Olympics; its a labour of love looking to

INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul George put an emphatic 360-degree twist on the Pacers latest blowout. Lob Citys stars just watched in amazement. George scored 36 points, the last two on a reverse windmill dunk that brought fans to their feet and the Clippers to their knees in Indianas 106-92 rout Saturday night. "It was just instinctive," George said after helping to end the Clippers five-game winning streak. "I wanted to put on a show for the fans." The entire season has been a showcase for the Pacers (32-7), who have the NBAs best record, the leagues best home record at 21-1 and a 3 1/2-game lead in the Eastern Conference over two-time defending champion Miami. Georges highlight-reel dunks and Lance Stephensons increasingly commonplace poses are all becoming part of Indianas normal routine. George, last years Most Improved Player, has six 30-point games and 27 20-point games this season. The 23-year-old emerging star is ranked among the league leaders in scoring, free throw percentage and steals, and he might be higher in rebounds and assists if the Pacers werent blowing teams out with regularity. Critics might contend the only real thing missing from his resume is pizazz. Those complaints disappeared with one dunk contest move that George saved for game time. Armed with a 20-point lead and a clear path to the basket, he leapt in the air, spun around, slammed the ball with one hand, stuck the landing and ran back to play defence. Fans and most of his teammates immediately jumped to their feet. "I just wanted to celebrate," Stephenson said. "I didnt want to get back on defence. Ive not seen one like that in a game Ive been in." Indiana fans havent seen anything quite like this season, either, not even when Reggie Miller was running the show. The Pacers have now won four straight, all by at least 14 points, and fell just short of winning four in a row by 20 or more points for the first time in franchise history. All this came on a night Indiana wasnt even at full strength in the second half. Power forward David West was ejected at halftime after the officials gave him a flagrant 2 foul after a replay review. All-Star centre Roy Hibbert and Wests backup, Luis Scola, started the fourth quarter on the bench in foul trouble and wound up taking the rest of the night off. Indiana didnt even need them. George barely missed, going 12 of 17 from the field, 5 of 6 on 3-pointers and 7 of 7 from the free throw line. He had six points and three steals, too. Stephenson, who leads the NBA with three triple-doubles, settled for 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Indianas bench pitched in, too. Danny Granger added 12 points and now has nine double-figure games in 14 appearances this season, while C.J. Watson had 11 points. The Clippers bigger problem was Indianas stout defence. Indiana had a 48-39 rebounding edge, a 42-32 edge on points in the paints and limited the high-scoring Clippers to 39.8 per cent from the field and six fast-break points. Jamal Crawford finished with 22 points off the bench, while Blake Griffin had 19 points and rebounds and DeAndre Jordan finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds to lead Los Angeles (28-14). That wasnt nearly enough to keep up with the Pacers, who ended the Clippers run of four consecutive 109-point games. "We didnt play well at all," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought their defence really rushed us. We talked about how they tried to channel you into their bigs and we kept falling for it over and over again. We just didnt execute offensively." Indiana led 28-18 after one, 45-27 midway through the second and by as much as 20 in the third quarter before the Clippers showed any indication they may rally. Crawford spurred a 9-3 run to end the third quarter and got the Clippers within 81-72 early in the fourth. But a layup from Stephenson started a 17-4 run, capped by Georges incredible dunk that gave the Pacers lots of momentum heading into a five-game West Coast swing that begins Monday at Golden State. "Its just guys rising up to the occasion and stepping up," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "Lance and Paul, they can do a lot of things." Notes: Indiana completed its first season sweep of the Clippers since 2005-06. ... The Clippers five-game winning streak matched a season best. ... Hibbert finished with five blocks, all in the first quarter. ... Indiana has won 20 games this season by 10 or more points. Wholesale Falcons Jerseys . -- With his team down 16 points in the second quarter and headed for another blowout loss at home, Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson yelled out to his players to keep shooting and keep fighting on defence. Cheap Falcons Jerseys . -- Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings will be on the sideline as the Packers make their push for a perfect regular season. http://www.cheapfalconsjerseyselite.com/.ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. Cheap Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. Cheap Falcons Jerseys China . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence.There will be five Scholars strutting their stuff in Brazil this summer and we wish them all the best on the big stage. It has been a long, hard and emotional rollercoaster ride for all 11 of our Sky Academy Sports Scholars since they were selected for our Sky team after London 2012.With the British Paralympic athletics squad finalised on Tuesday, sprinter and long jumper Olivia Breen became the fifth Scholar to be selected for the Games.The five Scholars heading to Rio:SIOBHAN-MARIE OCONNOR (Swimming, 200IM - DOB 29/11/1995)Being part of Sky Academy has been brilliant for my training. Ive been able to do everything needed to improve and try to get to the top.Read more about Siobhan Siobhan Marie OConnor is drawing on the experience of London 2012 for Rio OLIVIA BREEN (Athletics, T38 100m, 200m & long jump - DOB 26/07/1996)Being a Scholar has given me the confidence and financial ability to make this dramatic move and I havent looked back since.Read more about Olivia Olivia Breen will line up in the 100m, long jump and 4x100m relay HOLLY BRADSHAW (Athletics, Pole Vault - DOB 02/11/1991)Sky have already given me some great opportunities and Im looking forward to more in the future.Read more about Holly Pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw will be competing at her second Olympics SAVANNAH MARSHALL (Boxing, Middleweight - DOB 19/05/1991)Johnny Nelson has helped me particularly on the physical side with my techniques, where Adam Smith has helped me mentally.Read more about Savannah Savannah Marshall is hoping to put a nightmare two years behind her in Rio MARK ENGLISH (Athletics, 800m, 4 x 400m relay - DOB 18/03/1993)Having a mentor has been immensely valuable.dddddddddddd The advice Darren Campbell has given me on injuries, training and racing has been golden.Read more about Mark Mark English has battled back to fitness after a thee-month lay-off For the five that have made Rio, there are six Scholars that did not and have to now work on goals beyond 2016. Head of Sky Academy Sports Scholarships Tony Lester insists not making the Games isnt a disgrace.Lester says: For some the joy is in making the cut, and getting onto the team. For the more seasoned its simple, a medal is the only measure of success.You can only imagine the self-imposed pressure that our young Sky Academy Sports Scholars have put upon themselves in their quest to become an Olympian.There really is no easy route to the Olympics; its a labour of love looking to fulfil that once in a lifetime sporting ambition. The journey is filled with bumps in the road, and having an off day, you do so at your peril. Tony Lester (left) with boxer Jack Bateson who wasnt selected for Rio To make an Olympics team, you without a doubt need to be talented. But equally, luck is a key player. Catching a cold, picking up an injury in the heat of competition is all the bad luck you dont need.Lets not forget that these athletes are people too, who have not only sacrificed everything, but given their all. The one thing that can be guaranteed is that they are doing their very best.We should try not to criticise. We should take a minute to think about the journey that sports person has been on to get to that point and try to walk a mile in their shoes.WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARSJuly 30: Lucy Garner, Ride LondonAugust 5-21: Rio OlympicsSeptember 7-18: Rio Paralympics Also See: About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries ' ' '