NEWS » Daniel Nestor, playing with Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic, will

WASHINGTON - Randy Wittman learned long ago to focus on what he can control. Kevin Wyatt Jersey Retro . Thats what he did over the past 2 1/2 years with the Washington Wizards. Wittmans approach helped turn the Wizards from pushover to playoff winners. Now hell have a chance to stick around following a 44-38 season, a 15-win improvement from last year, after the Wizards gave him a contract extension. "I think over the last couple of years what weve begun to establish here, continuity I think is important," Wittman said Wednesday in the hallway near the practice court at the Verizon Center. "Im appreciative of the opportunity to continue on." The Wizards reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and won their first post-season series since 2005. They accomplished it in the final year of Wittmans contract and under a preseason mandate to make the playoffs from owner Ted Leonsis. "I was here when it was not pretty. When you see it change, when you see the things that youve implemented begin to work, you want to continue on," the 54-year-old Wittman said. Wittman guided the Wizards to a first-round win over the Chicago Bulls before losing in six games to the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in their Eastern Conference semifinal. "Over the last 2 1/2 years really, Randy has established a great culture, a hard-working culture, a defensive-oriented team," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. "Weve been a top-10 defensive team in the league the last two years. Weve made good progress. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but were headed in the right direction." Asked if retaining Wittman was an easy decision," Grunfeld stated," Yes, it was." Having already coached rebuilding squads with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, Wittman took over as head coach when Flip Saunders was fired in January 2012. As was the case in those other spots, losses starting piling up in Washington. Wittman has the worst regular-season record of anyone who has coached at least 400 NBA games — 191-329, a .367 winning percentage — since the league started in 1946. "Job security is fleeting, as we all know in this business," said Wittman, who played in the NBA for nine seasons. "If you worry about it, youre not going to do your job well." With John Wall sidelined, the Wizards opened the 2012-13 season with a 4-28 record. When their point guard returned, Washington finished 24-25. With Wall healthy and turning into a first-time All-Star alongside backcourt partner Bradley Beal, Washington ended the 2013-14 season fifth in the Eastern Conference. Washington has plenty of decisions remaining. Two starters — centre Marcin Gortat and forward Trevor Ariza — are unrestricted free agents. Overall, 10 players are entering some level of free agency or the organization must decide whether to exercise a team option. Though Wittman and Grunfeld have stated a desire to the keep the core intact, the roster could certainly look different next season. But the man on the sideline will be familiar. Fake Cheap Jerseys . Marian Gaborik had two goals and an assist and Martin Jones made just 17 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season as the Kings snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over the lowly Oilers on Thursday. Robert Jones Jersey Retro . JOHNS, N. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/ . Despite Barcelona showing the same vulnerability in defence, Messis best performance since returning from a lengthy injury layoff ensured that his side bounced back from a defeat by Valencia in the previous round.PARIS - Canadian Milos Raonics most reliable weapon was turned back on him on Sunday.Raonic admitted that top-ranked Novak Djokovic handled his normally threatening serve with ease as the Serb defended his Paris Masters title with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over the native of Thornhill, Ont.Every time he put his racket on the ball, he was making me play a deep ball, said the tenth-ranked Raonic. If he gave me a short return and I would attack, he would be there. It elevated a certain pressure or demand of having to serve close to the lines.That weighs on your shoulders when the guy is playing as well as he did today.Despite the disappointing finish to the Masters tournament, Raonics season has been extended. His play in Paris has helped him qualify for next weeks World Tour Finals in London for the first time.Djokovic, who did not drop a set during the whole week, won the indoor tournament for the third time on Sunday and claimed the 20th Masters title of his career. The Serbian limited his opponents serve, with Raonic scoring only nine aces after reaching double figures in many of his matches this week.Djokovic also made a big step in his bid to finish the year at the No. 1 spot for a third time, extending his lead over Roger Federer before the finals in London from Nov. 9-16.The 23-year-old Raonic, who has never beaten Djokovic in their four meetings, appeared apprehensive and could not convert his few openings.Djokovics only scare came in the first set when Raonic won eight straight points but failed to convert three consecutive break opportunities.Raonic saved the three break points in the sixth game, two of them with aces. Djokovic then recovered from 0-40 down to hold a game later for 5-2 before taking the opening set in 43 minutes.The key points of the match was to get as many returns back in play (as possible). Its easier said than done when somebody serves regularly around 220 kkilometres an hour, said Djokovic. Stitched Cheap Jerseys. Milos uses that as his big weapon, throughout the week that was his best shot. He relies on the serve very much in his game.If you can make him play an extra shot, maybe hes going to drop the percentage of first serves and I can step in and maybe take initiative on the second.Raonic dropped to 0-2 in the second set on a double-fault and saved two match points in the penultimate game with a service winner and a pass before Djokovic closed out the win a game later, firing a forehand winner down the line to clinch victory.He played some great tennis; neutralized my serve well, said Raonic. Even when I was able to open him on the backhand side, he was moving really well. He was always getting two hands on it. It was never sort of defending with a slice.He was always playing deep and didnt really give me too many looks. Even on the break chances I had, he played them well. He just made life difficult for me today.Raonic, who won his first career match against a member of the top three tennis elite in the quarter-finals when he upset Roger Federer, had backed up that success in the semis, beating fifth-ranked Tomas Berdych.But Djokovic was not going to be another victim.I was feeling good about things, said Raonic. In the last two matches, Ive been playing some really good tennis. I felt ready to face on the challenge and try to make the most of the opportunity.As he heads to his World Tour Finals debut, Raonic is nursing some minor doubts.The toughest thing — especially for the first time in London — is going to be to adapt to is not really having those early round matches where you sort of find your way into the event, tournament, said Raonic.Raonic is the first Canadian to play in the year-ending singles tournament. Torontos Daniel Nestor, playing with Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic, will be in the doubles competition. ' ' '