Dein erstes Forum » John Calipari allowed them to line up and, ro

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, recovering from a strained right Achilles tendon, told ESPN.com on Thursday that he has begun to resume on-court work as he moves toward a return to the lineup.But Nowitzki stressed that hell need to get through a full-speed practice or two this weekend with no setbacks before hes cleared to play.Its definitely better, but I really havent done much yet, Nowitzki told ESPN.com. Today was good, but we didnt go anything close to full speed. Just started moving on the court a bit.We dont want to rush anything and go back to where we were last week. So if I feel anything this weekend, theyre going to ease off again. Obviously I want to play in the Garden on Monday (against the Knicks) and I want to play in Boston (on Wednesday) -- two of my favorite road spots. But I just dont know at this point if its going to happen.Nowitzki suffered the Achilles strain in the Mavericks season opener at Indiana on Oct. 26. After missing the next two games due to illness, Nowitzki struggled with his movement in a road defeat Nov. 2 at Utah and again in a home loss Nov. 4 to Portland before shutting things down at halftime against the Blazers.While the Mavericks were in California this week, splitting road games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, Nowitzki stayed behind in Dallas to receive treatment from his personal German physiotherapist Jens Joppich.On Nov. 5, the Mavericks announced that Nowitzki, 38, would miss at least one week due to the Achilles discomfort.Dallas has reached the playoffs in 15 of the past 16 seasons. The lone exception was 2012-13, when Nowitzki, who ranks as the NBAs sixth-all-time leading scorer, missed the opening two months after needing arthroscopic knee surgery.? Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Hurricanes Jerseys 2021 . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Stitched Hurricanes Jerseys .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Fake Hurricanes Jerseys . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- It doesnt take long to figure out the Imperial Arena feels a little different.The temporary basketball venue that will host top-ranked Kentuckys game against Arizona State on Monday night is nestled within a 50,000-square-foot ballroom at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. Its a cozy setup complete with temporary bleachers holding about 3,500 fans closely surrounding the court, which sits atop hotel ballroom carpet peeking out around all sides.Above is a lighting system affixed to a ceiling hanging somewhat low for a college basketball arena.We create that of an intimate feeling, so to say, said Quinton Brennen, the resorts executive director of special events and entertainment. So the players are right there, and they become one with the fans and the fans become one with the players and things of that sort. You hear every scream, you hear every shout, you hear every cheer.Located in the Imperial Ballroom at one end of Paradise Island, the arena has been a busy hub for college basketball over the past week. It hosted the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament over Thanksgiving, an eight-team field that included No. 10 Louisville, No. 20 Baylor and No. 24 Michigan State.The Bears won the championship Friday, rallying from 22 down to beat the Cardinals 66-63.I know our players were really excited, Baylor coach Scott Drew said after the championship game. When they walked in, they saw it, they saw the lighting, they saw what quality of floor it was, they were really excited to play here. You know what, sometimes when you do things different, its really neat and something theyll always remember.Brennen said it normally takes seven or eight days to set up the basketball arena within a ballroom used for business meetings and concerts such a coming one for R&B singer John Legend. But the schedule was compressed this year due to a bbusiness convention, with Brennen saying the resort brought in extra help and had workers on overnight shifts to get it done in a little more than three days.ddddddddddddThe Wildcats (6-0) and the Sun Devils (4-2) both practiced here Sunday to get accustomed to the arena setting. The Wildcats opened their workout to their fans who made the trip to the Bahamas. Afterward, coach John Calipari allowed them to line up and, row by row, come to midcourt to take pictures with his team.Anything we can do to make it special for the fans who made the trip, Calipari said afterward.Arizona State junior guard Shannon Evans II said the biggest adjustment was the 26-foot height of the ceiling because it feels so close and compact.This is a little bit different feel because its a ballroom, Evans said. The ceiling is kind of close down to the court. But I feel like after you get in here for a few and shoot a couple of shots, you feel fine and you kind of feel normal.There didnt appear to be any ill effects on the teams playing in the Battle 4 Atlantis. While there were some bad shooting numbers, the teams combined to post eight shooting percentages of 45 percent or better -- including Baylors 65 percent second-half shooting and 53 percent for the game in the final against Louisville.They have it set up really nice for us, Kentucky senior guard Mychal Mulder said. The lighting is good, the courts really good. I was impressed when I walked in, I didnt expect to see that. Its a pretty impressive thing to see how they got it together for us. I think well be just fine.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '