LAS VEGAS -- Mike Krzyzewski is working with his team when suddenly Gregg Popovich enters the gym with his own guys looking to play ball.Krzyzewski vs. Popovich. Five-time NCAA champion vs. five-time NBA champion. Its a mega matchup that would look good on one of the giant marquees that light up Las Vegas.Except this is just practice for the 2016 Olympics.And for 2020.While Krzyzewski readies the Americans for Rio, Popovich is getting an early start on his own Olympic preparations. The San Antonio Spurs coach is overseeing the Select Team of young players training against the U.S. this week, and some of those players might be in the mix when Popovich coaches the Americans in Tokyo.Hes seen what were doing and its called succession, Krzyzewski said. The fact that were both military guys, we understand that I have the unit right now, hes going to take command of the unit, and we both want the unit to do well.During practices this week, Popovich works with the young players in one part of UNLVs basketball complex while Krzyzewski and his staff put the national team through drills in another. Eventually, the Select Team heads into the main gym for scrimmaging.But Popovich isnt just here to help the young guys. Hes basically a behind-the-scenes assistant for Krzyzewski.Pop is in all the meetings, hes participating and this is giving him a feel for how we do things, and so its a seamless transition, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.Thats what Colangelo had in mind when he announced Popovichs hiring in October. That allowed Popovich to become a part of the program before he inherits it.I get to spend time with Coach K and Mr. Colangelo and pick their brains, see how they operate, see what works, Popovich said. If I learn from them it makes it a lot easier and smoother for me when I end up doing this, so watching them operate is a huge advantage for me in that sense.Krzyzewski is ending his run after Rio, one that started when Colangelo chose the Duke coach over Popovich when he started the national team program in 2005. There was some anger after, as Popovich -- an Air Force Academy graduate -- felt Colangelo mischaracterized his interest in his national teams job when explaining the choice to the media.They met last summer in Carmel, California, to clear the air about the past and start laying out the future. Colangelo offered Popovich the job, which he soon accepted as long as Colangelo agreed to stay on for four more years.But before Popovich gets to coach the All-Stars, hes got the future stars.The Select Team is made up of young NBA players and serves as a way to get into the USA Basketball pipeline. Thats how 10 of the 12 members of this Olympic team got their start, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in particular using their stints as springboards to stardom.There are 25 players on this years roster, some a few years into the NBA and others just a few months out of college, such as No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram. Being invited this week means they have talent, and a few days under Popovich can only make them better.Honestly, Coach Pop, hes saying a lot of things Ive heard from my coaches before, but when you hear it from Coach Pop it sticks in that much more, Phoenix Suns All-Rookie selection Devin Booker said.But Popovich is doing more than working with the younger guys. Hes making his mark on this years team, which has some players who have never suited up for Krzyzewski, by providing his knowledge about them.Popovich will lead the Americans in the 2019 Basketball World Cup and then the Tokyo Games. He was an assistant to Larry Brown at the 2004 Olympics, when a hastily assembled U.S. team lost three times in a third-place finish, so hes seen what happened to unprepared teams before Colangelo and Krzyzewski overhauled the program.Now hes got four years to get ready.Theyve changed this whole thing since 2004, when it was a debacle, Popovich said. Now its this, and Id be ignorant if I didnt try to figure out everything that theyve done to make it like this.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BriancmahoneyCheap Running Shoes Australia . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Running Shoes Australia .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. 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Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With two games left in the regular season, the New York Giants and Detroit Lions are in just-win mode when it comes to the playoffs.The Giants (10-4) are just a win away from ending a four-year postseason drought after beating the Lions 17-6 on Sunday for their eighth win in nine games.If New York beats either Philadelphia (5-9) on Thursday night or Washington (7-5-1) in the regular season finale on New Years Day, they are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011.Of course, they can make it even if they lost both road games, but winning makes life easier.It feels fantastic, said receiver Victor Cruz, who played on the 2011 team that won the Super Bowl.Anytime you are in a position, this is what coach talks about. Being in contention, playing meaningful football in December, and thats where we are. And we just want to continue that trend and obviously work toward a playoff win.The Giants defense continues to carry the team. The unit has given up a total of 13 points in beating Dallas and Detroit, both division leaders.Eli Manning threw two touchdowns, including a game-clinching 4-yarder with 5:47 to play that Odell Beckham Jr. hauled in with his left hand.Norm, Cruz said of the catch. The norm. I wasnt even surprised.The Lions (9-5) like the Giants control their own destiny despite the loss. They are at Dallas a week from Monday and finish at home against the Green Bay Packers (8-6), who trail them by a game in the NFC North.Even if Detroit loses next week, the contest against the Packers probably would set up a winner-take-all game for the division.We just keep taking one at a time, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said. Well take a look at this tape, there will be some stuff we would wish we couldve done better. I know Im in that boat, so well figure it out and just play better next time around.The defeat did drop Detroit to the No. 3 seed in the conference as the Seahawks now hold the second spot and the reward of an opening playoff bye.If the postseason started next weekend, the Lions would host a game in the wild-card round. They can solidify their position with a win on Dec. 26 in Dallas.NO STAFFORD WOES: The worries about the injured middle finger on Staffordss throwing hand were largely unfounded.ddddddddddddStafford brushed off the injury, saying I felt pretty good. His performance largely backed up the statement. He was 24 of 39 for 273 yards, including 67-yard pass to Golden Tate.I thought he played good football, Tate said of Stafford. I thought he definitely gave us a chance. Thats a tough guy and will never question him ever. We just needed to be a little bit better all around.PUGH BACK: After missing the past five games with a knee injury, left guard Justin Pugh was back in the lineup, and it helped.Pugh, perhaps the teams top lineman, New York rushed for 114 yards, its third-highest total of the season. It is 5-1 in games where it rushes for at least 100 yards. New York also tied a season high with seven third-down conversions on 15 attempts.The offense, however, continues to struggle. It gained 300 yards against Detroit, the first time it hit that number in the past four games.We know that we can make plays and we can have that game where we score 28 or 35, so we cant force it, quarterback Eli Manning said after completing 20 of 28 for 201 yards. We just have to wait for the opportunities, be patient with them.LIONS LACK RUN: Leading rusher Theo Riddick missed his second straight game with a wrist injury. Detroit rushed for 56 yards, the second-lowest total by a Giants opponent this season. Dwayne Washington led the way with 31 yards on 14 carries. His first one was for 12 yards so he 19 on his final 13.HOME SWEET HOME: The Giants finished 7-1 at home in the regular season, winning their last six.It was their best home record at MetLife since the stadium opened in 2010. They were 6-2 in 2012. The previous time they finished 7-1 at home was in 2008, when they played at Giants Stadium.INJURIES: Detroit starting CB Darius Slay left in the second quarter after aggravating a hamstring injury. New York lost CB Janoris Jenkins in the second quarter with a back injury. Giants backup QB Ryan Nassib was inactive because of a recurring elbow injury.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '