Page 32 - bon-dia-aruba-20220129

A32 sports
Diasabra 29 Januari 2022

Broncos hire Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett as their new coach

and enthusiasm to a franchise merits, however, which in- of great energy” to meetings
that has foundered ever since cludes his work with quar- that can be tedious, Rodg-
winning Super Bowl 50 six terback Blake Bortles as ers said. “Never feels that
years ago. Jacksonville’s offensive co- way with him in front of the
ordinator from 2016-18 be- room. ... I think he’s got a
Might he also bring No. 12 fore he went to Green Bay great mind.”
with him from Green Bay? and helped Matt LaFleur win
a record 39 regular-season Rodgers and Hackett, who is
Choosing Hackett sent spec- games in his first three sea- the son of former college and
ulation skyrocketing that the sons as head coach. NFL coach Paul Hackett,
Broncos were trying to lure connected quickly over their
star Green Bay quarterback Hackett, who has never been shared background in and af-
Aaron Rodgers to Denver, a head coach, has become finity for the West Coast of-
perhaps along with his star well known for his football fense with its quick crossing
receiver Davante Adams, smarts, his energy and his routes.
who is set to hit free agency enthusiasm. Packers wide
in March. receiver Marquez Valdes- “Obviously, I’m a little biased
Scantling tweeted: “One of because he comes from the
Rodgers, who turned 38 last the absolute best human be- old-school West Coast tree,”
month in what could be his ings and smartest coaches Rodgers said. “And feeling
fourth MVP season, is con- around. Man this makes my like I grew up in the West
templating his future, in- heart happy seeing great peo- Coast offense, as well, with
cluding retirement, after the ple get rewarded. I wish my Mike Sherman and Mike
Packers’ early exit from the guy nothing but the absolute McCarthy, I have a lot of af-
playoffs last weekend. Top- best.” fection for some of those old
seeded Green Bay was upset West Coast plays. And I do
at home 13-10 by the San Hackett also has a big fan in have a dialogue with his fa-
Francisco 49ers. Rodgers, who said in 2020 ther, Paul, usually about spe-
that “there’s nobody in the cific West Coast concepts.
The Packers want Rodgers to building that brings me
return for an 18th season, say- more joy or is more fun to “Hack has been a really im-
ing they had no plays for a re- be around than Nathaniel portant part of our culture
build. Rodgers, who skipped Hackett,” whom he called change and a part of our suc-
(AP) — Green Bay Pack- was fired a day after the Bron- all of last year’s offseason “a close confidant and friend cess on offense. I love him.
ers offensive coordina- cos finished 7-10, their sixth before reporting for training besides a fantastic coach.” Hope he doesn’t go any-
tor Nathaniel Hackett consecutive season out of the camp with a reworked con- where — unless I do.”
has agreed to become playoffs and fifth straight year tract, said he’ll give the team “I just really, really can’t ex-
the Denver Broncos’ new they’ve failed to post a win- an answer soon. press enough how important Hackett also interviewed for
head coach. ning record. he is to our team in so many the head coaching vacancies
Hackett, 42, emerged as the ways. He’s incredible in front in Chicago, Minnesota and
He replaces Vic Fangio, who Hackett, 42, brings energy front-runner on his own of the room. He brings a lot Jacksonville this month.

Curry, Thompson shoot Warriors past Wolves, 124-115

(AP) — Stephen Curry Thompson added 23 points special on every possession there we get going.” dominated the last time the
found his sweet shooting and the Golden State War- and there’s where you get in Wolves visited Chase Center,
stroke again after a rough riors beat the Minnesota trouble and we have a ten- Karl-Anthony Towns had scoring 35 points on 14-of-19
stretch and Klay Thomp- Timberwolves 124-115 on dency to do that from time to 31 points and 12 rebounds shooting in a 123-110 win on
son kept the pressure on Thursday night. time.” for Minnesota, which trailed Nov. 10.
from the perimeter and 97-81 going into the fourth
with drives through the “With Klay, it’s easy to play Wiggins added 19 points, five before beginning the final “Klay, he was great against
paint, healthy again at with him because he’s ob- rebounds, four assists and period on a 10-0 run to get Dallas the other night and to-
last. viously an amazing scorer, a pair of blocked shots fac- back in it. Anthony Edwards night he was even better, so
amazing shooter, commands ing his former team again in added 27 points, six rebounds he’s adapting quickly and I
First-time All-Star Andrew a lot of attention out there,” Golden State’s 11th straight and six assists. loved his drive and kicks, he
Wiggins complemented Curry said. “The hardest part home win against the Wolves made some excellent passes,”
them both. is just trying to keep things — still relishing in his All- It was only a matter of time Warriors coach Steve Kerr
simple because you can al- Star nod from earlier in the for Curry to get hot again, said. “It’s fun to see Klay and
Curry scored 29 points, ways try to do something day. as he was motivated by his Steph back together and it’s
recent slump: 37 for 127 really fun to see Wiggs with
Wiggins loves being part of it from deep this month before them, I think he comple-
all. Thursday. ments them really well.”

“It’s special. The NBA’s nev- Curry shot 6 for 10 from long The Warriors began the game
er seen shooters like them,” range — 10 of 20 overall — with consecutive turnovers
Wiggins said of the Splash after going 3 for 23 on 3s his and fell behind 8-0 in a hur-
Brothers. “Playing alongside previous two games. He also ry before Otto Porter Jr.’s
of them, it’s fun. You never contributed eight rebounds 3-pointer at the 10:10 mark.
know what’s going to hap- and six assists. The reigning
pen, you don’t know what scoring champion and career D’Angelo Russell sustained a
crazy shots they’re going to 3-point leader sat out a 119- bruised left shin in the third
make. We know the energy 99 loss at Minnesota on Jan. quarter and didn’t return for
they bring to the team and 16. Minnesota, which had won
the energy they bring to the two in a row and four of five.
building, the arena, everyone Wiggins knocked down a key
just feeds off them and from 3 with 5:56 remaining. He