Dein erstes Forum » t miss anything. Theyre a good hitting

CHICAGO -- Jimmy Butler spun a basketball on his finger. He joked around with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving during a brief 1-on-1 exchange. He smiled as some of the NBAs biggest stars lobbed some playful barbs in his direction.Back in Chicago on the eve of the Olympics, Butler is fitting in quite nicely with the U.S. national team.There are a lot of great players on this roster, but more than just basketball players, I get to learn a lot more about them off the court, Butler said, who they are as people and their families, and how they act, their personalities. I think thats been my favorite part of this whole journey, just getting to know the guys that I go up against every year.Its good practice for the fall, when Butler returns to a new-look Bulls team that suddenly includes a pair of longtime opponents for the versatile swingman.Derrick Rose is gone, traded to the New York Knicks. All-Star center Pau Gasol landed in San Antonio. But Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo decided to join Butler in Chicago, providing championship experience, but also two more players on the wrong side of 30 who like to have the ball in their hands.Im excited. I know they are as well, Butler said before Thursdays Team USA practice at the United Center. Its a new start for a lot of us.Butlers reputation also took a hit in the wake of Chicagos 42-40 finish in April, ending the franchises string of seven consecutive playoff appearances. The two-time All-Star was openly critical of new coach Fred Hoiberg and did not click with Rose last season.Asked about speculation he had a hand in Chicagos offseason activity, Butler brushed the notion away like he would an overzealous defender.That has nothing to do with me. I dont move guys, he said. Its like I always say, people are going to think what they want to think.That doesnt bother me, he continued. I know where I stand. I know who I am.Butlers inclusion on the national team establishes the 6-foot-7 Marquette product as one of the best players in the world, part of a steady rise for the No. 30 selection in the 2011 draft. On the 12-player roster for Team USA, only Draymond Green and DeAndre Jordan are lower draft picks.Butler, 26, averaged 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season. He has increased his averages for scoring and assists in each of the last four years.I knew he was a workhorse, but that man really never stops working, Golden State guard Klay Thompson said, and I give Jimmy a lot of credit because he came into this league and obviously he didnt have the hype he (would) if he was like a top-five pick, but hes worked himself into an All-Star and one of the best wings in the game.Before this Olympic run, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski had only seen Butler on TV.The very first thing is just how strong and what a great athlete he is, Krzyzewski said. Then what a good guy he is, and then what an outstanding competitor. You felt he was going to check every box, but you put two checks in each of these boxes. Hes terrific, and hes a really good guy.Krzyzewski said Butler and Paul George are the most versatile players on the team, capable of guarding any position. Butler had four points and three rebounds while playing 14 1/2 minutes in the United States 107-57 exhibition victory over China on Tuesday night.Next up is a matchup with Venezuela on Friday night at Butlers home with the Bulls, and then a trip to Houston for one more game against Nigeria before departing for Brazil. When it comes to the Olympics, Butler said he just wants to win.Its a very familiar response for U.S. assistant Tom Thibodeau, who coached Butler with the Bulls before he was fired in May 2015.To see how much hes grown from his first year in the league to what hes become, its a testament to how hard hes worked, his intelligence, his drive, Thibodeau said. Each year hes gotten better, and I think his makeup will allow him to continue to improve each year.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenapAsics Gel Lyte V Bianche . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Onitsuka Tiger By Asics Mexico 66 Nere/Bianche - Uomo/Donna . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. http://www.scarpeonitsukatiger.it/asics-gel-kayano-20.html . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. Scarpe Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Scarpe Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Donna & Uomo Rosse/Bianche . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season.TORONTO - Sean Nolin may one day be ready to pitch in the major leagues. The time isnt now and after Nolin struggled in his major league debut on Friday night, a 10-6 loss to the Orioles, he was optioned back to Double-A New Hampshire. “Definitely not the way I envisioned it,” said the big lefthander of his first start for the Blue Jays. “I think I just had too much energy going. Kind of felt like I already threw a few innings and kind of wasted some gas without doing anything. I think that was a part of it for sure.” Nolins night was over after 1 1/3 innings, six earned runs and 35 pitches. The Orioles came at him in waves. Nick Markakis led off with a single, Manny Machado followed with the same and both scored on J.J. Hardys three-run home run. Baltimore had a lead it wouldnt relinquish. In the second, Danny Valencia doubled, Steve Pearce walked and Yamaico Navarro singled to load the bases. Markakis, hitting for the second time, doubled home all three. One out later, Nolins night was over. “It was a tough go for him, no question,” said manager John Gibbons. “Evven (J.dddddddddddd.P.) Arencibia told me everything was kind of flat, you know flat in the zone. They didnt miss anything. Theyre a good hitting ball club, they make you pay when you make mistakes. Everybody knows how the ball flies in this ballpark, I mean it was pinball out there tonight. But hell be fine. Hes a good kid, Im sure he wanted a great one, we wanted him to have a great one but that doesnt always happen at this level.” Nolins parents, Edward and Patricia, made the 10-hour drive from Long Island to watch their son pitch. Less than three hours before the game, as his teammates took batting practice, Nolin was sitting in the dugout taking it all in. You only get one debut, after all. “Just a lot of excitement,” said Nolin. “Its always somewhere where I wanted to be, the big leagues, make my debut and just had a lot of thoughts, good thoughts, and just a lot of high energy.” Nolin returns to the Fisher Cats, for whom hes 2-0 in three starts. Hes struck out more than one hitter per inning and has an ERA of 1.17.The Blue Jays say a corresponding roster move will come at a later time. ' ' '