(SportsNetwork.com) - Canadian Anthony Bennett and the Cleveland Cavaliers open their season against the Brooklyn Nets tonight. Bennett became the first Canadian to be selected first overall in the NBA Draft this summer and joins fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson. Cleveland should be a much better team this season with All-Star Kyrie Irving running the show. The Cavaliers missed the playoffs for a third straight year last season and compiled a 24-58 record. Irving, Thompson and shooting guard Dion Waiters are expected to carry the load in 2012-13. Irving battled injuries last season and hopes to stay healthy for the new campaign. "This is the best Ive ever felt coming into a season," Irving said. "My goal is to become the best player in the league." Cleveland also inked much-maligned center Andrew Bynum. Cavs head coach Mike Brown is back with the team for another stint. Brooklyn won all three meetings with Cleveland last season and is 8-2 in the past 10 matchups in this series. The Nets have prevailed in four of their last five trips to the Q. The new-look Nets bolstered their lineup by acquiring Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry to play alongside Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams. The Nets appear to be a contender in the Eastern Conference and anything short of one of the top three seeds would be considered a disappointment. Brooklyn also tabbed Jason Kidd as its new head coach, although he will miss Wednesday nights game due to a suspension. He will miss two games after pleading guilty to driving while ability impaired. Lawrence Frank will coach the team the first two games. "Championship teams are built on being prepared, playing unselfishly and being held accountable, and thats how I expect to coach this basketball team," Kidd said. "I am truly excited about this next phase of my basketball career." Brooklyn went 49-33 last season and lost in seven games to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. After the Nets visit the Cavs, they will host the two-time defending champion Miami Heat at Barclays Center on Friday. http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/herren-nike-roshe-ld-1000-sp-fragment-floral-print-schuhe-grass-grun-hot-rosa.html . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/nike-free-flyknit-sale/nike-free-3-0-flyknit.html .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/herren-nike-roshe-one-flyknit-schuhe-schwarz-light-armory-blau-677243-003.html . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/unisex-nike-roshe-one-print-blumen-laufschuhe-weiss-bold-berry.html . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/herren-nike-roshe-one-hyperfuse-mesh-und-suede-uppers-schuhe-rot-silber.html . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Matt Garza pitched eight impressive innings for his first victory in six starts and the Texas Rangers kept close in the playoff race, beating the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Saturday night. The Rangers won for only the fifth time in 19 September games. They remained a half-game behind Cleveland for the second AL wild-card berth. The Royals, out of the playoffs since winning the 1985 World Series, dropped 3 1/2 games in back of the Indians. Adrian Beltre got two hits and drove in a run for Texas. Garza (10-6) was 0-3 with an 8.22 ERA in his first three September starts. He pitched four-hit ball before giving up Eric Hosmers leadoff home run in the ninth, and was pulled. Garza struck out five and walked one. He is 4-5 in 12 starts since the Rangers acquired him on July 22 in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. After Hosmers 17th homer, Joe Nathan relieved. The Texas closer struck out two for his 40th save in 43 chances. Nathan posted his 41st career save against the Royals. opportunities. Jeremy Guthrie (14-12) allowed three runs and sevenn hits in six innings.dddddddddddd He has permitted six runs and 20 hits in 14 innings in losing his past two starts. Beltres .374 career batting average at Kauffman Stadium is the highest for an opposing batter with at least 150 plate appearances. Guthrie gave up a triple to Ian Kinsler to lead off the game. Kinsler scored on Elvis Andrus groundout. In the third, Guthries control betrayed him when he walked Andrus and Alex Rios on eight pitches, and both scored. Beltre bounced an RBI single up the middle and A.J. Pierzynski had a sacrifice fly. The Royals had only one batter past second base before Hosmers homer. Jarrod Dyson tripled with two out in the fifth, but was stranded when Alcides Escobar looked at a called third strike. NOTES: Craig Gentry had three hits and stole a base for the Rangers. He became the fourth different starting left fielder in as many games for Texas. The others were David Murphy, Joey Butler and Jim Adduci. ... Royals RHP James Shields, who starts Sunday, is 10-3 since June 28 after starting the season 2-6. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap soccer jerseys wholesale jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap nfl jerseys china ' ' '