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Moments before James beat them with a game-winning Authentic Lamar Jackson Jersey , step-back 3-pointer at the buzzer, the Pacers were poised to take the lead in Game 5 on Victor Oladipo’s driving layup. However, James came from behind and blocked Oladipo’s shot, which appeared to hit the backboard before Cleveland’s star touched it – a goaltending violation.

Instead, there was no call and James then dropped his 28-footer over Thaddeus Young to give Cleveland a 98-95 win and a 3-2 lead in this tight Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Pacers didn’t complain on the floor. But later in their locker room they were angry about the game-swinging play. Several of the Pacers shook their heads while watching replays.

”Of course Ron Santo Jersey , I thought it was goaltending,” Lance Stephenson said. ”We should’ve got the ref’s attention. When you look at it on the replay, it’s clearly goaltending.”

Under NBA rules, goaltending is only reviewable if the call is made on the floor.

Oladipo thought he was fouled by James before the non-call.

”I got a step on him,” Oladipo said. ”I felt like I even got grabbed on the way to the rim Bruce Maxwell Jersey , tried to shoot a layup, it hit the backboard, then he blocked it. It was a goaltend. It’s hard to even speak on it. It just sucks, honestly. It really sucks. Even though we fought our way back, we tied the game up Jackie Robinson Jersey , that layup was huge.

”Give him credit where credit is due. The three was big-time. Definitely huge. But who’s to say they even run that play? We don’t know what happens. It’s unfortunate. It really sucks that they missed that.”

James smiled when asked to describe his block, which was reminiscent of the one he made on Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

”I definitely thought it was a goaltend,” James said with a laugh. ”Of course I didn’t think it was a goaltend. I try to make plays like that all the time and I mean he made a heck of a move, got me leaning right and he went left and I just tried to use my recovery speed and get back up there and make a play on the ball. And I was able to make a play.”

Even if goaltending was called, the Cavaliers would have gotten the ball in frontcourt Jesus Sucre Jersey , giving James a makeable shot in the final seconds.

Said Pacers center Myles Turner: ”It’s clearly a goaltend, but that doesn’t change the fact that they made the game-winning shot.”

Miami’s Kelly Olynyk, Oklahoma City’s Corey Brewer Jack Morris Jersey , Brooklyn’s Caris LeVert and Dallas’ Dwight Powell will be among the coaches at the camp that starts May 30, the NBA said Thursday.

Olynyk was a BWB camp player in 2009 Cheap Mark Andrews Jersey , invited from his native Canada to play in Mexico City.

Former WNBA players Ruth Riley and Ebony Hoffman will also be coaching in India, along with NBA assistant coaches – Brooklyn’s Bret Brielmaier Roy Oswalt Jersey , Atlanta’s Darvin Ham, Minnesota’s Ryan Saunders and Utah’s Mike Wells.

The camp runs through June 2 at the NBA Academy in India. Boys and girls from 16 countries were invited.

Other BWB camps are planned this year in Serbia and South Africa.

Star pass rusher Khalil Mack remains away from the Raiders in a contract dispute this offseason while Guenther works on rebuilding a defense that has been one of the league’s worst for more than a decade.

”He’s going to have a lot of catching up to do Albert Almora Jr Jersey ,” Guenther said Tuesday.

”We’re going to have to have a plan for that for sure. I’m really concerned about the guys that are here now working. These guys have been busting their tails every day. Coming in early. Meeting with the coaches. Being great in the meeting rooms. Communicating on the field.”

Mack, the 2016 AP Defensive Player of the Year, is entering the last year of his rookie contract that pays him $13.85 million this year and is seeking a long-term deal that will make him one of the most highly compensated non-quarterbacks in the NFL.

Mack has missed the entire voluntary portion of the offseason and has not indicated whether he plans to report for next week’s mandatory minicamp or risk fines of more than $80,000.

Guenther’s focus now is on the defenders who are at practice this offseason.

”I’m trying to get the guys that are here better,” he said. ”These guys have been busting their tails, trying to get better. Trying to make the team. There’s some guys out there that I really think have a lot of uncovered ability.

”We’re trying to get it out of them to understand, `Hey Tony Conigliaro Jersey , you might not be a 60-snap-a-game guy. You might be a 15 snap-per-game guy, do the best job in your role and how you can help us win.”’

Guenther was one of Jon Gruden’s first hires after being brought back for a second stint as coach in Oakland back in January and immediately given a tough task.

The Raiders defense has consistently been one of the league’s worst the past 15 years under coordinators Chuck Bresnahan, Rob Ryan, John Marshall, Jason Tarver, Ken Norton Jr. and John Pagano.

Oakland ranks last in the NFL in takeaways and points allowed in that span, second worst in yards allowed per game and third worst in sacks as the unit has struggled consistently from the front seven to the secondary.

Guenther’s defenses in Cincinnati have been some of the best in the league during his time as coordinator there.

”Paul Guenther’s defense Scott Kazmir Jersey , it’s very aggressive,” new middle linebacker Derrick Johnson said.

”So many different looks. The onus is really on the linebackers to learn a lot of stuff. That’s good for myself because I know a lot. It’s putting a lot of pressure on me to learn it quickly.

”Learn it well enough where I can put my own flavor in making plays on this defense. I’m having fun with it now. The last couple of days have been my best days, running around. … Once you can get it down really well, you’ll look a lot faster out there on the field. We all can run fast and jump high, but mentally, once you got it down, all your abilities Yonder Alonso Jersey , your talents can show out there on the field. That’s what we’re doing right now. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there.”

Last year was particularly bad when the Raiders became the first team to fail to intercept a pass for the first 10 games of the season and had just 14 takeaways all season.

To change that, the Raiders have made significant changes in personnel this offseason, bringing in Johnson to anchor the middle of the defense along with new linebackers Tahir Whitehead and Emmanuel Lamur; drafted Maurice Hurst, P.J. Hall and Arden Key to boost the pass rush; and signed defensive backs Rashaan Melvin, Daryl Worley, Marcus Gilchrist and Leon Hall.

Oakland is also hoping to get a boost with healthy seasons from last year’s top two picks Craig Gentry Jersey , cornerback Gareon Conley and safety Obi Melifonwu, who were limited to 127 defensive snaps as rookies because of injuries.

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The Washington Capitals have re-signed John Carlson to a $64 million Albert Almora Jr Jersey , eight-year contract that allows the Stanley Cup champions to keep the do-it-all defenseman.

Carlson will count $8 million against the salary cap through the 2026-27 season. General manager Brian MacLellan announced the deal Sunday.

”John has been an exceptional and consistent player for our franchise and has blossomed into being one of the top defensemen in the NHL,” MacLellan said. ”Defenseman like John are a rare commodity in our League and, at 28 years of age, we feel he is just entering his prime. As a right-handed defenseman, John plays in all key situations and has contributed greatly to our team’s success on the special teams. We are pleased for both parties to have come to an agreement.”

That’s not necessary for the 28-year-old who has made the Washington area his home and wanted to stay if there was a fit. The Capitals got the cap space necessary to re-sign Carlson by trading veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik and backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer on Friday night at the NHL draft.

Carlson outperformed his last deal that paid him just under $4 million a season and was at his best in a contract year. He led all defensemen with 68 points in the regular season and 20 in the playoffs to help Washington win the Metropolitan Division and then the Stanley Cup.

The contract makes Carlson the second-highest-paid player on the Capitals behind Alex Ovechkin.

Carlson averaged about 25 minutes a game all season, stepping up early when top-pairing defenseman Matt Niskanen missed time with injury and playing an important role on the power play and penalty kill on the Cup run.

”His value is immense Matt Harvey Jersey ,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. ”You can see that, how much he meant to our team in this run. As far as growth, I think he’s grown steadily but I think he’s been pretty good for a long time. He’s been really good for a long time. I think this year it just showed through a bit more because we just forced him to play more.”

Carlson has been a mainstay on the Capitals’ blue line since 2010-11. The 2008 first-round pick has 333 points in 608 regular-season games and 55 points in 100 playoff games.

”I’ve always thought he was one of the better defensemen that I’ve ever played with,” winger T.J. Oshie said. ”This year, he elevated that quite a bit. In my eyes, he’s got to be a top-three or top-five defenseman in the league. You see what he does- he doesn’t do a lot of things that are really flashy Authentic Tarvarius Moore Jersey , so maybe he doesn’t get the highlight-reel things that other guys do, but defensively, he rarely ever gets beat.”

Re-signing Carlson was just the first move on MacLellan’s summer checklist. He’s attempting to re-sign trade-deadline pickup Michal Kempny before Carlson’s defense partner can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and he needs to negotiate new contracts for restricted free agent forwards Tom Wilson and Devante Smith-Pelly.

”We’re trying to sign Kempny,” MacLellan said Friday. ”We’re trying to sign Wilson as an RFA and then make some decisions after that.”

There’s also the matter of replacing Barry Trotz as coach after he resigned and joined the New York Islanders. Associate coach Todd Reirden, who was a finalist for the Flames’ head job two years ago Roy Oswalt Jersey , is the heavy front-runner, though MacLellan wanted to sit down and formally interview him this week first.

”I think you still need to go through an interview process and ask the right questions,” MacLellan said. ”I just want to clarify on what he’s thinking system-wise and how he’s going to handle certain players.”

It helps his case that Reirden coached the defenseman and had a hand in the development of Carlson, Niskanen, Kempny and Dmitry Orlov.

”The players all know him, they’re comfortable with him Jordy Mercer Jersey ,” MacLellan said. ”He’ll have a good feel for personalities, how to motivate people and so forth.”

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The Predators have the Presidents’ Trophy Authentic Jonathan Allen Jersey , and the NHL-expansion Golden Knights carry the buzz entering the Western Conference playoffs, which have the potential of resembling nothing from the past.

So step aside Chicago, which missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and say bye to the Blues, whose six-year playoff run is over.

The changing of the West’s guard begins at the top, where Nashville clinched its first Central Division title by running away with the league’s best record. And then there’s Vegas, which broke every measureable NHL expansion record for success by going 51-24-7 to win the Pacific Division.

Add in the talent-laden Winnipeg Jets, making their franchise’s third playoff appearance, and youth-filled Colorado Avalanche, who clinched their second berth in eight years Cheap Rashaan Gaulden Jersey , and it results in three of four first-time postseason matchups: Nashville versus Colorado, Vegas versus Los Angeles and Winnipeg facing Minnesota.

The fourth matchup has Anaheim facing San Jose for only the second time after the Ducks eliminated the Sharks in six games during a 2009 first-round series.

Of the eight teams, only three have won the Stanley Cup (Colorado, Anaheim and Los Angeles), while two have never won a playoff game (Vegas and Winnipeg, formerly Atlanta).

The weight of expectations falls mostly on the Predators , who won’t be underestimated a year after the eighth-seeded team’s surge to the Final ended in a six-game loss to Pittsburgh. It was a run Nashville began against Chicago in becoming the first team to sweep a No. 1 seed in the opening round since the current playoff format was set in 1994.

”I think our guys are well aware of what went on last year,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. ”For me, this group is looking down the tunnel at something, and all that other stuff is noise.”

That’s not to say Laviolette didn’t play the ”everyone’s picking Chicago” card as motivation a year ago.

”I might have used it Authentic Justin Reid Jersey ,” he said with a wink.

The Avalanche know their history, with forward Gabriel Landeskog listing how several No. 8 seeds have made deep playoff runs, including the 2012 Cup champion Kings.

”Anything can happen in the playoffs. That’s kind of the mindset we’ve had,” Landeskog said of the Avalanche , who enjoyed a 47-point turnaround after finishing last a year ago. ”This is a big accomplishment to make after such a tough season. We’re not done.”

PREDATORS vs AVALANCHE

Nashville finished seventh in the league with 261 goals without any player scoring 30. The Predators’ balanced attack is fueled by a group of speedy, playmaking defensemen who combined for a league-best 206 points (56 goals, 150 assists). Pekka Rinne went 42-13-4 to finish third in victories, and his 2.31 goals-against average was third among goalies playing 40 or more games.

Though Nashville has won 10 straight against Colorado, beware of the Presidents’ Trophy curse. Of the 31 teams to finish first since 1986 when the trophy was established, only eight have won the Cup Authentic Durham Smythe Jersey , the last being Chicago in 2013.

Nathan MacKinnon entered the MVP discussion by leading Colorado with 97 points, including a league-leading 12 game-winning goals. Colorado tied with Arizona with the youngest roster at 25.8 years old.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS vs KINGS

A Golden Knights team put together with other teams’ discards spent the season using a ”why not us?” mantra in setting expansion-team records for most wins (51), home wins (29), road wins (22) and longest point streak (10-0-2). Vegas features six 20-goal-scorers, including trade-deadline addition Tomas Tatar.

The Golden Knights closed the season 6-3-2, with the regulation losses coming against non-playoff teams: Arizona, Edmonton and Calgary. Marc Andre-Fleury went 29-13-4, but allowed six goals on 18 shots in a season-ending 7-1 loss at Calgary.

The defensive-minded Kings allowed a league-low 202 goals and had the league’s best penalty-killing unit. Jonathan Quick’s 2.40 goals-against average was sixth among goalies appearing in 40 games.

JETS vs WILD

The Jets closed their most successful season in both victories and points on a 20-5-1 run, including winning the final nine home games. Winnipeg is still searching for its first playoff victory after being swept in two previous appearances: by Anaheim in 2015, and by the Rangers in 2007 Jarrod Dyson Jersey , when Jets were based in Atlanta.

Paul Stastny’s trade-deadline addition provided the NHL’s second-best offense with six 50-plus point producers. Third-year goalie Connor Hellebuyck went 44-11-9, and broke the single-season record for victories by U.S.-born goalies set by Tom Barrasso.

The Wild limp into their sixth straight playoff appearance with defensemen Ryan Suter (broken right ankle) and Jared Spurgeon (torn right hamstring) sidelined, though Spurgeon is expected back from a 17-game absence in this series. Eric Staal’s 76 points (42 goals, 34 assists) were third-most in team history.

DUCKS vs SHARKS

The Ducks earned home-ice advantage with a 3-0 season-ending win over Arizona, coupled with the Sharks’ season-ending 6-3 loss to Minnesota. Anaheim went 25-10-4 since the bye break, and is 14-1-2 at home since Jan. 23. Goalie John Gibson went 21-7-3 in his final 31 decisions, but missed the final week and is listed day to day with an upper body injury.

The Sharks went 19-13-3 over their final 35 games since Joe Thornton was sidelined with a knee injury. Martin Jones allowed five goals on 19 shots against Minnesota, and is 1-4 in his past five while allowing 17 g. Jacksonville Jaguars Elite Jerseys , Womens Kareem Martin Jersey , Tennessee Titans Customized Jerseys , Authentic Womens DaeSean Hamilton Jersey ,

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Panthers have not announced the move.

The 27-year-old Poe played five seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and went to two Pro Bowls after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the NFL draft in 2012. Poe spent last season with the Falcons and played in 16 games and had 39 tackles Gerrit Cole Jersey , 2 sacks and two passes defensed.

The 6-foot-3, 346-pound Poe is considered a ”space eater” who’ll take the place of Star Lotulelei Hyun-Jin Ryu Jersey , who signed on Wednesday with the Buffalo Bills.

The moves – or at least the financial investment – comes as a bit of a surprise.

It was expected the Panthers wouldn’t re-sign Lotulelei because they had invested $80.5 million over five years to re-sign defensive tackle Kawann Short last year – and because they had former first-round draft pick Vernon Butler waiting in the wings.

But the addition of Poe is a big investment for a Carolina team that was only $24 million under the salary cap.

That leaves the often-injured Butler’s long-term future with the team unclear.

Poe’s best season might have come in 2013 when he had a career-high 51 tackles, 4 sacks and four passes defensed. He followed that Pro Bowl season up with another in 2014 Authentic Jordan Whitehead Jersey , registering 45 tackles and a career-high six sacks.

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They eventually found their stride.

Brayden Point and Cedric Paquette each scored two goals, and Tampa Bay stopped a three-game slide with a 7-3 victory Friday night.

J.T. Miller contributed a power-play goal in the third period as the Lightning regained first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with 108 points. Dan Girardi also scored against his former team, Alex Killorn had a goal and an assist, and backup goalie Louis Domingue made 28 saves.

”We got better as the game went along,” star forward Steven Stamkos said. ”We wanted to get the two points and we got it and we’ll continue to move on.”

The Lightning fell from the top spot for the first time since mid-October when they lost to the Bruins on Thursday night. They scored a total of four goals during their losing streak.

”It was a tough first for us, just to get our legs back, but I like the way we responded in the second and third and the guys did what they had to do Cheap Geron Christian Jersey ,” coach Jon Cooper said.

Leading 2-1 entering the third period, Miller, Paquette and Point scored in the first 2:38 to blow the game open.

Miller jammed in a rebound of Victor Hedman’s shot from the point 35 seconds into the period. Hedman finished with two assists.

”It felt nice,” Miller said of scoring against his former team. ”It was hard with a lot of emotions and thoughts coming into this game. You just want to go out and play your game and luckily, got one to come on my stick in front of the net.”

Paquette added his second of the game when he took a pass from Cory Conacher and sent his shot off the post and into the net. Point finished the run 45 seconds later when he scored his 29th of the season on a 3-on-1 break.

Point added his second of the game on an empty-netter, and Girardi scored a power-play goal in the final minute.

New York rookie Filip Chytil got his first NHL goal. Chris Kreider and Brady Skjei also scored for the Rangers, and Ondrej Pavelec made 43 saves.

Tampa Bay’s only visit to Madison Square Garden this season came in the Rangers’ home finale.

Before the game Tyler Thornburg Jersey , the Rangers played a video tribute honoring Ryan McDonagh, Girardi and Miller. McDonagh, a former captain, spent parts of eight seasons with the Rangers before being traded at the February deadline with Miller. Girardi played nearly 800 games with the Rangers over parts of 11 years.

”A month ago, I didn’t expect to have to play this game,” Miller said. ”You try to keep it together during the game as much as possible.

”A lot of good friends there on the other side so you try to keep it serious and professional during the game. It was a cool experience what they did for me here.”

The Rangers opened the scoring in the first period when defenseman Skjei wristed a shot from the top of the right circle past Domingue at 14:59 for his fourth of the season.

Paquette tied it for the Lightning early in the second. Mikhail Sergachev took a shot from the point and Paquette poked in the loose puck for his fourth goal at 3:15.

Just 1:18 later, Killorn gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead with his 15th goal. Anthony Cirelli sent a pass to Killorn in the slot. Killorn sent it on net and knocked in his own rebound.

Domingue preserved the lead when he made a sliding pad save on Kreider on a Rangers power play midway through the period.

Chytil scored when he knocked in Mats Zuccarello’s shot that banked off the end boards at 8:14 of the third.

”Zukey shoots and it was a rebound and empty net Phil Niekro Jersey , so I’m excited I scored my first goal finally,” Chytil said.

Stamkos and Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich had an unexpected fight after the first period after Buchnevich tripped Nikita Kucherov. Buchnevich got a minor for tripping and a fighting major. Stamkos got an instigating minor, fighting major and a 10-minute misconduct.

”Stuff happens in the game and I thought Kuch got clipped and just responding,” Stamkos said.

NOTES: Goalie Henrik Lundqvist won the 30th annual Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. The award is presented to the Ranger who ”goes above and beyond the call of duty” as chosen by fans. The award, given annually since the 1987-88 season, is named after New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12 Authentic Armani Watts Jersey , 1986, and died on Jan. 10, 2017. … The Rangers finished 21-16-4 at home this season.

UP NEXT

Lightning: Host Nashville on Sunday.

Rangers: Travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

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They eventually found their stride.

Brayden Point and Cedric Paquette each scored two goals, and Tampa Bay stopped a three-game slide with a 7-3 victory Friday night.

J.T. Miller contributed a power-play goal in the third period as the Lightning regained first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with 108 points. Dan Girardi also scored against his former team, Alex Killorn had a goal and an assist, and backup goalie Louis Domingue made 28 saves.

”We got better as the game went along,” star forward Steven Stamkos said. ”We wanted to get the two points and we got it and we’ll continue to move on.”

