the systems Schmidt

[blueberryjerry]

LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin scored a season-high 40 points, overcoming early foul trouble and a career-worst eight turnovers to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 98-90 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. . Griffin made his first 12 free throws and finished 14 for 17 from the foul line. The three-time All-Star, who entered this season a 61.1 per cent career free throw shooter, has made 80.6 per cent of his attempts over his last eight games and raised his season mark to 70 per cent. Chris Paul had 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Los Angeles. Shooting guard Jamal Crawford missed his first five shots and finished 4 for 16 with 13 points after averaging 20 points and 40.3 per cent shooting from the field in seven games after he was inserted into the starting lineup. The Clippers, coming off a pair of narrow road losses to Golden State and Portland -- the latter in overtime -- havent lost three in a row yet this season. Enes Kanter had 17 points off the bench for the Jazz, including a 16-footer with 4:20 remaining -- their last field goal of the game. Utahs 9-24 record is the second-worst in the NBA and just 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee. Derrick Favours, who made the game-winning dunk off an offensive rebound in the final seconds of Utahs 105-103 home win over the languishing Lakers on Friday night, had four points and nine rebounds during a foul-plagued 22 minutes before fouling out with 1:19 to play. The Clippers closed it out with an 8-0 run triggered by Griffins go-ahead dunk with 2:25 remaining. Utah led 43-42 at halftime despite 11 turnovers that were converted into 15 points. The Clippers, who committed a season-low six turnovers in Thursday nights loss to the Trail Blazers, had four in the first 1 1/2 minutes against the Jazz and finished with 13. Three of the early miscues were by Griffin, whose second foul landed him on the bench with 7:54 left in the opening quarter. Los Angeles missed all six shots from 3-point range before the break, the third time this season the Clippers were blanked from behind the arc in an entire half. They didnt connect from long range until their seventh attempt, when Crawford drained one from the right elbow 14 seconds into the third quarter for his first field goal of the game. The Clippers have beaten Utah seven straight times, after losing 11 of the previous 12 meetings. The winning streak matches their longest against the Jazz (Nov. 3, 1979 to Dec. 20, 1980). NOTES: Griffin became the fourth player to score at least 30 points against the Jazz, joining Kevin Durant (42), James Harden (37) and LeBron James (30). ... Jefferson, born in Los Angeles, is averaging 14.6 points in 28 career games against the Clippers. ... Pauls 111 double-doubles are the most by any point guard since the start of the 2010-11 season. Next on that list is Deron Williams of the Nets. . Manager Ryan Nelsen has confirmed Brazilian No. 1 Julio Cesar will be rested for Wednesdays first leg of the semifinal. That opens the door for Bendik, who started 33 games for Toronto last season. . His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. . City has reached new heights under manager Manuel Pellegrini as they transition from big spending/immediate impact to perennial contender. Yaya Toures seeming discontent Tuesday may complicate that, as does the little issue of Financial Fair Play.Amidst the elation in the aftermath of Ireland’s historic 40-29 victory over New Zealand on Saturday, full back Rob Kearney permitted himself a sigh of relief. In Chicago, a city that saw its beloved Cubs end a 108-year wait for a World Series title earlier in the week, Ireland went one better by finally beating the mighty All Blacks after 111 years of trying.It was a fate they were cruelly denied in 2013 when they conceded an injury-time try to Ryan Crotty in Dublin and Aaron Cruden slotted a conversion from the sideline to deny Ireland even a draw. That can now been forgotten. Kearney and his team-mates have laid that particular ghost to rest but as he celebrated on the pitch afterwards at Soldier Field, his joy at Irelands collective achievement was tinged with a sense of personal vindication. Ireland players celebrate at the final whistle against New Zealand After an injury-riddled 18 months, there was a growing clamour in the lead-up to the game for Kearney - for so long an automatic selection at No 15 for Ireland - to be dropped.Kearney responded with one of his finest ever displays in an Irish jersey but he admits his growing number of critics were on his mind prior to kick-off.Its been a tough enough 18 months, Kearney admitted. Just, first and foremost, the body has not been where it was been [in the past].Then on the back of that, youre not playing to your potential and people get on your case, then you get on your own case.Inside my head has been a dark enough place in the last few months.I wasnt sure if I was going to be selected this week, and Im just glad I was able to repay Joe [Schmidt, Ireland coach] and my fellow players the trust that has been shown. Garry Ringrose making a trademark step and break for Leinster Kearneys Leinster team-mate Garry Ringrose is perhaps the hottest prospect in Irish rugby since Brian ODriscoll burst onto the scene back in 1999.Many observers were advocating for his inclusion in the Irish team at outside centre, with Ulster star Jared Payne shifting to what many consider his more natural position of full back at Kearneys expense.Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt resisted the calls but he left Kearney in no doubt about what the stakes were for him before the game.When asked the faith Schmidt showed in him, Kearney said: He did, a huge amount of faith.I was glad to be able to repay it a little bit. Im sure hell have lots of things for me throughout the week - a few missed tackles and some coverage in the backfield, I might have got caught out once or twice.He pulled me aside before the game and he said, You need a big one today. It wasnt ideal, but it was good. New Zealand coach Steve Hansen shakes hands with Ireland boss Joe Schmidt Schmidt has coached Kearney since taking over at Leinster in 2010 and although not every player would respond to such pressure favourably, the Louth man accepts it is probably what he needed to hear.Weve been together a long time now from when he first came to Leinster, Kearney said. Maybe that was the one-liner that I need to put the fear of God into me.Ive been waiting for a spark, something like that, for so long and this week I just said, Dont wait, just go try and make something happen with the shackles free.Ive been in those moments beffore and things havent gone [my] way. . So I wont get carried away by any means, but its nice to be back on the horse a little bit, for how long I dont know.New Zealand trailed Ireland 25-8 at half-time in Chicago but there was a sense of déjà vu in the second half as the worlds No 1 team had cut the deficit to just four points by the 64th minute. The All Blacks celebrate Ryan Crottys last-gasp try in 2013 In November 2013 Ireland had led by 19-0 at one stage before ultimately paying the price for failing to trouble the scoreboard operators in the second half.Kearney and his team-mates learned a painful lesson that day about not sitting back against the All Blacks and put it into practice by going on the attack - an approach which paid dividends when Simon Zebo chipped the ball behind the All Blacks defence and forced Julian Savea to concede a five-metre scrum which led to Robbie Henshaws decisive try.It was unbelievable, Kearney said. When they got their few tries and they had their purple patch, we came back under the sticks and... we were right back in the Aviva in 2013 when we were under our sticks after losing the game. Irelands Simon Zebo celebrates with Johnny Sexton You learn from those experiences and I think we played and went to the edge once, and Zeebs [Simon Zebo] kicked that ball down the line. That was a huge play, whereas maybe back in 2013 we would have just kicked off first phase and let them come back at us.Its little intricacies likes that that you cant see them from the spectator watching, but to us it was a big moment in how far weve come maybe.The fact that Ireland managed to upset New Zealand without key performers such as Sean OBrien, Peter OMahony, Iain Henderson and Keith Earls makes the achievement all the more remarkable but Kearney says it is a credit to the systems Schmidt has implemented and the mentality he has fostered amongst his players.Weve always seen that with this team, he said. Weve got defence and attack systems and if youve got a number from 25 to 30 guys who can fit in and do the things that are expected of you, its less about the individual and more about the collective.If you work hard and do the things that youve been working on. The preparation time that weve had has been minimal but I havent felt as prepared for a game in a long, long time.Everyone just fronted up and did what was expected. All Blacks captain Kieran Reid exits the pitch after his sides loss to Ireland The All Blacks will have an opportunity to exact their revenge on Ireland when they meet in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 19, in a game which will be shown live on Sky Sports 2 HD.Kearney knows Ireland will have to raise their performance even further if they are to upset the reigning world champions for a second time in two weeks.Theyll be back, theyll be wounded, Kearney said. Theyre a class side. Their lineout was not functioning really today and they had a fair few handling errors. Were under no illusions whats coming back. Also See: Schmidt one of the best Stander: This was for Axel No excuses from All Blacks Ireland seal historic NZ win ' ' '

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