Red-Racers Forum » s. The Tribe shot 53.6 percent from the field, but they

Gordon Hayward is not the first name that comes to mind as a potential first-time All-Star this year.The unassuming forward, playing for the small-market Utah Jazz, has quietly posted strong numbers while toiling in seeming anonymity. He has come a long way from the bright-eyed leader of the upstart Butler team that reached the NCAA championship game in 2010.Hayward, who missed the first six games of the season with a fractured finger, did not take long to get into his All-Star form. He scored 28 points in Sundays win over the New York Knicks and then scored 29 points in Wednesdays loss to the Charlotte Hornets.Entering Fridays game against the Orlando Magic, Hayward is averaging 25.7 points and shooting 47.2 percent from the floor in three games.Gordons been very important to us, Jazz coach Quin Snyder told Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune. It helps anytime you have a good player in your lineup. Having Gordon back is certainly better than having him out. And Gordons ability to handle the ball takes some pressure off the other guys who are playing the point for us.Hayward is not quite the picture of a superstar to many, but he certainly helps galvanize and draw together a team with high aspirations for the season.But Hayward is not the only one the Jazz rely on. Utah is off to a 5-4 start this season and their vaunted defense is starting to get into high gear, 10th in the league giving up 101.6 points per 100 possessions.This is a team that relies on Hayward, along with shot-blocking savant Rudy Gobert and steady veteran hands in George Hill, Boris Diaw and Joe Johnson. They are an average offense by all measures and even with Hayward dropping in big numbers they rely on each other as much as anyone.Hill has blossomed after his trade from Indiana to average 20.4 points and 5.0 assists per game. Rodney Hood continues his maturation, making 46.2 percent of his 3-pointers on his way to 17.9 points per game.This kind of balanced approach is something the struggling Orlando Magic are still looking to establish.The Magic lack that potential All-Star player and are instead relying on each other to produce offense. The team has struggled mightily on that front, posting the worst field goal percentage in the league so far this season.Collectively, we need to come together and play as a team. One through 15 need to be on the same page in order for us to get wins and for us to compete at a high level. We need to trust each other and trust our coaching staff.The Magic are fifth in the league in assist rate, getting an assist on 63.8 percent of their made field goals. That would typically be a good sign of an offense moving the ball. But the teams 98.3 offensive rating is the sixth worst in the league.The Magic struggle to score, but do have pockets where the offense flows. Most of that occurs when the team gets stops and is able to get out in transition where they have plenty of athletic players who can finish around the basket.They have not put the puzzle pieces together, though. After winning three straight, the Magic fell to 3-5 with a second straight blowout loss, this time at home Wednesday to the Minnesota Timberwolves.Without the star, many Magic players said their margin for error is small offensively. And their struggles to generate consistent opportunities in the half-court is still a major concern.In many ways, the Magics rebuild this summer was done to try to emulate what the Jazz have built. A balanced squad, based on defense and size without a clear superstar.With Hayward beginning to emerge at a new level offensively, Utah seems set to knock down that door. Meanwhile, Orlando is still figuring itself out.Wholesale NBA Jerseys Authentic . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Wholesale NBA Jerseys Free Shipping .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. http://www.cheapnbajerseysusa.com/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. NBA Jerseys China . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Wholesale Basketball Jerseys . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good.Monday nights game between No. 12 Louisville and William & Mary in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., pits two teams coming off strong performances in their respective season openers.While trouncing Evansville 78-47 in the season-opener Friday night, the Cardinals got 19 points and 14 rebounds from junior forward Jaylen Johnson and double-digit scoring from sophomore guard Donovan Mitchell (15) and junior center Anas Mahmoud (10) in the win over the Purple Aces (0-1). Louisvilles stifling defense held Evansville to just 28.1 percent shooting, out-rebounding the Aces 52-29.Louisville (1-0) is a heavy favorite coming into Monday nights 7 p.m. tipoff, but coach Rick Pitino isnt take the Tribe (1-0) lightly.The game Monday is really going to be a difficult game, Pitino said. This team opened up with N.C. State last year and they beat them by (in the) opening game.Pitino said he specifically picked out the Cardinals early-season schedule to provide maximum competition for his talented team. William & Mary seems to fit the bill, going 20-11 last season and returning four of its top five players, including 6-foot-7 forward Omar Prewitt.They are a veteran team with a young man from Lexington whos just an outstanding basketball player (Prewitt) and we are going to really play great defense like we did (Friday), the entire night because they are very difficult to guard, Pitino said Friday night. The young man who is coming back -- Omar Prewitt -- is a hell of a basketball player, so we have two days to prepare and pay attention to it and we think we will be ready.The Cardinals will face a confident Tribe after William & Mary beatt Division III Bridgewater 96-44 on Saturday afternoon.dddddddddddd Prewitt was one of five William & Mary players to score in double figures.Tribe head coach Tony Shaver said, I was encouraged because I thought we played hard. We had a 30-point lead and Daniel Dixon is still diving on the floor. We have got to have that to be a championship caliber team. I was really proud of all the guys effort.In addition to Prewitts 14 points in 19 minutes Saturday, the Tribe also got 17 points from freshman wing Justin Pierce, 11 apiece from senior guard Daniel Dixon and junior guard Connor Burchfield and 10 from sophomore power forward Paul Rowley.The Tribe beat Bridgewater with a school record 22 steals, forcing 25 turnovers. William & Mary converted all those turnovers in 36 points. The Tribe shot 53.6 percent from the field, but they know it wont be as easy at Louisville Monday night.You think Louisville is a little bigger than these guys? Shaver said with a smile after William & Marys win over Bridgewater.William & Mary will face Louisville, Duke and Rhode Island during its nonconference schedule.I dont think its any question, were playing the toughest nonconference schedule weve faced, Shaver said. That schedule, how we handle it is very important. We wont win all those games, but during a stretch like that if you can be successful and have some success it will build confidence and better prepare us for CAA play. But it also can cripple you if youre not playing well. Its a great challenge for our guys. ' ' '