LaberFred » er, Boston was fifth in the NBA in defensive

Dave Attwood has been ruled out of Englands clash with Fiji on Saturday and there is also a doubt over the fitness of Billy Vunipola.Bath second row Attwood injured a knee in the 37-21 victory over South Africa at Twickenham and will return to his club having received treatment at the squads Surrey training base.Adding to Englands problems is the news that world player of the year nominee Vunipola, who forced Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth to withdraw from the match following a clash of heads, will be unable to train on Monday or Tuesday.A Rugby Football Union spokesman was unable to clarify the nature of the injury except to describe it as a knock -- but it places a question mark over his availability for the second autumn international.England forwards coach Steve Borthwick explained. Weve got a few bumps and bruises from Saturday.Dave Attwood is having his knee treated. Hes having an injection on his knee and is then returning to Bath, so is unavailable.England have opted against drafting Josh Beaumont into the squad to cover for Attwood and will instead rely on Charlie Ewels, who is already with the team.If Vunipola fails to prove his fitness in time for the Grand Slam champions push for a 12th successive Test win, then Nathan Hughes will start at number eight in what would be his full debut.Hughes won his first cap off the bench against South Africa, with prop Kyle Sinckler and centre Ben Teo also blooded for the first time.Borthwick believes the trio are ready to start against Fiji if required.They all did very well. What was noticeable for me was the ovation the players got from the supporters as they were leaving the field, Borthwick said. When the guys came on for their own cap the cheer they got was brilliant and thats a big moment in any players career.They did really well and it improves the competitiveness in our squad, making selection harder, which is what Eddie [Jones] wants.All three players bring a lot of power and explosiveness to the field. They have some special talents and now theyve experienced the Test arena. Theyll get better and better the more experience theyll get. Padres Jerseys 2019 . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/ . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. 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MIAMI -- Its not as if they still have Bird, McHale and Parish.Its not as if -- going back even further -- they still have Russell and Cousy.No, the Boston Celtics dont have any of those superstars. Their leading scorer is Isaiah Thomas -- and hes not that Isaiah Thomas, the Hall of Famer from Chicago.This is the 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas, the one from Tacoma, Wash. Yet this particular Thomas, who is averaging 26.1 points and 6.3 assists, has continued a recent but substantial trend of Celtics domination over the Miami Heat.Since Thomas joined the Celtics last season, Boston is 3-0 against the Heat, and its an Eastern Conference rivalry that will be renewed on Monday night inside Miamis AmericanAirlines Arena.But going back before Thomas arrived, Boston has won at least one game per season in nine of the past 10 years. That overlaps the time span when the Heat had far superior talent with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.Now Miamis Big Three is effectively gone, and the Heat (5-11) is paying the price, falling to its current standing of 13th place out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.The Celtics (9-7), meanwhile, appear to be a team on the rise, sitting in fifth place in the East at the moment.Boston could be ready to get on a roll now that post player and four-time All-Star Al Horford has returned. He missed nine games due to a concussion, and he is just now rounding back into form after returning on Nov. 19.He makes a huge difference to our team, Thomas told the media. Even if he is not scoring, he is still defending and making plays for his teammates.Horford has two double-doubles in the four games since he came off the disabled list. He has averaged 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds since returning, and both of those numbers are higher than his season aaverages.dddddddddddd.Miami already struggles to score but may get strangled on Monday by Avery Bradleys tight defense. Bradley, a 6-2 shooting guard, is a dynamo who is just entering his prime after years of battling injuries.Bradley, who made first-team All-Defense last season, leads Boston in rebounding (8.0) and is second in scoring (17.9).Jae Crowder, a 6-6, 235-pound small forward, is Bostons other double-figure scorer, averaging 12.5 points.Amir Johnson, a 6-9, 240-pound power forward, is Bostons fifth starter. He, Bradley and Horford are the key figures on Bostons defense. And remember, Boston was fifth in the NBA in defensive efficiency last season without Horford.His defense has made the unit better.The Heat will try to crack that defense, but it will depend to a large extent on some health issues. Point guard Goran Dragic (elbow) and shooting guard Dion Waiters (groin) are listed as questionable.In addition, starting small forward Justise Winslow is out due to a wrist injury. It will be the eighth straight game he has missed.Has it been that long already? Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said painfully. Everything is day to day. He hasnt gone through a practice yet.Generally, Spoelstra prefers that a player get at least one full practice in before returning to the lineup. But with Miami potentially missing three of its top four starters -- Dragic, Waiters and Winslow -- Spoelstra may have to alter that plan.Miami will continue to rely on center Hassan Whiteside, who is averaging 16.8 points, 14.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.On the perimeter, Miami will look to scorers such as Josh Richardson (10.8) and sixth-man Tyler Johnson (12.4). ' ' '