The Lightning fell from the top spot for the first time since mid-October when they lost to the Bruins on Thursday night. They scored a total of four goals during their losing streak.

”It was a tough first for us, just to get our legs back, but I like the way we responded in the second and third and the guys did what they had to do Cheap Geron Christian Jersey ,” coach Jon Cooper said.

Leading 2-1 entering the third period, Miller, Paquette and Point scored in the first 2:38 to blow the game open.

Miller jammed in a rebound of Victor Hedman’s shot from the point 35 seconds into the period. Hedman finished with two assists.

”It felt nice,” Miller said of scoring against his former team. ”It was hard with a lot of emotions and thoughts coming into this game. You just want to go out and play your game and luckily, got one to come on my stick in front of the net.”

Paquette added his second of the game when he took a pass from Cory Conacher and sent his shot off the post and into the net. Point finished the run 45 seconds later when he scored his 29th of the season on a 3-on-1 break.

Point added his second of the game on an empty-netter, and Girardi scored a power-play goal in the final minute.

New York rookie Filip Chytil got his first NHL goal. Chris Kreider and Brady Skjei also scored for the Rangers, and Ondrej Pavelec made 43 saves.

Tampa Bay’s only visit to Madison Square Garden this season came in the Rangers’ home finale.

Before the game Tyler Thornburg Jersey , the Rangers played a video tribute honoring Ryan McDonagh, Girardi and Miller. McDonagh, a former captain, spent parts of eight seasons with the Rangers before being traded at the February deadline with Miller. Girardi played nearly 800 games with the Rangers over parts of 11 years.

”A month ago, I didn’t expect to have to play this game,” Miller said. ”You try to keep it together during the game as much as possible.

”A lot of good friends there on the other side so you try to keep it serious and professional during the game. It was a cool experience what they did for me here.”

The Rangers opened the scoring in the first period when defenseman Skjei wristed a shot from the top of the right circle past Domingue at 14:59 for his fourth of the season.

Paquette tied it for the Lightning early in the second. Mikhail Sergachev took a shot from the point and Paquette poked in the loose puck for his fourth goal at 3:15.

Just 1:18 later, Killorn gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead with his 15th goal. Anthony Cirelli sent a pass to Killorn in the slot. Killorn sent it on net and knocked in his own rebound.

Domingue preserved the lead when he made a sliding pad save on Kreider on a Rangers power play midway through the period.

Chytil scored when he knocked in Mats Zuccarello’s shot that banked off the end boards at 8:14 of the third.

”Zukey shoots and it was a rebound and empty net Phil Niekro Jersey , so I’m excited I scored my first goal finally,” Chytil said.

Stamkos and Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich had an unexpected fight after the first period after Buchnevich tripped Nikita Kucherov. Buchnevich got a minor for tripping and a fighting major. Stamkos got an instigating minor, fighting major and a 10-minute misconduct.

”Stuff happens in the game and I thought Kuch got clipped and just responding,” Stamkos said.

NOTES: Goalie Henrik Lundqvist won the 30th annual Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. The award is presented to the Ranger who ”goes above and beyond the call of duty” as chosen by fans. The award, given annually since the 1987-88 season, is named after New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12 Authentic Armani Watts Jersey , 1986, and died on Jan. 10, 2017. … The Rangers finished 21-16-4 at home this season.

UP NEXT

Lightning: Host Nashville on Sunday.

Rangers: Travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

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It might be Yordano Ventura unleashing a fastball. Or Eric Hosmer sliding into home at Citi Field in New York. Or Wade Davis with his arms thrust high into the air Logan Morrison Jersey , his blazing fastball having just closed out Game 5 of the World Series and making the Kansas City Royals the world champions.

More than likely, you’ll find the now-iconic photograph of Union Station, where an estimated 400,000 people turned out to celebrate the club’s first title in three decades.

Those photos are reminders of better times. And how quickly things can change.

The Royals, who were indeed baseball royalty in 2015, are now neck and neck with the Orioles for the worst record in baseball. They’ve traded off their star closer, their best players are struggling and the prospects that might one day raise them from the abyss are years away from joining the club.

”The record is what it is. The hitting is what it is. The pitching is what it is,” said Royals manager Ned Yost, who presided over the rebuild that led to back-to-back World Series appearances. ”I have to continue to lead. We have to make sure this year has not been a waste.”

