New Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant admitted Wednesday that his relationship with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook likely wont ever be the same again and that hell just have to get used to being the villain.Durant told Chinas Sina Sports that he talked to Westbrook before signing a two-year deal earlier this month to join a loaded Warriors roster?that also boasts two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.I just told him. I let him know how I felt, Durant said of his conversation with Westbrook. Obviously, our relationship wont ever be the same again. But its something I wanted to do, and I expressed that to him. Hopefully he respected it.He also told Sina Sports that hell get used to the backlash and the Warriors being labeled as villains.Yeah, its difficult. Im not used to this much attention, but Im getting used to it, Durant said. Obviously, people dont like me right now, but it is what it is. I cant please them all. Ive got to still go out there and handle my business.Theyre not going to get up at 9 oclock in the morning and work on their game for me. Ive got to do all of that on my own. I cant worry about people on the outside. Ive got to go to sleep at night, Ive got to get up and Ive got to perform. Ive got to do all that stuff. It is what it is. Once we start playing the games, Ill feel a little bit more better. Right now, its definitely a change. Theres a different vibe going around, but Ill get used to it.NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday said he didnt think Durants decision to join the Warriors and form a so-called super team was ideal from the league standpoint.But Durant said the goal -- a championship -- is what drove him to join the Warriors, and he doesnt think an excess of talent will be a problem in achieving that goal.I want to win a championship, but youve got to play great basketball to win a championship, Durant told Sina Sports. Those guys were so close last year, so theyre hungry this year to get back. I want to help them. I want to be the guy that takes them over the top.We dont have any selfish players on the team. Thats the thing: I think everybody expects us to play selfish, but guys want to go out there and win and just play the right way. Thats what theyve been doing. Its on me to come in there and adapt to what theyve been doing. Its going to take me some time, but Im going to get used to it pretty quick. Cincy Powell Jersey . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Quinndary Weatherspoon Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. https://www.cheapspurs.com/ . 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CINCINNATI -- It looks as if Ben Zobrist might be rounding into postseason form, just in time for the Chicago Cubs.Zobrist homered twice and drove in three runs, helping Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 on Friday night.Im feeling a lot better than I felt in June, July and August, said Zobrist, who helped Kansas City win the World Series last year. Hopefully, that translates into October.The Cubs have the majors best record and clinched the NL Central title with plenty of time to spare, giving Joe Maddon the luxury of resting his regulars. The 35-year-old Zobrist didnt play on Monday or Thursday, and he is 11 for 22 with two homers and eight RBI in his last seven games.Hes rested, Maddon said. With guys like that, thats why you want time off, and (Friday) is what it can look like.Jake Buchanan (1-0) pitched five shutout innings as Chicago improved to 14-3 against Cincinnati this season with two games to play. The right-hander allowed two hits in his first start since 2014 with Houston.Outstanding, wasnt he? Maddon said. He controlled his emotions and threw strikes. He was very efficient. He threw strikes. We caught the ball -- a typical formula for us.It was Buchanans first appearance since he pitched one inning on Sept. 5. He didnt know what to expect when he took the mound.Once I got past the first batter, it felt really good to be back in a ballgame, Buchanan said. I was just hoping to throw strikes and compete.Anthony Rizzo also drove in two runs for Chicago, which was coming off a rare tie in Pittsburgh due to rain.Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the ninth for last-place Cincinnati, which announced before the game that manager Bryan Price would return next season. Josh Smith (3-3) was charged with two runs and three hits in five-plus innings.Price and the Reds agreed to a one-year contract with a team option. The entire coaching staff also has been offered contracts for 2017.There is a mutual desire to stay connected, Price said. For me, its an unbelievable opportunity. It is a storied franchise. I have really enjoyed my coaches and my team.The Cubs, heeaded for the playoffs for the second straight year, announced contract extensions for general manager Jed Hoyer and player development director Jason McLeod.dddddddddddd Their new deals run through the 2021 season, mirroring president of baseball operations Theo Epsteins contract announced on Wednesday.Smith retired his first 12 batters before Zobrist led off the fifth with a drive to right for his first homer since Sept. 12. The All-Star also connected for a two-run shot in Chicagos four-run eighth, No. 17 on the year.It was good, Smith said. I challenged hitters early and got a lot of early contact to pitch pretty deep in the game. The ball to Zobrist, I missed my spot.Chicagos first three batters reached in the sixth, chasing Smith, and Addison Russells RBI double made it 3-1.HISTORIC HOMERSZobrists homers were Chicagos 38th and 39th against the Reds this season, the most by one team against Cincinnati pitching in one season. The 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1957 Milwaukee Braves previously shared the record with 38.FRIENDLY CONFINESKris Bryants eighth-inning single gave him a least one hit in each of Chicagos eight games at Great American Ball Park so far this season.EARLY WARNINGVotto, who left Thursdays game at St. Louis in the eighth inning with a cut on his chin that required seven stitches, texted Price at 3 a.m. Friday saying that he would be ready to play.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: OF Jorge Soler (discomfort on his right side) will be re-evaluated on Saturday, Maddon said.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips, sidelined by soreness in his left wrist and hand, was being examined Friday by members of the Reds medical staff, Price said.UP NEXTCubs: LHP Jon Lester (19-4) seeks his first career 20-win season in his last start. He is 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in four starts against Cincinnati this season.Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (3-4), who set a career high with seven innings in his last start on Monday, will try to close out his season with back-to-back wins. ' ' '
