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Gordon Hayward is not the first name that comes to mind as a potential first-time All-Star this year.The unassuming forward, playing for the small-market Utah Jazz, has quietly posted strong numbers while toiling in seeming anonymity. He has come a long way from the bright-eyed leader of the upstart Butler team that reached the NCAA championship game in 2010.Hayward, who missed the first six games of the season with a fractured finger, did not take long to get into his All-Star form. He scored 28 points in Sundays win over the New York Knicks and then scored 29 points in Wednesdays loss to the Charlotte Hornets.Entering Fridays game against the Orlando Magic, Hayward is averaging 25.7 points and shooting 47.2 percent from the floor in three games.Gordons been very important to us, Jazz coach Quin Snyder told Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune. It helps anytime you have a good player in your lineup. Having Gordon back is certainly better than having him out. And Gordons ability to handle the ball takes some pressure off the other guys who are playing the point for us.Hayward is not quite the picture of a superstar to many, but he certainly helps galvanize and draw together a team with high aspirations for the season.But Hayward is not the only one the Jazz rely on. Utah is off to a 5-4 start this season and their vaunted defense is starting to get into high gear, 10th in the league giving up 101.6 points per 100 possessions.This is a team that relies on Hayward, along with shot-blocking savant Rudy Gobert and steady veteran hands in George Hill, Boris Diaw and Joe Johnson. They are an average offense by all measures and even with Hayward dropping in big numbers they rely on each other as much as anyone.Hill has blossomed after his trade from Indiana to average 20.4 points and 5.0 assists per game. Rodney Hood continues his maturation, making 46.2 percent of his 3-pointers on his way to 17.9 points per game.This kind of balanced approach is something the struggling Orlando Magic are still looking to establish.The Magic lack that potential All-Star player and are instead relying on each other to produce offense. The team has struggled mightily on that front, posting the worst field goal percentage in the league so far this season.Collectively, we need to come together and play as a team. One through 15 need to be on the same page in order for us to get wins and for us to compete at a high level. We need to trust each other and trust our coaching staff.The Magic are fifth in the league in assist rate, getting an assist on 63.8 percent of their made field goals. That would typically be a good sign of an offense moving the ball. But the teams 98.3 offensive rating is the sixth worst in the league.The Magic struggle to score, but do have pockets where the offense flows. Most of that occurs when the team gets stops and is able to get out in transition where they have plenty of athletic players who can finish around the basket.They have not put the puzzle pieces together, though. After winning three straight, the Magic fell to 3-5 with a second straight blowout loss, this time at home Wednesday to the Minnesota Timberwolves.Without the star, many Magic players said their margin for error is small offensively. And their struggles to generate consistent opportunities in the half-court is still a major concern.In many ways, the Magics rebuild this summer was done to try to emulate what the Jazz have built. A balanced squad, based on defense and size without a clear superstar.With Hayward beginning to emerge at a new level offensively, Utah seems set to knock down that door. Meanwhile, Orlando is still figuring itself out. Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Fake Cowboys Jerseys . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. https://www.cowboysjerseysale.com/ . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Cheap Cowboys Jerseys .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Stitched Cowboys Jerseys . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie.Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett go head-to-head in the battle to succeed Dan Carter as All Blacks fly-half in Saturdays Super Rugby clash between the Chiefs and Hurricanes, live on Sky Sports 2 HD. Carters mastery in the No 10 jersey made him a three-time world player of the year and his departure from the international scene has created intense competition in New Zealand, with Cruden and Barrett the front-runners.The Chiefs have been the pacesetters in Super Rugby and with Cruden returning to his peak after missing last years World Cup through injury, the Waikato unit have won six out of seven matches. Barretts Hurricanes have also recovered from a woeful start to the season to win five consecutive games after losing the first two.Sandwiched between the two in the New Zealand conference are the Crusaders, who are in Canberra to play old Australian rivals the Brumbies.The Stormers and Lions, who lead the two African conferences, play the lowly Reds and Southern Kings respectively. Damian McKenzie has been in sparking form for the Chiefs The Chiefs head to Wellington refreshed after a bye and with Cruden commanding the competitions most potent backline, where he is developing a strong partnership with full-back Damian McKenzie.The pair mix their roles on the field in a way that has helped McKenzie become the tournaments top try-scorer and overall leading points-scorer. McCaw backs Schmidt for All Blacks Richie McCaw believes Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will have a future role with New Zealand Our game plan allows us to both get into first receiver and jump around a bit so I think its going well, said McKenzie, whose fly-half skills have also been rated highly by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.With the departure of veteran All Blacks Maa Nonu and Conrad Smith at the end of last year, and a season-ending injury to Nehe Milner-Skudder, Barrett does not enjoy the same level of support as Cruden.But he has been able to keep the Hurricanes competitive as evidenced by his two tries and four conversions last week when he oversaw a 38-13 win against the Rebels. Ben Smith returns for the Highlanders against the Sharks Defending champions the Highlanders start the weekend at home to the Sharks, who are looking to recover from their loss to the Blues in the first game of their New Zealand tour.Thhe Highlanders won five straight before a shock loss to the Reds and have since had a bye to give themselves time to find out what went wrong.ddddddddddddCaptain Ben Smith, who missed the Reds surprise, returns to the starting line-up. The Sharks made a strong start to the year but are on a three-game losing streak and have undergone some serious soul-searching this week.We had a tough meeting on Monday about the things we got wrong and discussed where we are and where we want to go, said JP Pietersen, who will start at centre in Dunedin. Take a look back at the best moments from our 25 years of rugby union coverage on Sky Sports The Brumbies will provide a measure of where Australian rugby is at when they host a Crusaders side brimming with confidence after posting six wins on the trot.The Brumbies and Crusaders were the competitions leading rivals in the early 2000s but it has been nine years since the Australians last tasted success. The Jaguares have struggled in their debut Super Rugby season and are on a six-game losing streak The Jaguares, following a disappointing three-loss swing through New Zealand, will be looking to notch their second win when they play fellow Super Rugby newcomers the Sunwolves in Tokyo.For the Sunwolves, it represents a chance to regain some lost pride after their embarrassing 92-17 loss to the Cheetahs last week.The Cheetahs are in Melbourne to meet the Rebels, who lie second in the Australian conference, while the Western Force host the Waratahs in Perth. 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