s outstanding player honour in 06 after registering 105 c

PORTLAND, Ore. - Nicolas Batum had a simple question for his Portland teammates: "Why not us?" No other team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. But the Trail Blazers took the first step Monday night by beating the San Antonio Spurs 103-92 to stave off elimination and narrow the Western Conference semifinal series to 3-1. "Why not us? No, its never been done before," Batum said. "We know its going to be tough. It wont be easy, especially against this team. The French forward had 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists and pestered fellow countryman Tony Parker all night. Damian Lillard had 25 points to lead the Blazers, who won their first second-round playoff game since a victory over Utah in the 2000 conference semifinals. "We had nothing to lose tonight. We had no pressure. It was do or die," Batum said. "So we just go out there and play." Portland held Parker to 14 points after he had scored 29 points or more in three of his last four playoff games. Coach Gregg Popovich sat Parker and Tim Duncan after Portland built a 20-point lead in the final quarter. The Spurs are looking to advance to the conference finals for the third straight season. Game 5 is Wednesday night in San Antonio. "The energy was weird tonight," Parker said. "You have to give a lot of credit to Portland. They played great. They came out of the gates and I thought Batum was great tonight. He gave them a big boost." The Blazers were the last team to take a series to seven games after dropping the first three. Portland rebounded in the first round against Dallas in 2003, but ultimately lost the deciding game in the first-round series. The Blazers have been hurt by the loss of backup point guard Mo Williams to a groin injury for the past two games. Williams provided both energy and points off the bench all season in relief of Lillard. Portland got just six points off the bench in Game 3, but Will Barton provided a spark with 17 points on Monday night. Barton became the first Blazer with 17 points and six rebounds off the bench in a playoff game since Brian Grant in 2000 against Utah. "Any time you get a boost off the bench its always good for a momentum swing," San Antonios Danny Green said. "When he comes in and gets the crowd into it, they pretty much get it going, and it helped them a lot. " Coach Terry Stotts promised that the Blazers would play with pride in Game 4 and they did from the start. Lillards pull up jumper gave Portland a 14-8 lead. He extended it to 20-14 with a layup. But the Spurs answered with a 9-2 run and took a 24-23 lead on Patty Mills 3-pointer. Portland, which had only led twice in the previous three games, quickly reclaimed the lead and held on until Tiago Splitter tied it at 46 with a free throw. The Blazers had a 50-48 lead at the half. "I though with the way Nico (Batum) played, the game came a lot easier," Lillard said. "He was attacking, making plays. He was pushing the ball." Lillard opened the second half with a 3-pointer. Batum hit a 3 and added a free throw to push the lead to 69-61. Batum added another 3 before Thomas Robinsons dunk and Lillards 3 made it 77-63 to cap a 12-2 Portland run. Lillards layup put Portland ahead 90-72 in the fourth quarter. He added another to make it 94-74. "If they lost today it was a sweep, but theyve got pride and they played good," Manu Ginobili said. "They played the game more desperately than we did. We didnt bring the same emotions the first three games. The bottom line is they played better than us in every aspect of the game. Parker scored 29 points in San Antonios 118-103 Game 3 victory on Saturday night. The Spurs had routed the Blazers 116-92 in the series opener after their grueling seven-game series against the Mavericks, then built a 20-point lead and won Game 2, 114-97. NOTES: Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll watched the game sitting next to Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder who owns both the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks and the Blazers. ... It was Batums first double-double in the playoffs. ... It was Portlands first playoff victory against the Spurs since May 1, 1993, in the first round. Marvin Jones Jr Jersey . Just ask Arsenal fans. However, Arsene Wenger has repeatedly told anyone willing to listen that finishing in that spot is more important than winning a cup competition. Calvin Johnson Jersey . The Philadelphia left fielder clubbed a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Phillies edged the Red Sox, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. http://www.officialdetroitlionspro.com/K...ons-jersey/.com) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to win two straight games for the first time since mid-January on Monday night as they play host to the struggling New York Islanders. Detroit Lions Jerseys . Anderson is scheduled to have neck surgery April 8 to repair the injury, which occurred when he collided with the Celtics Gerald Wallace during a game in Boston on Jan. 3. The 6-foot-10 Pelicans forward, who had been averaging 19. Custom Detroit Lions Jerseys . -- The Val-dOr Foreurs made it to the Memorial Cup semifinal thanks to their workhorse goaltender and their ability to hang around like a bad cold.All Geroy Simon wanted was the chance to play. The native of Johnstown, Pa., knew little about the CFL in 1999 when he joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a rookie free agent. Fourteen years later, Simon is close to leaving his mark as the most prolific receiver in league history. Simon, 38, already the CFLs all-time receiving yards later, needs just six catches to eclipse Ben Cahoons career mark of 1,017. And the Saskatchewan Roughriders veteran slotback can break the record Sunday night against his former team, the B.C. Lions. "I didnt know much about the CFL when I came up here, I had bounced around the NFL and felt like I wasnt getting a fair shot," Simon said Wednesday during a conference call. "I just wanted to go somewhere where I was going to have an opportunity to play and I know if I got a true opportunity that I would do well. "Obviously I didnt think Id be No. 1 in the history of a league thats over 100 years old . . . when I first got here and looked at the record book and saw Allen Pitts (at 14,891 career yards) I just hoped to have just one 1000-yard season. I just wanted to play football no matter if it was north or south of the border, I just wanted a true opportunity to be a professional and show I can do it and at a high level." The six-foot-two, 198-pound Simon is just one of three players in league history to accumulate over 1,000 career catches -- Cahoon and Terry Vaughn are the others -- and has amassed 16,128 yards and 103 TDs over his illustrious 15-year CFL career. "Ben and I have been friends for a long time," Simon said. "He was a great player in this league and Im honoured to have an opportunity to break a record of such a legendary player." And if Simon scores a touchdown against B.C., hell strike his traditional Superman pose. "Of course," he said. "I feel fans expect that and its something Ive done throughout my career. "It wont change since Im playing B.C." Simon spent his first two CFL seasons with Winnipeg before signing with B.C. as a free agent following the 2000 campaign. Simons career took off with the Lions with six league all-star nominations and two Grey Cup titles (2006, 11). Simon also captured the CFLs outstanding player honour in 06 after registering 105 catches for 1,856 yards and 15 TDs, all career highs. Simon was a model of consistency with B.C., registering nine straight 1,000-yard seasons. But he missed five games with hamstring injuries last year and was limited to 54 catches for 700 yards and two TDs. Once the 2012 campaign ended, Simon was open to restructuring his contract with B.C. but had said if the club didnt want him back hed look at playing elsewhere. Lions GM Wally Buono gave Simon and his camp permission to gauge interest in a potential trade, and on Jan. 24 the veteran was dealt to Saskatchewan for receiver Justin Harper and a 2014 third-round draft pick. An upper body injury forced Simon to miss Saskatchewans first three regular-season games. But when he joined the starting lineup, Simons role was to mentor and complement young guns Chris Getzlaf, Weston Dressler and Taj Smith while providing a veteran presence and leadership. "I think I bring a presence in the locker-room and on the sideline," Simon said. "I think I have a voice a lot of people will listen to because of the success Ive had in the past . . . a lot of younger players come to me for my leadership. "I give my opinion when needed and I think its been working out pretty well because I do it in subtle way at times that maybe people dont understand but the message gets through." Simon has registered just one 100-yard game this season, recording five catches for 125 yards and a TD in a 32-20 road win over Hamilton on July 27. Three times Simon has finished with five receptions in a contest, but has had two or less in the other five. On Saturday, Simon faces his former B.C. teammates for the first time since the trade. Simon, who turned 38 last week, had five catches for 69 yards in last weekends 31-29 loss to Toronto and has 23 receptions for 341 yards and three TDs this season. But Simon has nothing to prove against the Lions. "Im excited for the week, I get to see some guys Ive not seen in a long time," he said. "As cliche as it sounds, I have to treat this as any other game once it gets going. "Ill be excited and ready to go just because Ill be playing against guys I practised against the last 10-to-12 years and have the opportunity to play against and try to get a win." Theres certainly plenty on the line as Saskatchewan (8-3) and B.C. (7-4) chase front-running Calgary (9-2) in the West Division. Its also the first of three head-to-head meetings between the Riders -- whove lost two straight -- and Lions with that being the tie-breaker should they end the season tied in the standings. "Any time you play a divisional opponent its huge," Simon said. "I know B.C. gets stronger during the year and thats one thing were trying to do. "This is going to be a huge game and Im really looking forward to it. It happens to be against my old team. Im not worried about who the opponent is, I just want to go out and win.&qquot; Simon says hes enjoyed playing in Regina, a football-mad city with no shortage of diehard fans who are rabid in their support of the Riders.dddddddddddd "I wanted to play football in a place where football was king," he said. "At times you cant go anywhere and hide . . . but at the same time people give you your space here. "This is one of the warmest places Ive ever been with people willing to help and just doing things for you. It has been an amazing experience to this point." And it seems Riders fans will see a lot more of Simon. He intends on playing through the 2014 season before sitting down and determining his football future. "Coming into my professional career I was on a 10-year plan and wouldve been happy just to play 10 years," he said. "Once I got to 10, I felt I was just getting going and starting to hit that momentum. "I think Ive got a lot left in the tank and feel I still have a lot I can do in this league." Simon spent his first two CFL seasons with Winnipeg before signing with B.C. as a free agent following the 2000 campaign. Simons career took off with the Lions with six league all-star nominations and two Grey Cup titles (2006, 11). Simon also captured the CFLs outstanding player honour in 06 after registering 105 catches for 1,856 yards and 15 TDs, all career highs. Simon was a model of consistency with B.C., registering nine straight 1,000-yard seasons. But he missed five games with hamstring injuries last year and was limited to 54 catches for 700 yards and two TDs. Once the 2012 campaign ended, Simon was open to restructuring his contract with B.C. but had said if the club didnt want him back hed look at playing elsewhere. Lions GM Wally Buono gave Simon and his camp permission to gauge interest in a potential trade, and on Jan. 24 the veteran was dealt to Saskatchewan for receiver Justin Harper and a 2014 third-round draft pick. An upper body injury forced Simon to miss Saskatchewans first three regular-season games. But when he joined the starting lineup, Simons role was to mentor and complement young guns Chris Getzlaf, Weston Dressler and Taj Smith while providing a veteran presence and leadership. "I think I bring a presence in the locker-room and on the sideline," Simon said. "I think I have a voice a lot of people will listen to because of the success Ive had in the past . . . a lot of younger players come to me for my leadership. "I give my opinion when needed and I think its been working out pretty well because I do it in subtle way at times that maybe people dont understand but the message gets through." Simon has registered just one 100-yard game this season, recording five catches for 125 yards and a TD in a 32-20 road win over Hamilton on July 27. Three times Simon has finished with five receptions in a contest, but has had two or less in the other five. On Saturday, Simon faces his former B.C. teammates for the first time since the trade. Simon, who turned 38 last week, had five catches for 69 yards in last weekends 31-29 loss to Toronto and has 23 receptions for 341 yards and three TDs this season. But Simon has nothing to prove against the Lions. "Im excited for the week, I get to see some guys Ive not seen in a long time," he said. "As cliche as it sounds, I have to treat this as any other game once it gets going. "Ill be excited and ready to go just because Ill be playing against guys I practised against the last 10-to-12 years and have the opportunity to play against and try to get a win." Theres certainly plenty on the line as Saskatchewan (8-3) and B.C. (7-4) chase front-running Calgary (9-2) in the West Division. Its also the first of three head-to-head meetings between the Riders -- whove lost two straight -- and Lions with that being the tie-breaker should they end the season tied in the standings. "Any time you play a divisional opponent its huge," Simon said. "I know B.C. gets stronger during the year and thats one thing were trying to do. "This is going to be a huge game and Im really looking forward to it. It happens to be against my old team. Im not worried about who the opponent is, I just want to go out and win." Simon says hes enjoyed playing in Regina, a football-mad city with no shortage of diehard fans who are rabid in their support of the Riders. "I wanted to play football in a place where football was king," he said. "At times you cant go anywhere and hide . . . but at the same time people give you your space here. "This is one of the warmest places Ive ever been with people willing to help and just doing things for you. It has been an amazing experience to this point." And it seems Riders fans will see a lot more of Simon. He intends on playing through the 2014 season before sitting down and determining his football future. "Coming into my professional career I was on a 10-year plan and wouldve been happy just to play 10 years," he said. "Once I got to 10, I felt I was just getting going and starting to hit that momentum. "I think Ive got a lot left in the tank and feel I still have a lot I can do in this league." Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseys discount uswnt jersey Wholesale AC Milan Jerseys Wholesale Arsenal Jerseys Wholesale A.S. 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