Pirate Galaxy » McDavid broke out of a two-game scoring

It started with a hoverboard.Near the height of the popularity of the handleless-riding devices, Alex Scales brought one to the gym for his usual workout. One thing led to another, and a trick-shot series was born.I was on a hoverboard messing around at the gym, Scales said. One of my guys was like, I bet you cant make it from there. So I just shot a 3, and then I made it, and it just caught on from there.In an effort to keep things fresh at his workouts, Scales turned that one video into Trick Shot Tuesday, a series where he posts new and increasingly impressive trick shots every week on his Instagram account. The shots have enjoyed plenty of viral moments and multiple appearances on the SportsCenter Top 10.The one that really caught fire was the one I did the actual push-up on, he said of the video that shows him making a hook shot from half court while doing a push-up off of the basketball. That was probably one of the hardest ones that Id done, because of the fitness you need to be able to have to do it.Scales doesnt have any long-term plans for his trick-shot game, aside from growing his Instagram following (hes currently hovering just above 2,000). Nor does he spend too much time practicing his craft in the gym at Arizona State where he works out. He said he usually comes up with the shot for Trick Shot Tuesday that day and often completes the whole process -- from conception to practice to filming the final product -- in about 30 minutes.I had one where I kicked it. I was like, You know what, Im only gonna give it five tries. After these five tries, Im done, Scales said. Then I made it on the fifth try. It just depends on the difficulty of the shot. Some of the ones that people are like, Man, that was crazy, that looked difficult, Im like, That was one of my easier shots.Those who dont know Scales background might think its improbable that hed be able to complete trick shots with such ease. But hes not just a random person posting trick-shot videos on Instagram. Scales spent 15 years as a professional basketball player and once held an NBA record -- for the shortest career.Scales, who went undrafted out of Oregon in 2000, made his NBA debut -- and farewell -- on Nov. 19, 2005, for the San Antonio Spurs, playing just 9.2 seconds at the end of a 97-91 win over the Phoenix Suns. He shared the court with future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, along with ESPNs Bruce Bowen, who had his number retired by the Spurs in 2012.A week later, Scales was waived and never got another shot at the NBA. San Antonio was his fourth and final stop in the league, after he had preseason stints with the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics. Scales thought he had his best shot at an NBA breakthrough in Seattle.When I was with Seattle, there was a great write-up about me, he said. This is when Rick Brunson had his first guaranteed contract. They had written in the paper that [the Sonics] had a million-dollar question: Do they keep Rick Brunson or Alex Scales? Ray Allen was quoted in the paper saying, Alex Scales is the only one playing like he belongs here.The Sonics cut Scales at the end of the preseason, and then he was picked up two weeks later by the Spurs. It was the third time in his career that he thought hed done everything he needed to do in the preseason to make the roster, only to end up on the wrong end of the waiver wire.It was just a sad situation to see a guy who did everything he was supposed to do, was productive when he got in the game, to not get an opportunity, he said. Because I felt like if I would have gotten that opportunity, I wouldve been something special.With the NBA door closed to him, Scales went to the D-League and eventually back to Europe, where hed started his professional career in 2000 in Italy. Scales last played professionally for Tadamon Zouk in Lebanon, the culmination of a 15-year career that saw him also make stops in China, Argentina, South Korea, Spain, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Puerto Rico. When he was in China, he had his most memorable experience of culture shock.I wanted some shrimp, so they come out, they bring me some shrimp, he said. Its got the eyes, the legs -- Im like, Man, what is this? Im not used to this shrimp!Scales first played in China in 2001-02, before Yao Ming came over to the NBA, and again two seasons later, when the NBA boom was just beginning in the country. He said its been impressive to watch how much the game has grown in China, but he does regret one aspect of that.The pay [in China] is 18,000 times more than what it was then, Scales said. I tell people now that I grew up in the wrong era.Now 38, Scales knows the window is closing on his basketball career, but hes trying to keep it open as long as possible and says hell listen to any team that calls to inquire about his services. But until then, hell keep making trick-shot videos every Tuesday, and he hopes they can entertain and motivate people.If something comes up out of it, itd be great, but at the same time, I like doing it to see peoples reactions, he said. People are like, I could never do anything like that. 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Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros.EDMONTON, Alberta -- Opposing players are starting to take note of what could finally be significant improvement from the Edmonton Oilers.Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist as the Oilers won their second straight game in a strong start to the season, defeating the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Thursday night.They are not the Oilers of the last few years, Ill tell you that, Blues goalie Jake Allen said. They are a good hockey club and obviously made some good additions to their team.Tyler Pitlick and off-season free-agent signing Milan Lucic scored for Edmonton, which improved to 4-1-0 on the season.Starting 4-1, we couldnt ask for a better start, McDavid said. I think were feeling pretty good about ourselves, but I think its about keeping it on an even keel.Beating one of the best teams in the league was definitely a boost, according to Lucic.Its a huge win, he said. We talked about getting off to a good start, having a good first five games to get our team rolling and build some confidence before the Heritage Classic. It was great that we were able to play a really good game against a really good team.Nail Yakupov replied for the Blues (3-1-1) in his return to Edmonton since he was traded to St. Louis earlier this month.Blues coach Ken Hitchcock felt his team let one get away.Weve really wasted some great goaltending displays by Jake. Hes been outstanding and given us a chance to win both of these last two games, said Hitchcock, who watched his team lose 2-1 in overtime to Vancouver on Tuesday.Its unfortunate with the way he has been playing to only come out with one point from these last two games.There was no scoring in the first period, with the Blues getting 10 shots on Oilers goallie Cam Talbot and Edmonton directing eight shots on Allen.dddddddddddd.The Blues got on the board 3:37 into the second as a scramble allowed Joel Edmundson to feed it in front to Yakupov. It was the second goal of the season for the former Oiler.The Oilers pulled even three minutes later as Pitlick made a nifty deflection off a shot by Andrej Sekera while being knocked flying to score his third of the season.Edmonton made it 2-1 just 36 seconds into the third period as McDavid broke out of a two-game scoring drought by threading a pass through to Lucic in front. It was the big wings second goal of the year.Both goaltenders made big saves before the Blues came close to tying it up midway through the third. Yakupov had Talbot beat on a backhand shot, but hit the post.McDavid put the game away with his fourth goal of the season into an empty net.Tonight was a huge test for us, Talbot said. Any time you can beat a powerhouse like St. Louis, it goes a long way for the confidence in this group and moving forward thats what we need to have.Game notesIt was the first of three meetings between the teams this season. . Yakupov spent four seasons with the Oilers, recording 111 points in 252 games. . Blues F Jaden Schwartz played his first game of the season after recovering from a hyperextended elbow. . Talbot made his fifth start of the season one day after his wife, Kelly, gave birth to twins.UP NEXT:Blues: Conclude a three-game road trip in Calgary on Saturday.Oilers: Are off until Sunday, when they play the Jets in the Heritage Classic outdoor game in Winnipeg. ' ' '