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he same staff with Golden State during the 2014-15 season, when the Warriors were NBA champions. Gentry said he w
MINNEAPOLIS -- ?? The Minnesota Vikings will return to the comfort of their new stadium this weekend, lugging some heavy baggage with them.Four straight losses can weigh on a team that was undefeated before the streak started, dampening a Super Bowl aspiration at full strength just last month.Right now, theres pressure on everybody, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. My dad told me a long time ago, If you make it through the downs, the ups will take care of itself. So were just going to keep doing what we do. If we get backed up into a corner, were going to come out and fight.The Arizona Cardinals wont be the ideal visitors on Sunday. Though theyve been one of the NFCs many underperformers and yet to win a game outside of the Pacific time zone, the Cardinals (4-4-1) are plenty dangerous on both sides of the ball. They have their own urgency to catch up in the conference playoff race while starting a final stretch with five of seven games on the road .David Johnson leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage, with at least 100 in each game, and a defense that was dominant before Minnesotas momentum-killing bye week has been vulnerable against pass-catching running backs. The Vikings (5-4) will also be breaking in a new kicker, Kai Forbath , after releasing Blair Walsh.A lot of people are doubting right now, and thats fine, but as long as everyone in this locker room believes, were going to be OK, left guard Alex Boone said.Here are some more angles to the matchup:BRADFORD BLOSSOMING: Despite an injury-ravaged offensive line and a nonexistent running game, Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford has already set a career high with five games with a 100-plus passer rating. Hes third in the NFL in completion percentage and fifth in interception percentage, still yet to be picked off in a home game. But cornerback Patrick Peterson and the rest of Arizonas accomplished, versatile defense will provide a stiff test.Probably the best group that weve faced, Bradford said.GO-TO GUY: Minnesotas Stefon Diggs, whos tied for fourth in the league with 61 receptions, caught 13 passes in each of the past two games to set an NFL record. Three players share the all-time mark of 36 catches over a three-game span, with Pittsburghs Antonio Brown the most recent to get there.Theres no doubt, then, who will be responsible for containing Diggs: Peterson, whose 19 interceptions since he entered the league in 2011 are third most during that span. Thats despite many quarterbacks deciding to throw away from the place on the field occupied by the three-time All-Pro.Its going to be a great matchup, Bradford said. Its going to be fun to watch.FITZGERALD THEATER: Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will play in his home city for the fifth time in his 13-year career. He has never won in Minnesota.The summertime, thats when Im coming home for some leisure, but this is a business trip, said Fitzgerald, whos second in the NFL with 68 receptions. Im coming for only one reason, and thats to try to get a win.PRAISE FROM PALMER: Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmers respect for and insight into Zimmers character and personality run deep. They were together from 2008 through 2010 in Cincinnati, where Zimmer was the defensive coordinator. Palmer said he sees parallels between Zimmer and Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, both of whom didnt get a head coach position until late in their careers.Everybodys held accountable, whether youre the best player on the team or the guy thats just about to get cut, Palmer said. Thats something that guys really respect, I know.And Zimmer did not play favorites, Palmer said.He doesnt hold back. He tells you the truth. He doesnt sugarcoat things, Palmer said. If you need to do better, you better do better or else hes going to replace you, and hes serious about things like that. There are no politically correct-type statements. Hes very cut and dried, and what you see is what you get.TACKLES CHALLENGE: John Wetzel had his first start at left tackle in Arizonas win over San Francisco last week and held his own in place of Jared Veldheer, who is out for the season with a torn triceps. Facing a tough defensive front in a loud stadium at Minnesota is another matter.Everson Griffen is, I think, one of the most underrated defensive ends in the league, Arians said, going on to praise Vikings defensive end Brian Robison and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.Wetzel hadnt played in an NFL game until this season.This is a big, big test, Arians said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLNike Air Force 1 Sale . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Wholesale Nike Air Force 1 Online . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. http://www.airforce1wholesale.com/ .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Nike Air Force 1 Clearance . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. Cheap Nike Air Force 1 From China . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. NEW ORLEANS -- If Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams keep scoring like this, opponents are going to have trouble matching up with Los Angeles second unit this season.Clarkson scored 23 points, Williams added 21, and the Lakers won for the fifth time in six games, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 126-99 on Saturday night.Me and Lou are going to be real aggressive coming in. Were trying to do a good job of leading this second group, bringing the energy, scoring the ball, pushing the pace, Clarkson said. Coach (Luke Walton) gave that to us. Thats our role and thats what were going to do.DAngelo Russell scored 22 and Nick Young added 15 points for the Lakers, who shot 55.3 percent (52 of 94) overall and made 16 of 30 3-pointers.Combined, Lakers guards scored 84 points.It just shows how much firepower weve got and how deep we can go, Clarkson said. Weve got so many options, its crazy.Anthony Davis scored 34 for New Orleans, but left the game for a pivotal stretch with lower back pain after his layup had cut Los Angeles lead to 63-62 in the third quarter. Davis, who crumpled to the court after his shot fell, went to the locker room and was out of the game for four-plus minutes while the Lakers went on a 14-0 run.It just locked up on me, Davis said of his back. I hate being out, so I tried to do whatever I could to come back.Davis added nine more points after he returned, but New Orleans never recovered, losing for the ninth time in its first 10 games and dropping to 0-5 at home.New Orleans has been without three top players -- guards Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans, and forward Quincy Pondexter -- so far this season. The lack of depth caused by those absences stuck out against a Lakers second unit that has demonstrated exceptional chemistry lately.Their bench totally dominated the game, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. We couldnt get Lou stopped. I thought Clarkson pretty much scored at will.Rookie Buddy Hield scored 18 points and Langston Galloway added 12 for the Pelicans.Young was 5 for 7 from 3-point range, while Clarkson went 4 of 6 and Russell 4 of 77.ddddddddddddRookie Brandon Ingram scored 10 points for the Lakers. He left the game in the second half with what team officials said was a sprained left ankle, but Ingram said he might have returned if his team hadnt built such a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter.TIP-INSLakers: Julius Randle had 11 rebounds to go with eight points. ... Williams entered the game as one of the top scorers in the NBA in a reserve role, averaging 15.9 points. He scored 14 in the first half, hitting six of his first 10 shots, including a 3-pointer. His 21 points tied a season high. ... Young, who entered the game 22 of 22 on free throws this season, did not attempt a foul shot -- nor did any Lakers starter. ... The Lakers 53.3 percent shooting from 3-point range was their best since hitting 14 of 25 (56 percent) in a 111-103 win over Denver on Dec. 30, 2014.Pelicans: Davis reached 30 points for the seventh time in 10 games this season. ... Hield reached double digits in scoring for the fourth time in six games, scoring no fewer than nine points in a game during that span and as many as 18 twice.REMINISCINGWalton and Gentry hugged in the hallway outside the locker rooms before the game. They also reminisced about their time as assistants on the same staff with Golden State during the 2014-15 season, when the Warriors were NBA champions. Gentry said he was not at all surprised to see Waltons early success as a first-year head coach of a young team that won only 17 games last season.Hes got a great feel for the game, but I think more so than that, hes got a great feel for people. He can relate to anyone, Gentry said.Gentry also alluded to a couple of Lakers players whove said they would run through a wall for Walton. In our profession, Gentry began, laughing as he spoke, youve accomplished a lot when an NBA player says something like that about his coach.UP NEXTLakers: Visit Minnesota on Sunday night.Pelicans: Host Boston on Monday night. ' ' '