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PORTLAND, Ore. -- Last season the Trail Blazers were all about defying expectations. This season they want to build on them.We did great things last year, now its time to prove it up, guard Damian Lillard said. Its time to show that what we did -- thats who we are, thats what were capable of as a team, and we can do better.On Monday, the Blazers had their first official gathering, although many players stuck around Portland to work out during the summer. The team also took a bonding trip to San Diego earlier this month.Portland went 44-38 last season despite losing four starters to free agency the previous summer. The team got the fifth seed in the Western Conference, then beat the injury-depleted Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.The Blazers ran into the Western Conference champion Warriors in the second round. After dropping the first two games in Oakland, California, Portland won the third at home and lost the fourth in overtime. Golden State closed out the series with a nail-biter in Oakland.We dont have a reason to be complacent about last year. We didnt win a championship, Lillard said. The team was put together, and we come together to win it all. Sure, we did some good things last year, but we didnt do what were here for.Lillard averaged a career-high 25.1 points in the regular season, becoming the third Portland player ever to average more than 25. He also averaged 6.8 assists.Backcourt teammate CJ McCollum averaged 20.8 points in his first year as a starter, giving the Blazers their first backcourt duo with an average of 20 or more points apiece in a single season. He was named the leagues Most Improved Player.This summer, McCollum signed a four-year contract extension worth $106 million that will keep him with the Blazers through the 2020-21 season.McCollums deal was part of a busy offseason as the Blazers sought to secure their young prospects and create depth.Forward Meyers Leonard is staying in Portland with a four-year, $41 million deal signed in the offseason. Still rehabbing from shoulder surgery in March, Leonard said he should be able to participate in 5-on-5 drills by Oct. 8, although he may not be in game shape.Maurice Harkless, who filled a key role when Leonard was injured, also signed a four-year contract with the Blazers worth a reported $40 million. Over Portlands final 11 games, Harkless averaged 12 points and 6.5 rebounds.The Blazers also brought back Allen Crabbe, a restricted free agent, matching a four-year, $75 million offer from the Brooklyn Nets. Other returnees for the Blazers include Al-Farouq Aminu and Mason Plumlee.Portland signed free agent forward Festus Ezeli and wing Evan Turner and traded to get guard Shabazz Napier and rookie forward Jake Layman.Turner agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract at the start of the NBAs free agency period. Last year with the Celtics, the 6-foot-7 wing averaged 10.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists as Bostons sixth man.I thought it would be advantageous to my game, Turner said about signing with the Blazers. Portland is a hot spot right now, players keep getting better and better.Ezeli, who played last season for the Warriors and averaged seven points and 5.6 assists, had a procedure on his left knee in August and was ruled out for at least six weeks. He said Monday he has been cleared to run.Ezeli was able to go with the team to San Diego, a now-annual trip to bring the players together and work out. The trip south was started by Lillard and McCollum in 2015.I always knew they were cool guys and they had good chemistry, Ezeli said. But I didnt know the team was this tight. Airmax Italia Internet . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Air Max 270 Economiche . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. http://www.airmaxshoponlineitalia.it/scontate-kevin-durant-outlet.html . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Air Max 720 Edizione Limitata .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Kd Basket Italia . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox were down to their last strike when Will Middlebrooks made the most of a mistake. Middlebrooks had a three-run double off closer Fernando Rodney with two outs in the ninth inning that lifted the Red Sox past the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Thursday night. "He hung me a changeup and normally he buries that pitch, and he left it up," Middlebrooks said. Middlebrooks lined a shot to left on a 1-2 pitch from Rodney (1-2) with the base loaded, giving the Red Sox the lead. Rodney, who blew just two saves last year, is 7 for 10 in save opportunities this year. "This game is difficult," Rodney said. "Sometimes when you think youve got it in your hands, its gone. Thats how Im feeling tonight. Sometimes you lose control for a little bit, and you can find your way back to finish that inning." After walking Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz, Rodney struck out Mike Napoli before loading the bases with a walk to Daniel Nava. Stephen Drew struck out, but Middlebrooks then came up with his bases-clearing hit. "The approach by everybody in the ninth inning ... we took some close pitches," Boston manager John Farrell said. "We load the bases via the walk. Even though were going up against a guy thats got tremendous stuff, there was no give up, there was not letdown." Rodney finished with four walks, which is a career high. Junichi Tazawa (3-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. He retired James Loney on a grounder with two on and two outs in the ninth. The Red Sox had been 0-12 when trailing after eight innings. "Awesome ... get us some momentum," Middlebrooks said. Felix Doubront gave up two runs, three hits, six walks and had seven strikeouts over five-plus innings for the Red Sox, who are 6-9 in May. He threw 104 pitches, including 54 strikes. Doubront pitched once in relief since his last start May 3 as the Red Sox have worked on the left-handers delivery. His 1-0 pitch in the third to Luke Scott slipped out his hand and ended up in foul territory between home and first. "I felt a lot better," Doubront said. Tampa Bays Alex Cobb allowed one run and three hits over 6 1-3 innings. He struck out six and walked two. Cobb struck out 13 in 4 2-3 innings last Friday night against San Diego, becoming the first piitcher in major league history to fan that many batters and fail to make it through the fifth inning.dddddddddddd The Rays went up 3-1 in the sixth on RBI singles by Desmond Jennings and Scott. Before the game, Tampa Bay put AL Cy Young Award winner David Price on the 15-day disabled list with a left triceps strain and recalled left-hander Alex Torres from Triple-A Durham. The Rays are hopeful that Price, who departed in the third inning of Wednesday nights game against Boston, will only miss two or three starts. Doubront was pulled after walking Loney to start the sixth. Clayton Mortensen entered, got an out before issuing a pair of walks to load the bases. Desmond Jennings then singled to put Tampa Bay up 2-1. Andrew Miller replaced Mortensen and allowed Scotts run-scoring single that made it 3-1. Ryan Roberts gave the Rays a 1-0 advantage on his homer in the second. Cobb retired his first 10 batters, including four on strikeouts, before Shane Victorino doubled down the right field line with one out in the fourth. Victorino scored to tie it at 1 on Ortizs two-out single. Victorino left after the eighth with lower back tightness. "Well check him tomorrow," Farrell said. "Hes a little banged up right now." Ortiz has 69 RBIs at Tropicana Field, which ranks second behind Manny Ramirezs 72 for the most by a visiting player. NOTES: Boston closer Andrew Bailey (right biceps strain) had a 15-pitch simulated game. The right-hander will make a minor league rehab appearance Saturday for Triple-A Pawtucket and could be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday. ... Red Sox RHP Joel Hanrahan, who had been the closer, had right elbow ligament replacement surgery and had his right flexor tendon repaired by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. .... Rays manager Joe Maddon said a decision has yet to be made on who will make Prices next scheduled start Monday in Toronto. Among the options are right-handers Jake Odorizzi and Chris Archer, as well as Torres, who made his major league debut in 2011, when he appeared in four games -- all in relief. ... Farrell said the team has not discussed moving struggling RHP Daniel Bard from Double-A Portland to extended spring training. Bard walked five and threw just 8 of 30 pitches for strikes in one-plus inning for Portland Wednesday. ' ' '