Wilkommen bei den Schatten » worked so hard. You deserve to be here. You

Februarys All-Star Weekend in New Orleans is a long way away. Yet when it comes to Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine, everyone is already thinking about it and what might come. The two players who stole the show -- stole the whole All-Star Weekend in Toronto -- are still making their victory laps it seems.Neither LaVine nor Gordon is ready to commit to the Slam Dunk Contest in February. But the two-time dunk champion and his greatest challenger will meet on the court for the first time since that Saturday in Toronto when the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-5) visit the Orlando Magic (3-4) at Amway Center on Wednesday.The two players have been tied together more since that epic back-and-forth dunk contest. They ended up at promotional stops together in China during the offseason. They were part of a Nike commercial together, where naturally they were throwing each other alley-oops.Were both very casual, relaxed dudes, Gordon said after practice Tuesday. We chop it up, joke about it and laugh about it. We both know we put on a show.Gordon and LaVine indeed put on a show with their back-and-forth display of incredible athleticism that made the dunk contest the talk of the entire weekend. Many people believed Gordon should have won the contest. Even Zach LaVine has said he thought they should split the trophy.The two are still creating highlights on a nightly basis. Gordon busted out a 360 dunk in-game last week at Philadelphia and has some hair-raising dunks and alley-oops already.But the question for these two young players next is how do they turn their dunk contest success into actual production on the court?LaVine so far has looked like he is beginning to find his fit. Now relieved of Minnesotas point guard experiment, LaVine is averaging 17.7 points per game and is shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc.He scored 31 points in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies last week and had 17 points in the Timberwolves 119-110 loss in Brooklyn on Tuesday.I think each year hes gotten better, coach Tom Thibodeau told Derek James of ESPN 1500 in Minneapolis following the win over the Grizzlies last week. Hes comfortable and puts a lot of work into his game. He spends a lot of time shooting. I think he has a much better understanding of the NBA game now and I think theres a lot of room for him to grow, too. I think he can be terrific defensively.Gordon too has had to evolve his game. He has found that process a little more difficult.The Magic are testing him out at the small forward position and playing him on the perimeter more. With the increased playing time and role, he is averaging 11.6 points per game and shooting a career-best 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. There are still plenty of hiccups and inefficiencies in the 21-year-olds game.Both LaVine and Gordon, though, are young. Their insane athleticism is a reminder of that. The two are forever bound in that incredible evening in Toronto.Now the two are looking to expand their games and help their young teams take the next step closer to the playoffs. Discount Authentic Saucony Shoes . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Wholesale Saucony Shoes . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.cheapsaucony.com/ . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Cheap Saucony Shoes Free Shipping .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Saucony Shoes Outlet Store . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Excerpted from Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance by Simone Biles, Copyright ? 2016 by Simone Biles. Used by permission of Zondervan, www.zondervan.com.From Chapter 19: The Final Five... [On] Tuesday, August 9, our team did exactly what we had been training for so many years to do: We performed almost flawless routines and won team gold. If the all-around win was considered to be the jewel in the crown, the team medal was the crown itself -- the main reason we were there. On the podium afterward, feeling the heavy gold disc around my neck, I felt so privileged to be standing with my teammates. All I could think was, Wow, we did it. How long have I dreamed about this? We were so happy for each other and for ourselves, but our job was only half over. The all-around competition and the event finals were still to come. I wasnt anywhere near finished trying to make my family and my country proud.That afternoon, we told Martha that wed named ourselves the Final Five as a tribute to her. When we explained how wed all agreed on the name, she dabbed the corners of her eyes and said in her thick accent, Oh my God, I love you guys even more now! And she hugged us tightly. The rest of the afternoon and evening was a whirl of press interviews and photo ops, and then it was home to our little pod in the Olympic Village. We all fell right into bed, because we had to be up for our regular eight a.m. training the next morning. Before going to sleep, I carefully folded the green multicolored ribbon around my medal and put it at the bottom of my backpack. Later, they would give us sleek wooden cases to hold our medals, but for now, my makeshift storage would have to do.Can you believe we actually did it? Laurie whispered, stifling a yawn before we drifted off. Were not just Olympians now; were gold medalists.I was too exhausted from happiness to answer, so I just smiled. But when I awoke the next morning, I wasnt quite sure if the day before had all been a dream. I reached for my backpack and pulled out the medal, just to be sure. I unrolled the green ribbon and placed the gold disc in the palm of my hand, feeling its distinctive weight as I sent up a silent prayer of gratitude.Thursday morning, the day of the Olympic all-around competition, dawned bright and clear. The apartment was silent when I opened my eyes. The rest of the girls except for Aly had already gone to breakfast. From there they would head to the training hall. Later, they would be in the gymnastics arena to see Aly and me battle it out with the best in the world for the coveted all-around title.I went to find Aly. She was in her room and still in bed. I feel so good about today, I told her.Me too, she said, hholding up one hand for a fist bump.ddddddddddddWere so prepared. I have a really good feeling.My heart was galloping in my chest, but it wasnt nerves; it was excitement. I could hardly wait to get into the arena. Aly and I each showered and then we did our hair and makeup together in the living room. We took our time because the competition wouldnt begin until the early afternoon. I outlined my eyes in gold glitter and chose a nude lipstick instead of a bold one. The eye makeup, with my usual winged corners, was dramatic enough, and my sparkly leo would complete the effect. The night before, wed chosen the leos we wanted to wear and laid them out on our beanbag chairs. Aly had opted for the shiny red with lines of crystals fanning out from the neckline like bursts of sunlight, while Id selected a super patriotic number with sheer white crystal-studded sleeves, and dazzling red-and-white stripes running from the shoulders down both sides, framing a high-sheen blue fabric dotted with glittering stars. Id saved this leotard, my favorite, for the all-around. I hoped its shimmer would help me win gold.I was already feeling incredibly happy to be sharing this day with Aly, who was such a rock-solid competitor and friend. As we walked to the bus that would take us to the arena, we held hands like schoolgirls and bobbed our heads to the music coming through our headphones. Every so often wed hug each other and say, Youre good. Youve worked so hard. You deserve to be here. Youve got this. And then wed say, I love you so much. I love you, no matter what. Today will be a good day.Our warm-up in the training hall went without a hitch or a fall, and then it was show time. Before we walked out to compete, we always used the bathroom just in case. As I washed my hands and stared at my face in the mirror, my stomach was suddenly doing somersaults. I plopped down on a bench that was just outside the bathroom and tried to pull myself together. A few moments later, Aly walked out and sat down beside me. When she leaned her head back against the wall, I noticed she looked really pale.Are you okay? I said.She shook her head from left to right.Are you okay? she asked me.No, I said. I feel like Im going to throw up.The two of us sat there for several minutes, breathing slowly and trying to settle ourselves down.Were okay, I said after a while.Weve got this, Aly said.We can do this.Weve done this so many times.I love you, Aly.I love you, Simone.Lets go.We did another fist bump and walked out onto the arena floor.Courage to Soar releases on Tuesday, order your copy here. ' ' '