ney Rooney must start, says Merson MERSE SAYS: Roy Hodgson will defini

NEW YORK -- Kristaps Porzingis came to the NBA from Europe as a 7-footer with 3-point range, so the comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki were inevitable.Jeff Hornacek figured the best way for Porzingis to play like Nowitzki was to play with Nowitzki.So the New York Knicks coach called Dallas coach Rick Carlisle in the offseason and asked if his veteran star would be open to working out with the second-year forward.Turns out, fraternizing with the enemy isnt only allowed, but some coaches even broker it.Most coaches, they want all the players in the league to do well, Hornacek said, and so when you have a young player like that, if you have a veteran on your team and somebody calls you up and says, `Hey, will this guy have him in his workouts, a lot of these guys get together anyway so its not that big a deal.Hornacek arranged similar tutoring when he was in Phoenix, getting big man Alex Len to work with the Spurs Tim Duncan. Carlisle wouldnt say if he ever made a request, but didnt think it was uncommon.Hey, things like this, theyre great stories in our game and its one of the reasons we have such a great game and the NBA is a family, Carlisle said.Nowitzki and Porzingis couldnt find time in their schedules, but may in the future. Perhaps Hornacek will even call again.Guys, especially the veteran guys, they like taking young guys kind of under their wing, showing them some tricks and hopefully maybe someday we can get Dirk to work with KP, Hornacek said.---HOWARD AND THE HAWKSAtlanta brought Dwight Howard in and let Al Horford leave, and traded Jeff Teague so Dennis Schroder could start.Most of the offseason focus was on how the Hawks changed, but for coach Mike Budenholzer, its more about how they stayed the same.The remainder of the roster is largely unchanged from the one that won a franchise-record 60 games two years ago and produced 108 victories over the last two seasons. So even after changing the point guard and center, perhaps the two most important positions on the floor, the Hawks are off to a 9-4 start that includes the only victory by a road team over NBA champion Cleveland.I think the thing weve been talking about since the first day of camp is we brought back 10 or 11 guys, too, so I think its been a great balance of continuity with some significant change, Budenholzer said.And when you have 10 or 11 guys that have played together for a couple of years and had some success, and understand what we want to do and whats important to us, I think you can integrate some changes, including a point guard and Dwight. Maybe it just made it a little more possible for us to hopefully do it, I guess, with the results were having so far.---The NBA season reaches the one-month mark this week. A look at some things to watch:ROLLING INTO THE WEEK: Golden State (seven straight wins) and San Antonio (five in a row) ride long winning streaks into the week but are still looking up in the West at the Los Angeles Clippers, who have the NBAs best record at 12-2.HIGH SCORERS IN HOUSTON: DeMar DeRozan and James Harden, two of the NBAs top scorers and the reigning Eastern and Western Conference players of the week, go head-to-head Wednesday in Houston.LUKES LAKERS: The Warriors will try to avenge a loss to their former assistant coach when they visit Los Angeles on Friday. Luke Waltons Lakers beat the Warriors 117-97 on Nov. 4, ending Stephen Currys NBA-record streak of 157 games with a 3-pointer.BATTLE ON THE BACKBOARDS: The NBAs top rebounders meet for the first time this season Wednesday when Miamis Hassan Whiteside, averaging 16.2 rebounds, tangles with Detroits Andre Drummond (13.8).---HAPPY THANKSGIVING: There are no games on Thursday, making Thanksgiving one of only three nights off during the NBA season. But Black Friday is stacked, with all 30 teams in action. The NBA also doesnt play on Christmas Eve or the night of the NCAA championship game, scheduled this season for Monday, April 3.Francisco Lindor Jersey . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Brad Miller Indians Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. http://www.indianssale.com/indians-nick-wittgren-jersey/ . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Zach Duke Indians Jersey . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Danny Salazar Indians Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre.Who should start for England in their Euro 2016 opener against Russia on June 11?Thats the question we posed to Sky Sports expert and former England international Paul Merson as Roy Hodgson fine-tunes his plans for the summer tournament in France.Ahead of this weeks friendlies with Germany and Netherlands, Merson has picked the following XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation… Joe Hart Joe Hart is a straightforward choice, says Merson MERSE SAYS: I think this is a no-brainer if hes fit. He is Englands best goalkeeper.Nathaniel Clyne Merson admires the pave of Nathaniel Clyne MERSE SAYS: Weve been blessed over the years with real good defenders, but thats our weakest point at the moment. In the past weve been Ashford & Simpson - solid as a rock - but its the weakest part of our team now and that worries me. Going forward I think we will really hurt teams, but defensively weve got to find a way to be really solid. I like Nathaniel Clyne because he has pace and you need that in international football.John Stones John Stones is important to start attacks, says Merson MERSE SAYS: I know John Stones isnt playing in the Everton team at the moment, but he has to play for England. In international football you need someone who is going to come out and start attacks and play with the ball. You need someone comfortable because it will be boiling hot in France and without someone like him in defence we wont keep the ball and we will fade.Chris Smalling Merson says Chris Smalling is one of the first names on the team sheet MERSE SAYS: For me, Chris Smalling is a no-brainer. He is one of the first names on the team sheet now. He gets better every time he plays - and has improved every week for the last couple of years.Danny Rose Danny Rose is much-improved, says Merse MERSE SAYS: Danny Rose is one of the most improved players this season and is quick, like Clyne. He has been very good for Tottenham this year and has defended very well and got forward well. For me, he has to play.Eric Dier Eric Dier is the best holding midfielder in England, says Merson MERSE SAYS: This may surprise a few people, but for me, Eric Dier is the best English holding midfield player in the country. He is very disciplined and makes simple passes. He wins the ball and gives it to someone else without looking to spray a 40-yard pass. Id tell him and James Milner to sit there in front of the back four and the goalkeeper and let the front four get on with it. It doesnt matter if youre the best defender in the world, you need protection. England Specials Who will start in Englands first game? Find Sky Bets Englands XI specials here.dddddddddddd James Milner Merson would pick James Milner in his starting XI MERSE SAYS: Milner has got the legs, he can get around the pitch and he is experienced. He can run all day, which is important because it is going to be so hot over in France. As a free transfer for Liverpool, he has got to be one of the best signings of the season. If he and Dier can stay in front of the back four and be disciplined then we should be all right.Dele Alli Dele Alli can be important in France, says Merson MERSE SAYS: Dele Alli makes runs forward. He is a Frank Lampard-style player who is willing to run without the ball. He scores goals and he makes goals - and those players dont come along too often. My three players behind Harry Kane can go anywhere they want, as long as they get back into a shape when we dont have the ball. If those four attacking players cant get us goals then we may as well jack it in! I dont think there will be a better front four at the Euros. They can be a sensation.Ross Barkley Merson believes defenders will fear Barkley MERSE SAYS: I dont care if youre the best defender in the world, you dont want Ross Barkley getting on the ball and running at you. If you want to win the Euros, youve got to have a surprise package and Alli and Barkley can be a surprise package for me.Wayne Rooney Rooney must start, says Merson MERSE SAYS: Roy Hodgson will definitely start him and for me hes still the first name on the team sheet. Hes played more than 100 games for his country, hes our all-time leading goalscorer and hes still an exceptional footballer. Fast forward to the Euros and imagine if Wayne Rooney wasnt in the line-up. That would be a huge shock and Russia would be absolutely delighted.Harry Kane Merson says Harry Kane will start ahead of Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy MERSE SAYS: Harry Kane has to play. He plays up front on his own for Tottenham and hes looking like winning the Golden Boot at the moment. I would bring Jamie Vardy on with 30 minutes left and drop Kane back and take Rooney off. That would let Vardy open the game up. When the game opens up he will be really useful because he looks to go the other way, which a lot of players dont. Daniel Sturridge is a top player, but I dont think he has had enough game time. Can he play six or seven games in a short space of time? I dont think he can. So Kane has to start.Do you agree with Mersons XI? Tweet us your teams @SkyFootball or add them in to the comments section below if youre reading on skysports.com.Also See:Le Tissiers GB & Ireland XIMerson: Take WilshereNicholas tips England defeatDid England learn from Germany? ' ' '