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NEW YORK -- His name is already on the ball. Now Adam Silver can put his stamp on the NBA. On All-Star Saturday in New Orleans, Silver will deliver his first state of the league press conference as commissioner, a chance to tell a worldwide viewing audience how he plans to make the NBA bigger and better than it was under David Stern. Dont expect anything major. After working so closely with Stern during his 22 years at the league, Silvers fingerprints were already all over the $5.5 billion business long before he became in charge of it 10 days ago. "Im not coming in with a five-point plan," Silver told The Associated Press during an interview in his office at NBA headquarters. "Im not an outsider coming into the league. Ive been part of this league for a long time and if there was something that I thought shouldve been done markedly different than the way its done now, I think David and I would have pushed each other to do it. "My priority is the game and thats what Ill be telling people next Saturday." He has been at the NBA since 1992, overseeing the leagues entertainment empire, helping negotiate collective bargaining agreements, and on Feb. 1, he replaced Stern. He is liked by owners and respected by players, all believing Silver is the person to continue the massive growth the league saw under Stern. "Hes someone who has the same kind of feel that we have, in the sense of how can we make this pie bigger? How can we make this game bigger? Miami Heat All-Star Dwyane Wade said. "Hes going to be a good commissioner I believe. Strong in what he believes in. He was in the (CBA) meetings as well, so we know what kind of guy he is and we respect him." Silver, 51, ended up at taking Sterns old job after ignoring his advice early in his career. He laughs now when recalling the path that led to him becoming the NBA commissioner. "It never even was a consideration of working at the NBA," Silver said. "I dont think I understood what that meant. I truly stumbled into working at the NBA." Silver began his career in the legal field but was interested in transitioning to business, the same move Stern had so successfully made. So he wrote to Stern, who had worked at the same firm where Silvers father, Edward, was a lawyer. Silver had handled some media cases and was aware of Sterns accomplishments in negotiating cable TV deals. Stern gave him the number of someone to call, but the job was outside New York. Silver wasnt interested in moving, which he explained to Stern when they spoke again. "He said, Why didnt you tell me? Ive got some other ideas," Silver said. "It was happenstance," he added. "I dont think I quite understood what I was getting into at the time." He doesnt plan on changing much, insisting that he and Stern would have already made whatever changes they felt necessary. But while the NBAs international growth is frequently considered Sterns greatest achievement, Silver seems focused on boosting the games popularity in the United States. Silver has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to basketball. He attended Duke in the early 1980s before the Blue Devils became a powerhouse, when nobody camped out outside Cameron Indoor Stadium because you could just get into games with a student ID. He moved to Chicago to attend law school and began going to games with friends in the early days of Michael Jordan, before the Bulls became the biggest thing in basketball. Now Silver is following one of sports greatest commissioners. He acknowledges there will be times it will feel "lonely" without Stern there to face big decisions together, but Silver has worked so closely with Stern and been involved in so many aspects of the league that the transition should be a natural one. "Adam has been preparing for the job for a long time, he understands the business and I dont see him having much difficulty shifting into the role of commissioner," former NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter said. But Silver, designated as Sterns successor in October 2012, knows that doesnt mean it will always be easy. "I didnt have the same appreciation for what he was going through on a daily basis as the commissioner until I really thought about, What if that were I and I had to make that decision?" Silver said. "And its very different being sort of the voice in the ear of the guy making the decision as opposed to the guy making the decision." Nonetheless, he believes the league is in a good place and ready to grow. He met with executives from Facebook and Twitter while visiting Sacramento and Golden State during his first week as commissioner, seeking ways to bring the NBA to a larger audience than ever. "To me," Silver said, "the game is fantastic. The challenge is to use these new technologies and platforms to help more fans discover the game." James Worthy Jersey . Felton was in court as the Manhattan district attorneys office outlined the agreement, which would resolve a gun case that arose amid the breakup of his marriage. Hes expected to admit June 30 to at least one charge, attempted criminal possession of a weapon -- he wont have to come to court to do so -- and get a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service. Karl Malone Lakers Jersey . -- Canadian ski cross star Marielle Thompson accomplished two goals in one race Saturday. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/1311j-...sey-lakers.html. Rajon Rondo had 18 of Bostons season-high 38 assists and the Celtics committed just seven turnovers in a 118-111 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Wilt Chamberlain Lakers Jersey . Cain departed in the fourth inning of a 10-5 loss to the Pirates on Thursday. X-rays on Cains bruised forearm were negative. He was hit when Sanchez led off the fourth with a groundout. Andrew Bynum Lakers Jersey . The 42-ranked Czech saved seven break points while converting his one chance, and defeated the No. 3 seed in 1 hour 46 minutes. Rosol, who lost in the final in Stuttgart against Roberto Bautista Agut on Sunday, awaits the winner between Philipp Kohlschreiber or 2011 champion Gilles Simon.OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Charging from opposite ends of the line with a single-minded purpose, Baltimore Ravens linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs are waging a duel to see who finishes the season with more sacks.Its competitive. Its a race, Dumervil said Wednesday. Once the ball is snapped, he knows Im coming and I know hes coming from the other end.They have combined for more sacks this season than six NFL teams. Although its too early to declare a winner in this friendly competition, this much is certain: The real losers are the opposing quarterbacks.When you get a sack, its a big momentum-boost for the defence and a drive-killer for the offence, Dumervil said. The more sacks we get, the better chance our team has to win. Its good for the Ravens, for sure.Dumervil is tied for the NFL lead with a single-season franchise record 17 sacks. After getting 2 1/2 in a 20-12 win over Jacksonville on Sunday, Suggs upped his total to 11.No other tandem in the NFL has more. A year ago, Suggs beat Dumervil 10 sacks to 9 1/2.When youve got two guys on the same defence like that, you cant do anything but get better, Suggs said. Youd better raise your game, otherwise, hell start to pull away from you.Suggs has tied a franchise record by getting a sack in five straight games. He has 7 1/2 sacks over that span, and will shoot for the record on Sunday in Houston.With Suggs and Dumervil leading the way, Baltimore has 45 sacks — third-most in the NFL behind only Buffalo and Philadelphia. Thats one reason why the Ravens (9-5) are in the thick of the AFC North title chase and stand tied atop the wild-card standings.In preparation for facing the Ravens on Sunday, Houston coach Bill OBrien has been watching off film of Dumervil, Suggs, Pernell McPhee (5 1/2 sacks) and rookie Timmy Jernigan (four).ddddddddddddThey have a very dynamic pass rush, a lot of different players that can rush the passer, OBrien said. They do a really good job with their blitz scheme. Its a big challenge for us. Well be working on it right up until game time.Given that the Ravens have a half-dozen cornerbacks on injured reserve and own the NFLs 30th-ranked pass defence, putting pressure on the quarterback is an absolute must.The pass rush is always really important. Its a strength of ours, obviously, coach John Harbaugh said. We have to play to that strength.Dumervil believes a strong rush makes the defensive backfield better, and tight coverage helps guys up front in their quest to get to the quarterback.I always say it works hand-in-hand — rush and coverage, coverage and rush, he explained. Sometimes we get cover sacks and sometimes we get pressure sacks. As a rusher, man, you need the guys back there to cover. Everything has to go perfect. Thats why a sack is so sacred.Playing in place of suspended Haloti Ngata, Jernigan got two sacks last week. Hes too inexperienced to get involved in a competition with Suggs and Dumervil, but isnt too young to listen and observe.Its an honour for me to be able to play with those guys and learn from them, Jernigan said. From the day I got here, they taught me a lot.Suggs is having an outstanding season, but hes going to need a flurry of sacks to catch Dumervil.Hes been playing phenomenal, but the same can be said of our front seven all year, Suggs said. Were all kind of getting after it, and its pretty good.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.orgm and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '

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