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MIAMI -- LeBron James and Ray Allen were at midcourt Monday afternoon, arguing in half-serious tones. After a shooting contest that lasted for about an hour after the regular Miami Heat practice concluded, there was a disagreement on who was actually winning. Both claimed victory. Both walked away grinning. Yes, everybody seems pleased so far at Heat camp. The reigning NBA champions have gotten new workout gear and new luggage in the past few days, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has handed out a couple of other gifts as well -- afternoons off. The dreaded two-a-day practice schedule has been nonexistent in Miami so far, with Spoelstra believing that enough work is getting done in one workout a day and therefore not seeing a need to further tax players bodies so early in camp. "It makes us want to work hard just with one practice," James said. "Knowing that hes given us that luxury, we come in and get our work done. You guys know us, guys are staying after shooting, guys are going down to the weight room and making sure we take care of our bodies and all of that. Thats the good thing about our veteran ballclub, guys are still getting their work in to get better." James, Allen, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers and James Jones were all in group down at one basket long after practice ended, getting up jumper after jumper, free throw after free throw. Other players were scattered around the gym as well, and even more were downstairs in the weight room and training room until mid-afternoon or so. The Heat have nine players in camp entering at least their 10th NBA season. So Spoelstras thinking is clear: The fresher Miamis legs stay now, the better it might be for the Heat in the long run. "From his first year to now, hes done a 360-plus-times-two with the way hes approached things," Wade said. "I think its good for this team." There will be at least one double-session coming up for Miami: The team plans to practice Wednesday morning, followed by an open scrimmage for fans that night. Miamis first preseason game is at Atlanta on Sunday, and the Heat depart after that game for China and two exhibition games there next week against the Los Angeles Clippers. Spoelstra said the looming China trip isnt affecting his practice planning. A desire to keep the bigger picture in mind, that is at the forefront of his thinking. "We are being smart with it," Spoelstra said. "We havent done a second practice yet, but in terms of when we step out here in between the four lines, theres no holding back. Its full-contact, fully padded, physical and guys arent trying to ease into it." The Heat practice court is where the team held the first of many celebrations after last seasons NBA Finals win over Oklahoma City. For hours of the night after winning Game 5 over the Thunder and clinching the title, Heat players, employees, family members and guests dined, danced and drank as the gym was transformed into a reception hall of sorts. Its been back to normal for months, and Spoelstra didnt have to issue any reminders why. "When Spo says 5-on-5, pads up, mouthguards in, we kind of already know," James said. "We just have competitive guys that do not like to lose drills or do not like to lose no matter whats going on." The Heat have 12 players back from that championship team, and even the new additions -- Allen and Rashard Lewis, most notably -- pretty much already know whats going on in camp. Miami installed some of its half-court offences on Monday, ones that Allen said he already knew from his years of scouting and playing against the Heat. Count Allen among those who think a couple hours of brisk work is enough to get the daily grind of camp done. "Those juices are flowing," Allen said. "I love the rhythm of how practice is going because everybodys on the same page and a lot of us are learning on the fly but theres not a lot of standing around. Thats what I love. Ive been used to throughout my career being able to play up-tempo and getting up and down the floor and thats how we practice." Heat centre Chris Bosh couldnt hold back a smile when asked about how the first pair of two-a-days were cancelled, saying the Heat arent "going to fight that." But to him, James, Wade, Shane Battier and other returnees, theres also a sense that the Heat are picking up where they left off in their title season. "I think thats the best part about it," Bosh said. "This feels like practice. Now, weve got the camp legs. Thats going to be a part of it. But it just feels like were practicing like last year." ------ Cheap NFL Jerseys . Zeeman won the 1,850-metre event in seven minutes 24.29 seconds. The Cambridge, Ont., native also won bronze at the world under-23 championships earlier this year. Wholesale Jerseys . The second-seeded Radwanska, the younger sister of No. 2-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska, rallied from 5-1 down in the second set to defeat Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor of Spain 6-4, 7-5. http://www.cheapchinajerseys.us.com/ . - Once he finally made his way to the victorious visiting clubhouse, Justin Verlanders teammates greeted him with chants of "Cy Young!" and sprayed him in the face with bubbly. Cheap Jerseys . The New York forward scored the winner Monday night as the Rangers defeated the Senators 1-0 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final. Cheap Jerseys China . The strength of the New York Rangers is their ability to defend, and when that fails, their goaltender Henrik Lundqvist usually bails them out.TAMPA, Fla. -- Music blared in the St. Louis locker room, even though the Rams were eliminated from playoff contention. A winning record still is within reach, and the NFLs youngest team is ready to go for it. "So we dont even have like one in a million chance? Well, were going to play hard. Were going to finish up strong," coach Jeff Fisher said after Sundays 28-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept the Rams hopes for finishing above .500 alive heading in next weeks finale at Seattle. "This is a chance to finish out on a winning note and a chance to be undefeated in the division. If were able to do that, Id say then we can jump into the off-season with optimism for next year." St. Louis (7-7-1) won for the fourth time in the past five games, with Sam Bradford throwing for a pair of touchdowns and rookie cornerback Janoris Jenkins scoring his fourth TD of the season. A victory over the Seahawks will give the Rams their first winning record since 2003. Thats a huge step for a team that won two games in 2011. "Weve got seven wins now," Fisher said. "I dont think many people thought we would do that, but weve got a chance to get eight, so thats what our focus is." Bradford connected with Lance Kendricks on an 80-yard scoring pass on the first play of the third quarter. The Rams persistent defence did its part, too, intercepting Josh Freeman four times, turning three of the turnovers into TDs, including Jenkins pick and 41-yard return early in the first half. Steven Jackson rushed for 81 yards and one TD, moving within 10 yards of reaching 1,000 for the eighth consecutive season. "We all realize whats at stake, obviously," Bradford said. "We found the playoffs arent in the picture still, but if we go up and beat Seattle, wed be undefeated in our division and finish with a winning record, which are two things wed really like to accomplish next week." Tampa Bay (6-9) turned the ball five times and was stopped on downs twice inside the Rams 10 en route to its fifth straight loss. The Bucs also had five turnovers the previous week in a 41-0 loss at New Orleans. Bradford completed 13 of 27 passes for 196 yards, one interception and no sacks -- ending a stretch in which the St. Louis quarterback was sacked in a league-high 30 consecutive games. Kendricks finished with four receptions for 119 yards, while Jackson closed in on extending the NFLs longest current streak of 1,000-yard seasons rushinng on 19 carries.dddddddddddd "We were hoping that we could knock it out and get it out of the way, but theyre a very tough defence -- No. 1 against the run -- so were very pleased with how we were able to move the ball on the ground," Jackson said. Tampa Bay outgained the Rams 429 yards to 285, with Freeman going 30 of 54 for 372 yards and one TD. But the Bucs simply were unable the fourth-year pro being intercepted four times for the second straight week. Mike Williams scored on a 61-yard reception and had seven catches for 132 yards. Vincent Jackson also had a big day with seven receptions for 108 yards, while the Rams limited rookie Doug Martin to 62 yards rushing on 18 attempts. Freeman has thrown eight interceptions in the past two weeks after only having three passes picked off over the previous eight games. Williams slipped to the ground on Jenkins interception, but the Bucs quarterback tried to force the ball into a crowd in the middle of the field when he was picked off by James Laurinaitis. "Ive got to take the blame as the quarterback," Freeman said. "Saints game, this game, not really the brand of football I want to play." Jenkins has scored on three of his four interceptions and has also returned a fumble for a touchdown. Jacksons 5-yard TD run in the closing seconds of the first half finished a 65-yard drive Bradford led after Laurinaitis interception, and the Rams broke it open with two more TDs in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Kendricks scored on the first play of the second half, grabbing a pass over the middle at his own 40 and rumbled to the end zone untouched with help from receiver Danny Amendola, who shielded safety Mark Barron from making the tackle just before making just enough contact with another converging defender, Ahmad Black, to allow the tight end to cover the final 20 yards to give St. Louis a 21-6 lead. Three plays later, Freeman was intercepted for the third time, with Trumaine Johnsons pick at the Tampa Bay 30 leading to Bradfords 5-yard TD pass to Austin Pettis that made it 28-6 with 10:47 remaining in the third quarter. NOTES: The Bucs lost CB E.J. Biggers to a groin injury in the first half, and he did not return. ... St. Louis CB Cortland Finnegan played, but did not start after not practicing all week and being listed as questionable with a thigh injury. ... Freeman has thrown for 3,843 yards, a Bucs single-season record. ' ' '
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