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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cody Zellers unplanned move to center is paying major dividends for the Charlotte Hornets.When Al Jefferson went down last season with an injury, coach Steve Clifford asked the 7-foot, 240-pound Zeller to fill in by shifting from power forward to the 5 spot. Zeller played so well that Clifford decided to keep him there even after Jefferson returned.It was kind of a freak thing how it happened and I dont think anyone was planning on it, Zeller said Monday. But Im glad it worked out that way.The Hornets liked what they saw from Zeller so much last season they rewarded him with a four-year, $56 million contract in the offseason. They didnt re-sign Jefferson.Zeller spent the offseason working at improving his skills as a center. Hes still a work in progress midway in his fourth NBA season, but is averaging career highs in points (10.8), rebounds (6.3) and blocks (1.2) per game.And yet its hard to completely quantify Zellers worth in statistics.Hes the type of player who does the little things -- setting a solid screen to free up Kemba Walker or Nic Batum, tapping out an offensive rebound to a teammate or hustling back on defense to prevent a transition basket.What he lacks in physicality against the leagues taller and stronger centers he makes up in hustle -- something that at times tends to result in a trip to the training room.I dont think there are many guys willing to break their nose like he has, Batum said with a laugh on Zellers uncanny knack for taking shots to the face. I mean that guy is diving on every ball and he doesnt fear anybody. Hes facing guys like (Hassan) Whiteside, DeAndre (Jordan), (Rudy) Gobert and Dwight Howard every night. Hes been huge for us.Clifford agrees.Hes been thrilled with Zellers progression since taking over as a starter, particularly his rolling in the pick-and-roll game for the Hornets (15-13).That sounds like a small thing, but its not, Clifford said. He has a good feel for screening, which helps the ball handlers.Clifford would like to see Zellers rebounding numbers improve, particularly on defense because the team is not particularly tall.But that appears to be getting better.He has 21 rebounds in his past two games after averaging 6.1 in his previous nine December games.Outside of Mike (Kidd-Gilchrist) and Nic (Batum) we dont have guys at their position who are good at that, and its a critical part of the game, Clifford said. We have had a couple games when we played good enough on defense (to win) but lost because of our rebounding.Zeller is working hard to improve his mid-range jump shot and become a more consistent scorer.He took for jumpers Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks.The Hornets know if he can make them consistently it will force opposing big men to step out and guard him, thus opening up more scoring opportunities for his teammates.He isnt hesitating to take those shots, which is good, Batum said. It will help his game a lot. We all know he can run and he can dunk on people. He has a gift to play this game. And if he can shoot like that...Charlotte lost its chance to acquire a dominant center in 2012 when it failed to land the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft lottery -- and the rights to Anthony Davis -- despite finishing 7-59 the season before. It was a gut-wrenching break for the team at the time, knowing that talented centers like Davis dont come along very often in the NBA.Zeller, the No. 4 overall pick the following year, may never develop into the type of player Davis has become, but its pretty clear the Hornets like what they have in him.I mean, hes a 5-man, Clifford said. The way the league is now hes a 5, at both ends of the floor. And it definitely suits him better. Nike Air Vapormax Outlet . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Cheap Nike Air Vapormax . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. https://www.fakevapormaxwholesale.com/ . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Cyber Monday Nike Air Vapormax . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Fake Nike Air Vapormax . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. EUGENE, Ore. -- No. 23 Oregon is piling up points at a prolific pace.Tyler Dorsey scored a career-high 29 points, Dillon Brooks had 22 and the Ducks set a school scoring record in a 128-59 victory over Savannah State on Saturday night.Coming off a 93-54 win against Western Oregon on Wednesday night, the Ducks (7-2) eclipsed their previous high of 121 points against Portland in 1970 and had seven players score in double figures for the first time in nine seasons. It was their fifth consecutive win and 30th straight at home, adding to another school record.The teams tried a combined 85 3-pointers. Oregon won that battle, too, hitting 12 of 35.Three or four of our guys were talking to their coach about transferring, Oregon coach Dana Altman said, because anybody who takes 50 3s, our guys love that.Freshman Payton Pritchard, who had 13 of Oregons 36 assists, broke the scoring mark with a 3-pointer with 2:45 left.Dorsey went 12 of 16 from the field, and the Ducks shot a season-high 60 percent (54 for 90) overall. They dominated the smaller Tigers (2-8) inside by an 82-10 margin in points in the paint and 67-29 in rebounds.Oregons Kavell Bigby-Williams had 11 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double.Despite the easy win, Altman called the Ducks a work in progress, largely without Brooks in the starting lineup.Were not using our athleticism to get in passing lanes and weve just got to do a better job, Altman said.Brooks, a preseason All-American playing his sixth game since recovering from offseason foot surgery, said hes about ready to assume more than the sixth-man role.Im almost there, he said. Im trying to get back in shape a little more. I feel good and my teammates keep pushing me.Savannah State, which came in averaging 40 3-point attempts per game, went 11 for 50 from beyond the arc in its fourth straight loss.Dexter McClanahan led the Tigers with 113 points and Troyce Manassa had 10.ddddddddddddBIG PICTURESavannah State: The nations leading long-distance shooters also may be tops in frequent-flier miles after the Tigers make their third West Coast one-game road trip in two weeks to play Oregon State. They opened the season at Iowa State and Iowa and also played at San Diego State.Oregon: Brooks looks ready to rejoin the starting lineup, just as the Ducks schedule turns tougher with Alabama, Montana, UNLV and Fresno State on tap before Pac-12 play. Brooks was 8 for 12 from the field and 5 for 5 at the free-throw line.UP NEXTSavannah State visits Oregon State on Dec. 11. The Tigers play only three of their first 13 games at home before starting Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Jan. 4.Oregon heads into finals week with eight days to prepare for Alabamas visit on Dec. 11, the fourth of nine straight in-state games for the Ducks this month.POLL IMPLICATIONSOregons stock should start to rise again with three home wins in six days after the Ducks tumbled 19 spots from their all-time high ranking of No. 4 in the first week of the season.HIGHLIGHT REELPritchards fifth assist in the first 10 minutes was a 40-foot lob in transition to a streaking Chris Boucher for a two-handed dunk that capped a 21-3 run for the Ducks.HIGHLIGHT REEL IIIn the second half, Oregons Jordan Bell took the time to set up his own breakaway dunk by bouncing the ball off the backboard before throwing it down with both hands. I thought he was going to windmill, Brooks said. Off the glass is crazy.Altman wasnt quite as amused by Bells theatrics as his teammates were. Hes lucky it went in, Altman said. We will talk about that, but since it was his only two points, I guess he felt like he had to have that one. ' ' '