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Show ' p () h 5 ; | DoilySHerald G (a |. SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2006 SPORTS EDITOR | Dameli Dickson - 344-2555 - ddickson@heraldextra.com BYUVOLLEYBALL 2006NBAPLAYOFFSPREVIEW Do-or-die for Cougars vs. 49ers Darnell Dickson The Vet an Whorises, Whofalls | AILY HERALD Despite losing four matches in a row, the fifth-ranked BYU men's in playoffs volleyball insists they are better than they were two weeksago. The Cougars (18-8) travel to No. 3 Long BeachState (21-9) this weekend for the quarterfinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament, returning to the site wheretheylost twostraight matches to the 49ers. A week ago, BYUlost 3-0, 3-2 to second-ranked Hawaii in Honolulu. “Weneed to getbetter ball control, but we feel we're getting better,” said BYU head coach Tom Peterson. “The whole team has the perception that we're a different | = David Moore DALLAS MORNIN | Talking points | | San Antonio is re- garded as an elite team, not a dominantone. The réason: The Spurs have three NBAtitles but have failed to win back-to- back championships. team than even a few weeks ago. Can Tim Duncan reversethat trend, or We've got a good shot tg play well against Long BeachState.” is his health the reason the Spurs have been un- BYU led Long Beach State 2-0 in the first match two weeks ago and1-0 in the second match, but couldn't hold off the hard-charging 49ers. able to repeat? Does the championship grind take too muchoutof him? Detroit's Rasheed Wallace will tell youit's all aboutthe‘ships. | “Everyone seems to play their best match againstus,” Peterson said. “That’s what the Long Beach That's championships, State people were saying, and we for those who don't speak Rasheed. The See COUGARS, C2 Pistons have the best recordin basketball, the home-court advantage throughouttheplayoffs MPSF Tournament Quarterfinals * and something to prove | No.5 BYU (18-8) at No. 3 a “This is what we've been | waiting for,” Wallace said. “It’s here, and now Long Beach State (21-9) : we're ready.” Everyone knows Ween: Tong, 8 p.m. Miami’s Shaquille O'Neal ‘Where: The Pyramid is a jokester. But does TV/Radio: Go to longbeach- anyone reallybelieve he was playing possum state.com to access live infor- during the most mun- mation from the match The Word: Long Beach State dane regular season of his career, conserving energy to be fresh for theplayoffs? “I'll be BYUhas won the past three there whenit matters,” postseason meetings with the O'Neal said over and over.It matters. And we A9ers.... The Cougars are 46 will point out that Shaq’s in their past 10 matches. postseason scoring averagehas droppedforfive consecutive seasons. Blazeupset defending champions THE ASSOCUATEDPRESS DENVER — Andy Kelly threw four touchdownpasses to help the expansion Utah Blaze beat the defending ArenaBow!champion Colorado Crush 52-40 onFriday night. Kelly was 27-0f-37 for 314 yards, and Siaha Burley led the Blaze (5-8) in receiving with seven catches for ‘Associated Press file photos Twostorylinesto follow in this year’s NBA playoffs include the return to postseasonplay for Kobe Bryant,left, and the Lakers andthe inaugural appearancein the playoffs by Cleveland’s LeBron James,right. Kobereturnsto playoffs; LeBron makesfirst appearance Brian Mahoney THE ASSOCIATED PRESS you wantto be considered amongthe great ones becauseit demonstrates that you're either making the players around youbetter or managementis putting better players around youin order to showcase yourtalent longerinto the playoffs,” commissioner David Stern said last week. Kickingit off Welcometo the postseason, LeBron. And welcome back, Kobe. Sure,the Pistons and Spurs made for a great NBAFinals last year, and they would surely doit again if both get back,as expected,this time. Butfor the playoffs to really be special, they need the league's superstars to havetheir timein the spotlight. And make no mistake: LeBron James and Kobe Bryantare the biggest the NBA has to offer right now. Both weresitting at homethis time last year, and a couch or golf courseis no place to cement an NBAlegacy. That : Bee et A lookat today’s NBAfirst-round playoff games(TV listings on C2): Washington at-Cleveland, 1 p.m. Chicago at Miami, 6 p.m. “The campaignlast year about the fi- Sacramento at S. Antonio, 3:30 p.m. Denver at L.A. Clippers, 8:30 p.m. nals was,‘Wherelegends are born’ and I think you could havesaid thatfor the playoffs. You clearly — in orderto write yourself large in NBAhistory — you've got to be in theplayoffs.” can only be donein a packed arenain May and June. “That's a road you haveto follow if Soeaeee That's no joke. The ascension continues. Cleveland's LeBron James, at the tender age of 21, hasled his team to the playoffs forthefirst of manytimes. His regular season was spectacular, as he becamethe fourth player to average more than 31 points, seven rebounds andsix assists for a season. But James knowshis legacy will be shaped by what he does in the postsea- son. “Wecan'tjust get there andlay an egg,” he said. “We have to win by any meansnec- essary.” James thought he was headed there last year beforea late-season collapse See NBA, C4 See PLAYOFFS, C4 a ee peSd eas i i RECREATION OkeyhtstnSkaggsforaTard ng G*e: in th |S Seee victory. Ear: erro Seventeen year's in the (re making inh touchdown pass with 49 seconds left lier i fourth scored ona l-yard runto put Utah : a : i ¢ : i JamesV. Hansen Wildlife Education Center in northern Utah set to open this morning 3 Manne, taco poe COLORADO 40 Syard sanhaoen casas you g Where: Bear River Migratory pass to Damien Harel wih 14top, but the iene recovered the ensuing Bra erage Hours: Dawn to dark year-round 5 re Toneoreenicnraat The Bear River Migratory Bird wet hey are the defending champions for a reason,”a said Blaze heac Forest Street exit (#363) and tum left overthe freeway. The Refugehas long been considered the most importantstop on the Pacific been recorded on the Refuge. Every dayis different, but during spring tile environment. | am very pleased eee re s The win is hugefor the Blaze’s off chances, as Utah moved a half game ahead of Chicagofor the final playoff spot in the American Conference. The Blaze are now also just a half game back of Las Ve for the fifth seed, and will go on road to i eek. DLOcelaonte tp5 psm). Continue another 12 e ae miles west to reach the Refuge. Tip for best viewing: Go early in | the moning orlate in the day. Theactivity of birds and other animals is highest during these prime feeding times. Americas.It is also widely regarded Se ee (oe ton eras coca sae worl Now,the Refuge has comefull circle as the staff cel ee ee of the James V. Hansen Wildlife Education Center this morning, begin| ning at 10am. |’ The Center marks the completion of a recovery process thathas lasted ———! for 17 years andwill help make the _the publicly accessible areas ina few Lure, niange-ciy focal ot 9) or moreare uncommon. Viewing is enhanced by a 12-mile auto tour route in the heart of the Refuge complex, which includes restrooms, parking at viewing areas along the route and a couple of overlooks. getheratoalveamcfortmats. Beky Beaton DAILY HERALD 22mes\ Hanson Wide Educ Refuge’s wonders even moreac-, cessible to the public, especially the youngest among them. More than 225 species of birds have UVa.thewesternpartofthe turderccalind an 4060species in j JS WAWSERALDEXTRA.COM — CALL 375-5103TO SUBSCRIBE : BEKY BEATON /Daily Herald Ayellow-headed blackbird sings from a perch, part of the signagedirected at the human See REFUGE, C5 visitors to the Bear River Wildlife Refuge. | | | |