have another really good year for us.

ATLANTA -- The Washington Wizards will try to ensure the Atlanta Hawks Dwight Howard Era gets off to a rocky start when they meet in the season opener on Thursday.Howard was the biggest offseason acquisition for the Hawks, who hope to return to the Eastern Conference finals and beyond. Atlanta signed the 6-foot-11 center to a three-year, $70 million deal in the offseason after incumbent center Al Horford took less money to sign with the Boston Celtics.Atlanta went 48-34 last season, finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and was swept by Cleveland in the conference semifinals. Washington went 41-41 to finish 10th in the East and missed the playoffs.The Hawks are hopeful that the 30-year-old Howard, a native of Atlanta, can revive his career. He averaged 17.8 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks over his 12-year career, but slipped to 13.7 points for the Rockets last season.Playing at home, where people have great expectations for what is supposed to happen here, sometimes it can get a little nerve-racking, Howard said. For me, I just try not to think about it. I just try to approach it as though its any other game. But I know this city. They have their hopes real high on us and on me.Its a new start for Washington, too. The Wizards fired coach Randy Wittman and hired Scott Brooks, who spent six seasons at Oklahoma City and took the Thunder to the NBA finals in 2011-12.The Wizards are led by guard John Wall, who averaged 19.9 points and 10.2 assists last season, and Bradley Beal, who averaged 17.4 points while dealing with hip and leg issues that limited him to 55 games. Beal showed he was fully recovered in the preseason, when he effectively distributed the ball and had very few turnovers.Us as players are coming in with a mindset of whatever we have to do, getting it done, Wall said. Its an all-new beginning for all of us, so we want to get off to a good start with a new coaching staff and new group of players we have on the team.Washington is also expected to start Otto Porter, Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat. The Wizards are hopeful that Morris can become the 3-point shooting threat the team has been missing.The Wizards also expect to see second-year player Kelly Oubre Jr. take big strides forward and be a key player off the bench. He should play more than he did a year ago, when he averaged 11 minutes.The Hawks had their starting five on the court at the same time in their final two preseason games. Atlanta will start Howard, forwards Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver and guards Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore.Schroder will be the starter at point guard after veteran Jeff Teague was traded to Indiana. Malcolm Delaney will be the backup at point.The Wizards play their first two games on the road, going to Memphis on Sunday, before playing at home on Wednesday against Toronto. The Hawks travel to Philadelphia for a game on Saturday afternoon. Stitched Mets Jerseys . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Mets Jerseys China . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/ . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. New York Mets Gear . Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. Mets Jerseys 2019 . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. NEW YORK -- Villanova has a new name this season: defending national champion Villanova.Six months ago, the Wildcats won the NCAA championship in a thrilling finish, beating North Carolina 77-74. Its been a whirlwind since.This was all firsts for us, Villanova coach Jay Wright said Tuesday. It was our first time to the White House and to be honored at Philadelphia City. We came back from our trip to Spain -- where nobody knew us -- we didnt even get our bags before people were asking for pictures.Once we start playing everything will be back to usual. Still, we dont know what it will be like to walk into visiting arenas as the national champions.The Wildcats were the overwhelming choice of the Big East coaches as the preseason No. 1. Xavier, which finished in last seasons final Top Ten , was second followed by Creighton, Georgetown, defending Big East Tournament champion Seton Hall, Butler, Marquette, St. Johns, Providence and DePaul.Villanova lost starters Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu and it wont be their points, rebounds or assists that will be hard to replace.Arch and Daniel were natural leaders. They were seniors. They played a lot of basketball and knew how to lead, Wright said. It will be tough to replace them, but well enjoy the journey.Wright has Big East preseason player of the year Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins, who hit the 3 at the buzzer for the national title, among the returnees.Roles change every year, so Josh and I will try to take over the leadership role, Jenkins said. Well put last year behind us. At least well try to.Jenkins was asked how often he watches the tape of his title-winning jumper.I havent watched it in a while, he said. Ill save something like that for when Im done playing.Xavier has three starters back and the Musketeers are a trendy natioonal pick for a Final Four berth.ddddddddddddWe have a good experienced group. I think Im excited to coach them, coach Chris Mack said. Last year, there was a lot of teaching, a lot of learning. Youre always learning, but the experience level they bring back gives you great comfort as a coach because theyve been there before. Theyve been in those big games. Theyre not afraid of the big moment.Preseason first-teamers Trevon Bluiett and Edmond Sumner return for the Musketeers.To me Edmond was one of the top point guards in a tremendous point-guard league a year ago, Mack said. Edmond has that maturity about him. Hes going to have another really good year for us.Georgetown forward Isaac Copeland was honest in the reason why he thinks the Hoyas will have a better season than last year, when they finished 15-18 overall and eighth in the 10-team league.Mainly conditioning, Copeland said when asked what the Hoyas did this offseason. There were times last year when we were out of shape, just straight up out of shape. I think this year we run a lot more so we can push the ball more and play at a much faster pace.Seton Hall beat Villanova in last seasons Big East Tournament championship game and then had to watch the Wildcats win it all.I watched it. It was killing me to watch it, Pirates junior Khadeen Carrington said. Im happy that they won. It shows how deep the league is, how good the league is.I think we gave them that fuel to go win that. I think Jay Wright said something like that, we gave them that fuel to go out and win six games.The preseason all-conference team is Jenkins, Bluiett, Sumner, Kelan Marton, Butler and Maurice Watson Jr. of Creighton. ' ' '