OAKLAND, Calif. - Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr approached Andre Iguodala during the preseason to discuss a somewhat radical idea he wanted to try out.Kerr asked Iguodala how he felt about being the teams top reserve and Harrison Barnes starting ahead of him at small forward. Iguodala, who had started all 807 games he played in his first 10 seasons in the NBA, wasnt thrilled about the idea but agreed to go along with the experiment.Kerr thanked Iguodala for accepting the role and named him a team captain alongside Stephen Curry this season.Its kind of a sacrifice. Sometimes you want to be selfish, you want to get your shots. You want to make sure you get your minutes, Iguodala said. Honestly, were all human. I go through times where I want to do this, I want to do that. But being a captain, I think about that and seeing the bigger picture — what are we trying to do? Where are we trying to get to?The situation is a perfect example of what Kerr expects out of the Warriors: unselfish basketball without worrying about individual accomplishments.Kerr has gotten players to embrace that philosophy, rolling out a new offence and a new rotation that are working wonders for the Warriors so far. Golden State is 3-0 for the first time in 20 years, and Kerr is the franchises first coach to begin his career with three straight wins since Neil Johnston did it to start the 1959-60 season.Kerr said he has been proud of the way his players have accepted his way of doing things, which couldve been complicated after the team fired popular predecessor Mark Jackson following a 51-win season and back-to-back playoff berths. Hes also quick to note that the season is just a week old and his rotation is far from flawless.Were trying to find the right group together, Kerr said about the second unit. I feel like were sort of treading water right now, but eventually I think well be able to make a surge with that group.What has pleased Kerr most is that the Warriors are still winning while adjusting.Power forward David Lee has missed all three games because of a strained left hamstring. He expects to return when the Warriors host the Clippers on Wednesday night in a rematch of last seasons first-round playoff series won by Los Angeles.Reserve guard Shaun Livingston, the teams top free agent signing this summer, is playing limited minutes while working his way into shape after missing all of the preseason recovering from surgery on his right big toe. And backup centre Festus Ezeli is still finding his rhythm after sitting out last season rehabilitating from right knee surgery.Even with roles and responsibilities still being cemented under Kerr, the Warriors look like the contender many expected them to be in the deep Western Conference.It says a lot about the guys we have on this team from top to bottom that no matter what situation youre thrown into that you can somehow produce and allow things to happen, Curry said.One of the most recognizable changes the Warriors have made under Kerr is an offence that has more ball movement, breaking away from the isolation-heavy system Jackson used the past three years.Kerrs style has flavours of the triangle offence from his days playing for Phil Jackson in Chicago, the pace-and-space attack of mentor Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and the up-tempo schemes assistant coach Alvin Gentry employed during their time together in Phoenix.The defence, which was among the best in the NBA under Mark Jackson, has remained stout — and the all-around game has given Golden State positive results.The Warriors whipped Sacramento 95-77 on Wednesday, routed the depleted Lakers 127-104 on Saturday and won 95-90 at Portland on Sunday.Were going to continue to get better. Were going to continue to grow, Iguodala said. Theres going to be some ups and downs. Having a year under my belt with this team is going to help weather the storm when things dont go the way we want them to.___Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP New England Patriots Store . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt. New England Patriots Shirts . Never caused problems. Never raised a ruckus. Never got sick or hurt while frolicking in the fields of Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/. General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem. He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling, that Westbrooks lateral meniscus has healed properly and the procedure was successful. New England Patriots Pro Shop . As a follow-up, TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on all the big issues with our insiders. Read up on all the questions and answers, and put in your own two cents on our popular Your Call feature. Patriots Jerseys 2020 . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz appear to be shoo-ins for election to the Hall of Fame in what is shaping up as the baseball writers biggest class of inductees in 60 years.When the Hall of Fame reveals the results Tuesday at 2 p.m. on the MLB Network, holdover Craig Biggio and perhaps Mike Piazza could join those three first-ballot pitchers who were utterly dominant in a hitters era of artificially bulging statistics.Here are some things to know about the balloting, conducted again in a period when whos elected is as intriguing as whose names were not checked by Baseball Writers Association of America voters:THE THREE ACESJohnson, Martinez and Smoltz stand out among the 17 newcomers to the ballot.The reed-thin, scraggly-haired Johnson is a five-time Cy Young Award winner — four in a row from 1999-2002 — with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts. The Big Unit came up big in the post-season, too, sharing MVP honours in the 2001 World Series with Arizona Diamondbacks teammate Curt Schilling.Martinezs antics off the field were nearly as enthralling as an ever-elusive changeup that helped him to three Cy Youngs — two AL, one NL — and a 2.93 ERA in 18 years. He helped bring the Boston Red Sox their first World Series championship in 86 years.Smoltz was a steady presence on the Atlanta Braves staff for 20 seasons — including 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005 — winning the 1996 NL Cy Young. A career starter, Smoltz smoothly moved into the closer role for three full seasons and earned 154 saves. He should join former teammates Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, last years inductees along with Frank Thomas.The induction ceremony in Cooperstown will take place July 26.BALLOT LOGJAMNot since 1955, when Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons and Dazzy Vance all gained entrance into the Hall, have four players received the necessary 75 per cent of the vote from the BBWAA.Five were elected at the same time on just one occasion, and that was the initial Hall class of 1936.With the ballot jammed by big names from the Steroids Era, the BBWAA has recommended to the Halls board of directors that it increase the number of players each voter can select ffrom 10 to 12.dddddddddddd That change could come as soon as 2016.THE PED FACTORSuspected and admitted users of performance-enhancing drugs have been on the ballot since Mark McGwire was a first-timer in 2007. But the real debate over PEDs and players credentials heated up when otherwise certain locks Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens became eligible three years ago. Both glamour stars severely tarnished by steroid use accusations received about 35 per cent of the vote last year, a slight dip from their first ballots.Piazza, who received 62.2 per cent in his second year on the ballot, and Jeff Bagwell (54.3 per cent) are two players who have fallen under suspicion of use but were never caught up in any investigation. Will one more year on the ballot help them get closer to the threshold? Perhaps an enhanced ballot of up to 12 votes per writer next year will give them the nudge they need if they fail this year.CLOSING INBiggio, the Houston Astros second baseman-outfielder with 3,060 hits, fell two votes shy of election last year. Piazza, who has more homers than any other catcher in big league history, went up about 5 per cent from the previous year. According to research by Baseball Think Factory, Biggio was up to 82.9 per cent of the vote on 158 public ballots sourced by the website — thats about 27.7 per cent of the vote, based on last years totals. Piazza was at 76.6 per cent late Monday afternoon.Several others on the ballot of 34 candidates are hoping to get a better look. Tim Raines (46.1 per cent last year), hit .294 with a .385 on-base percentage in a 23-year career for six teams. The prototypical leadoff hitter scored 1,571 runs and stole 808 bases. Career designated hitter Edgar Martinez received 35.9 per cent, Curt Schilling got 29.2 and Mike Mussina 20.3 per cent in 2014.These players get only 10 years on the BBWAA ballot, recently reduced from 15 years maximum.NEXT YEARNext years ballot should open up some after the election of this years expected jumbo class and the amended voting rules. There is one sure thing in the 2016 group: Ken Griffey, Jr. He will be joined by Trevor Hoffman, Billy Wagner and Jim Edmonds as the chief newcomers. ' ' '