Gästebuch » a discussion that continued back into the dressing room

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs needed a pick me up after a disappointing loss and a series of injuries, and they got it Sunday night by stepping all over the Milwaukee Bucks. Los Angeles Angels Gear . Patty Mills had 20 points, Tim Duncan had 11 points and 13 rebounds in limited action, and San Antonio rolled to a 110-82 victory over Milwaukee that kept the Bucks winless in the new year. Marco Belinelli scored 14 points, Jeff Ayres and Nando De Colo had 13 points apiece, and Kawhi Leonard added 11 points in 21 minutes for San Antonio. After hanging their heads following a 109-100 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, the Spurs were feeling pretty good after trouncing the Bucks. "(My confidence is) going through the roof, man" Ayres said. "You dont see me out there? Im having fun, dunking on people and stuff. Its awesome. Life is good." Even San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was in a light-hearted mood, joking about the season debut of athletic, 6-foot-9 forward Malcolm Thomas. "I thought he was real active," Popovich said. "He blocked (two) shots. You know we dont block shots; thats not part of our program . thats a joke." The merriment came at the expense of adding to Milwaukees misery. The Bucks have lost nine straight, dropping those games by an average of 15 points. Making matters worse for Milwaukee, starting off guard Luke Ridnour left the game after spraining his right wrist late in the first quarter. The wrist bent back after it was sandwiched between Mills and Ekpe Udoh as Ridnour attempted to roll off a screen. He still attempted a 19-foot jumper, but feverishly signalled for a sub as he clutched his wrist in pain. "The X-rays were negative, which is a good sign," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "Right now it looks like hes in a splint and I dont know how long he will be out." It swelled right away, as soon as he did it and that was a big concern. I guess well go back and I believe hell get an MRI." Brandon Knight scored 21 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 11 points and John Henson had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, which trailed by double digits the entire second half. San Antonio played without starters Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter, former starter Danny Green and 3-point specialist Matt Bonner. Parker missed the game with a bruised right shin that stiffened in the second half of the Spurs loss to the Trail Blazers. "We were missing a lot of guys so that was a little worrying, but overall I think we did a good job," San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said. "Everybody got to play and everybody played well. Guys made shots and its a good feeling." The Spurs bench scored 58 points, with only one coming from Ginobili. Duncan played only 27 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter as San Antonio built its lead to as many as 28 points in the second half after breaking the game open early. The Spurs went on a 15-0 run bridging the first and second quarters, taking a 29-16 lead that essentially put the game out the Bucks reach. Milwaukee went scoreless for five minutes, missing six shots, committing two turnovers and an offensive foul. Hensons 20-foot jump hook with 11:18 remaining in the first half ended the drought. Mills opened the run with the first of his four 3-pointers, sinking a 25-footer with 4 minutes left in the first quarter. "They move the ball, they make the right play and they get the open shot," former Spurs guard Gary Neal said. "Patty was the recipient of good ball movement today and he was able to knock the shots down. You have to give credit where credit is due, that system has been in effect for a long time and its been successful for a long time." Even the notoriously tough Popovich was able to give his team a figurative pat on the back afterward. "Coaches are sick puppies," Popovich said. "Theres always things you can improve and do better. You look at the film, try to keep your standard and get ready for playoffs, but overall it was a good performance." NOTES: Parker received the La Gazzetta Dello Sports European Player of the Year award before the tipoff. Parker led France to its first European Championship in the off-season. . Neal was greeted by apathy when he entered the game, receiving little reaction in his first game in San Antonio since leaving in the off-season as a free agent. . Bonner missed the game with a broken nose he sustained after taking an elbow from the Trail Blazers Thomas Robinson in the first quarter Friday night. . Spurs analyst Sean Elliott quickly grabbed his notebook and paperwork during the first half when Duncan walked toward the scorers table with a mischievous grin. Earlier this month, Duncan playfully tossed Elliotts things during a timeout. Duncan laughed as he stood over Elliott, failing to find anything to toss at his former teammate. . San Antonios mascot, the Coyote, made a behind-back, three-quarter-court shot during a timeout. Nick Adenhart Angels Jersey . -- Conner Bleackley got it done in regulation time and in the shootout. Fred Lynn Jersey . Infante hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had an RBI single in a four-run fifth against former teammate Justin Verlander, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Tigers 11-8 Monday night. https://www.cheapangels.com/2563j-jimmie-reese-jersey-angels.html .J. -- Fabian Johnson scored his first international goal and Clint Dempsey doubled the lead after a defensive lapse as the United States beat Turkey 2-1 Sunday in the second of three World Cup warm-up matches for the Americans before they head to Brazil.TORONTO - Asked how many managers he has worked under at Toronto FC, 21-year-old defender Doneil Henry paused and thought for a while.I want to say six, he said finally.Henry, amazingly the longest-serving player currently at the MLS club, has played for Preki, Nick Dasovic, Aron Winter, Paul Mariner, Ryan Nelsen and Greg Vanney since making his debut in 2010.The young Canadian international, like many of his teammates, sees talent on the current Toronto FC roster. But too many times, he has seen the team chop and change players in a bid for a quick fix.On Tuesday, as players met the media for the final time this season after missing the playoffs with an 11-15-8 record and finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference, one after another made a plea for stability and the chance to build on the existing foundation.Ive seen it happen here for as long as Ive been here, where theyve changed the roster completely, said Henry, sitting next to English veteran Bradley Orr. Theres quality in the changing room. Theres young players that are coming through the academy and showing well.If we can just keep those players and some of the older guys like Brad to nurture them, Im sure well have more than a good team to compete in the playoffs. Every year with a changed team, its been really hard. Top teams, theyve been together for more than three, four seasons.Its a long-distance race, its not a sprint, added veteran midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. We made a step forward. Now its about keeping the team together and forming a foundation so that in the years coming, well be contending for championships, echoed midfielder Jonathan Osorio. Goalie Joe Bendik, the teams player rep, says little during the season. And he chose his words carefully Tuesday, nailing exactly what was needed and was not needed.This club has had too many players in and out, to begin with, he said.A couple more weapons or a little more depth may be all thats needed, Bendik suggested.Ironically the need for time to bed in new talent was something Nelsen had preached from Day 1 since his roster was enriched this season with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto.Nelsen said it would take time for the team to take root. He just didnt get it.It has been a glass half-full, half-empty season for Toronto. The club set single-season franchise records for wins (11) and points (41) and seemed destined for the playoffs for the first time. But injuries to key personnel and a string of poor results in the second half of the season made for another disappointing end.The players took responsibility, but also saw light at the end of the tunnel.Theres teams in those playoffs that arent as good as Toronto FC, in my opinion, said Orr. But theyve got players who have been in and around the league, know what it takes to win in this league.When that penny does finally drop with this group, which I think is very possible that it will happen very soon, I think theyll be a force to be reckoned with because theyve got a fantastic mix of good young players with a little bit of experience. While 14 players spoke Tuesday, Defoe and Bradley were both absent. They had dates with doctors in England and New York, respectiively. Max Stassi Jersey. Defoe, who is pondering surgery for a persistent groin injury, left with a question mark over his head. In a story published in the Guardian on Tuesday, he seems unsure of his future. He likes Toronto but was hurt by comments from MLSE boss Tim Leiweke questioning his commitment. The English striker led the team in scoring with 11 goals in 19 games but missed 15 more through injury or suspension after his body broke down due to back-to-back seasons in England and North America.When healthy, he proved he can score a bucketful of goals in MLS. Toronto went 6-0-2 when he scored.But his body let him down. Defoe last scored July 16 and played just 387 minutes in the 18 league games since, seeing action in just six.Almost to a man, the Toronto players brought in front of the media Tuesday spoke warmly about Defoe as a teammate and said they hoped he would be back.Captain Steven Caldwell, who said he expected Defoe to be back, also talked of the need for more mental toughness and to grind out points when things werent going well.I felt we were a little bit easy to beat at times, he said.Caldwell said while there is good unity and camaraderie among players, the squad has to reach a point where it is comfortable enough to show real honesty in the dressing room.He pointed to past clubs — winning teams — he had been on where you could tell people what you think, they could take it the right way and they could move forward. And we have to grow to achieve that in this locker-room. And it only really comes from winning.We have to be a little more honest with each other, demand a lot more from each other out on the training field and accept that when somebody tells you something, its not a criticism or a slight against your character, its to make you a better player and to make the team ultimately better.Caldwell did not elaborate. But his words evoked memories of an exchange with the fiery Bradley after a win over Chivas USA in September, a discussion that continued back into the dressing room. Both players downplayed the exchange later. Orr, who said he doubted he would be back next season, says he leaves with nothing but good memories about the club and league. Except for the refereeing.Some of the officiating has been shocking, said Orr.Vanney, who is set to meet the media Wednesday along with GM Tim Bezbatchenko, was 2-6-2 at the helm after Nelsen, who was fired along with five assistant coaches after a 9-9-6 start.Vanney, who has been told he will be back next season, was dropped in the deep end without a coaching staff but won kudos from players for his communication and clarity.The club has issues on and off the field.Leiweke, the outgoing president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, promised the soccer team would make the playoffs in 2014. It didnt and, despite record attendance, the team will lose money this year because of the investment in players like Defoe and Bradley.On the plus side, the team has three first-round draft picks in 2015, its own selections obtained from Chivas USA and Portland. A pick acquired from Seattle in the Stefan Frei deal is expected to go to FC Dallas.---Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '