has a record of 13-7-2, along with 2.18 goals against average and

Yi Jianlian returned to China in 2012 after a lackluster five-year stint in the NBA, but he has kept in touch with his longtime mentor and veteran NBA coach Del Harris. Yi and Harris first met 12 years ago while Harris was coaching the Chinese national team.On Tuesday, Yi agreed to a one-year deal?with the Los Angeles Lakers. With Yis impending return to the league, Harris, who led the Chinese team to an eighth-place finish at the 2004 Olympics as Chinas first-ever foreign-born head coach, is optimistic of Yis future as a Laker under new head coach Luke Walton.I think that is the right team for him, said Harris, who also coached former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming back in 2004. He should be able to play for them and will really fit the style Luke employed so well last year [with the Warriors].On the 2004 Chinese Olympic team, Yi -- just 17 at the time -- made an immediate impression on Harris, with his raw athleticism, ability to hit jump shots and stretch the floor. Even after Harris left China and returned to coaching in the NBA, he remained close with Yi, who was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2007 draft.Yis 272 NBA games with four teams featured short bursts of high-scoring performances, but were cut short by frequent injuries. His lack of consistency and physicality was part of the reason he averaged just 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.A shortage of trust and tailored coaching around him hurt too, according to Harris.I can tell you he plays better when he feels the coach and the team believes in him, Harris said. He has needed that confidence.As evidence, Harris pointed to Yis average of nearly 15 points and seven rebounds per game in January 2010 with the New Jersey Nets when Harris was the teams assistant coach.In the two games Yi played in 2012 under Harris at the Texas Legends -- the NBA Development League team of the Dallas Mavericks?-- he averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds a game, earning him a spot with the Mavericks.Harris said Yi wasnt given enough encouragement during the last leg of his NBA career, nor was he used to his best advantage.He cant just sit out on the perimeter and set screens and pop to shoot 3s or long 2s, Harris said. He has to run the court, move into high-low options and mix his pops with rolls as well as some post-ups with his 3s.Harris said Yis ability to play both center and power forward positions could flourish under Walton, who was formerly with the Golden State Warriors, the NBAs poster boys for todays small-ball style.His versatility will serve him well, and Luke will know how to mix with his outside-inside skill combination, Harris said. They need what he is capable of doing -- great runner, excellent mix on offense and the potential to be a defensive factor. And Yi is still young himself for a 7-footer.Harris said the current trend of NBA play is also favorable to Yis future, as foreign-born big men who can pass and attack from the perimeter have become increasingly popular.The talent of these big players actually changed the complexion of the game due to these unique talents, he said. Teams seek this type of player even more than the tall inside players, unless that player can truly dominate inside as a defender or consistent low-post scorer or passer. Custom Hornets T-shirts . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Custom Muggsy Bogues Jersey . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. http://www.customhornetsjersey.com/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Cheap Hornets Jerseys . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Authentic Custom Hornets Jersey .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Los Angeles Kings have survived the first third of the season without starting goaltender Jonathan Quick. Theyll be pushed to the limit, however, as they embark on a nine-game road trip that begins in Buffalo on Tuesday night.Its fun. Its a little different, said center Tyler Toffoli, according to the Los Angeles Times. Weve been at home for so long, so going on the road is going to feel weird at first but weve got to start off the trip right, with a win at Buffalo, and just keep going from there.The road trip will indeed be quite the test for Los Angeles (14-11-2). It includes two back-to-back scenarios before wrapping up in Edmonton just before the start of the new year on Dec. 29.The Kings played eight of their past 10 games at home, posting a 6-2-1 record. Theyll hope to fare better than they did in their most recent long road trip; Los Angeles went 1-3-1 in a five-game road trek in mid-November.I know it might not be mathematically the midseason break, but it feels like that, especially for the players, defenseman Matt Greene said, according to the L.A. Times. Once you hit Christmas the pedal goes down until the All-Star break and it goes down a little bit more after that, so youve got to eat up these points and get into the holiday break.Center Jeff Carter leads the Kings in points with 22 (12 goals, 10 assists). Peter Budaj has performed admirably in place of the injured Quick, who has been out of action since the very first game of the season.dddddddddddd. Budaj has a record of 13-7-2, along with 2.18 goals against average and .910 save percentage.Los Angeles is coming off a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.The Sabres (10-11-6) are hoping to have the services of forward Kyle Okposo against the Kings. Okposo missed Mondays practice due to an illness.When I was hurt I got to watch him a lot and learned a lot about how he plays, center Jack Eichel said of Okposo, according to the teams website. I think hes probably one of the most underrated players in our league, just how good he is with the puck, without the puck, in all areas of the game. Hes strong on it, hes very skilled, and he can make passes.He was not feeling well last night and just had to stay at home, Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma said, per the teams website. We hope he recovers and does well and can play.If Okposo does play, hes expected to be on a line alongside Eichel and Evander Kane. He switched places with Sam Reinhart in the lineup at Sundays practice.Buffalo is coming off a disappointing 4-1 home loss to Washington on Friday. The Sabres are 1-2-1 in their last four games. ' ' '