by one Friday night when they visit Moda Center to face Portland. New Orleans, which has won six of its last eight games after an 0-8 start, blasted Minnesota 117-96 Wednesday night behind 45 points from Anthony Davis.The Trail Blazers (8-9) lost four of five games on their recent road trip, falling below .500 for the first time this season.The return of point guard Jrue Holiday -- who missed the first eight games while helping care for wife Lauren, who has a brain tumor -- has helped the Pelicans. But the biggest factor has been a team-first attitude. They averaged 28.5 assists during the four-game skein, second in the NBA over that period.Thats how we win games, Davis, who scored 26 of his points in the first half against the Timberwolves, told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. We just move the ball and share the basketball no matter who scores. There are times we have a good shot and we pass it to someone for a great shot.Thats been our M.O. the past couple of games. Pass up a good shot for a great shot and that has helped guys build confidence in their games. Were playing a good brand of basketball right now.Starting point guard Tim Frazier -- who spent parts of two seasons with Portland -- said the Pelicans cannot get complacent.Four in a row is nice, but we still have a long season to go, Frazier said. We have to come out and play the same way weve been playing. Be hungry.The Blazers are no longer the NBAs worst rebounding club -- the addition of power forward Ed Davis to the starting lineup four games ago has helped that. But they are the leagues worst-rated defensive team, and that is not getting better. On the recent trip, the Blazers were lit up by Houstons James Harden (26 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists), Davis (38 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four steals) and New Yorks Kristaps Porzingis (31 points, nine rebounds).Then there was the 137-125 pasting at Cleveland Wednesday night, the most points a Portland team yielded in a regulation game since 1989. LeBron James recorded a triple-double and Kevin Love scored 34 of his 40 points in the first quarter -- the most an NBA player scored in a first period.I dont think its that we dont have the personnel (to play defense), point guard Damian Lillard, who had 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds against the Cavaliers, told Comcast Sports Northwest. Its that we have to lock in on certain areas and understand thats what allows you to be a good defender. Like having an idea what is coming.It starts in your mind. You have to believe you can turn it around and that you want to. But we also have to demand more of each other. As a group, thats what should be on our mind -- thinking how we can improve and bring more to the team and get us going in the right direction. Thats part of holding us accountable. Alex Petrovic Jersey . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. Wholesale Panthers Jerseys . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapfloridapanthersjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-jared-mccann-jersey . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. 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Having won her first Super Series title the previous week in China, PV Sindhu advanced to the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open Super Series where she will face Hong Kongs Cheung Ngan Yi, who beat Saina Nehwal in the quarterfinals. 2016 has already proved to be a career defining year for Sindhu as she became the first Indian woman to win a silver at the Olympics, where she lost to Spains Carolina Marin in the final.By reaching the semifinals in Hong Kong and on the back of her win in China last week, Sindhu has confirmed a spot in the year ending Super Series finals in Dubai, featuring an elite field of eight playersAs Sindhu gets ready for her second successive super series semifinal, here are five things to watch out for in the the battle between the two.?Head to headSindhu has won both her previous encounters against Cheung. Their first meeting came at the Malaysian Grand Prix Gold in 2013, where Sindhu won 11-21, 21-18, 21-10. Sindhu also defeated Cheung at the Badminton Asia Championships in 2014, winning 21-15, 15-21, 21-18.Recent recordHowever, Cheung is a much improved player since then. She was ranked 73rd in the world at the beginning of 2015. Sindhu was ranked 11 at that stage. While Sindhu is currently rranked 9th in the world, Cheung has risen to world number 26.ddddddddddddorm this tournamentSindhu has only dropped one game in her three matches in the tournament. On the other hand, Cheung has played two gruelling three game matches in the last two rounds.?On-court strategyThe key for Sindhu will be to control the pace of the match as Saina did in the second game of the quarterfinal. While Cheung is an excellent mover, she struggled to match Sainas power game in the quarterfinal. Sindhu will need to control the rallies from the back of the court as Cheung showed that she was adept at the net and mixed up slices with smashes down the line against Saina.Big match experienceSindhu has a clear edge in this department as Cheung will be appearing in only her second Super Series semifinal. Other than winning the silver in Rio, Sindhu has won bronze at the World Championships in 2013 and 2014. She also won the China Open Super Series last week and finished second at the Denmark Open Super Series last year.Schedule and broadcast infoWhen: 5:30 PM (Approx)Where: Star Sports 4 & Star Sports 4 HD ' ' '