NEU » rambles and traffic. Jonathan Quick

The post-Olympics run to the WNBA playoffs was anything but kind to Los Angeles, but those struggles easily could be forgotten it the team achieves success in the postseason.The Sparks begin the playoffs Wednesday at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif., with the opener a best-of-five semifinal series against the soaring Chicago Sky.The Sparks, the No. 2 overall seed in the postseason after a 26-8 regular season, went 5-5 after the league took a month-long break for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro but won their final two games.I think Coach (Brian Agler) understands we have to get better but also prepare our bodies physically, said Los Angeles forward Nneka Ogwumike, who on Tuesday was selected the WNBAs Most Valuable Player. Theres more focus on small things, and I wouldnt say that were going as hard as we were before.Ogwumike shot a WNBA-best 66.5 percent from the field this season, the second-highest mark of all time, and ranked third in the league in scoring (a career-high 19.7 points per game) and rebounding (9.1 boards per game, also a career high).She recorded the second-most double-doubles in the league (18) and set WNBA records for consecutive field goals made (23) and most field goals in a game without a miss (12, against the Dallas Wings on June 11).The Sparks won their first 11 games, the second-longest winning streak to open a season in WNBA history, and began 20-1 to equal the best-ever start.Los Angeles hasnt played a game since posting a regular-season-ending victory over the San Antonio Stars on Sept. 16. The Sparks received a double bye into the semifinals.Its real strange, real strange, Agler said about the layoff in the playoffs. But well be ready this time around. We have to be.Conversely, Chicago, by way of the No. 4 seed, had only a first-round bye, then beat the Atlanta Dream 108-98 in a single-game elimination playoff round on Sunday to reach the semifinals.The availability of Chicago forward Elena Delle Donne, who has been sidelined since Sept. 12 after undergoing thumb surgery, could be a huge factor in this series. The Sky hopes to have Delle Donne back for at least some of the series to help counter the Sparks dynamic frontcourt tandem of Ogwumike and former MVP Candace Parker.Chicago is 4-2 without Delle Donne, surprising many who thought the team would fade without its star in the lineup.Everybody has written us off, and I dont think anybody believed that we were going to be able win games without her except us, Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot said after the win over Atlanta. The biggest factor is we believe that we can do it and we all know that we had to step up. We have enough on this team to get it done.The Sky went 7-3 over their final 10 regular-season games. Chicago led the league in scoring at 90.1 points per contest despite playing its final five games without Delle Donne.Chicago beat Atlanta in the second round of the playoffs thanks to a balanced attack in which seven players scored at least eight points.Los Angeles swept the three-game regular-season series with the Sky, winning twice in the Chicago. Kyrie 2 Shoes White . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Kyrie 4 Confetti For Sale . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. http://www.kyrieirvingshoescheap.com/cheap-kyrie-2-shoes-a/kyrie-2-black.html .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Cheap Kyrie 2 For Sale . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. Kyrie 4 Confetti For Sale Cheap . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006.Throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL on TSN analyst and former NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan ranks the netminders after each game night. Today he grades the performances from the Bruins-Rangers opener and Game 2 between the Kings and Sharks. Number values assigned are out of five with five being the best performance. Henrik Lundqvist - 4 - The only reason they were in the game late. Two goals were through the body (six hole, he was deep in net) which translates to no room for error. This is uncharacteristic for him, but was huge late in game and great in overtime> He made big saves on the PK, and a game-saver on Krejci with the left arm, but ultimately gets beat by a good play by Marchand. Tuukka Rask - 4 – Rask was not tested as much as Lundqvist, but made big saves at the right time, especially on Nash in tight, and a right pad save on Brassard in the second periood.dddddddddddd He has shown poise in tough situations when there have been scrambles and traffic. Jonathan Quick – 3 – He robs Vlasic in the second period with a huge push and great flexibility. Wingels got the same treatment, but three consecutive goals against had Quick looking human. He had no chance on the Marleau goal. He usually is really good at sealing off the post, but there were bodies there, including his own player (Fraser) on the Vlasic goal. Antti Niemi - 2 – The Kings are targeting his blocker side, just above the pad. Carters goal hits the spot. Doughty hit it a bit higher, and two late PP goals by the Kings were backbreakers. I did not like the rebound on the Lewis game-winner, played perfectly by Toffoli to shoot far leg/post for a rebound off the rush. Niemi needs to identify the rush and do a better job of directing the rebound. ' ' '