that his club had good relations with

[lw789]

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The San Antonio Spurs never believed Serge Ibaka was out for the Western Conference finals, even after the Thunder said they expected him to miss the rest of the playoffs with a calf injury. Looks like the Spurs might have been on to something. The Thunder said Friday that their defensive standout now is day-to-day after his strained left calf showed improved movement and stability and a significant decrease in swelling. The Thunder have missed Ibaka badly as San Antonio has raced to a 2-0 lead in the series, and his possible return gives the Thunder hope as they prepare for Game 3 on Sunday in Oklahoma City. "His progress in the last several days has been surprising," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said. "I dont think any of us thought wed be standing here talking about this. Were grateful that we are." Well, maybe no one with the Thunder expected it. The Spurs certainly did. "We knew he would be back, and thats good," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Nobody would wish that on anybody to miss a playoff. Weve had guys miss playoffs before. Its obviously a downer. If he gets back in -- and Im sure he will, as Ive said from the beginning -- I think its great." Ibaka was injured in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Clippers, a Western Conference semifinals series-clinching win on May 15. He is averaging 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in the playoffs while shooting 62 per cent from the field. Presti did not say if Ibaka would be available for Game 3, just that he could not be ruled out. Presti said he felt it best to be forthcoming with the change in the situation. "It would be convenient to not provide the information, and if he were ever healthy enough to play in a game, to release that an hour before the game," he said. "But in this case, we dont think that was the way to handle it, because previously, we had deemed him out. And we cant deem him out." Ibaka, a 6-foot-10 forward, led the league in blocked shots during the regular season and erased many of Oklahoma Citys defensive mistakes. Without having to deal with Oklahoma Citys primary rim protector, San Antonio scored 66 points in the paint on 67 per cent shooting in a 122-105 win in Game 1. The Spurs followed up with 54 points in the paint on 66 per cent shooting in a 112-77 blowout in Game 2. Ibaka also provides balance for Oklahoma Citys offence with his mid-range jumper and an ability to finish close to the hoop when defences focus on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. "Big difference," Spurs guard Danny Green said. "Obviously, one of the best defensive players in the league. Alters everything around the basket, rebounds, and also, of course, he can knock down shots. So youve got to respect him. Hopefully, if he does come back hes not as fresh, hes a little rusty." San Antonio said it will not make adjustments based on the news. "Were going to try to do the same thing," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. "Its not like were going to change the game plan for him. For sure, hes going to give them another big body that can be a presence in the paint, block shots and make some jumpers, but our idea will be the same." Presti said Oklahoma Citys medical staff would like to see Ibaka go through game-like conditions before allowing him to return. So far, he has done low-impact training -- light drills and light shooting. Conditioning could be an issue and even if he returns its unclear how much he would play. "Were still focusing on trying to beat the Spurs without him playing," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "That has not changed. I know hes listed as day-to-day, but he is out until Im told differently." Thunder centre Kendrick Perkins said Ibaka could not have erased all the defensive mistakes the Thunder made in Game 2. The Spurs shot 50 per cent from the field and made 9 of 23 3-pointers. "Hes a key guy, but at the end of the day, we shouldnt be getting beat this bad," Perkins said. "In my opinion, even if we would have Serge the last game, the way we played, we still would have lost." Kevin Love Jersey . The Sochi organizing committee said in Fridays statement that the torch relay reached the North Pole on Oct. 19. Russian Polar explorer Artur Chilingarov, who led the mission, lit a special bowl at the North Pole sign. Channing Frye Jersey . The Brazilian international goalkeeper was beaten twice in the first 12 minutes of his Reds debut in a 3-1 preseason loss to Columbus Crew in Florida earlier this week. http://www.authenticcavaliersauthority. ... rsey-c-21/. The Laval Rouge et Or defensive back/kick-returner gained the invitation following his showing Sunday at an NFL regional combine in Baltimore. Iman Shumpert Jersey . 15 in Hamburg. The fight was originally slated for Sept. 6 but had to be postponed after Klitschko tore a bicep in sparring and was forced to miss four weeks of training. Terrell Brandon Jersey .The team had a meeting prior to facing Russia at the world junior hockey championship and got the effort theyve been looking for by defeating the Russians 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. NYON, Switzerland -- In a stellar pairing of clubs who won Europes top title 14 times, Real Madrid will play Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals. Atletico Madrid and Chelsea were matched in the other semifinal as UEFA threatened the English club with sanctions if it tried to enforce a pay-to-play clause written in the contract for loaning goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to its Spanish opponent since 2011. On the field, the city of Madrid will host the first two matches on April 22 and 23, as Atletico first hosts Chelsea at the Vicente Calderon Stadium one night before Madrid welcomes defending champion Bayern to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. "We are the teams who are playing the most attractive football right now," former Bayern and Real Madrid great Paul Breitner said. Nine-time champion Madrid and five-time winner Bayern have also been runner-up a further eight times, yet never met in the final. Bayern is looking to become the first team in 24 years to repeat as Europes top club after cruising to the German league title. "We acknowledge that Bayern Munich, since the beginning of the season, the performance has been amazing," Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno said. "But we are Real Madrid and when we compete, we compete to win." Atletico will face the 2012 champions, who the Spanish club routed 4-1 in the UEFA Super Cup two years ago. A potential dispute over Courtois appeared to be resolved by UEFA one hour before Fridays draw. Chelsea has a contract clause entitling payment for letting the Belgium international play for Atletico against the club which signed him two years ago as a long-term successor to veteran Petr Cech. "It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceabble so far as UEFA is concerned," the European football authority said in a statement.dddddddddddd Atletico director Clemente Villaverde noted that UEFA rules were different to those in the English and Spanish leagues, which allow clauses barring loaned players from opposing their original club. "UEFA has the competence in this matter," said Villaverde, stressing that his club had good relations with Chelsea. Madrid-Bayern is a repeat of the semifinals two years ago decided by a penalty shootout at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after each team won 2-1 at home. Then, Cristiano Ronaldo was among three Madrid players who failed to score from the spot. The semifinal lineup includes three coaches who each have two Champions League titles with other clubs: Bayerns Pep Guardiola won with Barcelona in 2009 and 11; Madrids Carlo Ancelotti with Milan in 2003 and 07; Chelseas Jose Mourinho with FC Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 10. Mourinho could become the first to coach three different clubs to the European title. Guardiola and Ancelotti aim to become the fifth coach to guide two different clubs to the title. The odd man out, Atletico coach Diego Simeone, won a Europa League title with the club in 2012. Ancelotti also played for AC Milan when it was the last back-to-back champion, winning the European Cup in 1989 and 90. The Italian coach is seeking to take Real Madrid to its first final in 12 years. Under Mourinho, it lost in the semifinals for the past three seasons. "Im confident we can do what is needed to win," Ancelotti said. "Guardiola is one of the best coaches in the world and the series against Bayern will be difficult for both teams." The return matches will be played on April 29 in Munich and the following night in London. The final is scheduled for May 24 at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '