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ELIZABETH, N.J. -- NBA referees will be cracking down this season on the kind of hits to the groin area that resulted in Draymond Greens suspension during the NBA Finals.They also will more closely monitor traveling after complaints from coaches that players are getting away with too many steps on the perimeter.The referees were informed and instructed about those items this week during their preseason meetings and training camp.The hits to the groin -- termed unnatural acts by the league -- are a point of emphasis after a number of situations involving Green during the postseason. Golden States All-Star forward had a habit of flailing his arms or legs and a few times made contact with opponents in the groin area.He was finally suspended after hitting Clevelands LeBron James during the finals and missed Game 5 because of an accumulation of flagrant foul points. Cleveland rallied to beat Golden State for the title in seven games.Joe Borgia, the NBA senior vice president of replay and referee operations, said players are no longer just swinging their arms in attempt to draw a foul when taking a shot.Now all of a sudden legs are coming out in different directions at weird times, theyre coming higher, he said. Well, for the protection of the players, were going to stop it.Another point of emphasis is making sure players are allowed freedom of movement away from the ball.Critics have long griped that walking isnt called enough in the NBA, and coaches shared the complaint with officials at their recent meeting. Referees will watch especially for players who spot up behind the 3-point arc looking to shoot, but then are chased off by a defender and often get away with an extra step as they begin their dribble.Also, referees manning the Replay Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, will continue to be given greater responsibility this season. Owners will vote on a plan in October to have the replay official make the ruling on all plays that are reviewed, except for ones involving flagrant fouls and fights.Former referee Lee Jones was voted the winner of the inaugural Greg Willard Spirit Award, recognizing a current or former official for his service, professionalism and leadership. Jones officiated 1,749 regular-season games and 71 playoff games from 1971-96.Bob Delaney, the NBAs vice president of referee operations and director of officials, said if an active referee wins the award, he would for one game wear the former No. 57 of Willard, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2013 at 54.Wholesale Celtics Jerseys . JOHNS, N. Celtics Jerseys 2019 .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. https://www.cheapceltics.com/ . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Stitched Celtics Jerseys .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League.ATLANTA -- For Dan Quinn, success came quickly one year ago as a rookie coach with the Atlanta Falcons.Quinn won his first five games as the Falcons appeared a certainty to make the playoffs.The Falcons were 6-1 before their season began to unravel when another rookie, quarterback Jameis Winston, led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 23-20 overtime win in Atlanta. The Buccaneers rallied after trailing by 17 points and completed a sweep of the season series with another close, comeback win in Tampa one month later.Quinns Falcons and Winstons Buccaneers renew the NFC South rivalry in Sundays opener that could help reveal which team might make a move up in the division.Winston said he knows the Falcons will remember last seasons losses to Tampa Bay.When you beat somebody like that, youve got to know that theyre coming with it, Winston said. ... And I know theyve got it out for us, so we have to be ready.There is a new layer to the rivalry this year. Mike Smith, who had the most wins of any coach in Falcons history, returns to Atlanta in his new job as Tampa Bays defensive coordinator. Smith was hired by new Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, the teams former offensive coordinator. Koetter was Atlantas offensive coordinator under Smith.Smith said his knowledge of some of Atlantas key players, including Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman, wont make a difference.Were only familiar with a handful of guys, Smith said. That roster has changed over the last two years. I think there are less than 15 guys that are on their roster that were there two years ago. ... I think it is somewhat of an advantage, but it can be a disadvantage because you know too much.Quinn also doesnt expect his players memories of Smith and Koetter to be a factor.I think a lot of the players here would have lots of respect and regard for those two, but in between the white lines its all about the game and the players, Quinn said.Smith will work from the press box during the game.Here are some things to know about the opener:REBOUND HOPES FOR RYAN: Quinn often says its about the ball. That means cutting down on 30 giveaways -- tied for fifth most in the league. Ryans 16 interceptions were the second most of his career and came with only 21 touchdoown passes, his fewest since his 2008 rookie season.ddddddddddddRyans decline led to questions about his coexistence with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. At 31, Ryan faces a key season as he must prove he is the quarterback to lead Atlanta back to the playoffs.PASS RUSH BLUES: For Atlanta, improving the leagues worst pass rush is an obvious emphasis. The Falcons were last in the NFL with only 19 sacks in 2015. But its also an area of concern for the Buccaneers , who are looking for more consistency even though their 38 sacks last season doubled Atlantas dismal total.The Falcons have ranked no higher than 28th in sacks since 2012. Veteran Dwight Freeney, who led Arizona with eight sacks last season, was signed as a pass-rush specialist. The Falcons hope Freeney, 36, can serve as a mentor to second-year player Vic Beasley Jr., who had four sacks as a rookie.COMFORT ZONE: Winston is more comfortable running Koetters offense entering his second season. The coach also feels a lot better about his young quarterback, whose first NFL pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Winston rebounded to join Cam Newton and Andrew Luck as the only rookies in league history to throw for more than 4,000 yards.Last year we were still in that phase where Jameis was turning it over three or four times every day. Hes not doing that now, Koetter said, referring to the quarterbacks performance in practice.DIVIDE AND CONQUER: Atlantas two losses to Tampa Bay were part of a 1-5 showing against NFC South teams that led to an 8-8 finish. The Buccaneers finished 6-10, with a 3-3 record in the division.The Falcons face NFC South teams in three of their first four games this season.DOME SWEET HOME: This is the start of the final season for the Georgia Dome. The Falcons new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, is being built beside the dome. The new facility will have a retractable roof and also will be home to the new Atlanta United MLS team, also owned by Arthur Blank.---AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '