SADASD2132's blog

Luis Severino became the first 13-game winner in the majors, cruising through 6 2/3 shutout innings of two-hit ball after the Bronx Bombers quickly built him a big cushion. With the teams trading blowouts all weekend, the Yankees (54-27) took two of three from their longtime rivals to regain baseball’s best record and first place in the AL East.

Batting leadoff against a left-hander, Hicks homered twice from the right side of the plate and once from the left. He smacked a two-run shot to right field in the second inning and a solo drive to center in the fourth that chased Price (9-6) and made it 8-0.

Hicks pulled his 14th of the season into the right-field stands in the eighth off Hector Velazquez. It was the first three-homer game by a Yankees player since Alex Rodriguez, part of the ESPN broadcast team Sunday night, accomplished the feat at Minnesota in July 2015.

CUBS 11, TWINS 10

CHICAGO (AP) – Jon Lester hit a three-run homer in an eight-run second inning and wound up with his NL-leading 11th victory.

Ian Happ also homered for the Cubs. They have scored at least 10 runs in four straight games for the first time since 1930. Chicago swept the three-game series and has won four in a row overall.

Lester (11-2) allowed four runs Authentic Lorenzo Carter Jersey , two of them earned, and nine hits in five-plus innings.

Javier Baez, who doubled twice, Happ and Willson Contreras each had three hits.

Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer off reliever Dillon Maples in the Twins’ five-run eighth.

Cubs closer Brandon Morrow got one out in the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 19 chances. Lance Lynn (5-7) was the loser.

Brian Dozier hit a two-run homer and Jake Cave also homered for the Twins.

RAYS 3, ASTROS 2.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Blake Snell struck out 10, reliever Diego Castillo fanned Jose Altuve in a key spot and Tampa Bay beat Houston to end a homestand.

The Rays went 8-1 at Tropicana Field Cheap M.J. Stewart Jersey , taking three of four from the World Series champion Astros, sweeping three from the New York Yankees and winning both games against Washington. Tampa Bay set a team record by allowing no more than two runs in its sixth straight game.

Matt Duffy hit a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning that put the Rays ahead 2-1 and Mallex Smith homered in the eighth. Evan Gattis homered twice for Houston.

Snell (11-4) allowed one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Charlie Morton (10-2) struck out 11 in 6 2/3 innings.

DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 4

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Matt Kemp had three hits and drove in four runs, including a go-ahead homer leading off the eighth inning that rallied Los Angeles past Colorado to prevent a sweep.

Kemp sent his 14th homer of the season over the center-field wall off Adam Ottavino (4-2) to put Los Angeles ahead 5-4. It was the Dodgers’ first homer of July after they hit a major league-leading and franchise-record 55 in June.

One out later, Yasiel Puig doubled and Joc Pederson followed and reached on an infield single to second. Puig ran hard into third and hopped back and forth before taking off for the plate, sliding belly first. He got up and swung his arms in wild celebration with the Dodgers ahead 6-4.

Kemp drove in the Dodgers’ first three runs with an RBI groundout in the first Christian Villanueva Jersey , a double in the third and a single in the fifth.

Daniel Hudson (3-2) went one inning. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.

Nolan Arenado hit his 21st homer and had an RBI grounder for the Rockies.

GIANTS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 6

PHOENIX (AP) – Brandon Belt and Joe Panik drove in two runs each and Hunter Pence had a pinch-hit, two-run double, leading San Francisco to a series sweep against Arizona.

The Giants had 11 hits in the first five innings and cruised to their seventh win in eight games.

A four-run fifth inning highlighted by Pence’s double off reliever Silvino Bracho gave the Giants an 8-3 lead. Cory Gearrin (1-1) got one out in the fourth to earn the win in relief of starter Derek Holland.

The Giants tagged Diamondbacks starter Zack Godley (9-6) for seven runs on nine hits in four-plus innings, ending his four-game winning streak.

Arizona rallied with two runs in the seventh on Paul Goldschmidt’s 18th home run of the season, and Jarrod Dyson became the eighth player in team history to record at least two hits, two runs batted in and two stolen bases in a single game. The Diamondbacks brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth with two outs Jets Cheap Jerseys , but Will Smith struck out Jake Lamb for Smith’s second save.

ORIOLES 8, ANGELS 2

BALTIMORE (AP) – Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo hit consecutive homers after the Angels lost a popup in the sun, and Baltimore beat Los Angeles to end a seven-game losing streak.

After the Orioles took charge with a six-run fourth inning, Trumbo homered again in the fifth and Trey Mancini also connected to help Baltimore secure its only victory during a seven-game homestand that began with four straight losses to Seattle. The Orioles improved to 1-15 against the AL West and won at home for only the second time in 19 games since May 13.

Kevin Gausman (4-6) weathered temperatures in the upper 90s to go eight innings, allowing two runs and six hits to end a run of eight straight winless starts.

Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols drove in a run for the Angels.

Deck McGuire (0-1) was the loser.

MARINERS 1, ROYALS 0

SEATTLE (AP) – James Paxton limited Ka. Authentic Womens Tanner Lee Jersey , Authentic Womens Taron Johnson Jersey , Authentic Womens Derrick Nnadi Jersey , Cincinnati Bengals Elite Jerseys ,

General manager Billy Eppler said Thursday that Ohtani underwent an MRI in Los Angeles that showed improvement to his ulnar collateral ligament Authentic Dorian O'Daniel Jersey , clearing him to take batting practice in private.

”That’s news I was hoping to hear,” Eppler said on a conference call.

Ohtani was placed on the disabled list with a UCL sprain June 8. He will be re-evaluated by doctors in three weeks.

Asked whether Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery that could cause him to miss the rest of this season as well as all of the 2019 season, Eppler said Authentic Natrell Jamerson Jersey , ”No doctor has told me that Shohei needs surgical intervention at this time.”

Ohtani has a Grade 2 sprain, or partial tear, of the UCL in his right elbow. In hopes of avoiding Tommy John surgery Cheap Baker Mayfield Jersey , the Angels had Ohtani’s ligament injected with platelet-rich plasma and stem cells earlier this month. Eppler said he has not had additional injections.

Eppler said Ohtani will not play in rehab games but will take batting practice in a ”private and controlled environment” and could face live pitching as soon as this weekend. Because Ohtani is not a position player, rehab games were deemed unnecessary.

”We can control a little bit more the progression,” Eppler said. ”This allows for more freedom Alex Wood Jersey , structure and control.”

Ohtani has not been cleared to pitch yet.

His last appearance came June 6 in a start against Kansas City. Ohtani left after four innings with a blister and also mentioned he was feeling tightness in his elbow. An MRI taken the next day revealed the UCL in his right elbow had progressed from a Grade 1 strain to a more serious Grade 2 level.

Ohtani won four of his first five decisions before getting injured. He was batting .289 with six home runs and 20 RBIs.

”I know that not being able to play baseball competitively and only being able to train doesn’t really satisfy his appetite and his hunger to play,” Eppler said. ”He’s now one step closer. I can only assume he’s excited about it.”

—

. Authentic Womens Lorenzo Carter Jersey , Derek Carr Jersey , Cheap Harrison Barnes Jersey , Womens Brian Allen Jersey ,

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping that a well-rested and inspired rookie pitcher will lead them to success in Sunday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants.

Left-hander Caleb Ferguson will make his third career start Authentic Alex McGough Jersey , pitching opposite Giants right-hander Chris Stratton, but it will be his first outing where he will get a minute to catch his breath and ease into his surroundings.

Before his major league debut on June 6, and his follow-up effort Tuesday, Ferguson had to scramble to catch a flight and then take the mound for the Dodgers. This time around, Ferguson has done all of his between-start routine with the major league club Cheap Mike Remmers Jersey , and even got a bonus assignment this week.

Ferguson was able to get an up-close-and-personal look at Clayton Kershaw’s most recent rehab bullpen session. It was a multi-pronged effort to not only let Ferguson watch a pitcher he looks up to, but to get an in-depth view at one of the hardest workers in the game.

“Even for Caleb to sit in on Clayton’s pen (Friday) and to sit in on Rich (Hill’s on Saturday) and not have to fly in make a start then fly out and come back in, he will get to assimilate with our guys,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think there is a benefit to that.”

Ferguson (0-0, 9.53) lasted just 1 2/3 innings of his debut at Pittsburgh and then went four innings Tuesday against the Rangers. He has given up a combined six runs Cheap Derwin James Jersey , but the Dodgers offense has scored a combined 21 runs in his two outings so at least he is getting elite run support.

Stratton (7-4, 4.56) has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last four starts, but he is facing a Dodgers lineup that has hit 34 home runs in June alone. The right-hander will have to face a trio of left-handed hitters in Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson who have been productive of late.

He figures to be up for the challenge after guiding the Giants to a 10-4 record in his starts this season. In his outing Tuesday at Miami, Stratton was just the second Giants pitcher since May 6 to last at least seven innings Cheap Byron Maxwell Jersey , but he still took the loss in a 3-1 defeat. It was his sixth quality start of the season.

The Giants are currently 3-6 on a three-city road trip that ends Sunday. And while a return home is ahead, better health could be coming soon, although third baseman Evan Longoria figures to be out at least a month with a fractured left hand.

First baseman Brandon Belt was activated Saturday, while pitchers Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija could be back soon.

“Our biggest issue has been trying to stay healthy,” manager Bruce Bochy said Authentic Derrius Guice Jersey , according to mlb.com.

Madison Bumgarner made his third start since coming off the disabled list Saturday and allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of a 3-1 loss. It marked the 11th straight time in Los Angeles the Giants scored two runs or less, according to STATS Inc.

Matt Kemp and Enrique Hernandez homered for the Dodgers — who will go for the series sweep on Sunday — while Alex Wood allowed a run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Washington coach didn’t think about his future, the same approach he has taken all season and playoffs.

”I wasn’t getting consumed with what was said Cheap Kevin Hogan Jersey , what my future holds, whatever,” Trotz said. ”I’m in a pretty good spot.”

Trotz was in as good a spot as imaginable Friday as he and the Capitals landed back home in the Washington area with the Stanley Cup in tow. The celebration will last through the parade Tuesday Authentic Kenny Young Jersey , but once that’s done, the work begins for Brian MacLellan to try to re-sign Trotz, top defenseman John Carlson and other free agents.

After not extending Trotz’s contract last summer Cheap Mark Walton Jersey , ownership and general manager Brian MacLellan now hope to keep him around. MacLellan said after winning the Cup that Trotz will be back if he wants to be.

Trotz and Carlson, who set a franchise record for playoff points by a defenseman, can be free agents July 1 along with unlikely postseason hero Devante Smith-Pelly Austin Meadows Jersey , trade-deadline acquisition Michal Kempny and longtime glue guy Jay Beagle. Washington will have to do some salary-cap maneuvering to keep Carlson, Smith-Pelly and Kempny in the fold but can break the bank for Trotz.

. Adidas Henrik Lundqvist Jersey , Cheap Eric Gordon Jersey , Authentic Womens Kolton Miller Jersey , Womens Jeff Locke Jersey ,

Here we go again.

And again.

And Authentic Will Dissly Jersey , well, again.

Round 4 – as many predicted, and others probably lamented – is happening. Cleveland and Golden State will meet for the fourth straight year in the NBA Finals, the Warriors looking for a third championship in that span and LeBron James and the Cavaliers trying to wrestle the crown away just as they did in the 2016 series.

On one side, the best team of this era.

On the other, the best player of this era and maybe any era.

Game 1 will be hosted by the Warriors at Oracle Arena on Thursday night.

”You’ve got to appreciate the moment,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. ”Somebody asked, `Four years in a row getting to the finals, do you appreciate it?’ Yes.”

Both teams are entering this title matchup with injury concerns. Cleveland’s Kevin Love is in the concussion protocol and will need to complete a series of tests before he’s cleared to return, and Golden State’s Andre Iguodala – a former NBA Finals MVP – wasn’t able to finish the Warriors-Rockets series because of a bone bruise in his leg.

The Warriors hoped Iguodala would return to the Houston series, but his progress stalled.

”That’s just not an easy injury to predict in terms of recovery Cameron Maybin Jersey ,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

There wasn’t a lot of similarity in Cleveland’s and Golden State’s seasons, but their last few days have been mirror images of one another – both teams had to win Game 6s at home to fend off elimination, then had to go on the road and prevail in Game 7s to win their respective conference finals.

”One of the most challenging seasons I’ve had,” said James, who may be playing the best basketball of his life right now at the end of his 15th season.

Here’s some of what the Cavaliers have dealt with since Golden State-Cleveland III ended last June: Kyrie Irving got traded for Isaiah Thomas over the summer, coach Tyronn Lue had to miss time to deal with health issues, Love missed two months, they lost 11 games by 16 or more points, revamped their roster in February and spent much of the season unable to guard anybody.

They’re in the finals again anyway, led by someone who will play in the last series of the season for an absurd eighth consecutive year.

”It’s been a roller coaster,” said James Authentic James Washington Jersey , who is seeking a fourth ring in his ninth finals appearance overall. ”It’s been good, it’s been bad. It’s been roses. There have been thorns in the roses. There’s been everything that you can ask for.”

This wasn’t all peaches for Golden State, either. The Warriors didn’t get the No. 1 seed out West, lost Curry to a knee injury late in the regular season, lost 10 of their final 17 games and got pushed to the brink.

”I’m glad we’re going back,” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said.

The Warriors swept the two regular-season meetings with the Cavaliers, winning by seven at home on Christmas Day (without Curry) and prevailing by 10 in Cleveland about three weeks later.

Film-wise, those two games are meaningless now. Of Cleveland’s five leading scorers against Golden State this season, three no longer play for the Cavaliers. James and Love combined to score 100 points in the two games, but Dwyane Wade, Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas were all shipped elsewhere by the Cavs in a series of trade-deadline moves.

”We obviously know what LeBron’s capable of Jason Heyward Jersey ,” Curry said shortly after the Warriors’ Game 7 win at Houston ended. ”It’s a new team over there, so the other guys, we’ve got to lock in on their tendencies. But we’ll worry about that when we get home.”

If the Cavaliers win this championship, it might be time to declare the regular season irrelevant.

Cleveland was only 50-32 this season. Should James and his mates get it done, that would be the second-worst, regular-season record for an eventual champion in the last 40 seasons. Houston went 47-35 on the way to the 1995 title; to find another champion who was worse, go back to Washington in 1978 when the Bullets were a mere 44-38.

”Everybody doubted us,” Cavaliers forward Jeff Green said. ”Everybody had their opinions on what our team was, what we would do, what we can’t do, from the start. … And now Authentic Justin Bethel Jersey , I mean, we’re where we want to be. We’re where we set out to be and where we knew we could be at this point.”

Same goes for the Warriors. This season was no cakewalk for them, either.

”We’ve been through a lot with this team,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said. ”Believe it or not, it’s not all success with the Warriors. We got our bumps throughout the season. But to get to this point again, we earned it.”

And now it’s time for one of these teams to earn a title.

Again.

—

. Authentic Womens Kyle Lauletta Jersey , Jason Motte Jersey Womens , Adidas Mika Zibanejad Jersey , Anibal Sanchez Jersey Womens ,

The Washington Capitals have been here before. Many times Nyheim Hines Jersey Colts , actually. It’s not that they don’t appreciate winning Metropolitan Division title after Metropolitan Division title like the one they wrapped up with a 3-1 victory over rival Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

It’s just that they’re tired of division banners being the only ones raised to the rafters.

Still, star Alex Ovechkin knows not all playoff runs are created equal. The group that skated off the ice at PPG Paints Arena after keeping the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions in check for three taut and occasionally chippy periods is not the juggernaut that rolled into postseason in 2016 and 2017 only to be sent home in the second round by Pittsburgh.

”We lost lots of players,” Ovechkin said after playing in his 1,000th career regular season game. ”Guys in the locker room, experience guys. But different guys step up and they play different. … We play as a team.”

One that hopes following a familiar script will lead – at last – to an unfamiliar ending.

Philipp Grubauer made 36 saves to continue his push to supplant Braden Holtby as Washington’s top goaltender as the Capitals won for the 10th time in 12 games to assure themselves of home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

”We had a challenge there from the beginning (of the season) on Youth Oren Burks Jersey ,” Grubauer said. ”We lost a couple experienced guys. We learned from our mistakes and we’re still learning. It’s nice to wrap that up, for sure.”

T.J. Oshie, Dmitry Orlov and Tom Wilson scored for Washington and Grubauer did the rest, including a spectacular glove save on Penguins star Sidney Crosby in the third period that served as an exclamation point on the kind of performance that would fit right in over the next two months.

”Last couple games we played in here weren’t too good, so it’s a momentum builder for us Youth Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey ,” Grubauer said. ”We have to make sure we play the right way next couple games. It’s going to be huge.”

The Penguins have the top power play in the league but went 0 for 5 with the man advantage. Patric Hornqvist picked up his 27th of the season late in the third period to avoid a shutout. Matt Murray stopped 31 shots but couldn’t quite match Grubauer.

”I thought that’s probably as good as our power play has looked the last month, we just didn’t score,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said.

A night after earning a playoff berth for a franchise-record 12th straight year, the Penguins lost at home in regulation for just the second time since Jan. 4 to end a late push for a division crown. Not that it matters much to Pittsburgh. The Penguins have ended each of the last two regular seasons as the division runner-up to Washington. And each time the Penguins have used a second-round playoff series victory over the Capitals as a springboard to the Stanley Cup.

”We never win division,” Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin said. ”It’s not first time. It’s not surprise. We’re fine.”

Ovechkin called becoming just the 57th player in NHL history to play at least 1 Youth Washington Redskins Jerseys ,000 games for one team ”a milestone” but didn’t exactly get caught up in the moment. The 32-year-old knows his career has been equally defined by his 603 goals and his team’s inability to make a deep playoff run.

Despite seven division titles and nine playoff appearances since he made his debut in 2005, Ovechkin has never played on a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals. Postseason success is the only thing that’s eluded him, but Washington appears to be peaking behind Grubauer.

Washington coach Barry Trotz opted to give Grubauer his first career start against Pittsburgh and Grubauer responded brilliantly. He was at his best in the second period, when the Penguins’ lethal power play had four chances to draw even and came up empty each time, including an extended two-man advantage in which Grubauer received a little help from the crossbar when a shot from Malkin clanged off the crossbar.

The lucky bounce preserved a 1-0 lead. Orlov pumped in his career-high 10th just after a Pittsburgh power-play expired later in the period Cheap Jessie Bates III Jersey , firing a shot from the slot that went between the legs of Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta and over Murray’s right arm.

When Tom Wilson redirected Matt Niskanen’s shot from the point by Murray 23 seconds into the third period the Capitals had another division title wrapped up but not bragging rights. That will have to come later.

NOTES: Washington went 0 for 4 on the power play. … Malkin was given a 10-minute misconduct with 1:01 left in regulation after mixing it up with Oshie. … Penguins C Derick Brassard missed his third consecutive game with a lower-body injury. … Pittsburgh is 9-7-2 on the second night of back-to-backs this season.

UP NEXT

Capitals: Visit St. Louis on Monday. Washington beat the Blues 4-3 on Jan. 7.

Penguins: Get three days off before finishing regular season with a back-to-back starting on Thursday in Columbus.

—

. Womens Marquis Haynes Jersey , Adidas Marc-Andre Fleury Jersey , Football Jerseys Wholesale , Authentic Womens Ryan Switzer Jersey ,

The story reported in collaboration with nearly four dozen AP sports writers around the United States to examine how universities with top basketball programs were responding to a federal corruption investigation of the sport.

Other contest winners from the AP:

Tim Dahlberg won the Grimsley Award for body of work covering some of the biggest events of the year Colts Game Jerseys , including the Super Bowl , World Series Titans Elite Jerseys , the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight, the British Open and a look back at the 50th anniversary of the Ice Bowl – the 1967 NFL Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys.

Paul Newberry won in the deadline writing category for his story on the Atlanta Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots in the 2017 Super Bowl.

Aaron Beard won the enterprise writing category for his college corruption story on sports agents and the difficulty in prosecuting them despite alleged underhanded ways in which they target teenage athletes.

Steve Whyno won the final writing category as his feature story describing how financial advisors Terrell Edmunds Jersey Steelers , Zamboni drivers and others get the call to be a backup NHL goalkeeper.

Photographer Charles Krupa won for best portfolio for his collection of work including a series of photos featuring NASCAR at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

”Krupa’s portfolio was by far the best,” the judges said. ”He did some spectacular action photography. All of his images stood out.”

Other photography awards went to:

David Goldman won the award for feature photo for his image with people gathered outside to watch hockey on a big screen.

Bernat Armangue won the final award for action photo for his image of a man trying to move to avoid getting gored by a bull.

—

. Authentic Womens Joel Iyiegbuniwe Jersey , Authentic Womens Rashaan Evans Jersey , Adidas Tuukka Rask Jersey , Womens Kolton Miller Jersey ,

The former Washington Redskins quarterback has reached agreement on a 1-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens Customized Dallas Cowboys Jerseys , who love the idea of having the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner backing up 10-year starter Joe Flacco.

”Obviously, his personality, he’s a confident guy. He’s a very talented quarterback,” coach John Harbaugh said of Griffin on Wednesday. ”He’s had a lot of success in this league early on. We’re excited about it. We felt like we needed a No. 2 quarterback.”

Griffin’s last previous stop in an injury-riddled career came in 2016 with the Cleveland Browns. He started five games Youth Nyheim Hines Jersey , winning only one of them.

General manager Ozzie Newsome said Griffin, 28, didn’t have far to travel before showing the Ravens he can still fling the ball.

”He still lives in the D.C./Virginia area,” Newsome said. ”We were bringing in some receivers and we asked him if he would come in and throw and go through a full workout for us. He took a physical. He did all of that. After that Youth John Franklin-Myers Jersey , he went to visit another team. We just were able to come to an agreement.”

The terms were finalized late Tuesday night, and Newsome expects RG3 to sign the contract next week.

”I feel like we got a steal,” Harbaugh said. ”I felt like (Griffin) really wanted to be here. He really wanted to be a Raven.”

Griffin won the Heisman Trophy with Baylor before being selected second overall in the 2012 draft by the Redskins. He enjoyed a sensational rookie season, throwing 20 touchdown passes and only five interceptions Hayden Hurst Jersey Ravens , but his career took a decisive downturn after he tore knee ligaments in a playoff loss to Seattle.

RG3 returned in 2013 but was benched after throwing 16 TD passes and 13 interceptions. The following season, a dislocated ankle limited his effectiveness.

Griffin missed the 2015 season after sustaining a concussion during the preseason. After being released by Washington, he signed with the Browns in 2016.

He started the opener, sustained a shoulder injury and was put in injured reserve the following Monday. Griffin returned to play the final four games and was the starting quarterback the last time the Browns won Bears Game Jerseys , against San Diego on Dec. 24, 2016.

—

. Zack Cozart Jersey Womens , Womens Troy Niklas Jersey , Adidas Jake Guentzel Jersey , Authentic Womens Royce Freeman Jersey ,

”I think that when you look at just where I believe Zhaire can be Adrian Clayborn Jersey Patriots , there are some common denominators that Kawhi had when we first brought him to San Antonio,” Brown said.

High praise for the Texas Tech guard.

But why settle for a rookie who may never develop into a franchise player when the Sixers can try and aquire the real deal?

The 76ers are open for business this summer and an organization that has long preached patience is now in the market for marquee talent to team with blossoming stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

”We are star hunting or star developing,” Brown said Friday. ”You’re not going to win a championship any other way.”

Brown hit on the ”star hunter” phrase at Thursday’s draft and again when he introduced Smith, acquired from Phoenix in a swap of first-rounders, and Wichita State guard Landry Shamet at the team’s New Jersey headquarters.

Brown had called Smith the team’s 1-B choice in the draft after they traded their 1-A pick, Villanova forward Mikal Bridges, to the Suns in a trade that also saw the Sixers net an unprotected first-rounder in 2021.

Sure Youth Marshall Newhouse Jersey , the Sixers could keep that pick until `21 when draft rules are expected to change in time for high school graduates to again be eligible. But the real perk of the pick is the ability to dangle it as trade bait as the Sixers hunt in the rarefied air of NBA stars.

”It’s a tiny number of players,” Brown said. ”As we figure out who we deem to be stars, we understand that’s going to be a challenge. We also understand we don’t have to solve all this now.”

Meaning, the 2019 free-agent crop sure looks good, too.

Brown is calling the shots in the front office as the Sixers look for a new general manager in the wake of Bryan Colangelo’s resignation. Brown made the final decisions on draft night and – though he said he has no desire to balance dual roles – he’ll be the face of the franchise with plenty to offer in talent; success (52 wins; playoff series win); a first-class training facility; and at least $26 million in salary cap space.

The Sixers are also dealing with a wild card in Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft whose rookie season was slowed by shoulder and mental issues that resulted in a broken shot and no playing time in Philadelphia’s last seven playoff games.

Fultz has been working with noted skills coach Drew Hanlen on rebuilding his mechanics. Fultz will likely skip summer league as he works on his jumper and tries to join Embiid and Simmons to form a trio of homegrown talent capable of making the Sixers contenders in the East. There’s always a chance Fultz could be packaged with a pick to try and pry Leonard from the Spurs.

Brown was an assistant with the Spurs and has a solid relationship with Leonard. Leonard, the 2014 NBA Finals MVP and two-time NBA defensive player of the year Youth Rick Leonard Jersey , has requested a trade from San Antonio after missing most of last season with a right quadriceps injury. Spurs GM R.C. Buford said there was a fractured relationship between Leonard and the only franchise he has played for.

Leonard is due just over $20 million next season, and can become a free agent in the summer of 2019. He is eligible to sign a $220 million extension with San Antonio.

If the Sixers strike this summer, they’d have to be confident Leonard would be willing to re-sign with them instead of walking away with nothing to show for the gamble.

The Sixers have their own free agents to deal with, and they’d love to have 3-point ace JJ Redick return, perhaps on another one-year deal. Wayne Ellington and Tyreke Evans, both Philly-area natives, are unrestricted free agents that would fit in a happy homecoming. And Youth Taron Johnson Jersey , of course, Paul George and LeBron James are on just about every team’s wish list this summer.

The Cavs can offer James a five-year, $209 million deal this summer. It’s possible James could choose to sign a one-year deal again with a player option and go through the free-agency dance again next summer.

The Sixers will get to make a pitch after letting others do it for them.

At Barclays Center, the NBA draft site, a plane flying above the arena carried three banners. One had LeBron James’ No. 23 with a crown and the Liberty Bell; another urges him to ”Strive for GOATNESS”; and the last reads (hash)PHILLYWANTSLEBRON.

Power Home Remodeling, a Philadelphia-based company, has become a James recruiter Rams Game Jerseys , originally setting up three billboards in Cleveland urging him to come to the city. The company also flew Thursday’s billboards in Brooklyn.

”We’ll be aggressive and attractive in the free-agent marketplace,” Brown said.

But will it be enough?

—

. Kennys Vargas Jersey Womens , Authentic Womens Jihad Ward Jersey , Adidas Dylan Larkin Jersey , Cheap Larry Bird Jersey ,

Shiffrin became the first female skier to start a calendar year with five straight wins Jets Elite Jerseys , eclipsing the previous best mark by Swiss standout Vreni Schneider in 1989.

For the first time this season, Shiffrin was not leading after the opening part of a slalom. After a run in which the American struggled for rhythm throughout, she trailed first-run leader Bernadette Schild of Austria by 0.37 seconds.

But on a course set by her coach Mike Day, the defending overall champion was back to her best and posted the fastest second-run time to beat the Austrian by 0.94.

Frida Hansdotter of Sweden was 1.43 behind in third.

”My timing, my feeling, my rhythm was so much better than in the first run,” Shiffrin told The Associated Press. ”Actually, the biggest change was just my mindset. It was a nerves’ thing. If I am a little nervous or anxious Youth Denver Broncos Jerseys , my timing is off, then it can make everything look really terrible.”

Less than five weeks before the Olympic slalom in Pyeongchang, the American called her recovery in the final run ”a really big step for me.”

”This was the first time that I was coming from behind in the first run and I had to make a statement,” she said. ”That was really important for me, a really big checkmark on the way to the Olympics because when we are there, anything can happen, and I want to be mentally prepared for all those possibilities.”

Schild lost her first-run lead but still celebrated with both arms up after crossing the finish line.

The Austrian was on a World Cup podium five times before, most recently in Killington in November Cheap Arizona Cardinals T-Shirts , but has yet to win a race.

”I grew up in Saalfelden, nor far from here. So this is really a home race for me. It was amazing for me,” Schild said. ”I didn’t feel pressure, the audience gave me energy.”

The previous time she led a slalom after the opening run, in 2013 in Courchevel, she lost her advantage to her older sister Marlies Raich. Now retired, Raich holds the record for most slalom wins (35) on the women’s circuit. Shiffrin’s win on Tuesday was the American’s 30th in the discipline.

The Austrian women’s team has been waiting for a slalom win since Nicole Hosp triumphed in Aspen in 2014.

Shiffrin celebrated her 41st career win, matching the record for most World Cup wins by a 22-year-old skier Titans Authentic Jerseys , set by Annemarie Moser-Proell in the 1970s.

”She is such an amazing name, legend in ski racing,” Shiffrin said about the Austrian great. ”A lot of people say you can’t really compare (the eras) and I agree with them. It’s incredible, nevertheless. I wasn’t thinking about the 41st victory, I was just thinking, you know, ski this one like this is going to be that last one you’ll ever ski.”

It also was the 200th win for the U.S. ski team in the 50-year history of the women’s World Cup. Only Austria (372) and Switzerland (301) have won more races. Shiffrin and four-time overall champion Lindsey Vonn together have added 119 wins to the American total.

Shiffrin went further ahead in both the overall and the slalom standings as her main rivals, Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova and Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener Jason Sanders Jersey Dolphins , failed to finish their first runs.

After 19 of the season’s 38 races, Shiffrin has amassed 1,381 World Cup points. Four years ago, that amount would have been enough for the overall title as Anna Veith won it with a total of 1,371.

After seven races in 13 days, Shiffrin will skip the next World Cup – speed events in Bad Kleinkirchheim this weekend – to rest and have more time for training.