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MINNEAPOLIS -- The disappointment and emotion were still raw when Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve walked into the postgame news conference with Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus. Defense and rebounding, two things the Lynx are known for, failed them in the fourth quarter when they absolutely needed it, costing them the back-to-back WNBA titles they sought to complete their dynastic résumé.Reeve began her opening remarks by congratulating the Sparks on their 77-76 victory and WNBA title, and expressed pride in her own players. Then she addressed something that has been simmering with her and other WNBA coaches for years: the quality of the leagues officiating.A controversial no-call on what looked to be a 24-second violation on Nneka Ogwumikes turnaround jumper from the right baseline with 1 minute, 12 seconds to play -- which put the Sparks ahead 73-71 -- was at the heart of the criticism. The officials initially signaled for a review, but it never happened.I thought I saw them do this, said Moore, meaning a review. But they didnt. It doesnt mean anything now.This followed an egregious mistake in Game 4, when officials overlooked a backcourt violation on the Lynx with 26.1 seconds left and Minnesota up by two. The next day the league admitted the refs blew it and apologized.That two such errors could occur in the final two games of a close, hard-fought championship series angered Reeve.Nneka Ogwumikes shot was not good, Reeve said. It was reviewable at the time when she shot it. The referees at that point didnt think anything was wrong. They didnt understand it was the end of the clock. They didnt hear the shot clock.Reeve continued, her voice rising: Its really unfortunate that players continually put themselves out there playing and competing at a really high level, whether it was the eight-second call in the game in L.A. -- doesnt matter, OK? The game today, its not fair to the players. Its not enough just to apologize and send out a memo that they got something wrong, OK? These players are so invested, and something must be done about the officiating in this league because it is not fair to these great players that we have.A photo tweeted postgame by Lynx associate head coach Jim Petersen showed the ball still in Ogwumikes hand with the shot clock at zero.Asked how the league might fix the problem, Reeve said: I dont get paid enough to have to do somebody elses job, too. Just get the simple things right. Simple. Eight-second call, shot-clock violation. Get the simple things right and well live with the other stuff that happens in a game.Reeve soon circled back to the reason the Lynx lost: their inability to defend and rebound at crunch time.In the fourth quarter the Sparks shot 55 percent and outrebounded the team with the best rebounding percentage in the league 10-5. It seemed unfathomable that the Lynx gave up 14 offensive rebounds on the night -- two on the possession with Ogwumikes game-winning putback -- to a team that ranked 10th in the league in rebounding.Its unfortunate, said Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson, who was denied a record fifth WNBA title. We knew the keys to the game would be defense and rebounding. I feel like in the last five minutes we werent getting the stops we needed. Then it came down to a rebound. But we knew those were going to be the keys. We just didnt get it done.The sellout crowd of 19,423 stood and screamed as the Lynx, trailing by eight with 3:06 to play, suddenly came to life. Moore, whose 23 points and 11 assists nearly stole the game for Minnesota, hit a technical foul shot, then a left wing 3-pointer around a screen. Moore found Brunson (nine points, nine rebounds) for a short turnaround. Then Lindsay Whalen stole a Kristi Toliver pass and drove for a layup. Eight points in 61 seconds. Tie score.More big shots followed. Ogwumikes disputed jumper. Augustus with a trademark left-wing pull-up. Then Brunson, making the second of two foul shots for a 74-73 lead with 23.4 seconds to play. The Lynx seemed on the verge of a miracle.But there would be no league record-tying fourth title, and no back-to-back championship. In those final seconds the Lynx couldnt stop Candace Parker (28 points and 12 rebounds), who drove for a layup with 19.7 seconds left, or league MVP Ogwumike, who showed the same tenacity on that final possession the Lynx exhibited for six years.They scored at will in the paint in the second half, Reeve said. We had them at 34 percent [from the field] in the first half. We were defending our tails off. Then in the second half, we didnt get it done. If we go look at a shot chart right now, its not going to be pretty.Lynx center Sylvia Fowles, who dislocated a finger in the third quarter but kept playing, fought back tears in the locker room. So did Moore, Brunson and almost everyone else. Whalen hugged each player individually, then slumped at her locker. Janel McCarville, her teammate at the University of Minnesota, put an arm around her, but Whalen was inconsolable.I think we answered L.A.s calls, Fowles said. They answered our calls. Unfortunately it came down to a one-possession game. In a situation like that, you should never be up by one possession with a team like Los Angeles. Youve got to give them credit for coming out and playing today, especially in that environment.Rodrigo Caio Brazil Jersey . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Casemiro Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. http://www.soccerbrazilonline.com/Ricardo-Oliveira-Copa-America-Jersey/ . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Alisson Jersey .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Casemiro Brazil Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others.BARCELONA, Spain -- Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann are fit to play Saturdays Spanish capital derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.While Benzema is Madrids top choice to accompany Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in attack, Griezmanns importance to Atletico is paramount.Griezmann has scored eight goals for his club this season and should join Yannick Carrasco and Kevin Gameiro in attack for Atleticos home match. He was doubtful because of a foot knock picked up while playing for France until Atleticos team doctors cleared him after Fridays late practice.I have the good fortune to have a football player (like Griezmann) who wants to keep improving and is as talented as he is, Atletico manager Diego Simeone said.Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane picked Benzema, but he didnt reveal if he will start Benzema or place him in the reserves.He is better, and if he is on the squad then he can play, Zidane said.Benzema was in doubt because of a lingering hip problem. He has five goals in 13 appearances this season.Zidane will be without his other pure striker, Alvaro Morata, who injured a hamstring while playing for Spain over the international break.Once the capitals dominant team, Madrid hasnt beaten Atletico in six consecutive league derbies, although it has topped its cross-town rival in two Champions League finals during that stretch.Zidane gave credit to Simeone for transforming Atletico since his arrival midway through the 2011-12 season.Atletico gets better year after year, Zidane said. It has a coach that has changed so many tthings.dddddddddddd. He is doing a phenomenal job. Everybody always says Atletico defends well, but it is so much more than that.Madrid is also in fine form.Madrids defeat to Atletico last February marked the start of a remarkable run for Zidanes side, which hasnt lost in the league since -- a run of 23 matches.Besides Benzema, Madrid will also have back Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric after both recovered from knee problems, although Modric will be without fellow midfielders Toni Kroos and Casemiro due to injuries.Atletico has most of its midfielders, led by playmaker Jorge Koke Resurreccion, to choose from, including Nicolas Gaitan, who has recovered from a leg injury that sidelined him from Argentinas most recent World Cup qualifiers.Madrid leads the league and has a six-point advantage over fourth-place Atletico.But Simeone said that his teams main source of inspiration is the chance to win what will likely be the last derby played at the Vicente Calderon before Atletico moves to its new stadium.What we are focusing on is managing our emotions for what will be the last derby against our eternal rival in our home, Simeone said. Being nine, six or three points behind is not our concern right now. I know our fans will be like they always are. We need our `12th player and I dont need to tell them that.Defending champion Barcelona, which hosts Malaga on Saturday, is in second place two points adrift of Madrid. ' ' '