Lowry. With Jonas Valanciunas in foul trouble, Fi

PHOENIX - Looking back at the championships he won at Southern Cal and the Super Bowl title a season ago with Seattle, Pete Carroll can see exactly where the foundation for all that success was built. The 2000 football season was the only time since 1972 that Carroll did not work in coaching in some capacity, whether it was as a graduate assistant, position coach, co-ordinator or head coach. Hed just been fired by New England after going 8-8 in his third season there, placing Carroll into the fraternity of twice-fired NFL head coaches. Carroll had ideas for how he wanted to run a team, but never solidified the guiding principles. Getting fired might not have seemed necessary at the time, but proved vital in creating Carrolls future. Ill never know that and Im going to take it for the way it happened was necessary, Carroll said. The pain and the struggle and the hardship and then the challenges of bouncing back were all part of the rebirth of that — of the philosophy and a mentality. Fifteen years after being dismissed by Robert Kraft and New England, Carroll will face the Patriots as he tries to join another rare fraternity of coaches who have led teams to consecutive Super Bowl titles. That year out of football was the birth of Win Forever and all the other catch phrases that go along with being part of a Carroll-coached program. And much like last years Super Bowl in New York, where Carroll got his first NFL head coaching job with the Jets, this trip to the championship game brings another chapter of his career full circle. It gave me an opportunity to really collect my thoughts about moving forward and to get pointed in the direction that, really, we have maintained since, Carroll said. I had a tremendous opportunity to reflect on the time that I had had. What is most telling about Carrolls approach is that 15 years later its still relevant. Hes gone through multiple generations of athletes, embraced the eruption of social media and graduated from dealing with 18-year-old freshmen to 30-year-old professionals. Yet the philosophy remains successful. Theres a reason coaches from other sports — Steve Kerr, Lloyd McClendon, Terry Stotts, Erik Spoelstra — have made a point of visiting Seattle practice to get a sense of how Carroll works. I think because we made it work. We made it work because it was so true, really, to my heart. I could stand for it, up against whatever the challenges were, whatever the hurdles were, the issues were. It kept me together. It kept me on course, Carroll said. I found that we needed to be uncommonly consistent with what we believe in and prove the way we feel, the way we position things, would be one that we could make successful because it was so true it wasnt hard. While Carroll is set in his beliefs — and the results are hard to argue against — that should not be taken for inflexibility. Hes taken a give-and-take approach with the personalities he coaches, while they have bought in to what he preaches. Pete is always evolving, hes always adapting, Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. I think thats one of the things I love about Pete Carroll. He allows us, he allows the players to dictate what direction were going to go. He listens to the players and pays attention to us and ultimately he tries to fit our needs and wants and desires and that allows us to be comfortable coming to work and enjoying what we do. Hes always adapting and always changing. That ability to adapt was evident this season. Sitting at 6-4 after losing at Kansas City in Week 11, Carroll pulled together about a dozen of Seattles core players. He realized a connection was missing with this team and if anything was going to be salvaged from this season, it needed to be found right then. The results since: an eight-game winning streak and the chance for Seattle to become the first team in a decade to repeat as NFL champion. He allows his players to bump their heads and scrape their knees, and learn from their experiences on and off the field, Richard Sherman said. He gives us a chance. He trusts his players more than I think a lot of coaches do, and we appreciate him for that. Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . -- The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three goals in 33 seconds of the second period en route to defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-1 in American Hockey League action on Friday. Randy Johnson Jersey . -- The Guelph Storm are moving on to the Western Conference final after defeating the London Knights 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-zack-greinke-jersey/ . -- The road to the Masters got off to a bumpy start Sunday for Tiger Woods when he withdrew from the Honda Classic with what he said was a lower back injury. Curt Schilling Jersey . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. Luis Gonzalez Jersey .J. - Pete Carroll is in support of the NFL looking further into whether medicinal marijuana could beneficial for players.BROOKLYN - As the Raptors opening round series shifts back into quasi must-win territory on Sunday, their playoff lives could rest on the shoulders of a 23-year-old sophomore, who is already having a tough time adjusting to the pressure of his first postseason. Through three games with the Nets, Toronto has yet to play its best basketball, the easiest explanation for their 2-1 series deficit. Its under-performing starting small forward, Terrence Ross, has been a primary factor. Stepping in for the traded Rudy Gay early in the season, Ross played an under-appreciated role in the Raptors turnaround and push to the playoffs. From Dec. 8 onwards, the second-year guard-turned-forward averaged 12.2 