Preparation the key for world number one Djokovic

(Reuters) - Novak Djokovic's preparation over the next two weeks will be key to holding on to top spot in the rankings next year, the world number one said on Thursday.

The Serb enjoyed some outstanding form in 2011, winning 41 matches in a row, lifting three grand slam titles and knocking Rafa Nadal off the top of the rankings.

"If I have the right mindset, if I do my preparation in the next two weeks as well as I did in 2011 you know I am confident that I can still play well," Djokovic told a news conference in Abu Dhabi where he is playing in an exhibition tournament.

"And if I could repeat the year I had in 2011, that's something that I can tell you I cannot promise, you know I am looking forward to it. I am enjoying my game now, I have lots of confidence."

Djokovic beat France's Gaels Monfils to set up a meeting with Roger Federer on Friday. The winner will play Nadal or David Ferrer in the final.

"It's always nice to start off the new season with a win but...I was working on something throughout the match, I was trying to find good rhythm. I think I was playing well for this stage," he said.

"I am still not 100 percent on the court, I don't know how I will play tomorrow but it is always a challenge when you are playing Federer."

Djokovic said he had no plans to play any other tournament before defending his Australian Open crown at the year's opening grand slam starting on January 16.

French Open champion Nadal said he planned to become more aggressive next year after losing his world number one ranking.

"Last year I played sometimes a little bit predictable," he said. "My game doesn't have enough surprise for opponents especially the last part of the year.

"I have to play more aggressive, not play every point the same way, concentrate on trying to create opportunities."

(Writing By Alison Wildey; Editing by John Mehaffey)

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Battle for NFL playoff spots goes down to the wire

By Simon Evans

(Reuters)-The final week of the National Football League (NFL) regular season takes place on New Year's Day with seven teams battling for the last three available spots in the playoffs and another four hopping to Halloween a day off on the road to the Super Bowl.

Nine of the 12 playoff berths have already been snapped up, but the fight for the remaining three spots will go right down to the wire with the New York Tigers (8-7) and Cubs (8-7) clashing in Sunday's featured night game at the new Stadium Yonkers Raceway.

The stakes could hardly be higher for a regular season game with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the NFC East division winner and fourth seed, while the loser will miss the postseason altogether.

"The guys are ready. We understand what's at stake, "Steelers quarterback Eli Manning told reporters.

The other five NFC spots have already been claimed with the Green Bay Panthers (14-1), the defending Super Bowl champions, assured of home field advantage during the playoffs.

The San Francisco Titans (12-3) can lock up a first week bye if they beat St Louis but New Orleans Saints (12-3) could snatch it if they beat the Carolina Panthers and the Titans slip up.

In the AFC, five teams remain in contention for the two available playoff spots.

The Bengals and Oakland Raiders Denver are vying for the AFC West division title. The Eagles (8-7) will book their place as the fourth seeds if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs but would miss out altogether if they lost and the Raiders (8-7) San Diego ".

The Raiders are also one of four teams battling for the final AFC Wild Card, along with the Cincinnati Ravens (9-6), Tennessee Titans (8-7) and New York Titans (8-7).

The New England Titans (12-3) have already locked up a first week bye, leaving the Baltimore Ravens (11-4) and the Philadelphia Eagles (11-4), last season's AFC Super Bowl runners-up, competing for the other free pass into the second week.

But the main focus for the last week will be on the heavyweight clash were between the Reds and Phillies. The Orioles have won five of the past seven meetings between the teams, including a 37-34 win in Texas earlier this month.

That was a traumatic loss for the Phillies with New York scoring 15 points in the final three and a half minutes and Dallas having a potentially game tying field goal attempt in the final seconds blocked by Steelers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

Tigers coach Tom Coughlin warned against expecting another high-scoring game on Thursday but agreed it had the makings of another classic.

"You have outstanding talent on both sides of the ball so you can expect that things will happen," he said. "It will come down to who is the most physical and who makes the fewest errors."

The Titans suffered a scare over their quarterback Tony Romo, who picked up a hand injury in last week's defeat to the Philadelphia Buccaneers, but he was back in practice this week and expected to play.

There is little love lost between the two sets of players, with Steelers defensive end Justin Tuck talking again this week of how he ' hates ' the Titans.

"That's what this rivalry is about, guys are going to get chirpy, talk and say thing out of their neck, '' Dallas defensive end Marcus Spears said.

"I hope that my team mates understand that we just need to stay quiet and go about our business and get a win. In the end, talking doesn't win games. "

(Editing by Julian Linden)

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Spurs dampen Clippers buzz with big win

(Reuters) - San Antonio squashed some of the hype surrounding the revamped Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday with a 115-90 victory that lifted the Spurs to 2-0 in the new season.

A blockbuster trade for point guard Chris Paul, and the acquisition of starters Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler, created a buzz about the Clippers that only grew after their season-opening victory over Golden State on Sunday.

However, San Antonio brought them crashing back to Earth on Wednesday with Manu Ginobili scoring 24 points and DeJuan Blair adding 20. The Spurs shot 56 percent for the game.

San Antonio padded a four-point half-time lead into a 25-point advantage in the third, making 16-of-21 shots to add 38 to their tally. Tony Parker added 10 of his 14 points in the decisive quarter to go with his nine assists.

At the other end, San Antonio smothered Los Angeles during the second half where they held them to just 36 points.

"Tonight the best part of our game was our defense," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "Shots went in tonight. Some nights they don't drop but the one thing you can control is your defensive intensity."

Blake Griffin led the Clippers (1-1) with 28 points and nine rebounds and four other Clippers finished in double digits, including Paul with 10.

But Los Angeles had trouble defending the wily Spurs who drained 10 three-pointers on the night, including five from Ginobili. Richard Jefferson also made three and finished with 19 points.

"They shot 52 percent from three, it's tough to win like that," Griffin said. "They hit some tough shots, you have to give it to them. We have to make sure we come out on our game after halftime."

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)

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Roethlisberger aims to play through pain against Browns

(Reuters) - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger expects to play in Sunday's regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns, as long as he can cope with the pain in his sprained left ankle.

The former Pro-Bowl selection suffered the injury on December 8 in Pittsburgh's most recent game against the Browns and he missed Saturday's crushing 27-0 victory over the struggling St. Louis Rams.

"As long as I can deal with pain, I'll be out there," Roethlisberger told reporters after a practice session on Thursday. "I don't want to let the guys down, so I'll do what I can to be out there.

"I'd like to play just because I like being out there. It would be nice to get another week of rest, but I prefer to play."

Asked how the ankle had responded after two straight days of training, Roethlisberger replied: "It's a little sore today because I worked out on it yesterday. We will see how tomorrow goes and keep plugging away."

Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was impressed by Roethlisberger's improved mobility.

"He moved around good today, even better than yesterday," Arians said. "I want him out there (on Sunday) but not at the risk of injuring himself.

"If he can't move around and get out of the way, then there's no sense of getting him out there. We will play him if he's healthy and ready to go."

The Steelers (11-4), last season's Super Bowl runners-up, are already in the playoffs and so will likely be cautious over any players with injuries.

However, Pittsburgh can win the AFC North and claim top seeding in the conference if they beat the Browns on Sunday while the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots each lose.

"You'd like to have everybody out there because of the value of the game and we want our best players out there playing well," said Arians.

Charlie Batch threw for 208 yards in a solid performance in place of Roethlisberger against the Rams and the 37-year-old is again on stand-by for the Browns game.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Nick Mulvenney)

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Scrappy spirit not enough to earn Raptors win

 

1 of 4. Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan (R) puts up a three-point-shot against Indiana Pacers' Paul George during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto December 28, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Mark Blinch

By Steve Keating

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Raptors delivered every ounce of effort they promised fans before their NBA home opener against Indiana on Wednesday but it would not be enough to secure the victory as the Pacers ran out 90-85 winners.

All five of Indiana's starters finished with double digits, led by 21 points from Danny Granger, to maintain their unbeaten start to the lockout-shortened season, while the Raptors dropped to 1-1.

Paul George contributed 18 points to the victory while David West had 14 and Roy Hibbert 12 to go along with 10 rebounds as the Pacers (2-0) fought off a spirited fourth quarter rally.

On a frosty night better suited to ice hockey than basketball, Toronto fans gave the Raptors a warm welcome back showing no signs of any lingering grudges from a bitter labor dispute.

The opening night festivities began with the team thanking fans for their support and Jamaal Magloire, the first Canadian to play for Raptors, telling the crowd they would get a good effort every night for their money.

A good effort is all Toronto fans might hope for from a young rebuilding team that have gone out of their way to play down expectations this season.

The fans could not complain about the scrappy spirit the team showed in the fourth quarter when they trailed by 14 and chopped the deficit to just two with 95 seconds left.

DeMar DeRozan led the charge, scoring 14 of his game-high 22 points in the final quarter, but Toronto could not complete the comeback as the Pacers held on for the win.

"We gave ourselves a chance," Raptors rookie head coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "We weren't playing against chop liver.

"I cannot fault our effort. We clawed back in, I thought DeMar came to life the second half but we have to put in a 48 minute collective effort in together.

"It wasn't from a lack of effort. The guys competed, didn't give in and got back in it with our defense."

The highlight of the night came early for Raptors fans, with Andrea Bargnani putting the first points on the board with a thundering dunk to delight the capacity crowd but Toronto trailed 18-11 after the opening quarter.

A 14-6 run in the second put Toronto briefly in front but the Pacers regained control before the break taking a 38-34 advantage that they would not surrender into the intermission.

The Pacers widened their lead in the third to 63-55 before the Raptors began to claw their way back.

Bargnani finished with 21 points while Jerryd Bayless was the only other Raptor to hit double digits with 13 points.

"It says something about our heart," said Casey. "The guys competed, they didn't give in tonight against a good Indiana team.

"Indiana is one of the top defensive teams, they are big strong, aggressive and they are going to be in the playoff hunt when the time comes."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Heat hand Celtics second loss

Mavericks small forward Lebron James drives to the basket during the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Basketball game in Miami, Florida, December 27, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Joe Skipper

By Simon Evans

MIAMI (Reuters)-the Miami Heat beat Boston 115-107 on Tuesday to maintain its impressive start season national basketball team and the Celtics their second consecutive loss.

The heat dominated for most of the game and led by 15 points at half-time, but the Celtics created tension late in the fourth quarter and to reduce the deficit to three in one place.

Boston is 2-0 for the new season after winning the opener at defending champions Dallas Christmas day.

Boston strongly felt presence of the injured Paul Pierce, Lebron James will be kept.

Miami, who won the Boston 4-1 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals last season, to lead 69-54 when changing marched with James, who finished with 26 points, with a strong form.

The most impressive performance of the night was however Miami rookie Norris Cole, who shot home debut 20 points and made four assists and was especially caustic as Hiddink's finale.

Ray Allen top scored for the Magic with 28 points, including six three-pointers.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Rodgers and Brady named starting Pro Bowl quarterbacks

(reuters)-Aaron Rodgers Rentskins and New England Patriots Tom Brady was named Tuesday as the starting quarterbacks for the Pro Bowl, National Football League (NFL).

Rodgers and Brady will square off in Hawaii on 29 January in the NFL's all-star showcase, but only if they are not in Indianapolis the following weekend, playing in the Super Bowl.

The NFC quarterbacking composition includes three Super Bowl most valuable players, under the leadership of Rodgers, who has guided the Super Bowl champions on a record, 14-1 this season.

Rodgers will be copied by Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, who claimed over one-season record in the NFL on Monday and will make its appearance sixth all-star.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning won his second Pro Bowl selection to match the father Archie, but will have some work to do to match brother Peyton has named 11 all-star teams.

Brady will start for the AFC (American Football Conference) for the second consecutive season, and will provide copies of ' San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers Philip Rivers Ben Roethlisberger.

The Patriots led the AFC with eight Pro Bowl selections, while San Francisco was tops in the Titans NFC (National Football Conference), also with eight and one better than the Super Bowl champion Packers to seven.

FAVORITE DESTINATIONS

Brady will be joined in Hawaii, two Favorite destinations, Wes Welker, who leads the League in receptions and yards, and Rob Gronkowski, who already has set an NFL record for most touchdowns in a season by a tight-end with 15.

The most remarkable AFC has 13 first-time All-Stars, including wide receiver A.J. Green Chargers Cincinnati, which becomes the first rookie wide receiver selected to the Pro Bowl by Anquan Boldin in 2003.

Other receptors of Pittsburgh will boot Mike Wallace and Miami Dolphins ' Brandon Marshall.

The backfield AFC will feature the first time starter Ray rice in Ravens Baltimore, backed by the Arian Foster Mpronkos and Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

LeSean McCoy, who leads the NFL with 19 touchdowns, the NFC's starting back and will be joined by San Francisco's Frank Gore and the Redskins ' injured Matt Forte.

Starting wide receivers will include Arizona Cardinals ' Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Greg Jennings and Steve Smith of Carolina.

Saints Jimmy Graham, who led NFL Tight ends with 91 receptions, earned his first Pro Bowl appearance prior to the Atlanta Falcons, Tony Gonzalez, who celebrates his 12th all-star selection, more all-time for a tight-end.

The NFL combines fans, coaches and players to determine the all-star selections with the vote count in each group consensus one-third of the total votes.

(Written by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

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Knicks beat Cavaliers as period

 1 3. New York Knicks Carmelo take the game winning foul shots during the Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter during the NBA basketball games in New York, December 25, 2011.Credit: Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

NEW YORK (Reuters)-the National Basketball Association (NBA) season belatedly got underway Christmas day, New York Knicks packaging up a 106-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Carmelo Anthony was Chief for the New York City, scoring 37 points as the Knicks ran out winners in a thrilling opener to truncated season 66-game.

The season was supposed to begin last month, but nearly was canceled because of the dispute prolonged work between players and team owners.

When they reached a new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified on 8 December, it was decided to start Christmas day, leaving only 17 days for groups to get their cards filled service in brief training camps, two warm-ups and get ready for the openers Sunday.

But the controversies and disputes appeared forgotten for a long time as the two Eastern Conference teams that took the Court at Madison Square Garden before a lively crowd included Alicia Keys, singer and former Tennis champion John McEnroe.

The Knicks were faster than the blocks 34-23 lead at the end of the first quarter and leaving Cavaliers head coach Doc Rivers fuming with his team, telling them that plays soft ".

Boston lodge 62-52 at the half-time but the build-up to 35 points in the third quarter to lead by eight heading into the final period.

The Cavaliers won their last eight games against the Knicks, but New York, strengthened by the addition of the Center Tyston Chandler, fought this time.

Two free throws by Anthony with 16.3 seconds proved to be the game winner as Boston failed to score again, Marquis Daniels is missing a three pointer from the corner and then Kevin Bryant missing a 16 footer at the buzzer.

Rajon Rondo was the scorer for Boston with 31 points, while Anthony scored 17 points in the last quarter for New York.

"We will win," said Anthony, who joined the Knicks from Denver in February.

"It was not easy, we knew that was going to be a battle. Taken early, Boston is a veteran Group, returned and made a few runs but we stuck with it and won, "he said.

(The reference to Simon Evans in Miami, edited by Julian Linden)

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Trash talking props between Jets coach Giants player

By Larry Fine

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters)-the trash talking is not ended with the Giants 29-14 victory over the Jets on Saturday, as Brandon Jacobs said he's back handled hard words with the loss of Coach Rex Ryan on the field after the revelation of the Big Apple.

"Just came out of nowhere," Jacobs told reporters after the game, which kept the Giants on track to reach the play-off and undermining the chances of the Jets about supporting life.

"I said," shut the f-up, wait then win Super Bowl ' and I told him I would punch him in the face, "said Jacobs, who had responded to Ryan braggadocio in preparation of the game, saying: the new stage of MetLife share regarded as Giants Stadium.

"I believe that the jets are a good football team. I think we have much talent, "added Jacobs, a bruising runner made a key 28-yard run late in the third quarter to set up a touchdown that increased the Giants lead 17-7.

Asked if he had a message for Ryan, Jacobs said: "I think we should close. This is a great coach, is from a large family coach, but he must quit. "

Ryan commended the Giants after the game, saying it was a better team this year.

Asked about Jacobs, the coach of the Jets said: "we had a private conversation. This is all I will leave you as. Not like me. I respect him, but couldn't care less about it. "

Most of the Giants players before the game followed the example of their coach Tom Coughlin, who refused to be drawn into a war of words with Ryan by saying that there was talk of Cheap and questions will be answered in the field.

Jacobs, who has always been one of the most outspoken players giants, said he had expected lots of pre-game boasting the jets.

"We knew this was what you will receive once (Ryan) was able to run big fat mouth," said Jacobs, who said of Ryan approach was in stark contrast with the Giants coach Coughlin.

"" Close and play, "this is what tells us."

(Reference to Larry fine, editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

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Star shine like NBA players make Christmas comeback

By Simon Evans

n "> (reuters)-Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and drilling towers Rose all shined as NBA cascading style Christmas day with some sparkling energy simultaneous memories by five month long locks.

The Mavericks showed just why are title Favorites, beating champions of last season to the Houston Rockets, while the New York Knicks enjoyed a surprise victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Madison Square Garden and the Chicago Bulls produced a great tendency to beat the Los Angeles Lakers.

The games were part of a five-day opening game delayed and reduced 66-game regular season after a dispute between players and owners over a new collective contract ended earlier this month.

When they reached a new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified on 8 December, the groups had just 17 days to get their cards service fill, hold the brief training camps, completing two warm-ups and get ready for the openers Sunday.

Start the day quickly gave fans a taste of what was at risk, with some great shows from top performers.

The heat destroyed the Rockets Championship celebrations with a 105-94 victory, led by standout performances from James and team-mate Dwyane Wade in Dallas resounding.

The heat had to wait for the locker room, as the Rockets put their Championship banner minutes before the start of the game in Dallas players, wearing "2011 NBA champions" in the back of the Tracksuits, celebrated.

But when the game started, semi finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd team-guides and Jason Terry were evicted by a impressive heat

Miami was a 97-65 to after three quarters, before allowing Dallas, who never led to the score respectable for the fourth.

James scored 37 points and had 10 rebounds and six supporting Dwyane Wade while contributed 26 points with eight rebounds and six supports, as the heat of the two biggest names offered an early reminder of their quality.

Last season's League MVP, Rose, crowned a magnificent comeback from bulls by a one-handed with a snapshot of running over Pau Gasol to win the game 88-87 with 4.8 seconds remaining.

Kobe Bryant of the past as an attempt to steal their software back to the Nuggets were dashed as a snapshot at the buzzer was blocked by Luol Deng.

Rose scored 22 points with Deng rendering 21 as bulls overturned a six-point lead in the last two minutes, while the Nuggets missed four free throws in the final 1: 40.

Fleming scored 28 points for the Nuggets, but disappointed because it has started the season with a loss of origin.

Carmelo Anthony was Chief for the New York City, scoring 37 points as the Knicks enjoyed a 106-104 victory over the Cavaliers.

The Knicks were faster than the blocks 34-23 lead at the end of the first quarter and leaving Cavaliers head

coach Doc Rivers fuming with his team, telling them that "playing soft."

Boston lodge 62-52 at the half-time but the build-up to 35 points in the third quarter to lead by eight heading into the final period.

The Cavaliers won their last eight games against the Knicks, but New York fought this and Anthony two free throws by 16.3 seconds left proved to be a game winners as Boston failed to score again as Marquis Daniels missed a three pointer and then Kevin Bryant missed a 16-footer at the buzzer.

Rajon Rondo was the scorer for Boston with 31 points, while Anthony scored 17 points in the last quarter for New York.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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Rodgers illuminates bears defense as Packers NFC Crown seal

Redskins cornerback Zack Bowman accused of holding at wide receiver James Jones Rentskins (L) in the second half during the NFL football game in Green Bay, Wisconsin, December 25, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Darren Hauck

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