Diamondbacks were struck by his athleticism and the fact

CHICAGO -- Moments after his successful return to Chicago with the U.S. national team, Jimmy Butler pulled on a T-shirt with a picture of Brazilian soccer star Pele on the front.Yup, its almost time.Kyrie Irving scored 13 points, DeMarcus Cousins powered a dominant performance in the paint, and the United States pulled away from Venezuela for an ugly 80-45 exhibition victory Friday night.Coming off three straight flashy victories in Las Vegas and California, the United States used a strong fourth quarter to shoot 42.4 percent from the field in by far its worst offensive performance of its five-city tour in preparation for the Rio Olympics. But the Americans used their superior athleticism to limit Venezuela to 24 percent shooting and owned the interior with a 54-29 rebounding advantage.Quite frankly, Im very pleased about tonight because you dont just want to just hit 17 3s and not work hard, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. We had to work real hard tonight.Butler, a two-time All-Star with the Bulls, had four points and eight rebounds in 21 1/2 minutes in his first start with Team USA. He was cheered every time he was announced at the United Center.This is like home for me now, Butler said. Im glad that I got to play here for USA in front of my hometown crowd. Theyve embraced me since Day 1. I hope they continue to do so. I want to win with the Bulls. I want to win with USA and bring a championship with the Bulls and a gold medal here.Butler had one of the few electric plays for the U.S. when he ran out on the break and dunked Kyle Lowrys tip pass in the fourth quarter. DeAndre Jordan also had a vicious dunk off a lob from Kevin Durant, and DeMar DeRozan drew chants of USA! USA! with a windmill jam in the final minutes.Klay Thompson also scored 13 points, and Cousins finished with seven points and 12 rebounds. Durant had nine points of 3-of-9 shooting for the U.S., which plays one more exhibition on Monday against Nigeria before departing for Brazil.We just kept fighting defensively, and we were great (in that area), Durant said. And in the second half, we made some shots.John Cox scored 14 points for Venezuela, which will play the U.S. again on Aug. 8 in the Olympics. Nestor Colmenares pulled down 10 rebounds.Their defense is so good because they can switch everything because of their length and athleticism, Cox said. So theres not really another team in the Olympics that can do that.Irving and company were greeted with a round of hearty cheers when they came out for pregame warmups. Fans flocked to the side of the court where the Americans had their layup line, and Anthony and Durant posed for pictures with a couple of eager boys.Before Butlers introduction drew the most applause of the night, former Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau received a thunderous ovation when he was announced with the U.S. coaching staff. Thibodeau took a year off after he was fired by the Bulls in May 2015, and then was hired as Minnesotas coach and president of basketball operations in April.Hes the best as far as preparation and team player and whatever, and the fans appreciate it, said Krzyzewski, a Chicago native. It was great. I love the fact that my town gave a guy who gave them his heart and soul for the number of years hes been here, and acknowledged that. Thats a great, great thing.The star power also extended to the sideline near the U.S. bench, where former Olympians Scottie Pippen and Dwyane Wade watched the action attentively. Wade was joined by his wife, actress Gabriel Union, hours after he held his introductory press conference for his new contract with his hometown Bulls.Pippen played on the 1992 Dream Team that rolled to gold in Barcelona, and also helped the U.S. win gold in 1996. Wade was on the Americans gold medal-winning teams at each of the last two Olympics.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenapCheap Bruins Jerseys China . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Wholesale Bruins Jerseys . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. http://www.cheapbruinsjerseys.com/ . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Cheap Bruins Jerseys Authentic . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Cheap Bruins Jerseys . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St.SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners finally landed the established shortstop theyve long been trying to find.To do it, they had to part with a talented young pitcher who still has the potential to blossom.Seattle and Arizona pulled off a five-player trade Wednesday night, with the Mariners acquiring speedy infielder Jean Segura and the Diamondbacks getting right-hander Taijuan Walker as the centerpieces of the deal.Segura immediately projects as Seattles leadoff hitter and starting shortstop, solidifying an infield that already includes All-Star sluggers Kyle Seager at third base and Robinson Cano at second. But getting Segura meant the Mariners had to give up on the inconsistent Walker, a power arm who has showed occasional flashes of brilliance.Its hard anytime you give up talent like Taijuan, Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. Frankly, you have to give to get ... and Segura fit this club.Arizona also obtained shortstop Ketel Marte, while Seattle received outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-hander Zac Curtis.The addition of Walker could help a dreadful Arizona pitching staff that posted a 5.09 ERA last season, tied with Minnesota for worst in the majors. He joins a rotation that includes ace Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Patrick Corbin and Archie Bradley.The Diamondbacks finished 69-93 last season, fourth in the NL West.A touted prospect, the 24-year-old Walker went 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 25 starts for Seattle last season. He would be outstanding one game and then struggle the next.Young, controllable pitching is hard to find, and adding Taijuan to the rotation gives us significant depth in that area, new Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said.Segura, an All-Star in 2013 with Milwaukee, is an immediate upgrade at shortstop for Seattle, which went 86-76 last season and finished three games out of a playoff spot. He hit .319 with 20 home runs, 33 stolen bases and 63 RBI for the Diamondbacks, who acquired him from the Brewers in a January trade.Segura spent most of last season at second base for the Diamondbacks, but will move back to shortstop with the Mariners.This trade made more sense for where our rooster is, and Jean Segura fit this club about as well as any player we were looking at, Dipoto said.ddddddddddddGoing into the offseason, Seattle thought its starting pitching depth was enviable. Now the Mariners will need to find supplemental arms after dealing Walker.Most of our focus, if not our primary focus, from now until opening day is going to be left toward the pitching staff, Dipoto said.That might not be so easy for Seattle. Hazen said the thin market for pitchers was one of the reasons the Diamondbacks made the trade for Walker.We felt this was the opportunity we were going to have to take due to the market, Hazen explained.Whether it turns out to be a successful trade could ultimately depend on how Marte and Haniger develop.Marte had many of the same problems with inconsistency as Walker, but also became a liability in the field. Marte hit .259 in 119 games last season, but hitting was secondary to being solid in the field. At times Marte was excellent, but too many routine plays were not made. He finished with 21 errors.Still, the Diamondbacks were struck by his athleticism and the fact that 2016 was his first full season in the majors at one position.Our scouts loved his ability and athleticism in the middle of the field, Hazen said. We think he adds a lot to the middle of our infield.Haniger, who turns 26 next month, hasnt gotten much of a chance to prove himself at the major league level, but Dipoto believes he can play all three outfield positions. Haniger was the Diamondbacks minor league player of the year after hitting .321 with 25 homers and 94 RBI between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno. He made his major league debut on Aug. 16 against the New York Mets and appeared in 34 games, hitting .229 with five homes and 17 RBI.We feel like Mitch, like so many of the guys we have acquired dating back to last year, there is not much left for him to do in the minor leagues, Dipoto said. We really like our depth and potential for impact and feel good with where we are with our outfield. ' ' '