Kritik und Lob » Patriots chore.In a way, though, the Patrio

The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers will face each other Friday night for the first time since a somewhat chippy and intense playoff series last spring that ended in a Cleveland sweep in the first round. But the games were more competitive -- and physical -- than a typical sweep.Pistons forward Stanley Johnson, at the time only a rookie, bragged he thought he was in LeBron James head during the series. And if he wasnt, the Pistons certainly seemed to be targeting it.Andre Drummond clubbed James with a blow to the head during the series, and Marcus Morris caught James with a body shot. The series grew in intensity throughout, although both sides survived without serious injuries.James sat out Wednesdays loss at Indiana to rest, lowering the Cavs record in games without him to 4-16 since he returned to Cleveland three seasons ago. But hell be back in the lineup for Fridays game in Cleveland, and J.R. Smith could return after missing three games with a sore right ankle.The Cavs appear to have a decided edge over Detroit in rebounding. Although Drummond ranks second in the league in rebounding (13.8 per game), he isnt getting much help. The Pistons rank toward the middle of the pack in rebounding, while the Cavs rank fifth and feature two of the best in Kevin Love (10.8 rpg) and Tristan Thompson (9.9 rpg).The Pistons were smashed on the glass during Tuesdays loss at New York, losing the rebounding 52-40 while allowing the Knicks 19 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points. Given the number of extra looks the Knicks received, that figure shouldve been even higher.Well be able to go in and look at 10 or 12 plays that were just lack-of-effort plays, lack-of-focus plays, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told the Detroit Free Press. You cant afford that on the road and we continue to do that.The Pistons are perfect at home this season, but have just one road win in seven tries. Its a disappointing start for a team that expected to take a big leap after securing the eighth seed last season and pushing the eventual champions despite the sweep.Now the Cavs are rolling despite Wednesdays loss. Theyre among the league leaders in a number of offensive categories and coach Tyronn Lue believes they can play even better.Quickening the pace was a focus for Lue since taking over at midseason last year. He likes the way James pushes when the ball is in his hands, but believes the pace slows a bit when Kyrie Irving is in charge. After lagging near the bottom of the league in pace last season, the Cavs rank just outside the top 10 this year. They are one of 11 teams right now generating at least 100 possessions per game.I think offensively were doing a good job of sharing the basketball. Were trying to play with pace. We need to play even faster, Lue said. At times we play fast, at times we kind of slowly bring the ball up the court. 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The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Tom Brady will miss the first four games of the upcoming NFL schedule. Unless he doesnt.Deflategate has crept into a third NFL season, and with the federal courts rejection on Wednesday of the New England quarterbacks appeal of his suspension, it certainly appears that Brady will be sidelined into early October.Brady still has the option of taking his case to the Supreme Court -- one legal analyst called that nothing more than a Hail Mary -- and getting the suspension for his role in the use of underinflated footballs in the 2014 AFC title game overturned or stayed. Given how aggressively Brady, the NFL Players Association and all the lawyers involved have pursued the case, trying to get the Supreme Court to hear it could be the next step.Meanwhile, its up to the Patriots to figure out the best approach to opening the season at formidable Arizona before a homestand against Miami, Houston and Buffalo.One thing for sure: super-secretive New England wont be giving out any hints.Among the Patriots biggest dilemmas is how to split reps and game time in the preseason. Normally, Brady would take a huge number of reps, but would play sporadically in the exhibition matches. Jimmy Garoppolo would get the majority of the game snaps.Now? New Englands coaches must get Garoppolo prepared for his most significant pro action. Yet offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels must be careful not to get in the way of Bradys prep.While Brady is among the most accomplished winners in sports, and no one knows his craft better than the four-time Super Bowl champion, this is uncharted territory for him. Staying sharp when you are barred from any interactions with your team for a month is a huge challenge even for Brady.That makes the Patriots August very intriguing. Watch for lots of photos and video of Brady working witth backups and rookies whenever that occurs on the practice field.dddddddddddd Sort of like Leonardo DiCaprio doing a cartoon.The Patriots also must begin considering their overall quarterback situation. Rookie Jacoby Brissett would be the only backup to the untested Garoppolo, hardly an ideal situation for anything except a rebuilding team. So bringing in a veteran QB for at least the four games Brady will miss makes some sense.Except, of course, how does that quarterback get any practice reps in light of the urgency of preparing Garoppolo and keeping Brady somewhat sharp? He doesnt. So finding someone willing to be nothing more than a camp body would be the Patriots chore.In a way, though, the Patriots are fortunate that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan issued its decision Wednesday. Barring that Hail Mary in DC, the team can move ahead with concrete plans for preparing Garoppolo, who has thrown all of 31 passes in two NFL seasons.Envision a scenario where the deflated footballs issue remained unsettled and Brady received a stay of his suspension while the courts considered its merits. He would play in those first four games and many others until a decision was made.Imagine then that Brady still loses on appeal and is forced to sit out the final four games of the schedule. Or the section when the Patriots play Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Seattle, their most formidable four-game stretch.Or -- New Englanders shudder at this thought -- he has to sit out the playoffs. After all, the genesis of all of this hot air was what the NFL says occurred in a conference championship game.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '