Die Macht » hamstring) went on the 15-day disable

SAN ANTONIO -- Gregg Popovich was reflective, loquacious, funny and even answered questions from the media without prompting. Its easy to say it was all a bit out of character for Popovich, but the circumstances were new to the San Antonio Spurs coach and all those who have followed them. San Antonio was 28 seconds away from going a perfect 5 for 5 in the NBA Finals under Popovich when everything went wrong. The Miami Heat rallied from a five-point deficit to tie Game 6, eventually winning in overtime Tuesday and then closing out their second straight title Thursday with a victory in Game 7. So, instead of preparing for a victory parade along the San Antonio River, the Spurs spent Saturday morning cleaning out their lockers at the teams practice facility. "I dont really want to do a soliloquy, but the elephant in the room is that were all hurting because we had an opportunity to win a championship right in the palm of our hands and it didnt happen," Popovich said. "So, that hurts, and it will dissipate over time, but right now it hurts everyone to varying degrees." San Antonio never trailed in the NBA Finals previously under Popovich and Tim Duncan, but they also never faced a player like LeBron James, not even when they swept a then 22-year-old James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2007 championship. James 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation helped tie Game 6 and his jumper with 1:43 left in overtime proved to be the winner in a 103-100 victory. He earned his second straight Finals MVP after finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 6 and 37 points and 12 boards in a 95-88 victory in Game 7. Will losing the title in such heartbreaking fashion makes it tougher for the Spurs to rebound next season and compete for another title? "Thats the kind of articles you guys write," Popovich said, deflecting the question before cracking a smile, "that we always read. ... I read every one of them, I swear, I swear, I read every one." Popovichs mood, along with the rest of the team, was lifted by the thousands of fans who greeted them at the airport Friday afternoon upon their return from Miami. The reception shamed, humbled, inspired and ultimately touched Popovich. "Ill be honest with you, when you saw the crowd, the first feeling I had was embarrassment," Popovich. "We wanted to bring it home for them so badly. Was just embarrassed that we didnt get it done and then as you look at them all and they just keep cheering you realize, my gosh, you really felt the love and the way they care for these guys and their team and then it did make it easier. Like, Hey, theyre with us. " Fans will likely be rooting for essentially the same team next season, which is good news for a franchise that won the Southwest Division title while reaching the post-season for the 16th consecutive year. Along with All-Star point guard Tony Parker, the most critical returning player is Duncan, who revived his career with two strenuous offseasons. The 37-year-old forward has lost 30 pounds over the past two years, enabling him to earn All-NBA First Team honours for the first time in six years. He averaged 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and shot a career-best 82 per cent on free throws this season. "I have a contract that says I am," Duncan said following Game 7 when asked if would return next season. Asked specifically if he was planning on retiring, Duncan said, "Not right now." Manu Ginobili is another matter. His contract expires this summer and the 35-year-old guard was unsure of his plans following Game 7. Ginobili battled injuries and a declining game all season, and those struggles only exacerbated in the post-season. He averaged 11.5 points in the playoffs, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2003, and he committed eight turnovers in the Game 6 loss. Barring a career renaissance like Duncan is enjoying, Ginobilis place amongst the teams Big 3 is likely at an end. If Ginobili doesnt bounce back, the Spurs discovered a replacement in Kawhi Leonard. After averaging 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in the regular season, the second-year forward averaged 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in the post-season while stymieing James defensively for much of the finals. "(He is) unbelievably coachable, a hard worker," Popovich said. "Hes going to be a future star because hes like a babe in the woods, still. I dont even call plays for him and you see what he does out on the court. Hes just beginning to feel his way and he will be getting the ball more and more as time goes on." Leonard was invited to play for USA Basketball, but his availability is in doubt because of chronic knee soreness he experienced in the final months of the season. "Its obviously an honour, to be involved in USA basketball in any way, shape or form and Kawhi is thrilled with the selection," Popovich said, "but we need to talk to the doctors to make sure he is able to do it." Leonards continued development, along with those of younger players such as Danny Green, Gary Neal, Cory Joseph, Tiago Splitter and Nando De Colo will be key to the teams continued success because the Spurs are not expected to make any major trades or free-agent signings. "People have been telling us to get younger for the last 15 years, I think," Popovich said. "So, we stopped listening to that a long time ago. At one point, I guess we will be too old, who knows when that is. Going to the conference finals last year and Finals this year kind of proves that something is going right." With that, Popovich figuratively doffed his San Antonio Spurs cap at the media that had gathered on a Saturday morning and went back into the teams practice facility to continue working towards next season. "Thanks for everything," he said. "You guys were great all year long, and ladies, but I am happy I dont have to do it again until September." 18:25ET 22-06-13 Cheap Custom Red Sox Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Custom Carlton Fisk Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. http://www.customredsoxjersey.com/custom-fred-lynn-jersey-large-249j.html . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Fred Lynn Jersey Large . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Tony Conigliaro Jersey Large . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. CHICAGO -- Javier Baez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer deep into Wrigleys Fields left bleachers in the seventh, Addison Russell added a grand slam in a five-run eighth and the Chicago Cubs beat the White Sox 8-1 on Wednesday night.Jason Hammel (10-5) allowed one run and five hits while striking out seven in seven innings. Hector Rondon pitched a perfect eighth, and Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth -- striking out Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia -- in his Cubs debut.Baez went deep on a full-count pitch against Anthony Ranaudo (1-1) to chase the right-hander in his White Sox debut.Ranaudo didnt allow a hit until Kris Bryants solo homer with one out in the sixth tie the score 1-1. Bryants 26th homer matched his total last season when he was NL Rookie of the Year.After Ben Zobrists RBI double in the eighth, Russell followed two hitters later with his 12th homer to help the Cubs end a two-game slide and snap the White Soxs four-game winning streak.Ranaudo allowed three runs and two hits -- both homers -- in 6 2/3 innings and smacked an opposite-field homer in the fifth for his first major league hit to give the White Sox a 1-0 lead.Chapman had 20 saves in 21 chances this season with the Yankees before the Cubs acquired the hard-throwing lefty on Monday for a package of prospects.The 6-foot-7 Ranaudo, acquired from Texas on May 12, was 5-3 with 3.20 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte in 13 starts. In two games with the Rangers this season, the 26-year-old righty was 1-0, but had a 17.18 ERA and walked eight -- including five in a May 10 game against the White Sox.He was better than that in his 10th major league start and 14th appearance.The White Sox beat the Cubs 5-4 and 3-0 in the first two games of the crosstown series. The fourth game is Thursday night.Ranaudos homer was the first by a White Sox pitcher since Mark Buehrle went deep on June 14, 2009, at Milwaukee.CLEAR SALE-INGWhite Sox manager Robin Ventura expects nothing unusual when ace Chris Sale starts the finale of the crosstown series with the Cubs on Thursday night after serving a ffive-game suspension for destroying the White Sox 1976 vintage uniforms and being scratched minutes before his last scheduled start on Saturday.ddddddddddddI think its going to be fine, Ventura said. Players always have their teammates backs, and thats no different with our clubhouse.Pitching coach Don Cooper offered unequivocal support for Sale.Hes a passionate guy about a lot of different things, Cooper said. Weve seen examples of that before, but I know him to be a good kid and Im looking for him to get back and move on and keep going.SETTING UPWith Chapmans arrival, former Cubs finisher Hector Rondon figures to shift to a set-up role.I think this opens him up to just pitching and not trying to throw 97 on edges all the time and really being concerned about making a mistake, manager Joe Maddon said. I think this going to free him up a little bit.TRAINERS ROOMWhite Sox: 2B Brett Lawrie (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 22. INF Carlos Sanchez was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. ... LHP Carlos Rodon (sprained left wrist) threw a side session Wednesday that went well, Ventura said. He could possibly start Sunday against the Twins or Tuesday against the Tigers.Cubs: Maddon said OF Jorge Soler (left hamstring), currently on a rehab stint at Triple-A Iowa, is on the verge of coming back.UP NEXTWhite Sox: LHP Sale (14-3, 3.18) tries for a third time to become the majors first 15-game winner. After reaching 14 wins on July 2 at Houston, Sale gave up eight runs in a loss to Atlanta in his final game before the All-Star break. In his only start after the break, he tossed eight innings of one-hit ball at Seattle -- and exited with a 3-0 lead -- but closer David Robertson allowed four runs the in the ninth.Cubs: RHP John Lackey (7-7, 3.79) has dropped five straight decisions since his last win on June 8 at Philadelphia. In his last six starts, Lackey has a 6.38 ERA. ' ' '