by hily123 » Sat Mar 04, 2017 9:58 am
SUNDERLAND, England -- Premier League team Sunderland says it has signed goalkeeper Costel Pantillimon for four years on a free transfer. . The 27-year-old Pantillimon, who has played 18 times for Romania, will officially join Sunderland on July 1 after his contract expires at English champion Manchester City. Pantillimon says that "when I left Manchester City, it was important that I chose a club with good ambition ... after speaking with the boss (Gus Poyet), I knew this was the right place." He made 29 appearances for City in three years and replaced Joe Hart for two months in the 2013-14 season when Englands first-choice goalkeeper had a loss of form. Sunderland announced the move on its website. . The struggling New Orleans Pelicans were simply overmatched. Crawford hit seven 3s on his way to 24 points, and the Clippers beat the Pelicans 123-110 on Monday night. "We understand what we do well. If we all do what we do well, well make our team stronger," Crawford said. . Hughes, 30, is a former Major Leaguer with the Baltimore Orioles, having played in 14 games with the Os in 2010. He played with Class AA Binghamton of the Eastern League in the New York Mets system last season. . Argentina, who have yet to beat New Zealand in 17 meetings, rocked the All Blacks with an early converted try to backrower Juan Manuel Leguizamon and led 7-0 after five minutes. But Smiths double in the 23rd and 26th minutes - when Argentina was reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of hooker Eusebio Guinazu - turned the tide of the match and set up New Zealands third straight Championship win.HOUSTON - James Harden is doing it all, helping the Rockets get off to a great start despite several starters missing significant time with injuries.He ranks second in the NBA in scoring with 25.2 points a game and the Rockets are 13-4 and in second place in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference entering Wednesdays game against league-leading Memphis.Theyve gone 4-2 in their last six games with Dwight Howard out with a knee strain.Were definitely in a good place right now, Harden said. Obviously were banged up a little right now, but were fighting through adversity.Along with Howard, the Rockets are also without point guard Pat Beverley (hamstring) and forward Terrence Jones (left leg nerve damage). Isaiah Canaan filled in nicely for Beverley but now hes hurt, too, out indefinitely with an ankle injury.Hardens workload has increased with so many players injured and he is averaging more than 37 minutes a game this season. Coach Kevin McHale raved about what he has done so far, but worries about overloading him.Hes got a lot of responsibility on him, McHale said. Theres a lot of nights its tough. He has the ball a lot creating offence for himself and for others. Hes just got to keep hanging in there and doing it. It would be nice if we could get some of these guys healthy and give him a little bit of a rest.Harden, who has six 30-point games this season, chuckled and shook his head when told that McHale is concerned about his workload. The 25-year-old knows there really isnt another option right now.I just go out there and not worry about it and just do my job to the best of my ability, Harden said.Howard has enjoyed watching Harden work.Hes doing a great job of getting everyone involved, finding people late in the shot clock, attacking the basket and making plays, Howard said. (Hes) been a little bit more scrappy. Hes rebounding, Hes doing everything.With both Beverley and Canaan out, the Rockets started 37-year-old point guard Jason Terry for the first time this season on Saturday in a win over the Bucks. He rresponded with a season-high 18 points and McHale hopes he can build on that performance to help take some pressure off of Harden. . Were going to have to have that, McHale said. Were going to have to get him off the ball at times and other people are going to have to step up.Harden has been a high scorer since arriving in Houston in a trade with Oklahoma City in 2012. But this year hes become a more complete player and has increased his numbers in rebounding (6.2 a game), assists (6.8) and steals (1.9). But perhaps more important than any of those statistics is that hes made a conscious decision to beef up his defence after being criticized for sub-par play in that area this off-season.Trevor Ariza, who was added before the season in part to improve Houstons defence, has been impressed with Hardens work defensively.Hes definitely putting forth an effort to get better at that, Ariza said. Hes the first person to say when he makes a mistake or when he slips up on an assignment ... and when you call yourself out on your mistakes, that shows improvement and that youre willing to get better and you want to get better.Harden has been a leader for Houston since joining this team, but seems to have a renewed focus on helping the Rockets improve this season after last years first-round exit from the playoffs.I think this past summer really helped me out maturing as a basketball player, he said. Not really worrying about the things I cant control and focusing on my teammates, my coaching staff and winning basketball games. Then everything else will fall in place.Houston will need him to continue his strong start with no timetable for the return of any of the injured starters. Howard is making progress and said Tuesday that the pain in knee is subsiding, but he doesnt know when hell return.I want to get back out there now if I could, but I dont think its smart to try and rush anything, Howard said. When Im 100 per cent, when Im close to it, Ill play. I dont want to give my teammates nothing but the best. ' ' '
