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HOUSTON -- In the never-ending search for early-season trends that might serve as an indicator of long-term behavior, the Houston Rockets followed their fifth loss of the season on Wednesday night with a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers one evening later to avoid suffering their first losing skid on the season.The Rockets (7-5), with a new coach and reconfigured roster, remain in search of consistency. Yet, their ability to rebound from setbacks offers optimism, particularly this week given the disappointment that resonated after their come-from-ahead loss against Oklahoma City. Houston led by as many as 11 points before falling 105-103.Were still fairly new as a team, said Rockets guard James Harden, who followed a season-worst 13-point performance against the Thunder with his third triple-double of the season against Portland. Were still trying to figure each other out. As long as we can bounce back and continue to get better, continue to grow and learn from our mistakes, well be all right.Through victory and defeat the Rockets, who host the Utah Jazz (7-6) on Saturday at Toyota Center, are working to establish their identity. They fancy themselves as a space-and-pace outfit yet they rank a modest 14th in the NBA in pace at 97.2 possessions per 48 minutes. They are fifth in offensive rating and are coming off back-to-back games where seven and six players reached double figures in scoring.With the return of guard Patrick Beverley, Houston aims to improve defensively. What theyve shown through a dozen games is a willingness to work at everything.Were going to make some mistakes and we still have some improving to do, Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said. As long as they come with that attitude every day and work at it and fix their mistakes, then good things will happen.Injuries continue to undermine the Jazz, who followed a successful five-game swing through the Eastern Conference with consecutive home losses. Utah went 4-1 before returning home and dropping games against the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, with the absences of guard George Hill (thumb) and forward Derrick Favors (knee) looming large.Weve had a lot of guys adjusting to injury, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. Theres a lot of that going on.I dont want to overreact to one player playing poorly or our team playing poorly. That doesnt get you where you want to go.Without Hill, who has missed six games, the Jazz can appear rudderless. Utah was emboldened by the return of forward Gordon Hayward to open their road trip but Hill provides a veteran touch orchestrating the offense that isnt easily replaced.Second-year guard Dante Exum has started the last four games in place of Hill and over the previous six games is averaging nine points and two assists while shooting just 40.8 percent. Prior to his injury, Hill was averaging 20.4 points and five assists.Incidentally, Utah ranks dead last in the NBA in pace at 90.6 possessions per 48. Hill is questionable for a return against the Rockets, but with or without him Utah must find the rhythm it established on the road only to lose it back in Salt Lake City.Were going to go on this two-game road trip and hopefully get the best of that, Exum said. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . 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Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Sonny Bill Williams may have claimed rugbys top honours in the 15-man code but the thought of winning sevens gold at the Olympic Games in Rio gives him butterflies.The New Zealand star is a two-time World Cup winner and Super Rugby title holder in rugby union, has reached the peak in rugby league and is a belt-holder in national boxing. But he is still seeking the ultimate honour.To be able to say youre an Olympian and get a medal, thatd just be another level, Williams told ESPN. It would be unbelievable. I get butterflies just thinking about it. God willing it all works out.Williams is not your usual rugby player, let alone sportsman. He will be the headline attraction at the sevens but has been a polarising figure.There is a fine line between being seen as a sporting mercenary or as an exceptional athlete making the most of his or her potential in different disciplines.A brief history of Williams peripatetic sporting journey saw him start in rugby league before moving to union and Toulon in 2009 and back in 2013.His second shift to union came in time for the 2015 World Cup but during this time he also went undefeated in seven boxing bouts, adding the NZPBA and WBA heavyweight belts to his six titles rugby titles.The debate over whether Williams is a mercenary or genius has continued but watchers of rugby league and union cannot help feel a sense of awe at everything he has achieved. He has fallen into the sports genius category and making the sevens team could prove to be his greatest achievement yet.Sevens was announced as an Olympic sport in 2009, but as the Rio Games ticked closer, various stars of the 15-man scene started to wonder whether they could make the cut in the shorter form of the game.Figures such as Australias Quade Cooper and South Africas Bryan Habana tried and failed to win places in their squads. Former San Francisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne was omitted from Fijis party, while Williams All Blacks teammate Liam Messam was another who fell at the final hurdle.Reputations as world-class players in the 15-man code have meant little for the specialist shorter form of sevens but, on July 3, Williams was included in New Zealands Olympic squad.He played in the World Sevens Series, learned the trade and immersed himself in the sport. He had long looked destined for the Games squad and his selection points to wider ramifications for the sport.?New Zealand Sevens star Tim Mikkelson said Williams could do stuff that no one in the team is able to do, before adding he had also grown the game of rugby worldwide.Scott Curry, the captain, said Williams was fully committed to sevens but also brings a lot of exposure and publicity to rugby.The added-value does not sit easily with Williams. I try and not let that dictate my life, he said. I let my family and religion dictate that. Although Im not perfect, I know where my happy place is.I can veer off course but thats where I have to get back to. Thats what I try and focus on. Im a rugby player, this or that, but thats not my whole life. That doesnt dictate who I am. I know who I really am, what I stand for and try and get back to that.Centre StageWillliams was talking about his dreams of Rio de Janeiro in the surroundings of Chelsea Football Clubs Stamford Bridge stadium.dddddddddddd The interview time with him had been cut; Williams would not, under any circumstances, be late for a team meeting.He is a man in demand but in his sporting sphere, the team comes before individual requirements; he does all he can to be a rugby everyman.Away from Williams profession and teammates, his life revolves around his family -- wife Alana and daughter Imaan -- and his Muslim faith.[Im happiest] when Im doing my five prayers, when Im around my family a lot and when that takes centre stage, Williams said.Religion, coupled with his passion for boxing, has led him to him idolise the great Muhammad Ali, who converted to Islam soon after triumphing at the 1960 Olympics.His faith [was inspiring] and I guess, though he didnt always say the right things, he always backed it up, Williams said. I appreciate that from an athlete. I can only imagine the scrutiny and amount of people that would want to see him fail. But he kept on trucking on.There was that fight against George Foreman where no one expected him to win, the odds were stacked against him but somehow he did. It showed the character of him, the man he was.It wasnt just about his mouth, he had something deep inside him that allowed him to go to those dark places and come out on top.Williams is a fascinating character who may not always be on message. Last year, he visited Lebanon on a trip with UNICEF and laid bare the brutality on Twitter, drawing criticism for posting pictures of dead children.Then there was the episode after the 2015 World Cup final when a boy was tackled by a security guard as he ran on to the field towards Williams during the All Blacks lap of honour. The man frequently known by his initials -- SBW -- responded by giving the pitch invader, 14-year-old Charlie Lines, his winners medal.The player whose confidence and code switching attracted attention has become a reluctant hero; his star can only glow brighter now if he guides New Zealand to gold at Rio.The OlympianThe mens side of the sevens competition starts on August 9 at the Deodoro Stadium. New Zealand kick off their pool stage campaign against Japan before facing Great Britain and Kenya.Fiji are the tournament favourites but New Zealand, among others, must fancy their chances of topping the podium too.The Olympics has the power to create stars and in the peer vacuum that is sport, current figures have been frequently compared to their predecessors.But rugby is yet to encounter anyone quite like Williams and that fact will be underscored when he has his first touch of the ball in Rio.When the Olympics are on when you are a youngster, the telly is on, all day every day. You see the competitors competing, he said. Its an awesome spectacle.From an athletes point of view, for me, there was no one bigger than Ali. Hes my man. He won a gold medal, he was an Olympian and it would be awesome to say I am an Olympian as well. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '