but once the race is on only the two of them are able to manage the situation, which is a good thing because it is entirely within their hands and the outcome is in their hands.Wolff said there is a fine line be

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Darren Collison could be in the starting lineup for the first time on Friday when the Sacramento Kings visit the Moda Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers.The veteran point guard made his 2016-17 debut Tuesday night, coming off the bench to help Sacramento (4-5) beat New Orleans 102-94.Collison, who missed eight games due to an NBA suspension after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery, had nine points and four assists while playing 28 minutes off the bench.Darren did a great job, first-year Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told reporters. He has worked hard and stayed after it, spending time with coaches, learning and making sure he was up to speed on everything.Its tough playing your first game after everybody already has their legs under them, Collison said. I didnt look like I was losing a lot of breath or was tired or out of shape. I would have loved to play more, but I know what coach (Joerger) was thinking. It just felt good to get on the court.The Kings have won two in a row, thanks in part to a greater focus at the defensive end.It takes awhile to learn to play that hard (defensively) on a nightly basis, Joerger said. We are learning that, and I am impressed.Its not something you can just come out and do, said Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, who ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring (25.8) to go with 8.6 rebounds per game. Its a mindset. It takes a lot of energy and effort and also a lot of focus. You can talk it, but you have to go out and perform in on a nightly basis.Portland (5-4) will be coming off its worst performance of the season -- heck, one of the worst in franchise history -- in a 111-80 drubbing by the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center.The Blazers trailed 36-16 after one quarter, 50-18 midway through the second quarter and 93-45 late in the third quarter.Said Portland coach Terry Stotts: We had trouble scoring all night. (The Clippers) were good on the perimeter. They were good on the ball. They were good rebounding. They were good at the rim. They were good in transition. It was a frustrating night.We got our (butt) whooped, said guard Damian Lillard, who made 1 of 10 shots from the field and had only one assist in 28 minutes. (The Clippers) played fresh. They wanted it more than we did. They did what they had to do. We werent making shots. We didnt execute well. That seemed to spark their energy.It was a rout. They pretty much just came out and handed it to us. We didnt bring it. No excuses.Portland went without starting power forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who strained his left calf in the win over Phoenix. Aminus status is questionable for the game against the Kings. Cheap Custom NFL Jerseys . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. China NFL Jerseys .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. http://www.cheapjerseysfinish.com/ . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Wholesale Stitched Jerseys . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. SILVERSTONE, Great Britain -- Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are on their final warnings following their collision at the Austrian Grand Prix.A meeting between Mercedes core race team and its drivers on Thursday morning resulted in new rules of engagement on track, but ultimately the drivers will be free to race. Although Wolff refused to go into details about the new agreement, he confirmed another collision would have serious consequences.We have had a warning, he said. This is the final warning, consider it like that.Asked why he could not elaborate on the details of the agreement, Wolff added: Because it is like a contractual detail. We are talking about possible sporting, possible financial consequences and we wouldnt want to go into detail.You know how a driver is calibrated and what is important for a driver so it is clear that if it would happen -- which is entirely in their hands -- it is something that would have a negative outcome for their campaign.When it was put to Wolff that it was like mission impossible to try to prevent Rosberg and Hamilton colliding on track, he stressed that the situation is in the drivers hands.If it would be a mission impossible then we wouldnt see any clean racing out there and that would mean every single overtake would end in contact. There is clean racing and the great racing is hard racing, trying to pass and out-smart your competitor without the contact.It could damage your own race so I believe -- especially considering the skill-set of the two -- clean racing is possible and achievable.The fundamental principle iis the moment the lights go green, they have a responsibility, we are not sitting with them in the car, it is just two of them.dddddddddddd We provide them with the best possible car but once the race is on only the two of them are able to manage the situation, which is a good thing because it is entirely within their hands and the outcome is in their hands.Wolff said there is a fine line between doing what is best for the sport and what is best for the team.I completely understand your point. I think we had more press around F1, Mercedes, the controversy... we gave real narrative and it is a fine balance. My job is to secure wins and championships in the least detriment and most possible way for Mercedes-Benz. If the drivers crash three times in five races it is not positive anymore and is risking our main objective, and this is to win the championship.I understand the importance of headlines for F1 and it is great, so it is not an easy task and I wouldnt want to change the wiring. This is the essence. In a couple of years we could be looking back and saying Rosberg-Hamilton was one of the most iconic and best fights, similar to Senna-Prost had.I am very aware of that and I dont want to over-manage it and try to extinguish the whole thing. Equally there is the responsibility for the organisation, the brand and the background and if every Monday after the race you have headlines that there is animosity or controversy around the drivers, that is not good either. ' ' '