Funny pics, vids and more » d But then came a rescue mission from Wells

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- L.A. Clippers star Blake Griffin said Friday he feels as good as hes felt in several years heading into the 2016-17 regular season.I felt great -- as good as Ive felt in several years, Griffin said before practice. Its kind of surprising, actually. I felt good going into camp, but you never know how youre going to respond to a lot of live situations and a heavy load. But I felt great.As a result, Griffin says he finally has peace of mind as the Clippers approach their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland on Thursday.Playing back-to-backs or having several hard days of practice in a row and then a game and still feeling fine the next day, still being able to get all my work in and do even more -- its reassuring, Griffin said.Last season, the five-time All-Star missed 47 games during the regular season with a tear in his left quadriceps tendon and a broken right hand after an altercation in January with a team equipment manager, which subsequently resulted in Griffin being suspended for four games.Griffins season ended early when he aggravated the left quadriceps injury in Game 4 of the Clippers first-round playoff series against the Trail Blazers.Coach Doc Rivers, who initially feared he would have to limit Griffins minutes to start the season, added that he plans on playing Griffin with no minutes restrictions.Hes been far better [than I anticipated]. Theres no holding back. You dont have to, Rivers said. Just logically thinking going into the year, you thought you may have to. But you dont. That tells you the superb athlete he is, that tells you where his health is, and its all good news for us.Griffin averaged 16.2 points on 55.4 percent shooting to go along with 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 23.1 minutes per game during the preseason.To prevent injury, Griffin adjusted his offseason routine to strengthen his lower body, particularly his legs, which he says hes gone away from in recent seasons.Every year I find different things I like and some things I discard, Griffin said. I definitely changed my routine a little bit as far as the work I do before I get out on the court ... just activating everything -- probably a little heavier in the legs. The past few years Ive gotten away from it a little bit, but I got back on it this summer.Rivers says Griffins work ethic is the primary reason he was able to rehab quickly and enter the season with confidence.Hes worked. Blake works so hard, Rivers said. Sometimes you put enough work in that you take away any insecurities you may have with your body because youve tested it in every way possible. He doesnt even think about it. The only time he thinks about it is when [the media] brings it up. Leonard Fournette Jersey . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. 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Western Australia 262 and 5 for 275 (Wells 107*, Whiteman 104) lead Tasmania 402 (Doolan 202*, Behrendorff 5-80) by 135 runsScorecard Centuries to Jonathan Wells and Sam Whiteman gave Western Australia hope on the third day against Tasmania, where they turned a 140-run first-innings deficit into a 135-run lead by the close of play. Wells finished the day unbeaten on 107 and was batting with debutant DArcy Short, who was on 29, and their total had moved along to 5 for 275.The morning had started with Tasmania on 7 for 388, but that was effectively 8 for 388 as Alex Doolan, who had gone to stumps on 202, retired hurt overnight after being diagnosed with delayed effects of concussion from a blow to the helmet during his innings. The Tigers added only 14 to their total before being bowled out for 402, with Jason Behrendorff finishing with 5 for 80.Western Australia opener Cameron Bancroft then missed out on the chance to remind Australias selectors of his potential as a Test batsman when he was bowled by Simon Milenko for 11. Bancroft had managed only 2 in the first innings and has not posted a half-century in any of his six Sheffield Shield innings this summer.Milenko added the wicket of veteran Michael Klinger, who was caught behind for a duck, and Hamish Kingston chipped in with a couple of wickets to leave Western Australia iin serious danger at 4 for 44.dddddddddddd But then came a rescue mission from Wells and Whiteman, who put on 166 for the fifth wicket to ensure the Warriors stayed in the match.Wells was given an unusual reprieve on 13 when he was given out by umpire John Ward, who determined that the batsman had edged James Faulkner onto his pad and to slip. However, before Wells had left the field, Ward had second thoughts about his decision and reversed his call, deciding that in fact Wells had not edged the ball.Wells made great use of that chance and went on to score a long-awaited maiden first-class century, in his 39th match, and having debuted for Tasmania back in December 2008. An opening batsman who has often frustrated by not capitalising on his talent, Wells has finally broken through to score a Sheffield Shield hundred at the age of 28.At the other end, Whiteman brought up his third first-class century and perhaps gave Australias selectors something else to think about as they ponder wicketkeeping options and whether to persist with Peter Nevill. Whiteman, who played first-class games for Australia A this winter, was eventually lbw to Jackson Bird for 104, having already made 54 in the first innings. ' ' '