Kritik und Anregungen » s now back in pre-season training an

The momentous Kevin Durant announcement of July 4, 2016, was foreshadowed years earlier, before the Golden State Warriors commanded enough attention for people to notice.Three years ago, Andre Iguodala joined the team that had just eliminated his squad from the playoffs, to considerably less criticism than Durant currently is receiving. Upon arriving in Golden State by way of Denver, Iguodala said this of Steph Curry in his first Oakland news conference on July 11, 2013:Steph and I played together in 2010 in Turkey, and after practice we would come back to the gym at night when we were overseas and just [get] some shots up. I believe it was Kevin Durant [who] was with us, a lot of the time. So it was us three, maybe one or two other guys, but us three were always together. Kinda got a chance to see him work. Knew how in love he was with the game, so we built a pretty good relationship. We had chapels together before every game so we definitely got to know each other.Us three were always together.If the 2013 Warriors were at a then-Lakers level of clout, such a statement would have reverberated across the internet, fueling rumors far and wide. But the 2013 Warriors had nowhere near the cachet they enjoy today. They had done well to even get into the room to make a pitch to Dwight Howard that offseason. Wooing Iguodala was quite the coup for an organization fresh off its second playoff run in 19 years.What a difference three years can make. Thats how quickly this new, dominant Warriors reality emerged from a long-standing reputation as the ignoble underdog. Thats how fast a team goes from being the harmless bastion of comical futility to the leagues existential threat.In 2013, neophyte 6-seed Golden State shocked Denver and put a scare into San Antonio in the playoffs. In that offseason, GM Bob Myers pulled off what he called the hardest thing he has ever done professionally when he moved massive amounts of salary to secure Iguodala. A year later, the Warriors lost in Round 1 to the Clippers and controversially fired Mark Jackson. Then came Steve Kerrs hire, Draymond Greens move into the starting lineup, Currys MVP ascendance, 67 wins and a championship.And all of that was followed by last seasons 73 wins, a painful loss in Game 7 of the NBA Finals after holding a 3-1 series lead and, now, the pretext for a team unlike anything the league has seen.This remarkable three-year sprint to fame and possibly infamy was in some ways set up six years ago by the FIBA World Championship in Turkey that Iguodala referenced upon joining the Warriors. That was Durants tournament (he won MVP), if you recall, a time when he was heralded as a new, wholesome alternative to a LeBron James whod just left Cleveland on national television.In contrast to LeBrons garish Cleveland exit, Durant garnered praise in the summer of 2010 with a tweet announcing his Oklahoma City Thunder extension. Little did people know that the seeds for Durants eventual departure were being sown at that moment in basketball history, as he got to know Team USA teammates Iguodala and Curry. Given the state of the 2010 Warriors, none of the actors involved could have known where this was headed.Flash forward to the Warriors 2016 pitch to Durant. Iguodala reminded KD of those Turkey days and how much fun they all had together. The veteran swingman is sarcastic by nature and extremely cynical. Some posit that his guard remains up because of his Philly experience, where a rabid local media shredded a young, pass-first wing for being something less than Allen Iverson. A sincere, emotional Iguodala brought that up too, conveying how money and status cant compare to his current situation.The 2015 Finals MVP also offered a bit of time travel in his pitch to Durant. He explained how, when your career is finished, you want to reminisce with friends like these. He depicted a future where so much of the present NBA entanglements fade away and a career becomes a memory. When that happens, theres meaning in having great memories. When that happens, theres meaning in being able to revisit those memories with great people.As Marc J. Spears reported on The Undefeated, Curry conveyed that he cared more about winning than credit or sneaker sales. Warriors officials relayed that Durant seemed eager to hear that message. Green and Myers both spoke to how cooperation would result in more championships than any other method. The endearingly spacey Klay Thompson noted that he would get open shots with Durant there, before sheepishly getting back on message and acknowledging KD would probably get open shots too. (This caused some laughter in the room.)Golden States pitch had all of these elements, augmented by a Jerry West phone call. Its difficult to determine if any speeches were needed, though. Most of the actors here knew each other. It would be naive to think communication was confined to a room in the Hamptons.This has been a long process, and one the Warriors were confident in for some time. Some within the organization believed Russell Westbrook and Durant had some chemistry issues in Oklahoma City, and in those issues lay an opening. The Warriors could offer glory, brotherhood and an unselfish playing style, not to mention Bay Area business opportunities.Still, there were no guarantees and despite whatever assurances were offered, Warriors officials were nervous until the news broke officially. So much planning could have been dashed in a decision Durant made in an instant. Its staggering to consider all that had to go right.The Warriors were helped by Currys ankle blessing them with the best contract in sports. They were helped by Thompson agreeing to a max-ish contract that wasnt pegged to the rising salary cap. They were helped by Green accepting a below-market deal. They were helped by the players union rejecting cap smoothing, which opened up the space needed to get Durant in 2016. Myers needed to be better than great and just as fortunate.When asked how long planning for Durant took, a Warriors official quipped, About three light-years. Then, a correction: Actually, light-years is a measure of distance, not time.In a short period of time, Golden State leaped forward a great distance, far beyond any reasonable expectation and possibly beyond anything weve ever seen in the sport. This team looks more complementary than the feared 2010 Miami Heat, especially after the cheap acquisition of center Zaza Pachulia. The best-shooting team ever just added Kevin Durant. Its a staggering reality to behold. The power of shared memory just helped launch a basketball team into what feels further than futuristic. Bobby Leonard Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Don Buse Jersey . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. https://www.cheappacers.com/1283k-jeremy-lamb-jersey-pacers.html . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Fred Jones Jersey . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Glenn Robinson III Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Wales and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric is back in training after missing the final two months of last season with concussionThe timeframe saw Tipuric miss Wales tour of New Zealand and unavailable for any potential opportunity at the Olympic Games with Team GB.But the openside, who has 43 Wales caps, is now back in pre-season training and looking forward to playing in the Guinness PRO12 for the Ospreys.Its good to be back in training, back in and around the place said Tipuric. Im feeling healthy and enjoying pre-season as best as its possible to.I was well looked after, with excellent support from both the Ospreys and the Union medical teams. My welfare was put first, in front of everything else, and thats important..dddddddddddd Im extremely grateful to everybody for that.It wasnt the nicest of injuries shall we say. It was a pretty difficult time for me, sitting in the house unable to do anything for about five weeks. Im not a good patient at the best of times. Its nice to be able to get out and do stuff again instead of sitting, staring at walls.Its been a good few weeks in fairness. Its been hard work as you expect in pre-season but theres definitely a good energy about the place. Last season was disappointing by our standards and everybody wants to make sure we arent in that place again this year. ' ' '