Crazy Rebel(l)s
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18.04.2019 05:42
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Gerald Henderson decided to re-sign with the Bobcats because he had unfinished business to resolve in Charlotte. The 25-year-old Henderson has been through some incredibly trying times in four seasons -- the Bobcats are 106-206 during that span, including an NBA record-worst 7-59 in 2011-12. But he said Monday at a press conference the challenge of turning things around is huge motivation for him. "You go through anything tough and its easy to give up and say you want to move on or whatnot," said Henderson, who signed a three-year, $18 million deal last week with the Bobcats. "As bad as it got, and I was part of the problem, it was kind of one of those things where you look at as it can only get better. With the pieces weve added we can find our way out of it." Henderson, who averaged a career-high 15.5 points per game last season, is particularly excited about the addition of big men Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller, who he said will not only help the team, but should also free up open looks for him and the teams other guards. "I think with more attention on guys down low it frees up the perimeter a bunch," Henderson said. "Any team with a good big man, you will see the guards get more freedom and have more open shots. With Al, teams are going to have to double team him so you have more chances for open shots." Henderson is eager to cash in. He improved his 3-point shooting from 23.4 per cent in 2011-12 to 33 per cent last year, giving the Bobcats hope that he can develop into a legitimate shooting guard. This season Henderson wants to take that a step further and his goal is to shoot better than 40 per cent from beyond the 3-point arc. "That is kind of where the game is going," Henderson said. "The 3-point line is where a lot of teams try to take advantage of it. That is something in my game where I want to take advantage of." Henderson has always been a player whose strength is getting to the basket and drawing fouls, something which former coach Mike Dunlap encouraged. But he said new Bobcats coach Steve Clifford has placed an added emphasis on 3-point shooting. "I know that is the direction our team is going," Henderson said. Its always been my nature to get closer to the basket; Ive always played like that. But as the game evolves, my game has to evolve too. And Im working hard to improve that." Henderson, the 12th overall pick in 2009, said hes looking forward to working with Bobcats new assistant coach Mark Price, whom he referred to as a "shooting expert." Bobcats president of basketball operations Bob Higgins said the teams intention was always to re-sign Henderson, even though negotiations dragged at times as the two sides struggled to work out a deal both sides could live with. Higgins said that while Hendersons improved play over the final 21 games -- he averaged 23.9 points on 47.5 per cent shooting -- certainly turned some heads and was encouraging to see, it wasnt the determining factor in getting him back in a Bobcats uniform. "We always wanted him back," Higgins said. Now Henderson is eager to be part of the solution in Charlotte, a team that is just 28-120 over the past two seasons -- by far the worst combined record in the NBA. Henderson guarantees the Bobcats would be better this season, but wasnt ready to make a prediction on how many games theyll win. Charlotte was 21-61 last season, the second-worst record in the league behind only the Orlando Magic. "Thats a tough question," Henderson said. "Its hard to put numbers on a situation like this. I know this year will be better. Well be much improved. But to put a number on it and put added pressure on yourself isnt really fair." 12:52ET 05-08-13 Nike Air Max 1 Italia . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Air Max 1 Scontate . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.airmax1scontate.it/ .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Air Max 1 Scontate Online . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Air Max 1 Scontate Italia . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. (STATS) -- North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central have shared the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in each of the past two seasons. On Saturday, one of them will be the outright champion.The ninth-ranked Aggies make the short 55-mile trip from Greensboro to take on the No. 24 Eagles in Durham in a winner-take-all season finale with a trip to the Celebration Bowl on the line.North Carolina A&T (9-1) has won all seven of its conference games following its only loss, 58-21 at FBS member Tulsa on Sept. 17. North Carolina Central (8-2) is also unbeaten in seven MEAC contests and has won eight in a row overall, leading to the program entering the STATS FCS Top 25 for the first time Monday.That means there can be only one MEAC champion after the Aggies and Eagles were part of a five-way tie in 2014 before both shared the title with Bethune-Cookman last season. North Carolina A&T won the tiebreaker in 2015 and went on to beat Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Alcorn State 41-34 in the inaugural Celebration Bowl.The Eagles have won the past two meetings in this series -- both in the season finale -- to earn a share of the MEAC title.Its going to be a big one, said North Carolina A&Ts Rod Broadway, a finalist for the STATS Eddie Robinson Award as FCS Coach of the Year. Were going up against a 7-0 team and theyre our biggest rival. We have to be better prepared to play well.The Eagles have managed to beat the Aggies twice in a row despite Tarik Cohen combining for 315 rushing yards and two touchdownss.dddddddddddd Cohen, a finalist for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award as Offensive Player of the Year, is second in the FCS with 1,436 yards and 17 TDs on the ground.The senior recorded his fourth 200-yard game of the season last Saturday, rushing 13 times for 221 yards -- an average of 17 per carry -- and two scores in North Carolina A&Ts 45-14 win at Delaware State.North Carolina Central does most of its damage through the air. The Eagles lead the MEAC with 225 passing yards per game behind redshirt senior Malcolm Bell, who tops the league with 2,007 yards and 15 passing TDs and is tied for second with seven rushing scores.North Carolina A&T also has a star quarterback in redshirt sophomore Lamar Raynard, who ranks first in the MEAC in completion percentage (64.6) and pass efficiency (140.8 rating) and second behind Bell in passing TDs (14).Both squads have solid receiving corps. The Aggies are led by senior Denzel Keyes and freshman Elijah Bell, who have combined for 15 TD catches, while senior LaVontis Smith and sophomore Jalen Wilkes have five each for the Eagles.I think everybodys getting what they always wanted, theyre gonna get an outright champion this year, North Carolina Central coach Jerry Mack said. Everythings on the table and we want to be greedy this year. We want to have a chance to take an outright championship and go to a bowl game, so its right there before us. ' ' ' |
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