ighth PGA Tour title.N

HOUSTON - Last off-season, the Houston Rockets were an afterthought, a young team with little star power. Nike Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknit Black . Now, after trading for James Harden just before this past season and adding Dwight Howard on Friday, Houston is suddenly primed to contend sooner than almost anybody expected. Still, Houston general manager Daryl Morey knows nabbing Howard is only the first step in a long process for his team. "We havent accomplished anything yet, but were putting something pretty cool together, I think," Morey said in an interview with Comcast SportsNet Houston. Howard is the Rockets latest superstar centre, following Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and eight-time All-Star Yao Ming. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 2009 this season and battled back from a 3-0 deficit before being eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6. Their return to the post-season showed they have plenty of speed and long-range scoring power with Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons. Omer Asik was a solid rebounder in the playoff run and averaged 12.3 points in the series, but it was clear that the team needed a more potent scoring threat inside. The addition of Howard gives them just that, as the 6-foot-11 star has averaged more than 18 points and almost 13 rebounds in his nine-year career. His one season in Los Angeles was filled with unrest, including what many believed to be a less than positive relationship with Kobe Bryant. Bryant unfollowed Howard on Twitter on Friday night after he announced his decision to join the Rockets with a tweet. It was the end of a short tenure with the Lakers in which Howard averaged 17 points and almost 11 rebounds in the playoffs, where the injury-riddled team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Morey believes his team offers many benefits to the 27-year-old centre, but one thing sealed the deal. "I think Dwights in a great place in his career," Morey said in the television interview. "Hes focused on winning and we gave him the best chance to win. Its that simple." Howard cant officially sign until July 10 when next seasons salary cap has been set. The Rockets can pay him $88 million over a four-year contract — $30 million less than what Los Angeles could have given him. But in Houston, Howard saw the chance to join Harden and boost this up-and-coming team. Harden blossomed in his first year with the Rockets, going from stellar sixth man with the Thunder to Houstons top player. He averaged 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals, setting career highs in each category. After Howard made his decision Friday night, Harden tweeted: "Houston we have lift off!!," and posted a photo to Instagram of him and his newest teammate together. "No matter how you look at it we thought it was a pretty straightforward choice," Morey said on Comcast. "To Dwights credit he did turn down a pretty significant amount of money to come to the Rockets. It shows his mindset that hes really ready to take that next step. If you look at best players, James Harden is the best player out there that he could join." But Harden certainly isnt Houstons only weapon. The Rockets signed Lin last season to run their offence and they were also buoyed by the development of Parsons, a second-round pick in 2011. Parsons averaged 15.5 points last season and was even better in the playoffs when Lin was ailing, averaging 18.2 points against the Thunder. Morey believes the move puts the Rockets among the top teams in the Western Conference and definitely positions them to contend for a title. He pointed to the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as the teams he sees as Houstons biggest competition next season. "We obviously have our work cut out for us," he said on Comcast. "Were going to set ourselves up to be able to compete with them. This move is obviously the most important one. Well let the chips fall where they may." Air Max 98 For Sale . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Nike Air Max Sale Outlet . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. http://www.airmaxclearanceonline.com/nike-air-max-180.html . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. NATADOLA, Fiji -- Brandt Snedeker ran away with the wind-swept Fiji International on Sunday, closing with a 4-under 68 for a nine-stroke victory.Coming off the United States Ryder Cup victory in Minnesota, Snedeker had five birdies and bogey to finish at 16-under 272 at Vijay Singh-designed Natadola Bay. He opened with rounds of 69, 64 and 70 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round.It kind of worked out perfectly today because it was playing so tough, nobody could really make a run, Snedeker said. There were no low scores out there, so that made my job a lot easier. Its been a pretty good two weeks, I was joking earlier I might add another tournament next week. Its been an unbelievable run. To play the way I have has been really fun.Ranked 23rd in the world, the 35-year-old Snedeker won his first international title in the event sanctioned by European and Australasian tours. He had the largest margin of victory this season on the European Tour, stopping Charl Schwartzels eight-sshot win in the Tshwane Open. Air Max 98 Womens. To go out there and the play the way I did at the weekend, extend my lead, Im very happy with how comfortable I felt in that situation, Snedeker said. I never really gave any back or did anything that would cause myself to lose the golf tournament. Im just building all that positive stuff right now, so its a lot of fun.He also won in February at Torrey Pines in California for his eighth PGA Tour title.New Zealands Michael Hendry was second at a 7 under after a 72. New Zealands Brad Shilton (69) was another stroke back along with Australians Andrew Evans (71), Matthew Giles (64) and Anthony Houston (75).Singh tied for 21st at 2 under after a 69. The 53-year-old Fijian is a three-time major champion.Boo Weekley tied for 33rd at 1 over after a 73, and fellow American Heath Slocum closed with a 74 to tie for 53rd at 4 over. 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