MANKATO, Minn. - In the final game of last season, and the final game of Rick Adelmans coaching career, Kevin Martin went down swinging. While most of the Minnesota Timberwolves slogged through one last game in a massively disappointing season, Martin went after the Utah Jazz. He scored a season-high 36 points, attacked the rim to get to the free throw line for 10 shots and even came up with a couple of steals before fouling out in a rare show of aggression on the defensive end from him. Martin was one of the few players on the roster who had a long history with Adelman, having played for him in Sacramento and Houston as well, and he didnt want to see his coach end his career with a loss. Looking back on it now, it was an approach that Martin wishes he wouldve taken much more often during his first season in Minnesota. The clarity came after a phone call this summer from Wolves owner Glen Taylor, who signed Martin to a four-year, $28 million contract. With Kevin Love traded to Cleveland and youngsters Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Anthony Bennett on their way in, Taylor needed Martin to start acting like the accomplished veteran he is and setting a far different tone in practices and in games. Thats when I really had to get my mind right on what kind of situation I was going to have to be in because in the past three or four years Ive been riding these superstars coat tails a€” Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, Russell (Westbrook). ... Its been good the last five years. Now youre in this role that you have to be that big brother. You know theyre going to be looking up to you. So I cant get away with the stuff Ive been getting away with for the last five or six years. Its a new challenge, but I accept it and Im ready to go. When Martin signed with the Timberwolves, he said he did so in large part because of Love. Martin learned while playing in Oklahoma City with Durant and Westbrook that life was far easier on a player when he isnt the focal point of an opposing defence, when he can just camp out at the 3-point line and wait for the kick-out pass from an All-Star who demands double teams in the paint. In Minnesota, Martin delivered a solid if uninspiring offensive season, averaging 19.1 points and shooting 38.7 per cent on 3s. Despite averaging more than five more minutes of playing time per game than he did as a reserve with the Thunder the previous year, Martin only saw his free throw attempts rise by fewer than two per game, a sign that he wasnt being the aggressive, crafty scorer that the Wolves hoped he would reprise while returning to the starting lineup. He didnt rebound. He didnt play defence. And, according to him, he didnt give it his all in practice, either. Im used to playing with a lot of veteran players where we can cut corners in camps and in practices, Martin said, before adding he couldnt afford to do that anymore with so many impressionable youngsters on the Wolves roster. Just showing them the right way. Be there for every drill I can be there with them. Just take this game very serious and not just rely on our talent to get us to where we want to be. The call from Taylor woke Martin up a bit. Its the first time hes ever received a phone call from an owner in 11 seasons in the league. He arranged a 7 a.m. breakfast with Wiggins and LaVine, two dynamic, 19-year-old wing players, and cautioned them to avoid the pitfalls that have ensnared NFL stars Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice in recent weeks. I told them if they fail, I fail, Martin said. I have to keep them on a narrow path, just like people like Bobby Jackson did for me to make me have a successful career. Martins efforts were met warmly by the two rookies, who are about to enter a world in which they are wholly unfamiliar. Im going to learn a lot from him, LaVine said. Hes going to take me and Drew under his wing and you know, hes got a lot to teach us. Nike Air Max 95 Billig . Boston is making its first appearance in the ALCS since 2008. For Detroit, its a third straight trip to the ALCS and its fourth in eight years. Nike Air Max 90 Billig .5 million, two-year contract that runs through 2015. Venable, the son of former big leaguer Max Venable, will make $4. https://www.schuheshopschweiz.ch/gunstig...n-d126.html.com) - SirDominic Pointer posted career highs of 24 points and seven steals to lead No. Nike Air Max Günstig . Perhaps their first trip to the city of Winnipeg in 16 years can serve as the shakeup they need. Air Max 97 Kaufen Schweiz . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impacts faltering offence could be getting a big boost this weekend. After a month watching from the sidelines, star striker Marco Di Vaio will likely dress for Montreal when the last-place Impact (1-5-4) face the Colorado Rapids (4-4-3) in Denver on Saturday. "I think Im ready to go," said Di Vaio on Wednesday before the team left for the American southwest. "I trained yesterday, alone at first and then with the team. And today I took part in the whole session. I feel good after the injury. I can go." The star striker injured his hamstring on April 19 in a 4-0 road defeat to Sporting Kansas City, leaving the game in the 56th minute. He then played in most of Montreals victory over the Philadelphia Union the following week, but has since missed the clubs last four games. "Obviously, if Marco comes back, it will help," assistant coach Mauro Biello told reporters on Wednesday. "We have a good record when hes in the lineup. Were just waiting for him to be at 100 per cent." Despite only scoring once in five appearances this season, Di Vaios return could spark a struggling club looking to build on back-to-back respectable results. Montreal played to a 1-1 draw against second-place D.C. United last Saturday three days after a midweek victory over NASL side FC Edmonton in the Amway Canadian Championship. "The confidence is growing," Impact defender Jeb Brovsky told the teams website. "As a team, the chemistry is going up. This team is going in the right direction. It takes only two or three games to really change things around in a season. We have a tough road game. Its time to see what were made of." With seven points from 10 games, the MLS-worst Impact are looking to climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The team has only scored three goals in its last five MLS games. Two of those were courtesy of striker Jack McInerney, who has now scored five times in all competitions since joining the Impact in April. And while the combination of McInerney and Di Vaio up front in a two-striker formation has yet to click for Montreal, the team is hoping the two connect for goals on Saturday. "Were happy that Jack is scoring goals, and that Marco is coming backk," said Biello.dddddddddddd"We have to keep working on that chemistry up front. With players like that, we can give a lot of trouble to our opponents." Montreal will hope to trouble a Colorado side going through struggles of its own. The team has only scored four goals in its last six games, and is coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season. Last week, defender Drew Moor scored his first goal of the season late in the game, a consolation prize in a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake. While Di Vaio may be returning to the Impact lineup, the Rapids will still be without top-scorer Vicente Sanchez, who sprained his knee in a May 3 win. Sanchez has scored five goals this season -- four of those from the penalty spot. "(The Rapids) have a few injuries," said Biello. "But they have a lot of speed up front and a lot of quality in the midfield. Were expecting a team thats looking for a victory, especially at home. They lost their last home game. We have to be ready for a team that will push and pressure us." The Impact will also have to cope with high altitude. Denver is nicknamed the Mile-High City because, at one mile above sea level, it is one of the most elevated cities in the United States. For Montreal, it will mean a risk of dehydration and altitude sickness. "The altitude is definitely an issue," said Denver-born Brovsky. "We are a fit team, so that should help. But well have to make sure that we arent running around aimlessly." Excited to be going back to his home city, Brovsky promised to fill a section of Dicks Sporting Goods Park with Impact supporters. "I already made a lot of calls, and a lot of people are amped up," he said. "So hopefully we have a home atmosphere in Colorado. Hopefully theyll be pretty rowdy -- which I know my family are." Notes: Newcomer midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran could make his Impact debut against the Rapids. The Canadian international was acquired by Montreal last week from Toronto FC. a The Impact have lost both their games against the Rapids since joining MLS. a Marc Burch (hamstring) and Nathan Sturgis (foot) are both doubtful for the Rapids. a The Impact and Rapids wont meet again this season. 14:34ET 23-05-14 ' ' '