CHICAGO -- This one looked like it was slipping away from the Washington Wizards.
Jason Kipnis Indians Jersey . Then, in a flash everything changed. Bradley Beal came on strong late in regulation to
finish with 26 points, Nene scored six of his 17 points in overtime and the
Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 101-99 Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their
first-round series. Game 3 is Friday at Washington. "Weve got to come out like
were down 0-1 or 0-2," said Beal, who scored 11 in the fourth quarter. "Weve got
to have that sense of urgency and just that drive and that motivation like we
did early. Weve got to be able to maintain that lead. Weve got to continue to
stay poised." The Wizards couldnt maintain a 17-point first-quarter lead and had
to rally from 10 down in the fourth. Nene scored the first six points in
overtime after being held in check by Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah
in regulation, and the Wizards hung on after Kirk Hinrich failed to convert at
the foul line in the closing seconds of overtime. Noah had just hit two free
throws when Beal missed a jumper with 18 seconds left. Jimmy Butler got the
rebound and Chicago called time. Hinrich, a 76 per cent free throw shooter this
season, had a chance to tie it after getting fouled by Nene on a drive with 2.4
seconds left. But his first attempt hit the rim. He deliberately missed the
second, and Trevor Ariza grabbed the rebound to seal the win for Washington. "I
went up there thinking I was going to knock them down," Hinrich said. "Tonight,
I just couldnt do it. However, I really felt that I shouldve made the layup."
D.J. Augustin led Chicago with 25 points but cooled off late in the game with
Ariza guarding him. Taj Gibson had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Noah added 20
points and 12 boards, but the Bulls find themselves in a huge hole after
dropping two at home. They blew a 13-point lead in Game 1 and couldnt hang on
after rallying in this one. Both times, they struggled in the fourth quarter,
and coach Tom Thibodeau bristled when asked if he might switch up his late-game
rotation. "We look at everything," he said. "Unreal." John Wall had 16 points
and seven assists for Washington. The Bulls appeared to be in good shape when
they were leading 87-77 five minutes into the fourth. They were still leading,
91-85, when Beal shot the Wizards back into the game. He nailed a 3-pointer that
made it 91-88 and added a floater to make it a one-point game. Then, with a
chance to put Washington ahead, he hit 1 of 2 free throws with 52.9 seconds left
to tie it at 91. Both teams had opportunities to win it in the closing seconds
but couldnt convert. "I think we did a great job staying calm and composed,"
Wall said. "Early in the season, we would get rattled and guys would try to make
plays one on one on their own. Tonight, we trusted in our offence like weve been
doing." The Bulls were leading 87-77 after a driving layup by Noah and two free
throws by Butler with 6:59 left regulation. But with Beal going off, the Wizards
made a run. "I cant take a lot of credit for the fourth quarter," said Beal, who
scored 11 in the fourth after quiet second and third quarters. "I think we got a
lot of offensive rebounds and kickouts, and John hit me on a couple. I was
fortunate to be able to knock down some, and I just stayed with it. NOTES: Only
three teams have dropped Games 1 and 2 at home and won a series: the 1968-69
Lakers, 1993-94 Rockets and the 2004-05 Dallas Mavericks. ... Dikembe Mutombo
presented the Defensive Player of the Year award to Noah, who hoisted the trophy
above his head to loud cheers before the game. ... Thibodeau praises San
Antonios Gregg Popovich and Phoenixs Jeff Hornacek after they took the top two
spots in the Coach of the Year vote. As for the guy who finished third? "Hes
terrible," he joked. Thibodeau, of course, took the third spot after guiding the
Bulls to 48 wins. It might have been his best coaching job yet, with another
knee injury curtailing Derrick Roses comeback and Luol Deng getting traded away.
Joe Carter Blue Jays Jersey . -- Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que.
Justin Grimm Cubs Jersey . The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for
Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for
Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a
98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.Many a hockey path has
been carved out through hard work, perseverance and beating some odds. That
statement rings true when describing Derek Dorsett, a Columbus Blue Jackets
seventh-round draft pick in 2006, but his story is one that goes much deeper
than a small man playing big. The teenager from Kindersley, Saskatchewan wanted
to play hockey - Triple A hockey. If fact, he wanted to play AAA so badly that
he tried out for every team available. It was not easy to take no for an answer
and he wasnt about to, but the door did not open swiftly into what many consider
the stepping stone required to be recognized for the CHL or the NCAA and,
eventually, the NHL. “Id be lying to ya if I didnt say that there was a time
where I was done....Id had enough, Dorsett said. I travelled to eight or nine
midget AAA teams (there were only 12 teams in that league) and then I went back
to the SJ (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League) camp...there were two midget AAA
camps after it.” Dorsett would not make the SJHL team, either, but not due to
lack of hard work. Rather, injury this time would add to the insult. “I broke my
hand in the SJHL camp, but I didnt tell anyone and my hand was puffed up pretty
big, Dorsett explained. I went to North Battleford (AAA) and I thought Id have a
chance to make it, so I didnt say anything, but I ended up getting cut. Then, I
had a cast on for 6 weeks after that.” Many a player, never mind many a young
man, would have folded tent and packed it in. Even though his true stripes were
that of a tiger (bulldog might be a better description, but I have yet to meet a
striped one) he still relied on something other than inner fire - his family.
“My dad kept me going through that year and thats one of the best things that
ever happened to me, said Doresett. Dorsett deserved a chance, but would one
arrive? After all of those training camps, many rosters were set and the
“outside looking in” line certainly applied to an undersized forward with a
broken hand. Unwavering was his determination and the second break would be a
good one. His chance would arrive. “I wanted to play so bad, Dorsett said.
Obviously, I was in a lot of pain, but I didnt want to tell anyone because I
thought it would ruin my chances. I tried out for almost every AAA team in
Saskatchewan and I was cut by every one and then Swift Current [Legionnaires]
took a chance on me. They thought Id probably be a third or fourth liner, maybe
a guy that didnt play every night. I ended up coming out of the gates pretty hot
and carried it through the season.” This would be a huge turning point in the
development of young Dorsett. Not only did he improve strength-wise, along with
his overall game, but people finally took notice that the traits that made him
stand out could prove to be quite valuable on their hockey team. Interest
developed from Junior A teams in the area and stretched as far as BC. In perhaps
a twist of fate, the opportunity that put him firmly on the map arrived in his
own backyard: Kindersley. The local Klippers added him to their roster for the
post-season drive. Dorsett would get into playoff games and ended up as part of
a crew that would go all the way to the Royal Bank Cup Finals in Grand Prairie.
“During that tournament I was listed by Red Deer (WHL) and was also drafted by
the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), so I had a few options that I could take,” said
Dorsett. Options. Go figure. Options for a player who had zero when trying to
crack provincial AAA at the start of the year. Yet, it was not an automatic or a
jump at first interest for a prairie boy with dreams of playing in the WHL.
Instead, we learn another side of Dorsett – the calculated side. “I went to
training camp in Red Deer, he explained. I didnt want to burn my [NCAA
eligibility] by playing just one exhibition game, so when they wouldnt sign me
to anything before an exhibition game, I decided to go back to Kindersley.” The
decision likely shocked many. An opportunity to play in the “Dub” evades many
great players across Western Canada, never mind a largely unappreciated and
oft-overlooked Dorsett. Although others may have pondered how he could turn it
down, Dorsett did what he felt was right and hit the highway back home to rejoin
the Klippers. Cue Willie Desjardins and the Medicine Hat Tigers. “I think it was
Mike Moore and Bob Green, they kind of found me, Dorsett remembered. I think it
was about 20-25 games [into the Kindersley season], if I remember right, that
Medicine Hat came and listed me. Two days later they picked me up on the bus
headed East to Saskatoon and the rest is history! Willie gave me a good chance.”
First impressions are often lasting and this one is too good to pass up.
Noah Syndergaard Mets Jersey. As it turns out, the lasting impression is the story around those first moments as a Tiger,
stepping on the bus and how Dorsett would prove again he is far more than what
many bargain for. “I think Willie was a little surprised when I got on the
bus...they told him he was getting this power forward - a guy that has 189 PIM
in 25 games in the SJ and 20 points - a guy that is relentless, he said. Then I
walked onto the bus and I think I weighed 170 pounds..” The story goes that
Desjardins was bringing his players up to speed as to who they were picking up
and, when Dorsett walked on the bus, someone leaned over and said, Coach, I
think we got his little brother!” “I think he was a little shocked at the start,
said Dorsett of his once and current coach. I walked onto the bus and Willie was
like, Oh, I thought we were getting a tough fighter. Dorsett would go on to
challenge for both the team and league lead in penalty minutes each full season
he played with the Tigers. He finished his WHL career with 593 PIM in 180 games
played, while putting up 16 goals and 48 assist-campaigns. He would step up in
the postseason, being named playoff MVP in 2005-06 and helped the Tigers win the
2007 WHL Championship, en route to a berth in the Memorial Cup. “It all worked
out in the end and Ive got some real fond memories from my time there,” said
Dorsett. Only 24 players were selected after Dorsett in the 2006 NHL Entry
Draft, but he had made it. He had achieved his goal and overcame a ton along the
way. Kindersleys native son would be on his way to NHL training camp with the
Blue Jackets, but that wasnt good enough for Dorsett and his story doesnt stop
there. Not many at 511 and 176 lbs make it through the WHL and into the NHL.
Even fewer stick in pro hockey, as Dorsett did, plying his trade in the AHL. The
following year, he would go on to lead the Syracuse Crunch in penalty minutes
and all AHL rookies in PIM with 289, while picking up 18 points. What Dorsett
would have given to play a single NHL game years ago, one can only imagine, but
through proving people wrong time and time again, his one NHL game turned into
one game away from the Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers were looking for grit
to help them in the postseason and Dorsett was acquired from the Blue Jackets
for that reason. The problem, however, was that he was not even expected to play
in the post season. Once again, the bulldog showed his fight and he returned
from a collarbone break that had placed him on the sidelines for almost the
entire regular season. Number 51 would, in fact, dress in Broadway blue for the
playoffs. While the Rangers would not go all the way that year, the best was yet
to come from Dorsett. The small town kid from Kindersley would end up a big part
of the Stanley Cup run, which is not terribly surprising considering hockey
played at that time of the year, caters itself to hard work, physicality, grit
and guts. New York ended up three wins short from the ultimate prize. “I think
anytime you have success and you keep winning playoff series, you think, this
might be my turn - this could be it...the chance to win, in my opinion, the best
trophy in all of sports, said Dorsett. It is still a huge achievement, but dont
tell that to any player who has fallen just short, especially one with the make
up of Dorsett. “I definitely had some conversations with family and friends
about the experience and how cool it was, but it was hard to think about it over
the summer because of how close we were, said Dorsett. The Rangers did not prove
to be the ultimate fit, despite trying to return to the dance and it was
Dorsett, who would end up with a change in venue, but with a familiar conductor.
Cue Willie Desjardins and the Vancouver Canucks. The head coach and everyone
else in the hockey world now nows firmly what to expect from Dorsett. For those
Canucks fans who didnt, it was quickly realized. There is a good chance hell
return to the numbers he has become infamous for sporting, those 100+-PIM and
20+-points-types of seasons. Dorsett, though, has one thought on his mind - one
which arrives with the agony of defeat, combined with the attitude of a winner.
“It was a special time and it just makes me hungrier to get back there and
actually come out on top, he said. Canucks fans hope so. They too, have fought
through ups and downs and have come out battle tested. Perhaps, there is no
better player, then, to represent what not only the roster, but the city hopes
to achieve: The determined Derek Dorsett
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