Themenwelt » Its about time the last-minute break went thei

CLEVELAND -- Sitting on a stage last week alongside No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins and new coach David Blatt, general manager David Griffin said he hoped this would be a monumental off-season for the Cavaliers. Its already been quite a summer. And LeBron James is still out there. Cleveland kept its momentum rolling early Tuesday by getting All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to agree to a new, five-year, $90 million contract extension. Irvings deal, completed with a handshake in New York with owner Dan Gilbert, cements a commitment with Cleveland that wasnt always so strong. "Im here for the long haul Cleveland!!!! And Im ecstatic!!" Irving wrote on his Twitter account shortly after the agreement was reached. "Super excited and blessed to be here and a part of something special." For months, Irvings future with the Cavs seemed uncertain. There were reports he wasnt happy in Cleveland as well as speculation the Cavs didnt believe he was a cornerstone player. There were trade rumours and rumblings the team was not going to offer him the maximum extension. Whatever differences there may have been seem to have been worked out. Griffin, who likes to refer to his team as "family," has the Cavs united. James surely has noticed. The Cavs have waited four years for their chance to lure the four-time league MVP back home. This may be the perfect time. Because Irvings extension doesnt kick in until the 2015-16 season, the Cavs have room under the salary cap to pursue free agents. They would have to move some other contracts if the reports are accurate that James will only sign for a max deal. Griffin has said clearing space to accommodate a five-year, $120 million contract would be extremely easy. The hard part might be getting James to believe the Cavs, who have not made the playoffs since he left in 2010, are title contenders -- now. Theyve got some quality pieces for sure, but do they have enough? Irving, who played in a career-high 71 games this past season, has established himself as one of the NBAs elite point guards, and now that the contract situation is no longer an issue, it may unburden him to play the best basketball of his life. The 6-foot-8 Wiggins would have been the top pick a year ago if he hadnt gone to college and James has long admired the 19-year-olds gifts. Its somewhat interesting that Griffin said Wiggins potential greatness would come at shooting guard, perhaps leaving an opening at small forward for a certain former Cavalier. To entice James, the Cavs may need to make a blockbuster move. Theyve got some assets to play with and a trade involving talented guard Dion Waiters could bring back a starter. Griffin hinted that he isnt done remodeling the Cavs. "We need to continue to work on the defensive side of the ball," he said at Wiggins introductory news conference. "We need to get better from a basketball IQ standpoint, from a shooting perspective. And all of those moves will be forthcoming." For several years, the Cavs have been involved in trade rumours involving Kevin Love, who has one year left on his deal with Minnesota. If Cleveland can package the right pieces together, they may be able to pry Love away from the Timberwolves. Love and James were teammates four years ago in the London Olympics, where they helped the U.S. win a gold medal. Back then, James said that when he won his first championship with Miami, his thoughts quickly shifted to Cleveland and what might have been. "I wish I could have won one there," he said before a practice. "I could only imagine how the parade would have been down East Ninth Street. Of course I thought about it because Cleveland helped me get to that point. The days that I spent there helped me get to the point where I was able to finally win one. Its just unfortunate I wasnt able to do it there." Its possible James will re-sign with the Heat and the Cavs will move on without him. But if they decide to pursue the two-time champion in the days ahead and get a meeting with James, the Cavs can sell their team and tug at his heart. James has never rejected the idea of a return to Cleveland. Maybe this is the summer to mend fences and start anew in a familiar place. Cheap Lakers Jerseys China . Watch the action live on TSN and listen on TSN 1050 Radio beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Raptors maintained their spot atop the Atlantic Friday after defeating the Wizards, 96-88, for their second win in a row. Cheap Kobe Bryant Jersey . Messier, who had been a special assistant to Rangers general manager Glen Sather, announced Thursday in a statement that he is resigning in order to "expand the game of hockey in the New York area by developing the Kingsbridge National Ice Center. http://www.cheaplakersjerseys.com/ . -- Desperate to stop Tom Bradys latest comeback bid, the Miami Dolphins sought help from a reserve safety making his NFL debut after being signed Tuesday off the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. Cheap Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey .C. -- Cam Newton wasnt flawless on Sunday. Cheap Jamaal Wilkes Jersey .com) - The Toronto Blue Jays will look to snap a three-game skid Friday night when they continue their road trip in the opener of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.Great art galleries, great architecture, great churches and some decent-looking domes, Michelangelo, restaurants, youll love it. That was my promise to the SuperSport broadcast team who are following the Springboks around this month. A week in Florence, hell, was I envious!But South Africans, being the passionate rugby people they are, will not be leaving one of the worlds great renaissance cities with many happy memories and Bach cantatas echoing in their ears. Instead, there was yet another day of Springbok humiliation. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! One week earlier the largely second string All Blacks had carved Italy open in one of those games where tries are scored from every angle. But on Saturday, Italy reversed their fortunes with an astonishing victory against South Africa. Great credit to Italy, Conor O Shea and Mike Catt (how he must have enjoyed the win) but is it really so astonishing?The Springboks have now lost five of their six games away from home this season and drawn the other with the Barbarians. They have twice been blown away by their former deadly rivals New Zealand. It is time for the word crisis. The dejected Boks leave the field after their loss to the Azzurri They have dropped into fifth place in the world rankings and have only the one game left against Wales - away - before the World Cup draw is made next May. The European teams have the Six Nations in which to rise and fall. The odds are on the South Africans being a tier-two pool draw for Japan with the potential of another England scenario looming large. Allister Coetzee is in a dark place.2 At the other end of the international game there was absolutely no surprise that New Zealand bounced back and beat Ireland in Dublin. What surprised even me was the ferocity of the All Black display. They walked the line of legality and occasionally stepped over it. Who is the better European team, Ireland or England? England is ranked two but has not yet shown quite the level of performance we have witnessed from Ireland this autumn. Stuart Barnes There has been some outrage regarding their aggression but the greater concern is with the officiating that doesnt think the Sam Cane shoulder hit that took Robbie Henshaw out of the game deserved anything but a penalty.While not condoling dangerous and violent play there was something thrilling about a team caring that much about losing. Its up to the referees and their assistants to control their passions. Paul OConnell, Gordon DArcy and Sean Fitzpatrick analyse Irelands loss 3 If high tackles and Sam Cane was the dark side of the All Black performance, Beauden Barrett was their white magic - all good, all positive, and dazzling in nearly everything he did. The first half hour was startling.Eddie Jones wonders whether George Ford can become a better fly-half than Barrett. Superb as Ford was with ball in hand against Fiji, its fair to say that, on Saturdays evidence, he has a way to go... and I loved Fords performance at Twickenham. Highlights of Irelands clash against the All Blacks in Dublin 4 Ireland - losing three key players as they did against France in the World Cup - couldnt quite pull off another epic victory. But then again that was France, this was New Zealand. Disrupted by the loss of key players, still Ireland gave the All Blacks a great game.They lack the match-winning stardust even with those three on the field, but this was a powerful performance, even iin defeat.dddddddddddd Joe Schmidts team has more strength in depth than ever. He has done a fine rebuilding job post-World Cup. Ireland vs Australia November 26, 2016, 5:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass 5 Who is the better European team, Ireland or England? England are ranked two but have not yet shown quite the level of performance we have witnessed from Ireland this autumn. England do have that winning knack, however, and are on a steadily improving curve.We may have to wait for the final match of the Six Nations for some sort of answer, although Ireland will have home advantage. Ireland, meanwhile, have to forget the aches and pains and end the Australian winning run this weekend.Isnt that a fascinating game? If Ireland want to be going toe to toe with England for the status of world number two, this is the sort of game they have to grit out. England vs Argentina November 26, 2016, 1:30pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass 6 Lets hope Argentina can give England a work-out. South Africa was comfortable, Fiji a walk in the park. The Pumas are looking ragged. It has been a long year of Super Rugby and the depth of their squad is looking dubious.Individually they are equipped with talent, especially in the back row and midfield, but they are collectively mistake-ridden. If they play their rugby in the wrong parts of the field, England will make short work of them. Paradoxical as it seems, an inspired Argentina is exactly what Joness men need before Australia arrive with revenge in mind. Highlights of Englands Autumn International clash against Fiji at Twickenham 7 Scotland nicked the game against the Pumas with the last kick of the game. Its about time the last-minute break went their way. Vern Cotters team have been playing some good rugby for quite a while but ending up on the wrong side of the scoreboard.It was time for the performance to give way to the importance of the result. Psychologically Scotland will be a lot stronger for the last swing of Greig Laidlaws boot.8 Wales too won with the last kick of the game, this time a drop goal from Sam Davies, but there are few hymns and arias across the Severn Bridge at the moment. Jones: Wales complacent again England coach Eddie Jones blasts complacent Wales Eddie Jones weighed in, accusing Wales of complacency against a team containing seven or eight company players.You and I could play company rugby, said the stirring Jones.9 Tension will be unbearable in Cardiff this weekend. Wales cannot afford to lose against a South African team that are a faded shadow of their old legendary self, while the Springboks cannot afford to lose to a Welsh team that is struggling to find any kind of form.I fear the pressure, the fear of not losing, as opposed to going out and playing positive winning rugby, could limit the quality of the rugby. You can chuck all my normal performance talk out the window, winning is even more important for both teams Saturday than it was for Scotland last weekend. Wales need a last-minute drop goal from Sam Davies to secure a win over Japan 10 New Zealand are talking up the unpredictable French. Go look at Frances record in the last five or six years, study the DVDs of their inept performances. France have not been unpredictable for ages, they have been useless.It would be an infinitely greater shock for France to beat a New Zealand team in Paris than it was when Ireland won in Chicago.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4! Also See: Hansen: Strongest ever Lions Jones: Ford must be selfish Follow @SkySportsRugby Rugby on Sky ' ' '