hosts Bulgarian champion

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MIAMI - This is why Dwyane Wade rested. This is why the Miami Heat opted to go without their longtime franchise player for so many nights this season, why teammates hoped their frustrations about playing without him for 28 regular-season games would ultimately be rewarded, why he often seemed more comfortable in a suit than a uniform. News flash: The regular season didnt mean all that much to Wade and the Heat. Everything about the Miami franchise revolves around chasing more titles, and Wade is doing his part. He and the two-time defending NBA champion Heat will take a 2-1 series lead over the Indiana Pacers into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night, and Wade — who is playing without any significant injury issues at this point of the season for the first time in years — is looking as good as he has in months. "Im in the groove and the flow that I want to be in, and also understanding that the game of basketball is tricky," Wade said. "You can get out of it in a second, and youve got to figure out a way still to compete and help your teammates win." True, but that groove hes in is a pretty good one. Heres how good hes been in the fourth quarters of these East finals: Wade has as many field goals in those three final periods — 13 — as any other two players in the series combined to this point. Hes shooting 72 per cent in fourth quarters in this series, including a 6-for-7 effort in the last 12 minutes of Game 1 and a 5-for-5 showing in the final period of Game 2. "Weve got to make him a little bit more uncomfortable than he is," Pacers forward David West said. "Hes just playing the game at way too high of a comfort level in terms of were just not putting enough pressure on him. All the guys on the floor need to guard him and get him out of his comfort zone. Hes really lining his shots up, taking his time, which we cant allow. "He just cant be as comfortable as hes been." That sounds like things opponents were saying about Wade before the summer of 2010, when he helped lure LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami and formed the core of a team that is two wins from a fourth straight East title. But after hearing plenty of talk in recent years that his game isnt so much declining as it is freefalling, Wade seems to be reveling in the reminders that, yes, he can still be among the elite players in the NBA. The show Wade is putting on is so good right now that James wouldnt even leave to get some much-needed treatment for a hamstring cramp late in the third quarter of Game 3 until seeing what the 2006 NBA Finals MVP was going to do on Miamis final possession of the period. Wade wound up connecting on a 3-pointer, after which James immediately hobbled off, basically unable to work one of his legs. Worth it, James said. "Thats what our team is built for," James said. "When one of the guys goes out, were able to still hold the fort. Its great to see the way he closed out the quarter. The way hes been playing in the conference finals. We need it all." James never really hid his frustration about playing without Wade, though it never rose to the level of any obvious locker-room rancour, either. Whether they liked it or not, the Heat understood the plan for Wade and why it was crucial to preserve his balky knees with hopes that he would be at his best for the biggest time of the year. So far, so good. And Wades confidence — which wasnt perfect after he had to miss nine games late in the regular season because of a hamstring injury, an absence not related to the maintenance plan — is as high now as its been all season. "You need it, no question about it. We all do," Wade said. "So for me, the first round was me just kind of trying to get my footing a little bit, trying to do some of the things that I was capable of doing, trying to see if I could do it. Then the second round came a little more and then the third round. Like I said, ideally for me, missing the last 2 1/2 weeks wasnt ideal, but thats what happened." Its also now forgotten. He might not be the guy Heat President Pat Riley used to call "BIW" — short for best in the world — anymore, but Wade at his best makes Miami look its best. "Dwyane understands his game and where hes effective as much as anybody in this league," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Thats why youre seeing a shooting guard shooting an incredibly efficient field goal percentage that he does, and its gone up the last two years. He knows how to get to his spots." Ian Kinsler Jersey . -- Kevin Stadler might be playing in the Masters for the first time, but hes already showing his old man a thing or two. Ian Kinsler Tigers Jersey . This is the final meeting of the season between these teams.? 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A confident Chiudinelli and Lammer defeated veteran doubles player Zimonjic and young Krajinovic 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2.Liverpool and FC Basel meet in a straight shootout at Anfield Tuesday to determine which team joins Real Madrid in advancing from Group B of the Champions League.Only a win will suffice for Liverpool, whose return to Europes top competition has been a disappointment with its only points coming from matches against group minnow Ludogorets Razgrad.Basel will go through with a draw — and will be buoyed by its surprising strong record against English teams that has seen the Swiss team lose just one of its last nine matches. Basel has won four straight games against Premier League opposition, including home and away against Chelsea in last seasons group stage.In the other game, group winner Madrid hosts Bulgarian champion Ludogorets, which cannot reach the last 16 but could still finish third and gain entry to the knockout stage of the Europa League.Here are some things to know about Tuesdays games:___GERRARD RETURNSLiverpool will look to captain Steven Gerrard to rise to the big occasion again — just like he did exactly 10 years ago in one of his defining moments in the famous red shirt.In 2004, Gerrard scored a brilliant long-range goal in the final minutes to seal a 3-1 victory over Olympiakos in their final group game — securing a two-goal winning margin that put Liverpool through. The English club went on to win the Champions League that season.It is one of a number of big-game moments in the career of Gerrard, who is now age 34 and no longer plays every game under manager Brendan Rodgers.He started on the bench for Saturdays 0-0 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League, ensuring he wwill be ready for Basel.ddddddddddddWe cant always rely on him. It cant be up to him every single game to be the catalyst. Rodgers said. His talent is world class but that contribution has to come around the team.___MAKING A POINTBasel will advance to the last-16 with a repeat of its 1-1 draw at Liverpool 12 seasons ago.Then, the two teams played at Anfield earlier in the group stage, before also meeting in a decisive sixth and final match.Basel needed only a point in November 2002 to clinch second place in the group, and got it despite letting a three-goal lead slip to an eventual 3-3 draw.Basel has lost both away matches this season, and Liverpool lost four of its past six home games, stretching back to 2009.___RECORD REALReal Madrid has a little bit of history to play for when it welcomes Bulgarian minnow Ludogorets on Tuesday.The defending champions are the only team to have won all five group games, and have already wrapped up top spot.But Madrid will be aiming for a 19th consecutive victory across all competitions that will give it one more than the record for a Spanish team set by Barcelona in 2005-06.The key to keeping this up is playing consistently, said Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos. The important thing isnt the record, rather winning each individual game.Cristiano Ronaldo — unless coach Carlo Ancelotti decides to give his star forward a rare rest — will also try to add to his stunning tally of 29 goals in 21 games for Madrid this campaign.___AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva and Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed to this report. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys ' ' '