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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Even after two gold medals as a head coach and one as an assistant, Mike Krzyzewski has been telling his players they will experience something as equally special Friday night.The opening ceremonies is a showcase for sport worldwide, Krzyzewski said Thursday after Team USAs introductory news conference at the Rio Games. Its a celebration of every sport, from every country, under one roof. Its the most beautiful thing in the world, and it happens once every four years.I think theres no greater honor and no greater day than tomorrow. For all these athletes.These Olympics began in earnest for Krzyzewski and his squad on Wednesday, when they arrived in Rio via Houston and boarded the cruise ship that will serve as the home for both the mens and womens basketball teams for the next two weeks.Its like a hotel on water, said Team USA star Kevin Durant.Thursdays half-hour session with the worlds media was next, followed by a Friday morning practice session in advance of Saturday nights Group A opener against China.Most team insiders expect Coach K to go with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson?at guard, Kevin Durant and Paul George at forward and DeMarcus Cousins at center, but Krzyzewski insists he hasnt yet settled on a starting lineup.Such details, to the coach, appear to fall on the trivial side, especially after the Americans throttled Yi Jianlian-led China by 49 and 50 points, respectively, in recent back-to-back exhibitions in California.On Thursday, Krzyzewski was far more concerned that his 10 first-time Olympians -- Chicagos Jimmy Butler, Dallas Harrison Barnes, Golden States Draymond Green and Thompson, Torontos Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, Clevelands Irving, Indianas George, Sacramentos Cousins and the Los Angeles Clippers DeAndre Jordan -- were soaking up every moment of a scene theyll never experience anywhere else.Tomorrow during the opening ceremonies theyll feel that even more, Krzyzewski said. I think our guys already understand it to a high level. But after they march tomorrow, theyll understand it to an even higher level. And then see what that does to our performance in the first game. Im looking forward to seeing how we react that way.Said Jordan: Amazing. Never seen a press conference this big. Its something I really cant describe or put into words. And Im sure [the opening ceremonies] will be another shocking moment for me.Added Butler: Its not the 15 reporters after a Chicago Bulls game. All the eyes of the world are on you right now. Its cool. I like it.Whats not to like?The Americans, despite a slew of high-profile absentees, are overwhelming favorites to win a third successive gold medal, with both Spain and France -- widely regarded as the only two nations capable of giving Team USA a push -- coming off major disappointments in their own countries.Spain failed to even reach the medal round on home soil as hosts and co-favorites in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, when the United States fielded a weakened and largely untested roster. France then had to settle for bronze at EuroBasket 2015 on French soil when it lost to the Spaniards in the semifinals.The Americans, by contrast, have the sort of depth to make every other hoops-playing country in the world drool. The team is a 1-to-20 favorite to win gold, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, despite the absences of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Kawhi Leonard,?LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and Anthony Davis.Yet Krzyzewski insisted Thursday that hes as nervous as I can be about Team USA living up to the billing. He has been trying as hard as he can to keep the group grounded.Not easy when Team USA has won 68 games in a row under Krzyzewski, including exhibitions, taking his record to 80-1 since he succeeded Larry Brown as the Yanks head coach in the wake of an embarrassing bronze-medal showing at the Athens Games in 2004.Everyone says youre [already] in the medal round, Krzyzewski said. Well ... no youre not. You have to earn your way there.Nothing is easy. And when somebody tells you its easy, or youre the best, or whatever ... it can put you in a comfort zone that you actually believe that. The one thing about competition is that you have to show it. We can talk about it -- or people can talk about it -- [but] we would like to show it with our play. And hopefully well be that good.He hasnt been alone in trying to preach that message. The New York Knicks Anthony was on that 2004 squad and doesnt hesitate to remind his teammates or reporters of how low that moment was.I know what it felt like when the rest of the world was supposedly catching up with the USA as far as from a basketball standpoint, Anthony said. So I know what it feels like to be at the bottom and I know what it feels like to be at the top of the game as well. So for me to be able to be here, representing the USA for my fourth time, saying its an honor, [saying] its a blessing, is an understatement.This collection of NBA stars from the United States, especially when theyre measured against the rest of the competition, seems to be missing only one thing.A collective nickname.Yet Anthony said hed work on that, too.I havent [given] us a name yet, Melo said. Im gonna figure it out, though.Nicolas Batum Hornets Jersey . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. PJ Washington Hornets Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. https://www.hornetslockerroom.com/Willy-Hernangomez-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Devonte Graham Hornets Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Miles Bridges Hornets Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over .Liverpool and Sunderland both have injury concerns ahead of Saturdays Premier League clash at Anfield.Martin Skrtels return to action has been delayed by two to three weeks after the Reds defender suffered a setback in his recovery, while Sam Allardyce is sweating on the fitness of Yann MVila and Jeremain Lens.The Black Cats are winless in three league matches after their 1-0 loss to Manchester City, and they have not beaten opponents Liverpool in their last six Premier League attempts. Yann MVila is a fitness concern for manager Sam Allardyce Following their midweek defeat by top-of-the-table Leicester, Jurgen Klopps side are 11 points off the top four and face a quick turnaround with an FA Cup fourth-round replay against West Ham scheduled for Tuesday night.Team newsLiverpool midfielder Joe Allen is expected to overcome a shoulder problem and should be available, but Skrtel is out after aggravating a hamstring injury.Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Philippe Coutinho will not be available until next weeks FA Cup replay at the earliest. Joe Allen should be available after recovering from a shoulder injury Sunderlands MVila was unable to train on Thursday as a result of a foot problem picked up after a challenge by Citys Sergio Aguero on Tuesday, although he is less of a doubt than Lens, who is nursing a groin injury.Central defender Younes Kaboul will return to the squad after recovering from a hamstring problem which has sidelined him since before Christmas, but midfielder Sebastian Larsson (knee) is still out.Opta statsSunderland have scored in each of their last seven away league games; their best run in the competition since April 2013.Christian Benteke has scored six goals in seven top-flight appearances against Sunderland. Christian Benteke is two goals shy of 50 in the Premier League The Liverpool striker is two goals away from netting 50 in the Premier League (currently 48), but hasnt scored in his five league appearances since scoring the winner against SSunderland in December.ddddddddddddRoberto Firmino has scored four goals in his last four league matches; this after scoring just once in his opening 17 appearances in the competition.Liverpool averaged more points under Brendan Rodgers in the Premier League this season (1.5) than they have under Klopp (1.4). Jurgen Klopp has less points on a per-game basis than predecessor Brendan Rodgers Sunderland have the worst points per game average of any current Premier League side in the month of February (0.63).The Black Cats have made a league-low 1408 successful passes in the final third of the pitch this season and have the lowest passing accuracy in this area of the pitch (55.7 per cent).Mersons predictionLiverpool are struggling at the moment, Klopp has come in and nothing much has changed. They sort of rolled over at Leicester, if Im being honest.Theyve got a hard FA Cup game at West Ham coming up, he rested his players for the first tie at Anfield and that confused me. Liverpool made 10 changes for the FA Cup match against West Ham Surely he should have gone the other way round and gone all out in the cup as theyre not going to win the league or get fourth. Im rather cautiously going for Liverpool here, although Im not sure why.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)BettingLiverpool are 4/11 favourites with Sky Bet with Sunderland 8/1 and the draw available at 18/5. The Reds have not conceded in their last three league meetings with the Black Cats and are 5/6 to keep another clean sheet. Jermain Defoe walks off with the match ball after his hat-trick at Swansea This fixture finished goalless last year and its 12/1 for another blank on Saturday. Benteke scored the only goal when the sides met in December and he is available at 14/1 in a 1-0 scorecast. Jermain Defoe is 11/4 to net anytime for Sunderland with Fabio Borini 14/1 to net the opener against his former club.Check out tips from our Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier here. ' ' '