TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014 SPORTS

Even Thibodeau can’t Photo of the day defend this loss

CHICAGO: Watching the Bulls play offense coach-drew-it-up six-pass sequence with the some nights, it’s a wonder The House That last of his three 3-pointers around the 7-minute Jordan Built is still standing. Sunday turned out mark. “Up 13, we exhaled and they came back,” to be another one of those nights, and in a 102- said ruefully. “Bad turnovers, they 93 playoff-opening loss to the Washington got some easy scores. We’ve got to make Wizards no less. Worse, the tough-minded adjustments. “This is chess,” he added. “It isn’t defense that has let the Bulls stand up to high- checkers.” powered opponents lacked its usual effort and Given the pieces he’s been handed, intensity. Thibodeau has played his four seasons here like So coach Tom Thibodeau zeroed in where a Grandmaster. He helped Rose win the he always does. “One-hundred-and-two points, league’s MVP award before his knee gave out, 48 percent, outrebounded - it’s hard to win like stole a playoff round from Brooklyn last season that,” he said, just getting started. “Giving up 35 with the much-traveled (and since-departed) free throws ... “ Nate Robinson shooting out the lights, and The way those numbers rolled off now Thibodeau has refashioned the always- Thibodeau’s tongue was no accident. The guy awkward Noah into one of the most reliable spent most of his 25 years between head- big men in the game. Which made his perform- coaching jobs - Thibodeau’s first stint was at ance against the Wizards a little puzzling. Division III Salem State University in 1984-85 - To be sure, it came at the end of a tough at a half-dozen NBA stops, where every defense week. He flew to New York after learning of the he touched got better and someone else usual- death of Tyrone Green, a much-respected ly got the credit. youth coach whom Noah called a Thibodeau accomplished it by relentlessly mentor and “second father.” Against the breaking down game films, possession by pos- Wizards, Noah contributed 10 points, 10 session, then drawing up a plan to win every rebounds and a team-high four assists. But he one. That was long before he lost his two best also got run over repeatedly on the defensive scoring options early this season - Derrick Rose end by Nene, who scored a game-high 24 to a knee injury (again) after just 10 games; and points. in a deal with Cleveland after just 23. “He’s versatile,” Noah said in front of his lock- It’s like he’s competing - at least some nights - er, his voice barely above a whisper. “He can with one hand tied behind his back. The Bulls shoot, he can post up, he’s aggressive.” A finished an NBA-worst in scoring average and moment later, Noah was asked whether he shooting percentage, and only Miami and found it tough to play after losing a close Mansour Al Safran performs in Kuwait City, Kuwait.— www.redbull.com Indiana attempted fewer shots. friend. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. Thibodeau has made do with once-promis- But the moment after that, he was repeat- ing castoffs DJ Augustin and Mike Dunleavy, ing the Thibodeau mantra: If you can’t play any and made it a priority to share the ball, no mat- better, at least try harder. “We definitely have to ter how meager the talent at any given pick up our intensity a little bit,” Noah said. Wizards stop Bulls charge moment. But mostly, he doubled down on A few lockers over, DJ Augustin echoed it. what he knows best - treating every defensive “They came out and played harder,” he said. stand like it was the last. “We’re going to have to match that.” And a few CHICAGO: Nene dominated with 24 points and So no one had to remind Thibodeau the minutes after that, the master motivator himself scored 18 as the Washington Bulls were just 4-12 this season when they gave walked into the interview room. “Offensively, if Wizards rallied from 13 points down to beat the up 100 or more points, worse (2-11) when they we think a call isn’t going our way, you can’t Chicago Bulls 102-93 in their playoff opener on allowed opponents to shoot 48 percent or bet- allow that to take away from getting back and Sunday. ter from the floor, and winless (0-11) when they playing great defense. There is a lot of things John Wall scored 16 in his postseason debut. failed to collect at least 13 assists. In other you can do,” Thibodeau said finally, “to help your Marcin Gortat added 15 points and 13 rebounds, words: Thibodeau’s nightmare trifecta. team win.” Read between the lines and this is and the fifth-seeded Wizards pulled out the vic- What made it even tougher to digest is that the message he’s sending his team; You guys tory even though they looked like they were Chicago led by 13 points barely two minutes miss a lot of shots and because you’re not ready to be blown out. They cut a 13- into the third quarter and was still ahead 69-57 Michael Jordan, you won’t get a lot of calls. So deficit to one in the third and trailed by three when Dunleavy finished off a just-like-the- get back on defense - or else. —AP going into the fourth, before outscoring Chicago 18-6 over the final six minutes to come out on top in their first playoff appearance since 2008. Kuchar wins Heritage Game 2 is today. HEAT 99, BOBCATS 88 HILTON HEAD ISLAND: American Matt Augusta National roar (from the gallery).” LeBron James scored 27 points, Dwyane Kuchar ended a frustrating run of close calls Kuchar carded a seven-under 64 to finish Wade added 23 and Miami used a late charge to in spectacular style when he holed a bunker at 11-under-par 273, collecting $1.044 million beat Charlotte in Game 1 of an Eastern shot on his final hole to win the RBC Heritage for his seventh PGA Tour win. He had been in Conference first-round series. in South Carolina on Sunday. Minutes after contention in the final round the previous Chris Bosh scored 13 points and James Jones three-putting the 17th from four feet, Kuchar three weeks, finishing no worse than fifth, but had 12 for the Heat. Game 2 of the best-of-seven responded emphatically by sinking a 20-yard had stumbled down the stretch, most notably series is tomorrow. Kemba Walker scored 20 sand shot for birdie at the par-four 18th to at the Houston Open, where he bogeyed the points for the Bobcats, who led by nine early and beat third round leader Luke Donald by one last and lost a playoff. led again in the third. missed eight stroke at Harbour Town on Hilton Head The 35-year-old looked to have squan- of his final 13 shots after getting hurt in the first Island. “I wish it wasn’t that great a finish but I dered another chance after missing a four- quarter. He finished with 18 points and 10 made it that way after 17 and, man, that was footer and a two-footer at the penultimate rebounds for the Bobcats, who got 17 from Gary CHICAGO: guard Bradley Beal (3) drives to the basket against Chicago so thrilling to see that ball disappear,” said hole. “It was blowing pretty hard on that Neal and 15 from Josh McRoberts. Miami sealed Kuchar, in a green side television interview. green. I tried to play it straight (and) it went a Bulls Joakim Noah (left) and forward Carlos Boozer (5) during the first half in Game 1 of it with an 18-4 run in the fourth, all but three of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series. —AP “To hole the bunker shot in that fashion is little left,” said Kuchar of his first putt. “I know those points coming with James getting a rest. something I’ll never forget. That was a full-on that’s not a characteristic of mine to three- rebounds for top-seeded San Antonio, which has Aldridge fouled out with about a minute left putt from four feet (and) I wanted to have SPURS 90, MAVERICKS 85 won 10 straight against Dallas. Devin Harris in overtime in Game 1 of their first-round playoff another chance.” Tim Duncan scored 27 points, and San scored 19 points for the Mavericks, who nearly series and Lillard, who was making his playoff Donald, meanwhile, narrowly missed a 30- Antonio held Dallas to one in the final pulled off a huge . debut, took over. He scored the next five points yard birdie chip at the last and was left to rue seven minutes to win Game 1 of their first-round for Portland and put the Trail Blazers on top by another near-miss at Harbor Town, where he playoff series. The Mavericks also went scoreless TRAIL BLAZERS 122, ROCKETS 120 one point with a pair of free throws with 17 sec- has finished second or third five times in the for 51/2 minutes during that stretch, their lone LaMarcus Aldridge scored a club playoff- onds left. Game 2 is tomorrow in Houston. past six years. field goal coming as time expired. record 46 points and Damian Lillard added 31, Aldridge, who was playing in his home state, Americans Ben Martin (67) and John Huh Tony Parker had 21 points, and Manu Ginobili including the go-ahead free throws in overtime, also had 18 rebounds and two blocks. James (68) finished one shot further back in a tie for added 17. Kawhi Leonard had 11 points and 10 to lift the to a 122-120 vic- Harden and each scored 27 third. Donald started the day with a two-shot rebounds and pulled down 11 tory over the . points for Houston.—AP lead and shot 69, but it was not enough for the former British world number one, who double-bogeyed the par-four sixth after hit- ting his tee shot out-of-bounds. “I caught a gust there and took me right out of my rhythm and (hit a) big snap hook,” Donald said. “I hit a poor tee shot (into a water hazard) on 10 and would love to have given myself a better chance on 18 but other than that I hit a lot of solid shots.” With his victory, Kuchar joins an illustrious list of champions at Harbor Town that includes Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Matt Kuchar Watson, Payne Stewart, Nick Faldo and Greg holds the trophy after winning the final Norman. “To put my name on a list of champi- round of the RBC Heritage golf tourna- ons here, that is so great,” Kuchar said. “This ment. —AP means a lot to me.”—Reuters Can anyone stop Hamilton and Mercedes? SHANGHAI: A clean-sweep for Mercedes ing away on the straight. That’s where we’ve including a Lewis Hamilton hat-trick has left got to improve.” the rest of Formula One wondering whether Fernando Alonso drove an impeccable A group of players with the coaches and VIVA’s Public Relations and Social Media team. they can keep up this year, even after only race to finish third, Ferrari’s first podium of four races. the season which the Spaniard dedicated to The opening exchanges have all been won outgoing team principal Stefano Domenicali. by Mercedes, who have dropped just 18 But the two-time world champion was VIVA to announce players to attend points so far-after a broken spark plug forced guarded on whether the result was a break- Hamilton out of the season-opener in through. He did not seriously challenge the Melbourne. Since then, Mercedes have front two, and his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen Man United’s training program enjoyed three consecutive one-two finishes placed eighth. “We did improve the car a little with 2008 world champion Hamilton leading bit compared to the first three races, so we KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and The top 10 players will be chosen by a joint VIVA is very committed to encouraging team-mate Nico Rosberg, the winner in felt more competitive,” said Alonso, who most developed telecom operator, will judging committee consisting of MUSS coach- young people to develop their talents and Melbourne, home on each occasion. moved up to third in the drivers’ champi- announce the names of the ten players who es, a Kuwaiti team led by players from the hone their skills, and the Manchester United The Briton was untouchable at Sunday’s onship on 41 points. will visit Manchester to practice at Kuwaiti National Football team. Each of the program is just one of the many ways in Chinese Grand Prix, pulling away from pole “We will give 100 percent again and we Manchester United’s Cardington training players will be judged on the basis of their which we are trying to do this. We have been position to beat Rosberg by 18 seconds and will fight-but we need to see how develop- ground, and to play a game at Old Trafford, foot-balling capability and talent, physical fit- very pleased with the enthusiastic response complete a run of three straight F1 wins for ment is these three weeks and if we can bring the home of Manchester United. ness, discipline, their communication skills to this competition and we look forward to the first time. some extra new parts for Barcelona,” he The top 10 players, will be chosen from amongst each other as players and their gen- developing similar programs in the future.” It underlined a power advantage which added. over 200 participants who joined in the eral conduct on and off the field. In 2011, VIVA announced its sponsorship of propelled the Mercedes cars down the 1.3 The main consolation for Mercedes’ rivals Manchester United Soccer Academy try outs, The training program focused on different Manchester United for five years, starting with is that they have time to catch up, with 15 kilometre (0.8 miles) Shanghai back straight which were held on April 17, at Corner Soccer technical areas, such as dribbling, short pass- the 2011- 2012 Premier League season. In more than 20 kilometres an hour faster than races remaining and double points on offer at field next to the Kuwait Towers. All the play- ing, turning and finishing. The programs were August 2011 VIVA started to provide football their rivals. Red Bull boss Christan Horner, the season finale in Abu Dhabi. who saw Daniel Ricciardo and reigning world And they will be glad that Rosberg and ers will enjoy a fully funded week-long train- also designed to develop young players in fans the chance to win VIP tickets to watch champion Sebastian Vettel finish fourth and Hamilton have split the wins between them, ing camp in Manchester being trained by the other fields, such as tactical understanding, Manchester United play at Old Trafford in fifth, said his team needed to find a response leaving them within four points of each other best Manchester United coaches. and mental, physical and social growth. England. To support its sponsorship, VIVA has quickly. “We’re going to give it everything,” he and within sight of the other drivers. The Manchester United Soccer School Commenting on this occasion, also developed a number of exciting promo- said. “I believe we can take the fight to them. But Hamilton’s biggest rival is currently (MUSS) is a private facility very close to Abdulrazzaq Bader Al-Essa, Director of Public tional offers and distinguished gifts, enter- We just can’t concede too much more shaping as Rosberg, with whom he has Manchester city center. The players will be Relations and Social Media at VIVA said: “We taining programs, interactive competitions, ground. “You know we were 22 kilometres an sparred since their karting days and who accompanied by trainers, supervisors as well are very pleased to support these young ath- and organized a number of activities to pro- hour slower on that long straight today. That remains narrowly ahead courtesy of his win in as VIVA officials who will all ensure that they letes in bringing them closer to their dream of vide the subscribers with chances to watch represented almost 100 metres that we’re giv- Melbourne. —AFP are taken care of during their travels. becoming professional football players. the club stars playing matches at Old Trafford.