and Constellation will

CHICAGO -- The Portland Trail Blazers had dropped three straight games and appeared in danger of losing considerable playoff ground in the tough Western Conference before LaMarcus Aldridge returned to the lineup on Thursday. Custom Air Force 1 Australia . Two games later, the Blazers seemed to have turned things following a pair of comfortable wins, the latest a 91-74 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. Is the turnaround as easily explained as the return of an All-Star performer? Well, yeah, the Blazers say. "Other than us getting our best player back, which changes everything, I think our urgency is going up," Damian Lillard said. "After the loss at Orlando (on Tuesday), we realized, All right, its time to turn it around now. We cant wait and we cant have all of these lackadaisical efforts. "Everybodys got on the same page and, during these last two games, weve really defended and done everything together." Mo Williams scored 18 points to lead five Blazers in double figures. Lillard had 16 points, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez each had 13, Wesley Matthews had 11 and Thomas Robinson added 10. The Blazers got past the Bulls easily, despite a quiet night from Aldridge, who was playing just his second game after missing two weeks with a back injury. He had five points and 13 rebounds in 29 minutes after having 25 points and 16 rebounds in Atlanta. "His presence on the court puts pressure on everyone," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "He does a lot more to help us win than just his field-goal percentage." No one in the Bulls locker room would disagree. "He is a load down there; a great player," Joakim Noah said. "You can tell when he is on the court, whether he scores or not. He changes their team. He is one of the best in the game." Carlos Boozer had 16 points and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes to lead Chicago. D.J. Augustin had 15, Taj Gibson 13 and Noah added 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulls, who had a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win on their own, lost both games of the season series and have dropped 11 of 13 overall against Portland, including five of seven at the United Center. With the New York Knicks loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Bulls still managed to wrap up a playoff spot. Before Friday, the Bulls had been 10-3 in their last 13 home games, averaging 96.8 points on 44.5 per cent shooting during that span. But it was apparent early that they wouldnt approach either of those marks in this one. "We were flat," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "They had something to do with that." Getting off to fast starts was one reason behind the Bulls recent home success, but they were cold at the start, going 8-of-23 (34.8 per cent) from the field in scoring 16 points in the first quarter. Minus Boozers 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting, the rest of the team managed just six points on 3-of-13 shooting. The Blazers had a 47-36 halftime lead and then took charge at the start of the third quarter, beginning the second half with a dunk by Lopez and a 3-pointer by Batum to make it 52-36. In all, Portland stretched the run to 15-2 for a 62-38 lead. The Bulls ended the third quarter on a mini-spurt -- including a three-point play on a dunk and foul by Gibson -- to trim the deficit to 73-58 entering the fourth quarter. The Bulls got the ball first in the final quarter and had a couple of inside looks on that initial possession, but came up empty. Lillard then essentially dashed any hopes of a huge rally with a 3-pointer at the other end to make it 76-58. The Bulls failed to score 80 points for the 11th time this season and are 0-11 in those games. "Our defence tonight was just an example of everybody being there for each other," Lopez said. "When you know there is someone behind you, it gives you the confidence to be aggressive." NOTES: Bulls G Derrick Rose, out for the season with a torn right meniscus, suffered the injury in the first game against the Blazers on Nov. 22 and had surgery three days later. ... Thibodeau was asked if he was taking part in the Bulls NCAA pool. "I didnt get a chance to participate," the coach said. "I was looking at that Quicken Loans one. I think I would have won that." That was the contest in which Warren Buffett offered $1 billion to anyone who could fill out a perfect bracket. No one made it through the third day without at least one game wrong. ... Portland entered with a 20-18 road record but was 2-7 in last nine. Air Force 1 Mid Australia . A steady downpour and low temperatures were predicted for much of the night. No makeup date was immediately announced, although it was determined that the game will not be part of a doubleheader on Wednesday. Sf Air Force 1 Mid Australia . "There are a lot of things that are going very well in this organization. Im not coming in here to rip things apart," Nicholson told reporters Friday. "I know what Hockey Canada was when I started, and I know where this (Oilers) organization is today. http://www.airforce1shoesaustralia.com/australia-air-force-1-just-do-it.html . He was attracted by the punishing defence, the strong running game and a coaching staff he trusted. The 49ers announced Thursday that Manningham had signed a two-year deal to join the team he helped knock out in the NFC championship game two months ago in their latest offensive upgrade at wide receiver.NEW YORK, N.Y. - The NHL has named Constellation as its preferred energy provider as the league seeks to offset its carbon footprint across all 30 team markets.Its goal is to reduce the NHLs environmental impact, and accelerate a greater movement toward a healthier planet.The NHL announced its partnership with Constellation, a leading competitive energy and services company, on Thursday. Constellation will work with the NHL to conduct energy efficiency analyses and recommend energy management strategies for the leagues facilities.Our partnership with Constellation advances our commitment to promoting responsible energy use by the NHL, including our teams, our venues and our fans, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. Our sport was born on frozen ponds and relies on winter weather.Everyone who loves our game will benefit by taking an active role in preserving the environment and the roots of the game.Constellation, at the request of the NHL, will also provide renewable energy certificates and carbon offsets to match the leagues estimated total carbon footprint — 550,000 metric tons — for the current hockey season.Constellation is proud to partner with the NHL to achieve its energy and environmental goals, and like the NHL, we are committed to a clean energy future, said Joe Nigro, the CEO of Constellation. Nott only does Constellation offer sustainable energy options to our customers, together with our parent company, Exelon, weve also dramatically reduced our carbon footprint. Air Force 1 Australia. By promoting responsible energy use, the NHL is setting an example for the sports industry, fans and communities.The NHL and Constellation will work together to promote efficient energy use throughout the league and at key events throughout the season, including next months Winter Classic and All-Star game, the upcoming NHL Stadium Series, and the Stanley Cup playoffs in the spring.The NHL and Constellation are leading a cultural shift in sports toward ecologically responsible energy practices, said Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, the president of the Green Sports Alliance. This partnership confirms that responsible environmental stewardship can be profitable and attractive to millions of fans.Hopefully, this partnership will influence other businesses and fans alike to embrace renewable energy options which are so desperately needed to protect our planet.The agreement advances the objectives of the NHLs sustainability report in 2014 that disclosed the leagues carbon footprint, and NHL Green — a sustainability initiative that was created in 2010 to address the effects of climate change and freshwater scarcity on hockey. ' ' '