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Geplaatst: 16-08-2018 04:32:37 Onderwerp: t little bit stronger |
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The Indiana Pacers felt cheated – by LeBron James and the officials.
Moments before James beat them with a game-winning Nick Chubb Browns 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, 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 Raiders Elite Jerseys ,” Oladipo said. ”I felt like I even got grabbed on the way to the rim, 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, 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 Customized Green Bay Packers Jerseys , 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, 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.”
It has been a busy year for Miro Heiskanen and it’s not over yet.
The talented defenseman opened it at the junior world championship in Buffalo before becoming a mainstay on the Finnish men’s national team at the next two top tournaments: the Pyeongchang Olympics and the ongoing world championship.
In that time the 18-year-old has established himself as a reliable defenseman who has passed the test against top NHL talents at the tournament in Denmark. He plays in the top unit, meaning he has to stop the offensive aces of the opposition and that’s exactly what he has done.
NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid could attest to that.
On Saturday, Finland upset star-studded Canada captained by McDavid 5-1 and Heiskanen contributed a great deal.
He played 18:25 but his best moment came in the middle period when Canada was trailing 3-1 and desperately pressing to score. At one point, McDavid had just an empty net in front of him. Goaltender Harri Sateri was still at the far post and McDavid’s shot from the left circle was heading for goal.
But then Heiskanen came seemingly out of no where to Finland’s rescue, tipping the puck to safety.
”It was almost in the net but I hit the puck,” Heiskanen said. ”It was a good save.”
When the two met in the third period Youth Alex Cappa Jersey , the result was a two plus two-minute penalty for high sticking for a frustrated McDavid, effectively ending Canada’s chances of a comeback.
Finland captain Mikael Granlund praised Heiskanen.
”I have seen him at the games here and nothing really surprises me about him,” Granlund said. ”The way he skates, the way he handles the puck and sees the ice. He can play these games. He’s been really, really good this tournament. He’s got a great career ahead of him.”
The obvious next step is the NHL.
The Dallas Stars picked him with the third overall selection in the 2017 NHL draft and signed him to a three-year entry level contract. He spent last season on loan with IFK Helsinki where he played since he was 17.
He finished with 23 points including 11 goals in the regular season and added three goals and nine points in the playoffs.
He said the transition has not been a problem.
”It was tough sometimes but mostly quite easy because I play with smarter players. Of course, the play is faster than at the junior category and I face stronger guys,” he said.
The Denmark tournament proved he is ready to stop the best.
”It’s nice to face those guys and see where I am,” Heiskanen said. ”It’s a good test to play them, maybe I will play them next year in the NHL. I want to play there as soon as possible Youth Nick Nelson Jersey , that’s my goal.”
There’s no doubt that he has the skills to make him a highly effective defenseman. But he knows he still has homework to do.
”I have to practice hard this summer and get little bit stronger,” he said.
It’s not clear when he might get the call from Dallas, though it’s likely to be sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, he has to do what hockey rookies have to do: after practice with the Finnish national team, he can be found staying late on the ice and picking up pucks.
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