ewer during the playoffs. Well, what a change in approach. Theyve b6-0 spurt to put the Warriors up 126-116 with 1:25 t

MILWAUKEE - Fatherhood has given Ryan Braun a different perspective on baseball and life in general.The Milwaukee Brewers outfielder has more pressing matters to worry about right now than whether an off-season medical procedure will finally fix the nerve damage near his right thumb that affected his swing.So far, so good — both with the thumb and raising a 4 1/2-month-old daughter.Its a lot of work, Braun said Sunday. Weve been sleep training her this week, which is one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life, but productive for all of us moving forward. So overall its been great.Almost everything sounded rosy on Sunday at the Brewers On Deck winter fan outreach event, where Braun, catcher Jonathan Lucroy and other teammates signed autographs and met fans.In a month, baseball will become more of a priority when spring training begins in Arizona for the Brewers. The slugger hopes to get a better feel by then about what kind of impact that the procedure known as cryotherapy had on his lingering nerve problem.The procedure involved the application of extreme cold. Assistant general manager Gord Ash said Braun and the teams medical staff are very optimistic, but cautioned that until he gets to spring training and gets some continuous at-bats and continuous repetitions, were not going to know for sure.The sore thumb left Braun struggling through a subpar season when he hit .266 — well below his career average of .306. His 19 homers and 81 RBIs were also career lows for a full season.It was Brauns first full year following a 65-game suspension at the end of the 2013 season for his connection to the Biogenesis doping scandal. There was work needed in 2014 off the field to rebuild trust with fans. He also switched positions.Ryan did everything we asked him to do last year, owner Mark Attanasio said. With that all behind him — I think the thumb was the primary thing we were focused on — but being another year removed from the drama, I think, is certainly going to help, and its another year now that hes comfortable in right field.It is his comfort level at the plate that could make the biggest difference in Milwaukee.A predominantly free-swinging club struggled at the plate the last five weeks of the season. A 20-7 start that allowed Milwaukee to stay atop the NL Central for five months was wasted by a 9-22 collapse to finish the season.The Brewers missed the playoffs for a third straight year.Milwaukee tweaked in the off-season instead of making wholesale changes. The hope is that a healthy Braun will make just a positive impact on the lineup as a big free agent addition.Its certainly big. I know hes said that if he was healthy, things might have been different last year and maybe they would have, manager Ron Roenicke said.At the same time, Roenicke said the other hitters need to be more consistent, too.It shouldnt all be on him, the skipper said. Is he a big part? Absolutely. We need him to bounce back and be the kind of hitter we know he is, and be the kind of defender we know he is.Braun said the thumb feels good so far. He started hitting a little earlier than he usually does in the off-season, but otherwise Braun is maintaining his typical routine.The thumb feels much better than it did at this point last year, Braun said. The first real test will come in spring training.I feel as good as I ever do this time of year ... I think its always kind of a progression of getting to the point where you feel really comfortable with your swing, Braun said. That normally happens at some point during spring training. But overall right now it feels good as I could possibly hope for.NOTES: General manager Doug Melvin said he hasnt spoken recently with the Philadelphia Phillies about trading for closer Jonathan Papelbon. That changes day by day. Sometimes you think theres nothing happening and sometimes you get a phone call. But I havent gotten any phone calls lately, Melvin said. ... The Brewers appear to still be in touch with free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, who had 44 saves last season. In 2014, Rodriguez signed a one-year deal with Milwaukee about a week before spring training started. Jonathan Broxton would be the favourite to close if the Brewers didnt make another bullpen move.___Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP Fake Jordan Shoes . While coach Doc Rivers high-fived fans and pumped his fist at the crowd, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul quietly congratulated each other. China Shoes For Sale . -- Ben Brust scored 19 points to lead six Wisconsin players in double figures as the No. https://www.fakeshoesonline.com/ . With newly minted president of hockey operations Trevor Linden looking on from above one day after being handed the keys to the franchise, it was more of the same on Thursday night. Fake Nike Shoes . - Pierre-Maxime Poudrier scored twice and added an assist, and Antoine Bibeau made 43 saves as the Val-dOr Foreur downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-3 on Sunday to force Game 7 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final series. Replica Shoes Online . JOHNS, N.FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. TORONTO RAPTORS AND THE PLAYOFFS: After watching the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat game Tuesday night and once again witnessing the Nets beat the Heat, Im convinced that the best course of action for the Raptors will be for them to make sure they do everything in their power to secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division title. I want no part of the other current bracket (Heat/Nets/Chicago Bulls). Ill take my chances with the Washington Wizards or Charlotte Bobcats in the first round, though, either of those match-ups isnt a walk in the park, either. If you can win a series, and that wont be easy, and the current standings hold form, I feel confident that the Raptors could play a very competitive series against the Indiana Pacers. Im not saying they would win that series - the defence has to really improve down the stretch here and get back to early-mid-January form - but it would be quite compelling. There are five games left. Win all of your games and you write your own ticket. Stumble and the help will have to come from others and thats never a position you want to be in. 2. JOE DUMARS (Pistons): Rumours are swirling that hes going to step down as the teams president and GM and Im not a bit surprised. Too many coaching firings and going all-in on guys like Ben Gordon, Charlie Villaneuva, Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings sealed his fate in Motown. He had a terrific run in the early 2000s as the elite team in the Eastern Conference, but you see it often with coaches and GMs - you lose your fastball and get stale in your approach/creativity and you lose your way. Hes a good basketball man and some time away will reinvigorate him and Im sure hell be back at it again down the line. 3. MIKE DANTONI (Lakers): Watching some of his recent games, he looks like a beaten man and someone who knows that his fate is sealed in LA. DAntoni is an outstanding offensive coach who has had to deal with numerous injjuries and drama there.dddddddddddd At the end of the day, its a results-oriented business and when you evaluate his run in Denver, New York and LA, it doesnt look good. On the other hand, his teams in Phoenix - thanks in large part to Bryan Colangelos personnel moves - were awesome and entertaining to watch. Does he get another shot? Im not sure, but I do know that hes very capable if you give him a solid roster. If it ends there, I think hell be heard from again, at least as an assistant coach for a head coach looking for a guy who can upgrade his offence. Hed be a guy to talk to if hed consider being in that role. 4. INDIANA PACERS: Heard coach Frank Vogels interview where he said that being the top seed in the East was the "goal", but the "priority" is to be playing well down the stretch and be healthy/sharp heading into the playoffs. Well, what a change in approach. Theyve been obsessed with being the top seed since training camp. Now its about trying to rebuild your teams collective psyche, which wont be easy, but is doable. The talent is there to win the East, but the chemistry is off-kilter and Roy Hibbert needs a reality check. He is a defensive player who can block shots and rebound on both ends. Do what you do well, thats your strength, and play to it. Hes a quatenary or quinary offensive option in the grand scheme of things when hes on the floor. If they get him to buy into that, theyll be fine. Paul George and David West must have the ball in their hands a majority of the time, plain and simple. 5. STEVE NASH (Lakers): Congrats on becoming number-three on the NBAs all-time assists list last night. I watched the game versus the Houston Rockets and felt for him playing injured and in pain. Its ice to see him out there, though. What a career. Hell be a Hall of Famer. Itll be interesting to see if hes back next year for the Lakers for the final year of his contract, but its been a great run either way. ' ' '