Clan-Members » goal. We need to make a 30-yard kick,

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Lynx have a core group of players participating in their fifth WNBA Finals in the last six seasons. The Los Angeles Sparks only have one player who has made it this far before, and she is a seldom-used reserve.When it came to poise, consistency and playmaking in Game 1, however, the Sparks looked like the battle-tested group. And now the Lynx are left to lean on their experience to dig out of another hole.The defending champion Lynx turned the ball over 16 times and looked lost defensively against the Sparks pick-and-roll in the 78-76 loss on Sunday and got back to work on Monday knowing that if they dont clean things up, their pursuit of a record-tying fourth title will swirl down the drain.If you dont handle a pick-and-roll any better than what we did, we looked like a high school team that was going against it for the first time, coach Cheryl Reeve said on Monday. That was disappointing. And throwing it right to them.The Lynx committed 11 of their 16 turnovers in the first half and had two more in the final three minutes of the game, and the Sparks took advantage. They scored 18 points off of Minnesotas turnovers while only allowing four points off of their own 12 miscues. It was a clean, calm performance for a group that includes 12th-year pro Alana Beard and ninth-year star Candace Parker, both of whom have finally made it to the leagues biggest stage.I was happy with how poised and focused we were, Sparks coach Brian Agler said. We only have one player that has even been in this situation before. But we do have veteran players. They look at this as this is their moment to get this opportunity. ... Candace and Alana, they have played long careers and they dont get this (every year). So they know how to cherish this moment.Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Tuesday night in Minneapolis, and the Lynx dont have to look back far to find inspiration and comfort in a precarious position. They lost Game 1 at home to the Indiana Fever in last years finals, but ultimately prevailed in five games for their third championship.So there is no panic, but there is also a realization that their opponent this season with Parker and Beard and MVP Nneka Ogwumike and sharpshooter Kristi Toliver presents a far bigger obstacle.You have to really rely on each other in moments like this, said Lynx forward Maya Moore, who was scoreless in the first half but scored 18 in the second. This team has really been doing that all season with our ability to make adjustments and bounce back. This is the greatest challenge of the season for us, having to bounce back in a tough loss at home. Im confident that we will be better as each game goes on.Just like during a tense regular season series, the matchup between the teams with the two best records in the league was tight all the way through Game 1. No team led by more than five points and Beard hit the game-winner on a shot from the corner just before the final buzzer sounded. The big finish and the anticipated matchup delivered ratings that were 25 percent higher than last years broadcast of Game 1. The 0.5 overnight rating on ABC was the highest for a Game 1 since 2010, though it likely was smaller thanks to competing against the NFL on Sunday afternoon.I think were really good at handling high-pressure situations, Ogwumike said. I think youre going to see that more from us in this series and as well from them. The game was remarkably close. Thats what the finals is all about. You have the two best teams duking it out and it literally came down to the last play. We just have to understand we need to give ourselves as much of an advantage as we can.Reeve said she was awake until 3 a.m. trying to figure out what caused the sloppiness.The stuff that we were doing that was controllable on our end was the headscratchers, Reeve said. Were going to watch the video and theyre going to see it. Whether they want to or not doesnt matter. We will watch every possession. Custom Keith Tkachuk Jersey . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Custom Coyotes Jersey China . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. http://www.customcoyotesjersey.com/custom-keith-tkachuk-jersey-large-71y.html . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Coyotes Jerseys China . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Cheap Coyotes Jerseys . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. METAIRIE, La. -- The Saints were kicking themselves on Friday, a day after several special teams mistakes, including a blocked field goal, proved costly in New Orleans second loss in a five-day span.Were just killing ourselves on special teams, said veteran punter and field goal holder Thomas Morstead, who has been a special teams mainstay since New Orleans 2009 Super Bowl season. And look, thats on me. Ive been here. Im a leader. And weve got to get everyone making plays that are expected to be made.The Saints have had kicks blocked in each of their last two losses, which have dropped them to 4-6 -- perilously close to sliding out of playoff contention. Each block resulted in points for their opponents.Last Sunday, Denver returned a blocked point-after kick for a defensive 2-point conversion to cap the scoring in a 25-23 victory. On Thursday night, a blocked field goal at the end of the second quarter was returned into Saints territory -- it would have been a touchdown if not for a penalty during the return for a block in the back behind the play -- setting up Cam Newtons scoring pass to Ted Ginn Jr. The mistake proved pivotal in a 23-20 loss.It was also the third time this season a blocked Saints kick had directly or indirectly resulted in opponent points in a loss by three points or less. The first, returned for a touchdown by the New York Giants in Week 2, came in a 16-13 loss.When youve had as many tips, blocks, as we have, the focus is trajectory. Its not a secret. Its something Ive got to work on, said rookie kicker Wil Lutz, who also has had two made field goals tipped. Im confident in my ability. Obviously consistency is an issue that I need to fix.Im sure there are a lot of doubts in a lot of peoples minds about my job security, Lutz added. Well see what happens and Ill wake up tomorrow and keep working.Saints coach Sean Payton didnt sound ready to make a change at kicker yet.The kick is a little lower than youd like, Payton began, but quickly added, Clearly, we have the right kicker. I dont see it being as low on film today. It still needs to get up a little quicker,, but that unit has got to do all their things right.ddddddddddddPayton also declined to discuss the extent to which he holds special teams coordinator Greg McMahon accountable for the errors, saying only that responsibility for recent errors starts with the head coach.The Saints were also plagued by mistakes on punt a kick returns which hurt field position. There were penalties on punt returns. Marcus Murphy inexplicably tried to field a kickoff as he was stepping out of bounds at the 2-yard line, costing the Saints 38 yards because they would have started that series on the 40-yard line had the ball gone out of bounds untouched.We dont need to score a touchdown on every kickoff return. We need to field the ball and execute the play, Morstead said. We dont need to get a 50-yard punt return. We need to catch the ball. We dont need to net 60 yards on every punt. I need to put the ball in a corner and let guys do their job. Were not going to be perfect on every field goal. We need to make a 30-yard kick, 40-yard kick.Everybodys got to look at themselves and be honest with themselves: Are they helping us win? Morstead continued. And look, its doom and gloom today, and it should be a little bit because we blew it.Game notes Payton declined to say whether Mark Ingram was diagnosed with a concussion after he appeared to briefly lose consciousness while taking a hit to the back of the head as he went down at the end of his final run Thursday night. Ingram was taken off the field to be evaluated and did not return. I dont want to comment on it. But I think hes going to be OK. Hes going to be fine. ... CB Delvin Breaux, who returned on Nov. 6 from a fractured fibula, said he was inactive Thursday night because the team did not want to over work him early on in his recovery by having him play three games in 12 days, but that he expected to play in New Orleans next game Nov. 27.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '