Meister der Farbe » s players up to speed as to who they were picking up

INDIANAPOLIS -- Big Roy came up with a big answer for his critics and his teammates Wednesday night. He played like an All-Star when the Pacers really needed it. After 48 hours of questions and criticism, Roy Hibbert scored a season-high 28 points, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked two shots and altered a handful of others to help the Pacers get even in the Eastern Conference semifinals with an 86-82 victory over Washington. Hibbert sounded more relieved than redeemed. "David (West) always talks to me about being the person that rescues yourself when youre in the middle of the ocean," Hibbert said after Indiana tied the best-of-seven series at 1-1. "Theres nobody who can throw a lifesaver or a rope out to help you. So I had to do it myself." The next step is proving he can play this way again Friday when Washington hosts Game 3. Hibbert went into Wednesday with a combined total of 37 points and 24 rebounds in Indianas first eight playoff games. Twice in the previous four he failed to score a point or grab a rebound. Beleaguered Pacers fans wanted Hibbert benched. Frustrated teammates talked publicly and privately about needing more from their 7-foot-2 centre. Critics turned Hibbert into the butt of jokes and on the Internet, some even tried to explain Hibberts incredible disappearing act with unseemly speculation. After talking to his old college coach, John Thompson III, and Colts linebacker Robert Mathis, a close friend, Hibbert blocked out the inescapable firestorm, focused on basketball and fueled the decisive 6-0 run late in the fourth quarter. It was enough to put repeated smiles on Hibberts face, even if he considers it only a start. "I just want to string a few games together," he said. "Consistency hasnt been my biggest friend this year. Im going to try to continue to play aggressive and Im going to try to control the things I can control. I cant control play calls, but I can control how hard I play, how fast I run down the court and how well I play defence." George Hill finished with 14 points, Paul George had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Lance Stephenson added 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. And for the first time this post-season, the Pacers held an opponent to fewer than nine 3-pointers. Washington finished 5 of 21 from behind the arc, the lowest percentage (23.8) in the playoffs this year. Much of the credit went to Hibbert, who helped open up the offensive lanes for his teammates and protected the rim well enough that Indiana could spread out and defend the perimeter. "Hes got our attention now," Drew Gooden said. "Weve got to be focused on guarding the Roy Hibbert we know." It was a lost opportunity for the Wizards, who had won their first four playoff games on the road -- three at Chicago and Monday night at Indy -- and could have gone home with a commanding 2-0 lead. They had chances. Washington led by as much as six early in the third quarter and rallied in the fourth to take a 77-74 lead with 5:01 to go before Hibbert and George scored six straight to give the Pacers the lead for good. Marcin Gortat finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Bradley Beal had 17 points and Nene added 14. "He came out with a lot of intensity and established position," Beal said. "We didnt play our best game. We didnt shoot the ball and we didnt defend like we know were capable." But Hibbert changed this game almost by himself. He scored the first five points of the game, an indication that things were going to be different, and he came up big late, too. Hibberts nifty stop-and-go layup got the Pacers within 77-76. That basket ignited the decisive 6-0 spurt. Georges steal on the ensuing possession led to a layup from Hill that gave Indiana a 78-77 lead, and Hibberts presence in the middle allowed George to find a lane for a two-handed dunk that made it 80-77. All the Wizards could muster after that was an alley-oop layup from Gortat and a long 3-pointer from Beal that got the Wizards within 84-82 with 11 seconds to play. West made two free throws and Hibbert sealed it by grabbing the last rebound of the game. "He carried us tonight," West said. "I thought he was very relaxed before the game. He was relaxed this morning. He didnt say a whole lot, but as a professional, I think everything just came down on him and he responded the right way." Notes: Hibbert was 10 of 13 from the field and made all eight of his free throw attempts.... Nene went to the locker room in the first quarter after apparently hurting his left leg or ankle but returned early in the second quarter and finished the game. Custom Utah Jazz Jerseys . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. 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Dane Dobbie and Shawn Evans each had two goals and two assists for the Roughnecks (8-5), who outscored Minnesota 6-2 in the fourth quarter after being tied through 45 minutes. Curtis Dickson scored once and set up three more for Calgary and Dan MacRae, Geoff Snider, Tor Reinholdt, Karsen Leung and Matthew Dinsdale.Many a hockey path has been carved out through hard work, perseverance and beating some odds. That statement rings true when describing Derek Dorsett, a Columbus Blue Jackets seventh-round draft pick in 2006, but his story is one that goes much deeper than a small man playing big. The teenager from Kindersley, Saskatchewan wanted to play hockey - Triple A hockey. If fact, he wanted to play AAA so badly that he tried out for every team available. It was not easy to take no for an answer and he wasnt about to, but the door did not open swiftly into what many consider the stepping stone required to be recognized for the CHL or the NCAA and, eventually, the NHL. “Id be lying to ya if I didnt say that there was a time where I was done....Id had enough, Dorsett said. I travelled to eight or nine midget AAA teams (there were only 12 teams in that league) and then I went back to the SJ (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League) camp...there were two midget AAA camps after it.” Dorsett would not make the SJHL team, either, but not due to lack of hard work. Rather, injury this time would add to the insult. “I broke my hand in the SJHL camp, but I didnt tell anyone and my hand was puffed up pretty big, Dorsett explained. I went to North Battleford (AAA) and I thought Id have a chance to make it, so I didnt say anything, but I ended up getting cut. Then, I had a cast on for 6 weeks after that.” Many a player, never mind many a young man, would have folded tent and packed it in. Even though his true stripes were that of a tiger (bulldog might be a better description, but I have yet to meet a striped one) he still relied on something other than inner fire - his family. “My dad kept me going through that year and thats one of the best things that ever happened to me, said Doresett. Dorsett deserved a chance, but would one arrive? After all of those training camps, many rosters were set and the “outside looking in” line certainly applied to an undersized forward with a broken hand. Unwavering was his determination and the second break would be a good one. His chance would arrive. “I wanted to play so bad, Dorsett said. Obviously, I was in a lot of pain, but I didnt want to tell anyone because I thought it would ruin my chances. I tried out for almost every AAA team in Saskatchewan and I was cut by every one and then Swift Current [Legionnaires] took a chance on me. They thought Id probably be a third or fourth liner, maybe a guy that didnt play every night. I ended up coming out of the gates pretty hot and carried it through the season.” This would be a huge turning point in the development of young Dorsett. Not only did he improve strength-wise, along with his overall game, but people finally took notice that the traits that made him stand out could prove to be quite valuable on their hockey team. Interest developed from Junior A teams in the area and stretched as far as BC. In perhaps a twist of fate, the opportunity that put him firmly on the map arrived in his own backyard: Kindersley. The local Klippers added him to their roster for the post-season drive. Dorsett would get into playoff games and ended up as part of a crew that would go all the way to the Royal Bank Cup Finals in Grand Prairie. “During that tournament I was listed by Red Deer (WHL) and was also drafted by the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), so I had a few options that I could take,” said Dorsett. Options. Go figure. Options for a player who had zero when trying to crack provincial AAA at the start of the year. Yet, it was not an automatic or a jump at first interest for a prairie boy with dreams of playing in the WHL. Instead, we learn another side of Dorsett – the calculated side. “I went to training camp in Red Deer, he explained. I didnt want to burn my [NCAA eligibility] by playing just one exhibition game, so when they wouldnt sign me to anything before an exhibition game, I decided to go back to Kindersley.” The decision likely shocked many. An opportunity to play in the “Dub” evades many great players across Western Canada, never mind a largely unappreciated and oft-overlooked Dorsett. Although others may have pondered how he could turn it down, Dorsett did what he felt was right and hit the highway back home to rejoin the Klippers. Cue Willie Desjardins and the Medicine Hat Tigers. “I think it was Mike Moore and Bob Green, they kind of found me, Dorsett remembered. I think it was about 20-25 games [into the Kindersley season], if I remember right, that Medicine Hat came and listed me. Two days later they picked me up on the bus headed East to Saskatoon and the rest is history! Willie gave me a good chance.” First impressions are often lasting and this one is too good to pass up.dddddddddddd As it turns out, the lasting impression is the story around those first moments as a Tiger, stepping on the bus and how Dorsett would prove again he is far more than what many bargain for. “I think Willie was a little surprised when I got on the bus...they told him he was getting this power forward - a guy that has 189 PIM in 25 games in the SJ and 20 points - a guy that is relentless, he said. Then I walked onto the bus and I think I weighed 170 pounds..” The story goes that Desjardins was bringing his players up to speed as to who they were picking up and, when Dorsett walked on the bus, someone leaned over and said, Coach, I think we got his little brother!” “I think he was a little shocked at the start, said Dorsett of his once and current coach. I walked onto the bus and Willie was like, Oh, I thought we were getting a tough fighter. Dorsett would go on to challenge for both the team and league lead in penalty minutes each full season he played with the Tigers. He finished his WHL career with 593 PIM in 180 games played, while putting up 16 goals and 48 assist-campaigns. He would step up in the postseason, being named playoff MVP in 2005-06 and helped the Tigers win the 2007 WHL Championship, en route to a berth in the Memorial Cup. “It all worked out in the end and Ive got some real fond memories from my time there,” said Dorsett. Only 24 players were selected after Dorsett in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, but he had made it. He had achieved his goal and overcame a ton along the way. Kindersleys native son would be on his way to NHL training camp with the Blue Jackets, but that wasnt good enough for Dorsett and his story doesnt stop there. Not many at 511 and 176 lbs make it through the WHL and into the NHL. Even fewer stick in pro hockey, as Dorsett did, plying his trade in the AHL. The following year, he would go on to lead the Syracuse Crunch in penalty minutes and all AHL rookies in PIM with 289, while picking up 18 points. What Dorsett would have given to play a single NHL game years ago, one can only imagine, but through proving people wrong time and time again, his one NHL game turned into one game away from the Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers were looking for grit to help them in the postseason and Dorsett was acquired from the Blue Jackets for that reason. The problem, however, was that he was not even expected to play in the post season. Once again, the bulldog showed his fight and he returned from a collarbone break that had placed him on the sidelines for almost the entire regular season. Number 51 would, in fact, dress in Broadway blue for the playoffs. While the Rangers would not go all the way that year, the best was yet to come from Dorsett. The small town kid from Kindersley would end up a big part of the Stanley Cup run, which is not terribly surprising considering hockey played at that time of the year, caters itself to hard work, physicality, grit and guts. New York ended up three wins short from the ultimate prize. “I think anytime you have success and you keep winning playoff series, you think, this might be my turn - this could be it...the chance to win, in my opinion, the best trophy in all of sports, said Dorsett. It is still a huge achievement, but dont tell that to any player who has fallen just short, especially one with the make up of Dorsett. “I definitely had some conversations with family and friends about the experience and how cool it was, but it was hard to think about it over the summer because of how close we were, said Dorsett. The Rangers did not prove to be the ultimate fit, despite trying to return to the dance and it was Dorsett, who would end up with a change in venue, but with a familiar conductor. Cue Willie Desjardins and the Vancouver Canucks. The head coach and everyone else in the hockey world now nows firmly what to expect from Dorsett. For those Canucks fans who didnt, it was quickly realized. There is a good chance hell return to the numbers he has become infamous for sporting, those 100+-PIM and 20+-points-types of seasons. Dorsett, though, has one thought on his mind - one which arrives with the agony of defeat, combined with the attitude of a winner. “It was a special time and it just makes me hungrier to get back there and actually come out on top, he said. Canucks fans hope so. They too, have fought through ups and downs and have come out battle tested. Perhaps, there is no better player, then, to represent what not only the roster, but the city hopes to achieve: The determined Derek Dorsett ' ' '