Gruppen » stood up and made their point about the need for us

The only time LeBron James started a season 5-0 in his decorated career, the year ended with James hoisting both his first Larry OBrien Trophy and the Finals MVP award. James would be just fine if history repeated itself this year.The Cavs are 4-0 for the first time since 2000, when James was a sophomore in high school and not yet driving. The only other time he has been 5-0 was 2011-12 when the Heat went on to sweep the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals.The Cavs have the chance to move to 5-0 Thursday for the first time since the 1976-77 season when they started 8-0. That season ended with a first-round exit in the playoffs. The defending NBA champs are aiming much higher.The Cavs are one of five unbeaten teams remaining despite not playing well for a full four quarters yet. Their defense abandoned them in Tuesdays 128-120 win over the Houston Rockets, something coach Tyronn Lue said he didnt mind because of the frenetic pace at which the Rockets play.Veteran wing Mike Dunleavy broke out a little bit against the Rockets with a pair of 3-pointers after he struggled to make open 3s through the first few games. Dunleavy missed six of his first eight 3-pointers through the Cavs first three games.Its a long season. Its just been a few games, said Dunleavy, who was acquired from Chicago over the summer when the Bulls needed to clear cap space to sign Dwyane Wade. You always feel better when youre knocking down shots, especially with this group. Its a long year. There will be some ups and downs, some nights where you make everything and some nights you cant make anything. Just gotta roll with it.The Celtics are battling a slew of early-season injuries. They could be without Al Horford and Jae Crowder Thursday in what could be a preview of the Eastern Conference finals. Horfords arrival in Boston is expected to push the Celtics into the conferences elite, but he entered the leagues concussion protocol Wednesday and missed the Celtics win against the Chicago Bulls after he was hit in the head during Mondays practice. Symptoms of a concussion didnt present until Tuesday practice.Crowder sprained his ankle in the second quarter of Wednesdays win and did not return. His status for Thursday remains unclear. But the Celtics received a boost with the return of Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley, who is battling shoulder problems and wasnt expected to play against the Bulls. But he returned after receiving a cortisone shot, while Smart had seven points and six turnovers in his season debut after missing the first three games to an ankle injury.Amir Johnson scored 23 points to beat the Bulls, including his first four 3-pointers of the season.I was going crazy, Smart said of watching Johnson. Whatever he ate or drank (Tuesday) night, whatever he did, I want some of it. Custom Nike San Diego Padres Jerseys . LOUIS -- St. Custom Nike Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-oakland-athletics-jerseys/ . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Wholesale . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Custom Nike Colorado Rockies Jerseys . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. NEW YORK -- Saying that there may be no organization in our society better positioned than the NBA to have an impact on todays social climate in the United States, commissioner Adam Silver said he wants to see NBA players continue to stand during the national anthem when the regular season opens next week.I dont know if the players are organizing anything, Silver said at the NBAs board of governors meeting in Manhattan. All I can say is what we have seen in multiple preseason games so far is our players standing for the national anthem. It would be my hope that they continue to stand for the national anthem. I think that is the appropriate thing to do.So far during the preseason, the Knicks, Rockets, Lakers, Celtics, Wizards and Kings have been among the teams to stand and interlock arms during the playing of the national anthem.When the season starts Tuesday with the Knicks visiting the Cavaliers, eyes will be on players such as?LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and what they and their respective teams might do as a show of solidarity to protest racial injustice.NBA teams and players have been considering the best approach, especially after the controversy and discussion sparked by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernicks decision to kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial oppression and inequality in the United States.James, Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul called for athletes to be more active in promoting social change during the ESPYS this summer.I have thought a lot about this, and Michele Roberts and I talked a lot about these issues, Silver said, referring to the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. There may be no organization iin our society better positioned than the NBA and its players to try and have an impact on these difficult issues plaguing many of our cities.ddddddddddddSo aside from discussions around the anthem, it is my expectation that as we move beyond the collective bargaining [negotiating] process, that we and the players together will continue to address these issues and look for opportunities where we can really make a difference.Before there were issues around the anthem, I happened to be at the ESPYS this year when our four players stood up and made their point about the need for us to come together and work in our communities, and we have tried to build on their challenge ... to see what impact that we can have, what they can have as individual athletes and how we can contribute to that as the league together with our teams. I think we are making progress.Silver said Kathy Behrens, NBA president of social responsibility and player programs, continues to talk with the players about the best approach moving forward.We have had very constructive discussions ... about meaningful action that we can take collectively in our communities to help build trust, whether between police officers and members of the community looking for constructive ways to address racial injustice, economic injustice, Silver said. I am very proud with the relationship we have built with the union, with the players on these issues. My expectation is that well see into the regular season more of what we have seen in the preseason, which is a sense of, lets deal directly with these important issues. ' ' '