How did things fall apart so quickly?

To start Cheap Billy Price Jersey , the Royals doled out big contracts to players that have not produced. Left fielder Alex Gordon consumes 14 percent of the payroll in the third year of a $72 million, four-year deal, but he’s hitting just .247 with five homers and 15 RBIs. Right-hander Ian Kennedy consumes 11 percent of the payroll in the third year of a $70 million, five-year deal, and he’s 1-8 with a 5.11 ERA.

The few stars that remain on the roster have likewise struggled to produce.

Salvador Perez likely will see his streak of five straight All-Star games end. The catcher, in the third year of a $52 million, six-year deal, is hitting .255 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs.

Good luck winning many games that way.

The Royals were 25-61 heading into their off day Thursday and had lost 24 of their last 28 games. They needed to go 38-38 the rest of the way just to avoid the ignominy of 100 losses.

Making things worse: The Royals are losing that many games with a payroll of about $144 million.

Another reason for the precipitous slide was year after year of poor drafts. Only one of their 13 first-round picks since 2010 is currently on the 25-man roster; Hunter Dozier is hitting .223 in 44 games as he struggles to lock down an everyday job.

”As a young guy you know you’re going to fail, and in some ways we want you to fail because that’s how you’re going to get better Dallas Keuchel Jersey ,” said Yost, who is going through the same slow learning process with infielder and erstwhile top prospect Adalberto Mondesi.

The son of longtime big leaguer Raul Mondesi, he is hitting .214 in 42 at-bats this season.

”We also don’t want to heap too much on their shoulders,” Yost said, ”so it’s balancing act.”

Maybe that’s why the Royals have been slow to gut their roster in favor of a complete rebuild, even if that appears to be coming. They’ve already traded utility outfielder Jon Jay to the Diamondbacks and star closer Kelvin Herrera to the Nationals, getting five prospects in return that the Royals hope will help restock a farm system that remains one of the worst in baseball.

More moves could be coming, too. The Royals are hopeful of trading third baseman Mike Moustakas, who signed a one-year deal when no long-term offers materialized last offseason. Versatile infielder Whit Merrifield could land a few solid prospects Authentic Antonio Callaway Jersey , and left-hander Danny Duffy and even Perez could be made available, though both have torpedoed their value with poor seasons.

The combination of an old and bad team has been made even worse by the fact that the Royals are, well, pretty boring. They don’t hit an abundance of homers. Their starting rotation includes the first two pitchers to hit 10 losses in the majors. There are no young stars yet worth watching.

As a result, the Royals are drawing an average of 20,283 fans to Kauffman Stadium. That’s a drop of more than 7,000 from last season and more than 13,000 from their championship season.

Still, for all the gloom Cheap Preston Brown Jersey , the typically irascible Yost has taken a decidedly optimistic approach to this season. He’s been through these long and painful rebuilds and come out the other side.

It takes patience. It takes smart moves. It takes more patience.

”There’s a lot of things to look at that you’re happy with, even though the record is what it is,” he said. ”There is progress that you’re going to see on the back end, in the light, just as we did in 2013 and 2014, when we turned the corner the last time.”

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Falcons president and CEO Rich McKay told The Associated Press on Wednesday he expects the team to have more open-air home games in the 2018 season.

”The roof is being worked on as we speak and yes we expect the roof to be fully operational by football season Kerry Wood Jersey , if not well before,” McKay said.

”Fully operational means you will see us go to much more of an open configuration as we designed at the beginning. When it’s ready to go Authentic Lorenzo Carter Jersey , we’ll be open depending on weather.”

Problems kept the roof closed on the $1.5 billion stadium for most of the 2017 season.

The unique roof, designed to open like a camera lens Whit Merrifield Jersey , was open only for the Falcons’ first home regular-season game against Green Bay on Sept. 17. It was closed for all other NFL and college games, including the Peach Bowl Authentic Geron Christian Jersey , the Southeastern Conference championship game and the national championship game.

The stadium, also home to MLS’ Atlanta United Cheap Ito Smith Jersey , will be host to the 2019 Super Bowl.

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