Kritik und Lob » think Barcelona are trying to copy

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Anxious and eager to get started with his new team, Kevin Durant woke up extra early in the 7 oclock hour and then hit freeway traffic on the way to his first formal work day with the Warriors.I wasnt used to that in Oklahoma City, he said with a chuckle following his initial practice with Golden State.Welcome to the Bay Area, KD.Hes loving it so far. So is two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry, asked several different ways after Day 1 how defenses might possibly defend a lineup led by him, Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and new center Zaza Pachulia. Not to mention all the playmakers coming off the bench for the NBA runner-ups last season to LeBron James and Cleveland.Everybody expects more from the Warriors now -- even after a record-setting season that ended with 73 wins but without another championship banner.As Curry and Co. are so used to by now, every team will bring its best to face star-studded Golden State led by its baby-faced point guard who shattered his own record with 402 3-pointers last season and is looking for even more from himself.Weve just got to be ready for pretty much anything, Curry said. Its going to be a feeling-out process throughout the whole season. Last year, teams started playing us a little differently all the way up until like March. We have to adjust. ... I have the same mentality. I dont really think about any other expectations. I want to get better. I want to be better than I was last year, and thats going to be the same regardless if KD was here or not.The Warriors held a team dinner Monday night that was as much get-to-know-you as it was outlining the season ahead. Durant said they havent even discussed whos going to get more shots or minutes, its all about getting to know each other.When things immediately came together on the court, coach Steve Kerr was pleasantly surprised given both he and general manager Bob Myers expected some basketballs to fly every which way as all the superstars found their timing together.Durant fit in great on the first day, Kerr said.It went well, better than I thought, said Kerr, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year. We had a team dinner last night and I looked around and we had, I want to say, 12 or 13 new faces including the camp invites. Its a reminder that this is a much different team, much different season. Practice was really smooth, especially considering all the new faces.Curry knows this team will be different from the group that came off a championship a year ago, and he has been reminding himself that every day you have to learn a little something to reach the big prize at the end.Losing Game 7 still stings for the Warriors, who led the series 3-1 before squandering the advantage -- just as Durant and his former Thunder team did against the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.Thats life, thats all part of it, Kerr said.Oh, and speaking of Currys focus, he is completely unconcerned as he enters into a contract year. He insists his future, which Curry plans to be right where he is now, can wait until next summer.My answers not going to be any different all year, so keep asking me, I wont have a different one, he said. Im not going to let it distract me at all. I want to be back here. I like playing here, and thats it. The rest of it is about what were going to do this year. Cheap Air Jordan 1 . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Air Jordan 1 Outlet . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. https://www.cheapairjordan1outlet.com/ . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wholesale Air Jordan 1 .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Air Jordan 1 Discount . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break.Rafa Benitez is back in the Premier League with Newcastle but what is his record against the current crop of managers? The Spaniard was appointed Newcastle boss on Friday after Steve McClaren was finally relieved of his duties and is tasked with steering the second-bottom Magpies to safety.It will be no easy initiation for Benitez, with league leaders Leicester up first in Monday Night Football, but Newcastle fans with one eye on Sundays Sky Live derby clash with bitter rivals Sunderland may take hope from their new managers previous against Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce. Benitez has claimed seven wins from 12 matches against Allardyce - giving him a win percentage of almost 60 per cent.That ratio is only marginally bettered by his record against a previous Newcastle manager in Alan Pardew - and Pardews Crystal Palace visit Tyneside at the end of April in what could be another crunch clash in Benitezs bid to keep his new club in the top flight. Benitez record against current PL managers Opp Manager Played Won Drawn Lost Win Percentage Alan Pardew 5 3 1 1 60% Arsene Wenger 13 4 4 5 30.8% Mark Hughes 11 4 6 1 36.4% Mauricio Pochettino 1 0 0 1 0% Sam Allardyce 12 7 2 3 58.3% Tony Pulis 5 2 3 0 40% Improving an already striking win ratio against Allardyce would likely give Benitez, as well as the long-suffering Toon Army, satisfaction because its fair to say the pair dont see eye-to-eye.Their feud started when the then-Liverpool boss was critical of Allardyces Bolton and their physical playing style - a sentiment that did not sit well.Rafa would be very lucky to be in a job if he hadnt got to two Champions League finals, because theyve had some very poor finishes in the Premier League, Allardyce was quoted as saying in a magazine interview in September 2007, after he had left Bolton to take the Newcastle job. Allardyce (right) and his Bolton side earned criticism from Rafa While they are a very good Champions League team, theyre not a Premier League-winning side. They dont have the mentality to win that yet.Things came to a head, after several other spats, in 2010, following another victory for Benitez - Liverpools 2-1 success over Blackburn at Anfield. Benitez PL record v Allardyce Date & venue Benitez team Scorre Allardyce team 29/08/04, Reebok Stadium Liverpool 0-1 Bolton 02/04/05, Anfield Liverpool 1-0 Bolton 02/01/06, Reebok Stadium Liverpool 2-2 Bolton 09/04/06, Anfield Liverpool 1-0 Bolton 30/08/06, Reebok Stadium Liverpool 0-2 Bolton 01/01/07, Anfield Liverpool 3-0 Bolton 24/11/07, St James Park Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle 11/04/09, Anfield Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn 05/12/09, Ewood Park Liverpool 0-0 Blackburn 28/02/10, Anfield Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn 01/12/12, Upton Park Chelsea 1-3 West Ham 17/05/13, Stamford Bridge Chelsea 2-0 West Ham I think he is a model for all the managers all around the world, jibed Benitez.dddddddddddd His style of football, his behaviour, everything.He is the perfect role model for all the kids. I am sure parents will enjoy this model and encourage their kids to be the same. I also think Barcelona are trying to copy his style of football.Allardyce responded - and didnt hold back. Alan Pardew (left) hasnt had much joy against Benitez It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows how bad his side were, Allardyce said.Hes got personal with it for many, many years now - thats why I dont like him and the feeling is probably mutual.Allardyce later wrote in his book: Of course, he can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it has nowt to do with him. Watch Benitezs first game back in the Premier League live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Monday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Redknapps title race view Do late sackings work? The relegation run-in Five challenges facing Benitez ' ' '