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The Portland Trail Blazers seem determined to improve their defensive performance, beginning Wednesday night with a home date against the Indiana Pacers.On Monday, 12 hours after a 130-114 drubbing by the Houston Rockets, the Trail Blazers began to lay the foundation with a video session and a spirited practice focused on defense.This is the first time weve had a real practice in what seems like forever, point guard Damian Lillard said. It was good for us to try to sharpen up, (to have) coaches challenge us.Its to the point now where our pride has to kick in. We have to show how much we actually care about ... being better defensively.The Rockets scorched the Blazers with 56.1 percent shooting, including 47.2 percent (17 for 36) from 3-point range. Portland owns the worst defensive efficiency rating in the NBA (109.80) and is giving up more points (113.7) than any team in the league other than Brooklyn (114.0).The Blazers (9-10) are tired of talking about getting better at the defensive end.We keep preaching it, but its getting old, guard Allen Crabbe said. At some point, it has to click. We keep telling ourselves we have to get better, but at some point, we have to get it going.The Blazers are one of the better offensive teams in the NBA, but they have trouble stopping anybody. Cleveland blitzed them for 137 points, Golden State for 127, Houston for 126 and 130, even Phoenix for 121.We scored 125 points against Cleveland, Lillard said. Thats a lot of points to score and not win a game. Right now, were not getting it done on the defensive end. Thats what it comes down to.Were going to put points on the board, but we have to find a way to get better at coming up with more stops. If (an opponents) execution gets harder, the (shooting) percentage is going to go down. We have to make them more uncomfortable more consistently.Indiana, meanwhile, begins a five-game road trip coming off impressive back-to-back routs at home of the Brooklyn Nets (118-97) and the Los Angeles Clippers (91-70). The wins were achieved without the services of star forward Paul George, who has missed six of the past seven games -- and will also sit out Wednesdays contest -- with ankle and back injuries.The Pacers also emphasize defense, led by point guard Jeff Teague, who ranks fourth in the NBA in steals at 2.11 per game.I have to be aggressive defensively and do my best to ignite and get guys going by pressuring the ball, Teague told the media. Everything else will take care of itself. (The last two games) were moving the ball better, guys are making shots and guys are playing with confidence.Coach Nate McMillan is striving for consistency in both effort and performance.We talked about not taking steps back, McMillan said. Weve played some good games, and then you cant recognize the team the next game. We need to build some momentum at this point in the season.McMillan has been impressed with the work of 20-year-old center Myles Turner, who averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots the last two games going up against Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan.Hey, welcome to the center position in the NBA: (Atlantas) Dwight Howard to Brook to Jordan the last three games, McMillan said. Theyre big, powerful guys. (Turner) is still developing and growing into that position, defending the basket. Hes working. Thats the one thing he brings to the floor every night.NHL Jerseys China . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/ .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Authentic NHL Jerseys .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Cheap NHL Jerseys .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. --?Odell Beckham Jr. says UFC star Conor McGregor provided late inspiration for the New York Giants receivers history-making performance Monday night.Beckham attended UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden during the weekend where McGregor beat Eddie Alvarez in the main event. Beckham insists it helped Monday night when the Giants beat the Cincinnati Bengals?21-20 and he caught 10 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.When Beckham hit 69 yards in the second quarter, he became the fastest to 3,500 receiving yards in NFL history. He did it in 36 games. San Diego Chargers legend Lance Alworth previously held the record, as he reached 3,500 yards in 37 games.I set the bar high for myself. I kind of had some late inspiration, Beckham said. I went to the UFC fight and I went there to watch McGregor and just a guy who is very strong in his beliefs and sure enough, he backs it up every time. Just sitting there watching him do his thing gave me more motivation.I had seen that I needed however many yards it was to break that record [for quickest to 3,500 yards], so really that stuff is kind of secondary right now. We are 6-3; I havent been 6-3 since I have been here, so this is a good feeling.Beckham had 10 catches on 11 targets Monday night. It was a season high in catches, and the 90.9 reception percentage tied a career best.I usually go to things like that for inspiration. I like seeing guys in their atmosphere, said Beckham, who was seen at several Cleveland Cavaliers playoff games watching LeBron James earrlier this year.dddddddddddd Even when I was going to the US Open and I was watching them play tennis, it is just something about seeing someone else in their own zone and sure enough, after he won the fight, that was my first UFC fight ever and everybody is tweeting at me asking me why am I mad that he won. I am like, I came here to see him. My mind is just wired differently.So when I am sitting there watching him and I had this blank stare on my face because there are just so many thoughts going through my head, so I definitely got a lot of inspiration going there and watching him win, double champ and sure enough we came out and we won [Monday], so it has been a pretty good week.Beckham even got to meet McGregor on Saturday. He posted a picture on Instagram of the stars meeting.It was cool. It was a fun experience, Beckham said. It was the first time I had been there and everyone took care of me.Two nights later, Beckham took care of his own business. He helped the Giants win their fourth straight game.Beckham started this season slowly. He didnt score a touchdown until the final minutes of a Week 5 loss in Green Bay. Hes scored five touchdowns in the four games since.After setting all sorts of receiving records in his first two professional seasons, Beckham is on track for another monster season. Hes 10th in catches (54), seventh in yards (773) and tied for fourth in touchdowns (6). ' ' '