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LOS ANGELES -- Even Doc Rivers got weary of the two-week saga of his move to the Los Angeles Clippers. He thought the unusual deal was dead several times, and he insists he really didnt mind the prospect of returning to the Boston Celtics. "I felt like I was the only guy in all this that was in a win-win," Rivers said. The Clippers think theyve got plenty of winning in store after landing one of the NBAs most respected veteran coaches. The Clippers formally introduced Rivers at their training complex Wednesday after dealing a first-round pick to the Celtics. Rivers was simply grateful to end his self-described "strange ordeal" ever since the Celtics floated the possibility of moving the NBAs highest-paid coach to a talented team determined to replace Vinny Del Negro with a topflight leader. "The reason I wanted this when it was made available was because of what we have," said Rivers, who also will be the Clippers senior vice-president of basketball operations. "I clearly think this is an extremely talented basketball team. There were times last year they were the best team. I like the talent we have here." Rivers believes the Clippers have the ingredients to be a title contender, although unrestricted free agent Chris Paul is a major part of that recipe. Rivers arrival is widely expected to cinch a new deal for CP3 -- and Rivers believes their partnership will lead to chances for championships. "Were going for it, let there be no mistake," Clippers President Andy Roeser said. "Were going for it. We want to win, and we think Doc will help us get there." Rivers largely sat out the negotiations about his fate over the last two weeks, staying at his off-season home in Orlando while Celtics President Danny Ainge and the Clippers top brass hammered out details of the move. Rivers gave up on the deal multiple times, even discussing the Celtics roster for next season with Ainge on Sunday, convinced he would return for a 10th season in Boston. Rivers turned off his phone and watched his youngest son, Spencer, in an AAU game. When he turned it back on, he found out he might be on the move after all -- and a few hours later, the deal was done. With all of his formal clothes in Boston, Rivers couldnt even wear a suit when he headed out to the West Coast to accept his next coaching challenge. "Things always find their path," Rivers said. "This took a long and winding path, but it found a way. ... I didnt intend it to be this way. I didnt want it to be this way. Danny and I thought it was something we would explore, and it would be quick." But its finally over, and Rivers has started to consider what hell do with his new team, which won a franchise-record 56 games and its first Pacific Division title last season, only to lose to Memphis in the first round of the post-season. Rivers is eager to improve the Clippers defence while maximizing the potential of Blake Griffin and Paul, whose return is the franchises top off-season priority. Paul and Griffin didnt attend the news conference, but backup big men Ronny Turiaf and Ryan Hollins showed up for a look at their new coach. Rivers said he had already spoken to most of his new players and most of the Celtics. "Very excited about the future with Coach Rivers and his staff," Griffin tweeted. "Cant wait to get to work. Thanks for all the support clipnation!" Rivers was understandably cagey about any conversations with Paul, who was widely thought to desire an established, veteran coach in Los Angeles. Roeser has been steadfastly confident the Clippers will hang on to CP3, and Rivers arrival only made him more optimistic. "I think were just going to have to wait until he makes his decision and signs his contract, but all the indications are that he likes Doc and respects him," Roeser said of Paul. Rivers was greeted in Playa Vista by a huge Hollywood media contingent, baffling a few longtime Clippers employees used to toiling in the glitzy Lakers shadow. With each passing month, the Clippers are stealing the spotlight from the 16-time champions who share their hallway at Staples Center. "I dont understand what the fuss is," Roeser said with a laugh. "Its not even the first time we gave up a first-round pick for Doc." Roeser referred to the 1991 trade that brought the veteran point guard to the Clippers for one season in 1991-92. Rivers wore Los Angeles No. 25 jersey that year -- the same number on the ceremonial jersey he held Wednesday to herald his return. Rivers front-office title means hell have a say in the Clippers personnel moves, but Rivers clearly indicated hes only one part of a decision-making team including Roeser and Gary Sacks, their vice-president of basketball operations. "I think titles dont mean that much," Roeser said. "What matters is were going to sit down together and find a way to make this team better." Roeser confirmed the Clippers wont be making any player transactions with Boston in the near future, but said the Clippers "will be active in the free-agent market." A reunion between Rivers and Kevin Garnett in Los Angeles remains unlikely after the NBA banned any potential trades including both men, but Rivers seems confident the Clippers already have enough talent to be even better. "Thats the only reason Im coaching, is to try to win titles," Rivers said. "Weve got to prove we can win a series first."Steven Stamkos Lightning Jersey . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. 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Yanni Gourde Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Andrei Vasilevskiy Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Manager Bob Melvin shuffled the Athletics batting order and got the type of production he was looking for from the top of the lineup. Chris Young and Alberto Callaspo, hitting in the No. 6 and 8 spots, provided a nice boost as well. Young and Callaspo homered in the fifth inning and Oakland beat the Cleveland Indians 7-3 on Sunday. "Thats always nice when you get contributions all over," Melvin said. "We feel like we have just as good a chance to score down in the lineup as we do up in the lineup." Jed Lowrie, batting leadoff for only the third time this season, had two hits and scored twice for Oakland. Josh Donaldson drove in three runs as the As pulled within a half-game of AL West-leading Texas. One day after being held to a season-low three hits in a 7-1 loss to the Indians, the As jumped on Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir early. Lowrie singled and scored in the first, then doubled and scored in the second. Derek Norris added two hits and reached base four times while Donaldson had a pair of RBI singles and also drove in a run on a groundout in the first. "Thats when were at our best, when we have equal parts and we can trust everybody up and down the lineup," Lowrie said. "Thats been our key offensively. I dont think Im a prototypical leadoff hitter but I get on base a lot." Young hit his 11th home run off Kazmir (7-6) to break a 3-all tie in the fifth. Three pitches later, Callaspo followed with his sixth homer and first since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in late July. Ryan Raburn homered for Cleveland, which has lost six of its past seven in Oakland. The Indians dropped seven games behind Detroit in the Central and fell 4 1/2 games behind the As in the AL wild card race. "Its go time," said second baseman Jason Kipnis, who had two of Clevelands nine hits. "We dont have time to sit around and fell sorry for ourselves about losing twwo of three here.ddddddddddddIts time to take care of business." Dan Otero (2-0) retired five batters for the win in relief of starter Tommy Milone. Grant Balfour pitched the ninth. Kazmir had a rough afternoon while pitching on eight days rest. The left-hander had been moved back after saying he had a "dead arm" after his previous start. Kazmir gave up a pair of two-out scoring hits in the first two innings. He was hit by Josh Reddicks liner that ricocheted off him and went into right field in the third. Ahead 5-3, Oakland got a boost when left fielder Yoenis Cespedes threw out Nick Swisher at second base in the seventh when he tried to extend a single. Center fielder Young made a stellar play to rob Michael Brantley of extra bases in the eighth. Raburn homered in the second, hitting a towering solo shot that bounced high off the wall beyond the centre field fence. Called up from Triple-A Sacramento before the game, Milone ran into trouble in the third following Callaspos throwing error at third base. Callaspo made up for the gaffe when he followed Youngs solo home run in the fifth with his blast to left. "You think of him as a slap hitter but every now and then hell square it up and throw it out of the yard from both sides of the plate," Young said of Callaspo. "Hes a special guy to have on your team." NOTES: Donaldson has 42 multi-hit games, one more than any player on the As had in 2012. ... Kazmir had allowed only two home runs total over his previous nine starts. ... Milone struck out five and walked one. ... LHP Brett Anderson threw 49 pitches in a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento and will make at least one appearance in the minors before rejoining the As. Oakland is also considering putting Anderson into the rotation after originally planning to use him out of the bullpen. ... As they announced they would do, the As put RHP Bartolo Colon on the disabled list. ' ' '