myself in that regard to give myself the best chance for next week." Op

MIAMI -- Chris Bosh travelled the world this summer with his family and tried to give his mind and body a break from basketball after helping the Miami Heat win a second straight championship. The body got that break. But the mind, not so much. Bosh couldnt stop assessing his season with the Miami Heat and wound up coming to a somewhat surprising conclusion: He could have done much more. So this season, with a third straight title being the ultimate goal that the Heat will start to chase when training camp opens this week, Bosh also has a personal goal in mind. "To be quite frank," Bosh said in an interview with The Associated Press, "Im trying to have the best season of my career." Thats big words from someone who enters his 11th pro season with career averages of 19.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and is coming off a season where he shot a career-best 53 per cent from the field. But as Bosh spent time in Spain, France, Morocco, Italy, India and "a whole lot of Porto places," he said, he kept thinking back to moments that got away, even in a year where Miami won 66 games and posted a 27-game winning streak. Something, for whatever reason, was missing, he said. "Ive really been hard on myself for not having that hunger last year," Bosh said. "I cant believe I didnt have it. But Im excited. Thats part of the reason why Im so eager and ready to really get this season started. I feel I have a lot of things to prove this year. I want to be one of the best players in the league and I have the ability to do that -- of course, within the teamwork that we already have. But theres another level I can take it to." The Heat will have their annual media day in Miami on Monday; Bosh isnt sure if he will be there for at least some of the festivities, since he may have a family matter to tend to first, but is certain to be on the plane when the team flies to the Bahamas early Monday evening. The first two training camp practices of the season are Tuesday at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. For the most part, the team remains intact -- Mike Miller has departed after being designated Miamis amnesty-provision player, and the Heat used some of the resulting financial flexibility to add Michael Beasley, Greg Oden and Roger Mason Jr., among others, with hopes of adding some extra depth. "It really hasnt sunk in yet," Beasley said last week. Some of the moves havent hit Bosh yet, either. "Its amazing that were able every summer to find ways to get better as a team," Bosh said. The same, he hopes, can be said for him as an individual. At this point, its not about reinventing his game, but refining it. Bosh insists that whatever ailed him last season wont be an issue when coach Erik Spoelstra blows the seasons first whistle on Tuesday. "I want to carry more of the load on offence and on defence," Bosh said. "Its going to take more if we want to win three in a row. And thats the goal." Panthers Jerseys Outlet . Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored in the shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. Wholesale Panthers Jerseys Womens .Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end. http://www.cheappanthersjerseyselite.com/ . The Nuggets leading scorer, Lawson is characterized as day to day by the team. Hes averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. Lawson suffered the injury late in Denvers win Sunday at Sacramento. Panthers Jerseys Sale .Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. White Panthers Jerseys . - Nikita Jevpalovs scored 6:22 into the second overtime as the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada edged the visiting Rimouski Oceanic 2-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. HUMBLE, Texas -- Phil Mickelson did more than prove to just himself that hes ready for next weeks Masters on Thursday. The five-time major winner showed to everyone that hes fully recovered from last weeks muscle pull and likely to be a factor in this weeks Houston Open as well. Without so much as a practice round this week at the 7,441-yard Golf Club of Houston, Mickelson opened with a 4-under par 68 and was among the leaders following Thursdays opening round. The bogey-free performance was a far cry from last week when Mickelson was forced to withdraw during the third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side "Im surprised because I was worried about the Masters," Mickelson said. "I was certainly worried about Houston, but it healed a lot quicker. I felt great today; didnt feel any pain or discomfort and didnt even think about it." Mickelson is three shots back of first-round co-leaders Bill Haas and Charley Hoffman, both who finished at 7 under. Hass had five birdies on his back nine, while Hoffman needed just 27 putts to earn a share of the lead. Keegan Bradley and Matt Kuchar lead a group of five golfers at 6 under. J.B. Holmes, Erik Compton and Jim Renner are also at 6 under, with 10 golfers are at 5 under. Of the 144 players in the field, 113 finished at even par or under on an overcast and occasionally misty day. "The greens are absolutely perfect," Haas said. "... I think the scores are reflective on that. They were a little slower, but part of that, too, is the weather. It was like a little dewy mist out there all day, which played a part in the speed of the greens." Mickelson and Bradley were part of a threesome with Webb Simpson, who also finished 4 under. All three players in the group navigated the course without a bogey in their morning rounds. Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, playing in the afternoon and one of the five top-10 players in the world in the tournament, finished withh a 2-under 70.dddddddddddd While Haas and Hoffman shared the lead after Thursdays play, it was Mickelson -- who was forced to withdraw during last weeks third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side -- who was the centre of attention leading into next week at Augusta National. Mickelson has won the Masters three times, the latest coming in 2010, but his status was in doubt following last weeks injury. The left-hander, however, underwent treatment in the days following his departure from San Antonio -- along with fitting in two days of light practice at Augusta National -- and appeared in top ball-striking form on Thursday. "One of the things I really worked on hard today was staying focused on each shot," Mickelson said. "... I needed to play here this week and really challenge myself in that regard to give myself the best chance for next week." Opening on the back nine at the former Redstone Golf Club, which was renamed the Gold Club of Houston following an ownership change, Mickelson was bogey free despite needing 31 putts. He made the turn at 2 under following a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th, and he birdied both of the par 5s on his back nine to put himself squarely in contention. Mickelson won the Houston Open in 2011, and the courses Masters-like setup -- including slick greens and tight rough -- is a key reason hes returned every year since. "He was striking it, he was hitting it long and great," Bradley said of Mickelson. "... He seems like it was feeling a lot better today than it was in San Antonio." Kuchar, who finished tied for fourth at last weeks Texas Open, had three straight birdies in the middle of his round on Thursday -- highlighted by a 47-foot birdie putt on the 445-yard par-4 second hole. McIlroy, one of five of the top 10 players in the world in the field, was as low as 3 under before a pair of bogeys on the back nine. World No. 10 Dustin Johnson withdrew following an opening 8-over par 80. ' ' '