MINNEAPOLIS - When Damian Lillard drilled the 3-pointer to beat Houston in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs last season, the Rockets left Portland knowing that they had to do one thing if they were going to become legitimate contenders in the powerful Western Conference. Robert Quinn Dolphins Jersey .They had to become a better defensive team.Assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff took on the task, and the changes he has implemented have been a smashing success early this season. The Rockets are second in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions, third in field-goal percentage defence and third in points allowed per game, helping them to a 16-4 record that is the second-best start in the league.Last year at the end of the playoffs, we sat down and went over a lot of stuff, coach Kevin McHale said. We just had to get better defensively. We had to get more disruptive. JB Bickerstaff has done a great job.Even more impressive is that the Rockets have been so successful while playing almost half of their games without their two best defensive players — Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley. Howard has only played 10 games and Beverley eight because of injuries, but new swingman Trevor Ariza and veteran Jason Terry have been instrumental in instilling a new focus and attention to detail on that side of the floor.Bickerstaff, one of the rising young assistants in the game, said he watched video of Howards dominant days in Orlando and consulted with other coaches including his father, Bernie, and Mike Brown, a respected defensive strategist, to come up with a plan to address the Rockets issues on defence.The last play in Portland was kind of a microcosm of our entire season, Bickerstaff said. There was miscommunication and it ended with a wide open look for Damian that cost us.The biggest thing is the guys have bought in and are committed on that end of the floor, he said. Now you hear guys in tight games saying, Were one of the best defensive teams in the league. Lets get a stop. This is what we do.The Rockets play at Golden State, at Sacramento and host Denver this week.Here are some other things to keep an eye on in the NBA:PARKERS 3s: Spurs PG Tony Parker is shooting 65 per cent from 3-point range this season and is averaging 1.4 attempts per game, which would be his highest since the 2004-05 season if he sustains it through the year. As I get older, Pop is less concerned about what Im doing so Im sneaking in some 3s sometimes, Parker joked.LEBRON VS. DURANT: The best game of the week could be on Thursday, when LeBron James and the streaking Cavaliers visit Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant and Russell Westbrook are finally healthy and playing, and every game counts for them after the Thunder lost 13 of their first 17 with them on the bench.MAVERICKS TOUGH WEEK: Every week is tough in the West, but Dallas definitely has its work cut out this week with a trip to Memphis on Tuesday, a home game against Anthony Davis and New Orleans on Wednesday and a visit from the conference-leading Golden State Warriors on Saturday.COUSINS HEALTH: DeMarcus Cousins impressive start has been derailed by a viral infection. Hes missed the last five games and it remains unclear when the big man will return to the Kings lineup.SURGING SIXERS? After going 0-17 and coming dangerously close to setting the record for worst start to a season, the Philadelphia 76ers have won two of their last three games, beating Detroit and Minnesota last week. They travel to Atlanta on Wednesday and Brooklyn on Friday before hosting Memphis on Saturday.___STAT LINE OF THE WEEK: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs: The ageless wonder had 14 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists on Dec. 6 at Memphis, helping the Spurs overcome the loss of Parker to beat the rugged Grizzlies, 107-101. It was the 38-year-old Duncans first triple-double in the regular season since Nov. 11, 2010 at Golden State. Albert Wilson Dolphins Jersey . CNN and Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Tancredi Palmeri broke the news via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Italian Football Association President Giancarlo Abete has also resigned, according to Palmeri. Frank Gore Jersey . Weise left the arena with a splint on his wrist and underwent tests to determine whether the tendon is torn. Winger Travis Moen will also miss some time after suffering a concussion in Mondays contest. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Kalen-Ballage-Jersey/ .com) - One point guard will return, while another will sit when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit American Airlines Center to take on the Dallas Mavericks.TORONTO -- Just 13 weeks after walking away from his title, Georges St-Pierre is not forgotten. But he is devalued. Once ranked among mixed martial arts pound-for-pound elite, the former UFC welterweight champion from Montreal is finding past glory doesnt last long. Fighters have short memories. So do fans. "I cant think backwards," said top 170-pound contender Johny (Bigg Rigg) Hendricks. "Ive got to think forwards. "Look at our division. Its a pretty stacked division. Very talented people in the top 10 and now that Georges has walked away, its time for one of us to make our own mark." Hendricks, who lost a controversial split decision to St-Pierre at UFC 167 last November, gets another shot at the welterweight crown March 15 when he faces veteran (Ruthless) Robbie Lawler at UFC 171 to decide St-Pierres successor. The 32-year-old St-Pierre vacated the title in December, saying he needed time away from the sport. St-Pierre (25-2) left a 12-fight winning streak and a string of UFC records behind him. But his last seven victories came by decision. And in a sport that celebrates sudden, violent finishes to fights, going the distance is not a plus. While some saw only St-Pierres ability to blunt his opponents strengths, others criticized the champion for not taking risks. Facing St-Pierre was death by a thousand cuts. Fighters like Hendricks and Lawler offer one-blow blunt force trauma. In MMA, youre only as good as your last fight. And St-Pierres last offering was gritty but unconvincing. Hendricks (15-2) told a media conference call Thursday that he sees Lawler (22-9 with one no contest) as a more dangerous opponent that St-Pierre. "Georges, you knew that he was going to throw a jab, a high kick, a low kick and try to take you down," he said. "Thats his game plan. "Robbie, if you make a mistake, weve seen it time and time again that he can knock you out. So you really have to make sure that you stay focused, cross all your Ts and dot all your Is, and make sure that you stay solid. And thats a lot more dangerous fight. "With guys who can knock people out, youre one punch away from losing. But those are also the more fun fights for me. You dont know whats going to happen. All you know is youre going to step into an Octagon and hopeefully you get your hand raised. Jerome Baker Dolphins Jersey. " Carlos (The Natural Born Killer) Condit, one of the more thoughtful fighters in the UFC, said GSP leaves "some big shoes to fill in one respect." Then Condit (29-7), who lost a decision to St-Pierre at UFC 154, agreed with Hendricks on GSP. "I think people have wanted to see a little bit of excitement," said Condit, who dragged St-Pierre into rare deep waters with a head kick when they fought. "And I think Georges, from time to time, later in his career he had some spurts of excitement. But for the most part people kind of knew what was going to happen. "And now the division has been infused with some energy. Theres a lot of buzz -- you know, whats going to happen? Theres a lot of really really tough guys bottlenecking at the top spots of welterweight. "I think its an exciting time. We all get the opportunity to get in there and try to put that welterweight belt around our waists. Its just a perfect storm. The fans ultimately are going to be the ones that benefit with some really really exciting fights." The 30-year-old Hendricks is the top-ranked contender in the 170-pound division while Lawler is No. 3. No. 2 Condit, who lost to Hendricks at UFC 158, takes on No. 11 Tyron Woodley (12-2) in the UFC 171 co-main event. Condit says he has been told a win will earn him another title shot. Hendricks, a former two-time NCAA champion wrestler, is currently No. 10 in the UFCs pound-for-pound rankings. Lawler does not figure in the top 15. St-Pierre seems to deserve better. The decision over Hendricks was a record 19th win in the UFC for the Canadian, moving him past former welterweight champion Matt Hughes at 18. The Hendricks victory also moved GSP past former middleweight champion Anderson Silva for most wins in UFC title bouts at 12. St-Pierre holds the record for career fight time in the UFC at five hours 28 minutes 12 seconds. And he owns the UFC mark for most championship rounds fought (52). UFC 167 was St-Pierres 14th championship fight, one behind Randy (The Natural) Couture. St-Pierre also leads the UFC records in total strikes landed (2,523), significant strikes landed (1,254), takedowns landed (87) and takedown accuracy rate (73.7 per cent), according to FightMetric. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '