Beta[Mn] » believable players on this team and just to be on its

OAKLAND, Calif. Bulls Jerseys 2020 . -- Clippers star Blake Griffin fired off some harsh words for the Golden State Warriors after being ejected on a Christmas night turned spirited. Coach Doc Rivers is equally as irritated -- and believes the Warriors tried to get Griffin thrown out. Griffin and Golden States Draymond Green were long gone before a wild finish Wednesday night, when Klay Thompson blocked a shot by Chris Paul with 1 second left then contested Jamal Crawfords 3-pointer that fell short at the final buzzer to send the Warriors past Los Angeles 105-103. Griffin was ejected for his second technical with 10:43 remaining after scuffling with Andrew Bogut, following Green to the showers after they got into it at the end of the third. Green was tossed for a flagrant 2 foul. "If you look at it, I didnt do anything and I got thrown out of the game. It all boils down to they (referees) fell for it," Griffin said. "To me, its cowardly basketball. I dont know their intentions, but it worked. ... If I knew the answer Id probably be in a different position. Tonight I got two technicals for nothing." Without Griffin, the Clippers missed too many chances in the waning moments. Pauls lay-in with 11.9 seconds left went around the rim and out, but Andre Iguodala missed a pair of free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining. That gave the Clippers the ball back with 8.3 seconds to go. Stephen Curry overcame a slow start to score seven of his 15 points over the final 3:01 to go with 11 assists as Golden State snapped the Pacific Division-leading Clippers season-best five-game winning streak. Thompson finished with 23 points and David Lee had 23 points and 13 rebounds. When the game ended, players tangled near the tunnel to the Clippers locker room and security personnel stepped in -- and former Warriors swingman Stephen Jackson could be seen screaming in the middle of it all. Whether the Warriors intended to ignite Griffin, Rivers can only guess. "I dont know if they were but it sure looked like it. I cant accuse them of that but it looked like it. Im not sure but thats what it looked like," Rivers said. "Its whatever you have to do to win, I guess." This one was sure was feisty and festive from the opening tipoff at sold-out Oracle Arena, where fans wore "Christmas Whiteout" snowflake Warriors T-shirts for the holiday occasion. Paul had 26 points and 11 assists as he and Curry put on a late-game show between two of the Western Conferences top point guards. Griffin added 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists before his early exit. Bogut added 10 points and 14 rebounds. Neither Rivers nor Warriors coach Mark Jackson is ready to deem this a California rivalry just yet -- not until both teams are consistent contenders year after year, they say. Its certainly getting heated enough to be close to such status. And they see each other twice more. The Clippers come back Jan. 30. "We like them. Merry Christmas," Jackson said jokingly. "Its just physical basketball, so we dont get caught up in that. ... Its good, old-fashioned basketball between two teams that are playing for something." Griffin was held back by teammates at the end of the third quarter while jawing with Green. Following a review, Griffin received a technical and Green was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 after throwing an elbow. "You have some key matchups in the game where guys want to go at each other," Green said. "Any time you have that, youre going to have a tough, hard-nosed game." Then, officials went to review once more to look at a tussle between Griffin and Bogut. Griffin left the game while Bogut was hit with a flagrant 1 and a technical. The Clippers, who never trailed in the first half, took a 77-74 lead into the see-saw fourth. They dropped to 19-3 when leading after three quarters and 8-3 on the road. Los Angeles beat Golden State 126-115 at home on Oct. 31 to hand the Warriors their first loss a day after a season-opening win against the Lakers. Curry performed when it mattered, though he is shooting just 9 for 44 in three Christmas games. Lee and Bogut each have double digits in rebounds in 10 straight games. Golden State grabbed its first lead at the 10:35 mark in the third on Boguts running jumper and began the second half with an 11-6 spurt. The Warriors were 22 for 52 in the first half -- taking more shots than the Clippers 21 of 40 -- but Lees dunk pulled Golden State within 53-51 at halftime. Notes: Former Warriors G Matt Barnes got some Christmas boos when he checked in for the Clippers midway through the first, while Antawn Jamison still gets his due respect. ... The Warriors played their 23rd Christmas game and third in four years after having Christmas off for 26 years. They lost their previous Dec. 25 outing to the Clippers 105-86 at Oracle -- Los Angeles last on Golden States home floor -- to start the lockout-shortened 66-game 2011-12 season. ... The Warriors havent lost a season series to the Clippers since 2005-06. Golden State was one of only two teams along with the Thunder to take three of four from Los Angeles last season. Chicago Bulls Shirts . Rajne Soderberg, the director of the Stockholm Diamond League event, said in an email Friday that the ban still holds. Euromeetings, the organization representing Europes top track events, "will continue to recommend that members do not invite athletes who we believe cause disrepute to our meetings and our sport. Chicago Bulls Pro Shop . Im very excited about the playoffs, particularly in the Western Conference with amazing match-ups, as well as the wonderful local story in the Toronto Raptors. It should be a blast. Here are my predictions, but based upon my lousy prognostications during the NCAA Tournament, you might be better off going the other way on some of mine - particularly with the Raptors, who I hope and pray are able to win an incredibly difficult match-up. https://www.cheapbulls.com/ . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie.Schoolchildren filled the arena by the busload on a few recent mornings. They got a kick out of watching Canadas world junior hockey team practise.Every once in a while, a few would start chanting, Mc-Da-vid! Of all the players on the ice, 17-year-old phenom Connor McDavid was the No. 1 star.But when the tournament opens Friday, McDavid wont be shouldering the burden of lifting Canada to its first world junior gold medal since 2009. Hockeys Next One badly wants to be a difference-maker, but on a team that also includes NHLers Curtis Lazar and Anthony Duclair and a handful of other returning players, he doesnt have to be.Connor is one of the 22 players who is going to be part of this team, and he is going to be an important piece, coach Benoit Groulx said. I dont feel myself as a coach that he has got to make the difference. I think Connor has got to be Connor, he has got to be himself, he has to play, he has to have fun, he has to compete, he has to challenge himself. ...I expect the team to find a way to make a difference.On the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, McDavid is the straw that stirs the drink. Even though he hasnt played since breaking a bone in his hand Nov. 11, the Newmarket, Ont., native has 16 goals and 35 assists in 18 games.In Erie, McDavid has Dylan Strome behind him on the depth chart and Alex DeBrincat as a linemate. In Montreal and Toronto at the world junior championship, he could be the No. 2 centre behind Sam Reinhart and skate with the likes of Lazar and Robby Fabbri.McDavid is expected to be the top pick in the NHL draft in June and is considered a franchise-changing, once-in-a-generation talent. But Hockey Canadas Ryan Jankowski believes Connor could buy into any role, and McDavid hopes he can do what Sidney Crosby and others did for gold in Sochi.This is a great group of talent, everyone plays big minutes on their own team, McDavid said. You look at the Olympics: Why were they successful? Its because guys were willing to accept roles that werent necessarily the most flattering roles, but thats what wins championships. I think everyone here is willing to do that.None of this is to say McDavid wants to play second banana to Reinhart, Lazar, Duclair or anyone else. He had a goal and three assists in this tournament last year despite being just 16.And despite what Groulx said about making a difference, McDavid takes the responsibility on himself.You want to be a difference-maker every time youre on the ice, McDavid said.McDavid may be just that. New Years Eve at the Bell Centre is being billed as McDavid vs. U.S. star Jack Eichel, and its undoubtedly the tournaments matchup to watch.The McDavid/Eichel storyline tires for the prospective top two draft picks, wwho have never met. Fake Bulls Jerseys. McDavid said he feels like he knows Eichel just from being asked about him so much.Its a little bit annoying, I guess, McDavid said. Ive never even spoken to him.McDavid answers the questions about Eichel and everything else because hes the centre of attention, at least from the outside. But McDavid doesnt big-time his teammates in the process.Hes really good about it, said Fabbri, who has played with or against McDavid since the two were seven and eight years old, respectively. Nothing gets to his head. We have some laughs about it, but other than that everyones cool.Erie Otters assistant coach and former NHL defenceman Jay McKee raves about McDavids humility, which he said rivals Crosbys. McDavid said the key is surrounding himself with good people, including his parents and agents at the Orr Group.All my friends and teammates and all that, they do a good job of keeping me grounded, he said. Just making sure youre never get too high and just treating you like a normal guy.McDavid is one of seven returning players on Canadas world junior team, along with Reinhart, Lazar, Nic Petan, Frederik Gauthier, defenceman Josh Morrissey and goaltender Zach Fucale. Because of that, Groulx and his staff could count on McDavid to be part of the leadership group, even though he wont have the C on his chest.Im still one of the youngest guys in the room, if not the youngest, said McDavid, who is captain of the Otters. But I am a returning guy. I have a little bit of experience in this tournament and Ive been there before. Maybe Im a little bit of a leader, maybe not, Im not sure. I guess thats kind of up to the other guys to decide.Chants from young fans aside, in a room full of teenage hockey players, McDavid is one of the guys. Reinhart isnt at all worried about McDavid hype overshadowing the team.I think its pretty easy in the room, Reinhart said. Hes the first guy thats going to let everyone know that. Hes good about it, everyones good about it.Groulx knows McDavid isnt just one of the 22 players on his roster, but thats how hes treating him. The coach of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues Gatineau Olympiques is in charge of more than just McDavids success.I dont think it is the Connor McDavid show, Groulx said. I think Connor is one of our good players, but he is still a young man and I think we have many returning guys on this team. Our goal is to build a team.McDavids goal is to win a gold medal. Roles could change from the opener against Slovakia through the knockout games, but he doesnt mind taking less to achieve more.Its fine, McDavid said. Theres some unbelievable players on this team and just to be on its an honour.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter ' ' '