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The Portland Trail Blazers seem determined to improve their defensive performance, beginning Wednesday night with a home date against the Indiana Pacers. Ricky Jean-Francois Jersey .On Monday, 12 hours after a 130-114 drubbing by the Houston Rockets, the Trail Blazers began to lay the foundation with a video session and a spirited practice focused on defense.This is the first time weve had a real practice in what seems like forever, point guard Damian Lillard said. It was good for us to try to sharpen up, (to have) coaches challenge us.Its to the point now where our pride has to kick in. We have to show how much we actually care about ... being better defensively.The Rockets scorched the Blazers with 56.1 percent shooting, including 47.2 percent (17 for 36) from 3-point range. Portland owns the worst defensive efficiency rating in the NBA (109.80) and is giving up more points (113.7) than any team in the league other than Brooklyn (114.0).The Blazers (9-10) are tired of talking about getting better at the defensive end.We keep preaching it, but its getting old, guard Allen Crabbe said. At some point, it has to click. We keep telling ourselves we have to get better, but at some point, we have to get it going.The Blazers are one of the better offensive teams in the NBA, but they have trouble stopping anybody. Cleveland blitzed them for 137 points, Golden State for 127, Houston for 126 and 130, even Phoenix for 121.We scored 125 points against Cleveland, Lillard said. Thats a lot of points to score and not win a game. Right now, were not getting it done on the defensive end. Thats what it comes down to.Were going to put points on the board, but we have to find a way to get better at coming up with more stops. If (an opponents) execution gets harder, the (shooting) percentage is going to go down. We have to make them more uncomfortable more consistently.Indiana, meanwhile, begins a five-game road trip coming off impressive back-to-back routs at home of the Brooklyn Nets (118-97) and the Los Angeles Clippers (91-70). The wins were achieved without the services of star forward Paul George, who has missed six of the past seven games -- and will also sit out Wednesdays contest -- with ankle and back injuries.The Pacers also emphasize defense, led by point guard Jeff Teague, who ranks fourth in the NBA in steals at 2.11 per game.I have to be aggressive defensively and do my best to ignite and get guys going by pressuring the ball, Teague told the media. Everything else will take care of itself. (The last two games) were moving the ball better, guys are making shots and guys are playing with confidence.Coach Nate McMillan is striving for consistency in both effort and performance.We talked about not taking steps back, McMillan said. Weve played some good games, and then you cant recognize the team the next game. We need to build some momentum at this point in the season.McMillan has been impressed with the work of 20-year-old center Myles Turner, who averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots the last two games going up against Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan.Hey, welcome to the center position in the NBA: (Atlantas) Dwight Howard to Brook to Jordan the last three games, McMillan said. Theyre big, powerful guys. (Turner) is still developing and growing into that position, defending the basket. Hes working. Thats the one thing he brings to the floor every night. Aaron Ripkowski Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Green Bay Packers Jerseys . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. www.authenticfootballshoppackers.com/Black-Friday-Geronimo-Allison-Jersey/  . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Doug Fister and catcher Jason Castro came up with a game plan before beating the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, and it wasnt complicated.Were going to attack these guys, the right-hander said.The strategy worked to perfection, as Fister pitched seven strong innings and Jose Altuve continued his torrid hitting as the Houston Astros defeated the As 7-0.Fister (10-6) struck out five and allowed four hits and two walks as he continued his mastery of Oakland. Hes 3-1 with a 0.99 ERA in four starts against the As this season.Seeing them a lot, they know what we do and we know what they do, Fister said. It just comes down to execution, and I was going to fill the zone up.The As, who had won four of five since the All-Star break and took their second straight series, failed to advance a runner past second base against Fister.They moved just three runners into scoring position (one on a two-base error).Obviously his repertoire matches up OK with these guys but its still about executing pitches, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.When he executes it really doesnt matter what the other lineup is.Altuve was 2 for 3 with two walks. Baseballs leading hitter is 12 for his last 17 in his last four games.Hes really the centerpiece of our lineup now that hes batting third, in the sort of famous position that baseball loves, Hinch said, noting that Altuves improving in every area, including his leadership.Hes a truly a superstar in this game that I think more people are getting to know the more we play well.The Astros, who had lost three of four, scored two runs in the second with two outs and nobody on base when five batters reached safely against As starter Daniel Mengden (1-5).Mengden struck out five and allowed three runs, five hits and five walks in five innings. He recovered from a shaky start, blanking the Astros over the last three innings.Hes still trying to find his rhythm again, As manager Bob Melvin said of Mengden. It was better the last couple of innings, but command has been his issue. Basically with all (four of) his pitches we saw him really fine.I think hes getting behind and still trying to jam all four pitches in there as opposed to trying to establish one or two early. Certainly when everything is going well its easy to do. When its not maybe you have to simplify a little bit. Kyle Murphy Jersey. Fister is 9-3 over his last 15 starts going back to May 1. The Astros are 12-3 over that stretch.Carlos Correa, whos settling into his role as the Astros cleanup hitter, was 1 for 2 with three walks and three RBI.Jake Marisnick and George Springer both had two hits including a double and Castro added a run-scoring triple as the Astros combined for 10 hits.Josh Reddick had two of Oaklands four hits and Daniel Coulombe allowed no hits in two shutout innings in relief of Mengden.BAD STARTS:The Astros and As rank at or near the bottom in virtually every meaningful offensive category out of the designated hitters spot. The Astros .186 and the As .205 batting averages going into Wednesday were the leagues two worst. The As DHs were tied with the Chicago White Sox with the fewest home runs (8) and alone at the bottom with 33 RBI. Houstons DHs ranked third- and fourth-worst in the league with 38 RBI and 11 home runs.ROSTER MOVE:The As recalled utilityman Arismendy Alcantara from Triple-A Nashville before Wednesdays game and in a corresponding move optioned LHP Dillon Overton to Nashville.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: DH Evan Gattis was pulled after getting hit by a pitch in the right hand in the fifth. X-rays were negative and Gattis said hes day to day but no fracture.Athletics: LHP Rich Hill, removed five pitches into his last start on Sunday after a blister on his left middle finger burst, is doubtful for Sundays game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the next open spot in the As rotation with Overtons demotion, Melvin said.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Lance McCullers pitches a series opener against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. McCullers has lost three of his last four decisions. Hes 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in five career starts against the Angels, allowing one run in a 5 2/3 innings in his only start against the Angels this season.Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (4-8, 5.12) snapped a career-worst seven-game losing streak in his most recent start and will hope to build on that momentum on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Gray is 2-1 with a 3.11 ERA in six career starts against the Rays and 2-2 with a 7.01 ERA in five starts against the Eastern Division this year. Cheap Jerseys 2018 Wholesale NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '