Bewerbungen » season, and while Teague said he

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly apologized to his players in the locker room after the loss at North Carolina State, sorry that he couldnt find a way to win.Ive got to look hard at how Im doing it to figure out a way to get a win for you guys, because you deserve it, he said.Kelly has done a bit of everything to try to turn around Notre Dames fortunes. He said after the loss to Michigan State that he and his coaches needed to do better. He placed the blame for the loss to Duke on his players, saying they needed to play with more passion. He fired his defensive coordinator and told the other assistants and the players that everyones job was in jeopardy, including his own. Hes taken a more active role in coaching the defense and hes encouraged the Irish to play with more enthusiasm.So midway into a season thats quickly spiraling out of control, what move can Kelly make to help the Irish (2-4) as he tries to avoid his first losing season since his first year at Central Michigan in 2004? Kellys push this week as the Irish prepare for Stanford (3-2) is for players to finish games stronger.I need your best in these moments, he said.He sounded a similar theme following a 50-47 double overtime loss to Texas in the opener. Kelly is 21-16 in games decided by a touchdown or less in his seven seasons at Notre Dame, including 0-3 this season.We expect to win some of the close games that were going to be playing in over the next six weeks, Kelly said.The Irish were 3-2 in those games last season -- and that includes a 38-36 loss at Stanford where DeShone Kizer led the Irish on a 15-play, 88-yard drive that used up 6 minutes and 18 seconds before Kizer scored on a 2-yard run with 30 seconds left. But the Irish defense allowed the Cardinal to drive 45 yards on five plays for the 45-yard game-winning field goal that ended Notre Dames playoff hopes.The Irish havent won a close game since.Kelly said he should have done a better job preparing the Irish for close games.On the level of what we were trying to do, I think that kind of fell lower on the list of priorities, he said. I think priority one was getting them lined up and getting them to play at a high level against Texas right out of the gate. And then, we had some issues on defense.Kelly wouldnt get into the specifics about what changes he is planning to finish stronger, but said part of the focus will be on awareness.Youve got to say, `All right, four minutes to go in the game. Lets move the chains. Let us go up and down the field with that same kind of process so everybody is alert, locked in and understands. Lets go win the game, he said.Because of the close losses, the Irish have gone from being ranked No. 10 in the preseason to a team that desperately needs wins with the toughest games still ahead, including No. 16 Miami, No. 17 Virginia Tech and No. 25 Navy. The struggles have some questioning whether Kellys job could be in jeopardy. Kelly said he doesnt pay attention.Everybody has struggles. Everybody goes through some tough times. Youre going to have some adversity. If you cave to adversity then how strong are you really? Im looking for guys that are strong, guys that bounce back higher when there is some adversity, he said Olivier Giroud Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Christophe Jallet Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. http://www.nationalfrancesoccer.com/patrice-evra-france-jersey/ . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Mathieu Valbuena France Jersey ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Jeremy Mathieu France Jersey . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. INDIANAPOLIS -- Larry Bird always thought the Indiana Pacers needed to score more often.Now, he may have a point guard who can finally get it done.After acquiring Indianapolis native Jeff Teague in a three-team deal and making several other significant moves this summer, the Pacers will report to training camp next week with a new coach, an overhauled roster and a brand new opportunity to win an NBA championship.George Hill was great for us, but I think he was more of a half-court player who did a really good job, new coach Nate McMillan said Wednesday before the Pacers annual pre-camp golf outing at Brickyard Crossing. I think Teague will be able to do both (half-court and up-tempo) for us. We want him to look to establish that tempo in transition and we havent really had that guy in the four years Ive been here.For Teague, this is more just than a homecoming -- its a fresh start for a 28-year-old point guard oozing with talent.He needs it.A year ago, the expectation was that Teague would follow up his first All-Star season by taking the next logical step and emerging as one of the NBAs elite point guards. Instead, his minutes, scoring and assist totals all declined as Atlanta decided to go in a different direction.After the season, Teague used Twitter to explain he had played the entire season with a partially torn patellar tendon in his knee.While the injury required rest and an injection, it didnt require surgery. Bird wasnt scared off, and now it looks like the gamble could pay dividends.In the workouts, he looked fine, Bird said. Its not two-a-days yet, so you really dont know yet, but its encouraging. From all indications, he looks pretty good.Not long ago, the Pacers and Teague seemed like an unlikely pairing.During the 2009 draft, Teague wanted the Pacers to select him at No. 13. Instead, Bird took former North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough, and Teague went to Atlanta at No. 19.In 2013, when Teague became a restricted free agent and the Pacers could have upgraded at point guard, Teague opted for a four-year, $32 million offer sheet with the Milwaukee Bucks. Atlanta matcched it.ddddddddddddIn February, rumors surfaced of a potential deal that would have sent Hill to Atlanta for Teague, but that never materialized either. Then in June, Bird finally pulled off the move by sending a first-round pick to Atlanta and Hill to the Jazz for the point guard Indiana had been looking to help them play small ball.Now Teague is just trying to fit in. He spent most of the summer working out in Indy, and started playing pickup ball with many of his new teammates in mid-August.The early impressions have given Teague renewed hope about the Pacers and their expanded expectations.A lot of people can play with the ball and create opportunities for others. In Atlanta, we had a lot of really good players but a lot of those guys were system players, Teague said. Here, weve got a lot of people who can create for others and that makes my job a lot easier.And more enjoyable.The only real question is how long Teague will stick around. Hell become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and while Teague said he would like to stay in Indianapolis long term and Bird has expressed his desire to get an extension done sooner rather than later, nothing has happened.But if all goes as well as planned, this could turn out to be a perfect match.Last year, they walked the ball up a lot and were still able to play that way. Were smaller now, and we can play a lot faster, Teague said. I think this could be something special.Game notes Bird also made it clear that he doesnt intend to let three-time All-Star and new Olympic gold medalist Paul George get away anytime soon. The 26-year-old George already has a max deal that runs through 2018-19. But whenever George is ready to sign an extension, Bird promised to make it happen. Bird said: We want Paul here and we know what its going to cost and what its going to take. If Paul wants to get a deal done, we will. Its a max deal. Theres no others, so theres no use talking about it. If he wants it, hes got it. ' ' '