points, nearly doubling his pre-trade scoring mark while logging an addition 10 minutes a night. He shot the three-ball at an impressive 40 per cent clip and became Torontos most relied upon perimeter defender. Since making his playoff debut a week ago, Ross has looked like a fish out of water. Despite starting all three games and playing an average of 21 minutes, hes hit just three of his 16 jumpers while looking overwhelmed on defence against Brooklyns bigger, more physical wing players. Overall, the Raptors have gotten just 4.7 points per game from the small forward position, good for last among the NBAs 16 playoff teams by a wide margin. With Fridays 102-98 loss in the back of his mind, Dwane Casey wouldnt rule out the possibility of a lineup change for Sundays crucial Game 4. "Were still going to look at that," Casey said following a Saturday afternoon practice on the campus of a nearby university in New York City. "The decision hasnt been made but we will look at it. Right now we dont want to do anything drastic." "Its not panic time, but we do have to look at that position and get more productivity out of that spot." Its been the most problematic conundrum Casey has had to wrestle with in this series. The Raptors do not have an easy answer for Joe Johnsons unique combination of size, strength and finesse. The Nets crafty veteran - listed at 6-foot-7, 240 lbs - has had Torontos number in nearly every facet of the game. He can beat you from midrange, post-up smaller players and hes deadly from beyond the arc. "We have been double teaming him and blitzing him and hes been getting a lot of his [points] in those one-on-one situations," Casey pointed out. Defensively, Landry Fields has had the most individual success against Johnson. Casey turned to the sparingly used forward in Game 2, a well-received lineup adjustment that helped neutralize Johnson in the fourth quarter and spark Torontos comeback victory. Johnson would go on to lead the Nets with 29 points in Fridays Game 3 but was held scoreless, missing both of his shots, in seven first-half minutes with Fields guarding him. However, Fields was limited to just eight minutes in the loss. This time the Nets had prepared for him. Anticipating his reluctance to shoot, Brooklyn used Fields defender to apply even more pressure to DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. With Jonas Valanciunas in foul trouble, Fields shared the floor with Tyler Hansbrough - another player the defence can afford to overlook - and the Raptors offencce took an immediate hit.dddddddddddd "Its give and take," Casey said in regards to utilizing Fields in this series. "You sacrifice some offence for defence. I thought he did a heck of a job [defensively] but you do suffer in your spacing." John Salmons returned to the rotation, scoring four points in 12 minutes on Friday after sitting out in Game 2. The 35-year-old has battled lingering back pain while struggling with his jumper. He too has been exposed by Johnson. "Weve got to find ways to get them the ball," Casey said of Fields and Salmons. "Whether its cutting, screening, running the floor, so that we get something from that spot [and] they cant just load up and go 5-on-4 at the defensive end. We want to make sure we do get something offensively out of that position." Their best chance is to get Ross going. Fields moves well without the ball and gives you consistent effort on defence, Salmons brings a certain veteran savvy that has been useful in the past but Ross - when right - is the two-way contributor Toronto desperately needs to gain the upper hand in this series. For the young Ross, boosting his confidence could be the key to unleashing the natural ability he has displayed throughout his second season. It could be something as simple as seeing an early shot fall, getting a big first-quarter stop or throwing down one of his trademark slam dunks. "Hes still the same Terrence," DeRozan said Saturday. "We all understand everybodys not going to have their best night [all the time]. We all understand that. Our job is to keep everybodys confidence high." Through three playoff games, Ross and fellow sophomore Jonas Valanciunas - who leads the Raptors in turnovers - have the worst +/- on the team. Toronto has allowed 24 more points than its scored with Ross on the floor, outscored by 21 with Valanciunas on the floor. The Raptors are the only playoff team to feature two second-year players in their starting lineup. Their inexperience and overall importance to the future of this franchise is largely responsible for the leash theyve been given. "If they werent young guys, if that wasnt our future, our direction, they probably wouldnt be in there with some of the mistakes theyre making," Casey admitted. "But, theyre our guys. Theyve got to learn, its their first playoffs. I expect most of their mistakes. Were going to ride with them in those situations." "Its tougher, but a big part of the reason were here is because of their play. Im not blind to the fact they are our future and the only way were going to learn is to go through it. The amount of time might be a little shorter, but theyve got to get out there." Regardless of his role, Ross will continue to play. Yes, win or lose this is a valuable learning experience for the 23-year-old but more than anything else, Casey knows how quickly the complexion of this series could change if Ross shots begin to fall. For Ross, the player, that would mean more confidence and likely a more engaged defensive effort, even if he cant guard Johnson one-on-one. For the team it could aid their spacing, take the pressure off Lowry and DeRozan and breathe life into their suffocating offence. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '