Verbesserungsvorschläge » er will be. Im not going to try to be, B

The Cleveland Cavaliers know what it feels like to enter the season as Eastern Conference favorites.They begin this one with an entirely unfamiliar label -- defending champions.The rest of the East has spent the last six years unsuccessfully trying to unseat LeBron James from the throne. Whether he has been in Cleveland or Miami, James has led his team to the NBA Finals every year since 2011. But his crowning achievement came last season, when his Cavaliers captured the citys first pro sports championship in 52 years by defeating the record-breaking Golden State Warriors.Now the Cavaliers are wearing an even bigger target on their backs.Its the same mindset: Lets win a championship, James said. We just want to be able to put ourselves in position to do that. We have the ability, we have the personnel, but we have to work now. We cant expect for it to happen just like we didnt expect for it to happen last year. We put the time into it.The Boston Celtics finally found a star in Al Horford to team with a lunch pail group that has overachieved under coach Brad Stevens. The Toronto Raptors are back for more after falling to the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals and Chicago and New York brought in aging stars in a desperate attempt to change the balance of power in the leagues weaker conference.James reply: Bring it on.We cant be entitled to anything weve got to go out and get it and work for it, he said. Were a team thats very driven and we look forward to all the challenges the season holds.A look at the East:---PLAYOFF BOUND1. Cleveland -- Championship hangover? No one expects that with the Cavs. There is one certainty in the NBA: LeBron will make it to the finals.2. Boston -- Horford and Stevens appear to be the perfect match.3. Toronto -- Keep doubting the Raptors. Kyle Lowry wants you to. Should be nip and tuck with the Celtics all season.4. Washington -- Heres where it starts to get dicey. Wiz are betting Scott Brooks will be able to push the buttons Randy Wittman couldnt.5. Atlanta -- The Hawks took a step back last season, then swapped Horford for Dwight Howard. Things could go either way in Hotlanta this season.6. Charlotte -- Mostly stood pat this summer after a surprising sixth-place finish last year. A healthy Michael Kidd-Gilchrist sure could make a difference.7. Detroit -- Would have picked them higher, but Reggie Jacksons injury is a concern.8. Indiana -- Pacers swapped out the underrated George Hill for Jeff Teague, traded Frank Vogel for Nate McMillan and brought in Thaddeus Young and Al Jefferson to funk things up.---IN THE MIX9. Chicago -- Dwyane Wades homecoming is a great story. But the severe lack of shooting figures to hold the Bulls back.10. Miami -- With Wade and Chris Bosh gone, its rebuilding time. Dont expect Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra to be down long, though.11. New York -- Manhattan is all excited about the star power that Phil Jackson brought in. The reality is Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have not been completely healthy for years.12. Milwaukee -- Khris Middletons injury is a killer that prompted scrambling for wing help. The Greek Freak at point guard, thought? That will be appointment viewing.---FACING LONG ODDS13. Orlando -- Vogel landed with the Magic and he has all kinds of defensive weapons at his disposal. That will be essential because scoring may be difficult to come by.14. Philadelphia -- You have to be kidding us with the Ben Simmons injury. Hey, at least Joel Embiid is healthy. Please keep it that way.15. Brooklyn -- Move over Philly, theres a new basement dweller in the East! Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinson are well thought of, but its going to take time to get this thing turned around.---WHAT TO KNOWLEBRONS LEGACY: The last time James did not appear in the NBA Finals was 2010 when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Celtics. James Cavaliers were eliminated in the East semifinals by the Celtics, and he signed with the Heat that summer.WALL AND BEAL: Much has been made of the chemistry, or lack thereof, in Washingtons backcourt. If John Wall and Bradley Beal are on the same page, the Wizards are dangerous. If they cant find a way to harmonize, Washington could plummet down the standings.NEW FACES: Brooks in Washington, McMillan in Indiana, Vogel in Orlando, Atkinson in Brooklyn and Jeff Hornacek in New York start their first seasons as coaches after a summer of upheaval in the conference.SCHRODER TIME: The Hawks traded Teague to Indiana to open the door for Schroders slashing game. Hes been waiting for this chance, and his ability to run the team, play defense and knock down the occasional jumper will be critical to Atlantas chances.ROOKIE WATCH: Only three of the top nine picks in the draft went to teams in the East. Youngsters to keep an eye on include Jaylen Brown in Boston, Jakob Poeltl for Toronto, Thon Maker in Milwaukee and Denzel Valentine in Chicago.---AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.---Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APKrawczynski Willie Brown Youth Jersey . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Howie Long Raiders Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. https://www.raiderssportsgoods.com/Womens-Willie-Brown-Inverted-Jersey/ .4 million title. 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PITTSBURGH -- Now that LeVeon Bell is back in the lineup, he plans to stay there.The Pittsburgh Steelers running back has started back-to-back seasons on the NFLs suspension list for violating the leagues substance abuse policy, but hes eligible to play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.The personal issues are behind me, Bell said.There shouldnt be any more off-the-field issues. I apologize to everybody for that, said Bell, a free agent in 2017. I just want to move forward. Im ready to get back on the field and show people what Im able to do.Bell, who leads the NFL with 119 yards from scrimmage per game since 2013, missed two games in 2015 for a possession DUI charge that resulted in probation. He missed an additional three games this season for missing league-administered drug tests.Bell said he is working to improve in some off-field areas, including taking care of himself and his body and whatever it takes for me to be on the field.After missing 10 games last season with a torn medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, Bell said he is 100 percent healthy.Im not a perfect person. I never will be. Im not going to try to be, Bell saidd.dddddddddddd I understand there are some things I can get better at, and Im going to shoot to get better at them.Bells ability as a receiver -- he caught 83 passes for 854 yards in 2014 -- will be welcome after the Steelers averaged just 5.8 yards per pass in a 34-3 loss at Philadelphia.Bell stayed in Pittsburgh to rehab, train and lift weights while suspended, and though he said it sucked to watch the Steelers from a television, he said he is a smarter player than in 2014, when he posted 2,215 yards rushing and receiving.Once they plug me in, I feel like Ill go out there and help the guys move the football, Bell said. I just want to be a guy thats reliable, make sure I take care of the football, make plays in situational downs, get in the end zone, help the offense move the ball and win games.Asked about sharing a backfield with DeAngelo Williams, who recorded 264 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in Bells absence, Bell said, theres always enough room, adding both players are willing to do whatever necessary to win a Super Bowl. ' ' '