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LOS ANGELES -- Defense will probably dictate when the Detroit Pistons tangle with the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at Staples Center.Both clubs rank among the NBAs best in defending. The Clippers lead the league in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 90.7 points per game, while producing 102.7 per outing.The Pistons are second to Los Angeles in scoring defense at 93 points per game, while averaging 100.5 points per game.Clippers point guard Chris Paul tops the NBA in steals at 3.5 per game.As a team, Los Angeles is the leader in steals with an average of 10 per game.Detroit has one of the games top defenders in the middle with center Andre Drummond, who is averaging 14.7 boards. And, the Pistons are the fifth-best rebounding club in the NBA at 47.3 per game. The Clippers are rank 11th at 45.2. Both teams are averaging 10.2 boards on the offensive end.But it isnt all about defense with the Pistons (4-2), who earned a 103-86 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in a game Drummond had 19 points and 20 rebounds. Tobias Harris has been a sparkplug offensively, leading the Pistons at 18.8 points per game.Hes a very mature guy and hes very professional in his approach, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said, according to Pistons.com. Hes a guy whos always looking to get better. He looks at his game realistically. He figures out where he needs to improve and he works on it. Hes not an excuse guy. Its not outside forces and everything else.Van Gundy also praised Pistons forward Marcus Morris, who is scoring at a 17.5 points per game clip.Marcus is the same way (as Harris), Van Gundy said. Its one of the reasons those guys play well. Theyre willing to look at their performances realistically and make improvements rather than blaming everything and everyone else.The Clippers (5-1) return home after a successful two-game stretch on the road, where they have compiled a 3-0 mark this season. They are tied with Oklahoma City atop of the Western Conference, their lone loss being to the Thunder last week.Los Angeles recorded wins over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and rolled past the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday behind the performance of Blake Griffin, who scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half en route to a 116-92 romp.Its nice to have those easy looks go down, said Griffin, who shot 13-for-19 from the floor, according to the Los Angeles Times. It just kind of builds your confidence.Griffin, though, couldnt resist crediting the Clippers defensive performance for being the difference against the Spurs. After all, defense is the top priority of Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who preaches it practically every time he opens his mouth.It starts with defense, Griffin said, according to Clippers.com. I know we always say that, but it really does.Said Rivers, Thats two nights in a row that weve had great pace, and our defense has been as good as Ive seen it. Our hands are everywhere right now, and thats a good sign.Joe Flacco Youth Jersey . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Jaylon Ferguson Youth Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Mark-Andrews-Jersey/ . 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Its a big statement about him, but I think hes ready to go now.As the Seahawks enter their bye this week at 3-1, there are several worthwhile performances to note. From quarterback Russell Wilsons ability to play through a sprained right ankle and sprained left knee, to a defense that continues to show signs of again being a dominant unit, its been a successful first quarter of the season for the Seahawks.Grahams stunning recovery and play -- especially the past two weeks -- may be at the top of that list.Im just trying to do my job. Im just blessed to be on the field with my guys, Graham said. Its been such a long road for me, and to finally be part of what this team has going on and to be truly part of it, it feels amazing.In the past two weeks, the impact Graham was expected to have when he was first traded from New Orleans to Seattle has started to be realized. Graham has posted two straight 100-yard receiving games for the first time since early in the 2013 season. He had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown -- all in the first half -- in a win over San Francisco, then followed up with six catches for 113 yards last week against the New York Jets.When Seattle returns from its bye, Graham could become the first player in franchise history to have three straight 100-yard receiving games.The connection between Wilson and Graham felt forced in the early stages of last year, but is now developing naturally within Seattles offense.We are on it. Weve been doing that for a while, Wilson said. I think were ready to roll. The way weve been practicing, its been great having him back out there. Jimmy Graham looked special.What Graham has accomplished the past ttwo weeks stands out even more when context is added.dddddddddddd Graham is doing this just 10 months after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in a victory over Pittsburgh. Its an injury that typically takes between nine and 12 months to regain a similar level of movement and strength from prior to the injury.A number of NFL players have struggled to return from the same injury, most notably New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, who was injured midway through the 2014 season and didnt return to an NFL game until Week 1 of this season.A study by the American Journal of Sports Medicine released earlier this year noted a 50 percent return-to-play rate for NFL players undergoing orthoscopic repair of patellar tendon injuries, significantly lower than the return-to-play rates from other types of knee injuries.All of which makes Grahams recovery even more impressive.Im just a little different. Ive worked literally every second of the day on my knee -- if Im not flying -- which is kind of more of a soul thing, Graham said. But for me, Ive put so much into this to try and be back here for this team Week 1 and to try and make it back to start the season. Hard work pays off and there is really no substitute for it.The bye falls at a good time for Seattle with the injuries to Wilson, wide receiver Tyler Lockett and others, allowing them two weeks of recovery. It also provides a break for Graham. Its been a constant grind for nearly 11 months to recover, rehabilitate and ultimately prove he was capable of getting back on the field and showing the athleticism and ability that once made him the top tight end in football.He just kept digging in and clawing and scratched out and got going. There was a time when we didnt know which way it would go, you never know if theres a setback in there, Carroll said. He just made it through it and had great determination and great encouragement and guts and all that, and he pulled it off. I know this is a surgery that doesnt always go like that. Were very fortunate and thrilled for him.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '