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PAGE 2B BARROW JOURNAL • BARROW COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016 The Game Plan Let’s not forget about the East W ith everything that has happened with NBA free agency this sum mer — mainly the big move Kevin Durant made to Golden State — there hasn't been much media buzz or coverage over what has happened in the Eastern Confer ence. The Western Conference has been the stronger conference for several years now. so maybe the sports news markets are more prone to cover them and that's why the East hasn’t gotten much love. Not to mention the fact that the USA Men’s Basketball Team is set to compete at the Summer Games in Rio. Regardless, it's time to take a look at what has happened in the East and see how it might play out this season. Let's start with the defending world champion Cleveland Cavaliers. They lost a few minor pieces and picked up a few new players, overall they should still be the same team and we should expect to see LeBron in the NBA Finals again, or at least coming close to it. The team that could have something spe cial is the New York Knicks. The Knicks went out and made some huge moves this offseason. They obtained Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah from the Chicago Bulls and also signed Brandon Jennings to help their cause. When you add these talented players to a Knicks team that already has Carmello Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, you have yourself a nice little squad. Now there are two clear mountains this team will have to overcome. The first one is really simple: stay healthy. Both Rose and Anthony have had serious injuries over the course of their career, if they can stay healthy they might have a shot. But on top of that, the Knicks will have to find a way to make this team work out. With so much star power it will be interesting to see if they make this team compete. The Atlanta Hawks also made a big move in acquiring free agent and Atlanta native Dwight Howard. The Hawks have always wanted to get Howard and they finally got their wish. I'm not totally convinced that signing Howard was the best move they could have made, but the Hawks have been in need of some big changes for a while now — this might be just what they needed. The team that everyone should look out for is the Indiana Pac ers. Paul George got back on track last season after returning from his horrific leg injury. With a healthy George and a new-look team, the Pacers might be able to make some noise and give the Cavaliers a run for their money. The league desperately needs PG-13 to step up and be a superstar again, a few years ago it looked so promising that George was becoming one of the next top guys in the NBA. He still might reach that point, but if it does happen this year will be important. And you still have teams like the Toron to Raptors and the Boston Celtics who both improved this offseason, throw in teams like the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat and you might have a nice Eastern Conference playoff this year. Even if the Cavs make it to the Finals again (which is still likely) the East seems to be poised to be more entertaining and competitive in both the regular season and the playoffs — and that is something that everyone wants. Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Bar row High School and Universi ty of West Georgia graduate. You can e-mail comments about this column to tyrollason @yahoo. com. A LITTLE FUN Winder-Barrow High School players notice a photographer at a recent practice session and decide to “ham it up” for the camera. Preparing for the new season is serious business for the Bulldoggs, however, as they will host Flowery Branch High School for a scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 12. The new season begins Aug. 19 at Clarke Central High School. Photo by Jessica Brown w Recreation Sports Dixie Youth registration concludes Saturday Winder Lions Baseball will hold one final registra tion for the upcoming season on Saturday. Aug. 6. from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Registration will be held at the concession stand at the Winder Lion’s Club Ball Fields at 354 E. Broad Street in Winder. Costs include: •ages 5-12 years (T-Ball through Majors), $115, fee includes shirt, hat, belt and socks. •ages 3-4 years (Rookie League), $85. fee includes shirt and hat •ages 13-19 years, $150, Considering buying or selling? 770-867-9026 www.maynardrealty.com fee includes shirt, hat, belt and socks. For more information, email winderdyb@gmail. com. Mowing Leaf Clean-Up Gutter Cleaning Pressure Washing Registration can also be completed at www.wdyb. org. Family and special dis counts only apply at ball park registration. • Pine Straw & Mulch • Seasonal Flowers • Shrub Trimming • Aeration Annual Contracts Available Call Chris 678-910-9946 ...for all your lawn care needs! Like us on facebookW ■ ■ CHRIS SAVAGE Lawn Care Summer Sports Camp OFF AND RUNNING Participants at the recent Apalachee High School youth football camp got a crash course in the fundamentals of the sports. The annual event draws a large turnout of young area athletes each summer. Photos by Jessica Brown PUNT FORMATION Kicking was one area that young players had a chance to improve their skills during the AHS youth football camp. Soccer Registration \ Piedmont Soccer Academy / Barrow Yodth Soccer PLAY SI Register NOW ONLINE @ BARROWSOCCER.COM