Dein erstes Forum » Dr. J even claims it was the greatest of

LOS ANGELES -- The semifinal playoff series between the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky could hinge on the recovery of Elena Delle Donnes thumb.Delle Donne had surgery recently, and coach Pokey Chatman said she wont play in Game 1 of the best-of-five series that begins Wednesday at Long Beach State and is doubtful for Game 2.Chicago guard Allie Quigley is impressed with how the Sky have played without the star forward.I just think we knew when she went down that we were all going to have to step up, Quigley said. Everyone was ready. Were not going to be like the team where, Oh, theyre not that good without Elena. Everyone took it personal and stepped up big.The second-seeded Sparks, who had a double bye and havent played in 12 days, are planning for all scenarios, with or without Delle Donne. Chicago is planning to play without her.The Sparks, who had the second-best record in the league at 26-8, have shortened practices and structured them more like games in preparation for the playoffs.I also think theres an element of two things happening, Sparks coach Brian Agler said. I think we sat around for 5? weeks and everyone told us how good we are, and I think we softened up. Thats No. 1. No. 2, now its playoff time. Its easier to get peoples attention. I cant tell you the outcome of the games, but I think well be more engaged and focused.Delle Donne has captured the attention of the WNBA and its fans. And in her absence, her teammates are showing they can become a more guard-oriented team and be successful at it.Credit the players for stepping up individually and collectively, Chatman said. Unfortunately, in the past weve had to do that. Elena has suffered with some injuries and the back injury. Theres not this collective sigh or panic on the players part.Dont misunderstand me, its an arduous task ... but also, its the beauty of sports that someone goes down and someone steps up. Some veteran players like Cappie Pondexter, Courtney Vandersloot and Tamera Young, theyve stepped up and changed the way we played in terms of our pace.The fourth-seeded Sky have played well without Delle Donne, going 4-2 with her out of the lineup.Chicago must play the Sparks with all of their All-Stars, like Candace Parker and WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike led the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game.The Sparks have won all three meetings against Chicago this season, all by double digits.While the Sparks were waiting through byes, they scrimmaged and on Tuesday, visited with the homeless in nearby Venice and passed out blankets and shoes.They were back scrimmaging on Tuesday.Theyre playing great basketball, and theyve been without [Delle Donne], Parker said. Weve got to prepare for them. They have so many different weapons.Delle Donnes absence, and her regular-season scoring average of 21.5 points per game, is glaring for Chicago, which beat Atlanta to advance.We prepare like shes never coming back because everything else would be Merry Christmas to us, Chatman said. You have to because you dont want to put undue pressure on her to come back too soon if shes not ready. Cheap Jaguars Jerseys . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Authentic Custom Jaguars Jersey . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. http://www.customjaguarsjersey.com/ . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Custom Jaguars T-shirts . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Custom Jaguars Jerseys . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Just when we thought the NBA Slam Dunk Contest was becoming a snoozefest, Zach LaVine woke us up with his acrobatic, high-flying throwdowns the last two years. The two-time reigning NBA Slam Dunk champion not only grabbed our attention but also snagged the attention of one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history: Dr. J.Weve seen what Julius Erving is capable of around the rim, but The Doctor may have just placed the 21-year-old LaVine on the same level as dunking royalty. In Dr. Js interview with Complex sports, he shares his admiration for the Minnesota Timberwolves guard.Ill tell you, Zach has put on a show the last couple of years. He has to get kudos, Erving said. I dont know if the surprise factor and the timing coordination dunks that he does are as impactful as what Vince Carter brought to the scene when he did a few things that hadnt been seen before. I think with Connie Hawkins, myself, Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, theres a lineage there, and I think Vince shook it up a little bit there with a couple of dunks there. Im gonna let him reside in that spot right there.Despite the controversial decision that awarded LaVine the victory in this years dunk-for-dunk contest, he and Orlando Magic forwward Aaron Gordon did not disappoint, as they appeared to sit in midair and effortlessly jump out of the gym.dddddddddddd Dr. J even claims it was the greatest of all time. Yes, you read that correctly.It was clearly as good as the Wilkins-Jordan showdown, and I had a showdown with David Thompson back in 76, which was the last year in the ABA, Erving said. It doesnt get acknowledged as much, but it was a great showdown. But Zach and [Aaron] Gordon, in terms of the guys who are judging and to hear what they had to say during that time, records are made to be broken, and standards of the bar are established to be challenged so somebody can go above it. I would put those two guys, the things they did this past show in Toronto, at the top of the bar. Even for them to chase next year, or put some new guys next year to go after it ... they have raised the bar to a different level.LaVine is coming up on just his third season in the NBA and has already been compared to some of the greatest dunkers in NBA history. By Dr. J, for that matter. It seems that LaVine may be getting this dunking thing down. ' ' '