and Dwight Howard was superb before injury. - The Lo

PRETORIA, South Africa - Months before he killed his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius said he drew his gun and went into "combat mode" after thinking he heard the noise of an intruder at his home, which turned out to be a washing machine, a South African guns expert testified Monday at the athletes murder trial. Sean Rens also said Pistorius wanted to buy seven more guns in 2012 — to add to the 9 mm pistol he already owned for self-defence — and asked the firearm trainer to procure them for him under a gun collectors permit. The guns included a semi-automatic assault rifle, three shotguns, another self-loading rifle and two Smith & Wesson handguns. Rens, the manager of the International Firearm Training Academy in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg, produced one invoice that included five of the guns and nearly 600 hundred rounds of ammunition made out in Pistorius name. That total price came to nearly $5,000 and Pistorius had already paid around $4,500 of the bill, the invoice showed. The order was cancelled after Pistorius shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in early 2013, Rens said. The remaining two guns were contained on a second invoice, the firearm dealer said. Rens also said he had many conversations about firearms with Pistorius, who is accused of murder in Steenkamps shooting death on Valentines Day last year. Rens said the double-amputee runner had "a great love and enthusiasm" for guns. Rens met Pistorius in 2012, he testified, and trained with him at a gun range. In one conversation, Pistorius described how he was startled by a noise at home and decided to clear the house by drawing his gun and checking rooms, according to Rens. "He went into what we call code red or combat mode," Rens said. "When he came to the source of the noise, it was the laundry or something." Pistorius tweeted about the incident in November 2012: "Nothing like getting home to hear the washing machine on and thinking its (sic) an intruder to go into full combat recon mode into the pantry!" Pistorius said he killed Steenkamp by accident before dawn on Feb. 14, 2013, shooting her through a toilet door after mistaking her for an intruder in his home. Prosecutors say he killed her intentionally after an argument and also questioned Rens on Pistorius firearm training. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked Rens to describe how Pistorius was quizzed on how to handle a firearm in various scenarios, for example when two unidentified men approach the house of a gun owner; then when they break into the house, begin to steal belongings and order the gun owner to leave; and if the men threaten to kill the gun owner, who is behind a security gate in the house. In each case, Rens said, Pistorius was asked if it was OK to fire at the men and Pistorius correctly answered "No." Pistorius correctly said he was only entitled to shoot at them if they advanced on him with a gun, according to Rens. Nel was trying to show that Pistorius flouted the regulations that he knew when he shot Steenkamp. Pistorius says he fired because he thought he was under threat. Rens said he was introduced to Pistorius in May 2012, a few months before the runner made history by competing at the London Olympics. Pistorius first wanted Rens to find a "specific" gun for him, Rens testified, a Smith & Wesson 500 revolver handgun. Rens also listed the other guns Pistorius was hoping to procure under a collectors license. They were a .38-calibre Smith & Wesson revolver, the civilian version of a Vector .223-calibre assault rifle used by South African police, another self-loading semi-automatic rifle and three shotguns. Pistorius applied to the South African polices National Firearms Centre for the licenses for six of these guns on Jan. 22, 2013, according to the centres records, just three weeks before he shot dead Steenkamp in his home using his 9 mm Parabellum pistol, which he already licensed for self-defence. Pistorius applications were not processed and were instead "sent back" four days after he killed Steenkamp, officials at the South African polices National Firearms Center told The Associated Press last year. In later testimony Monday, police photographer Bennie van Staden spoke about the images he took when he arrived at Pistorius house on the night of the killing. One photograph of the runner, taken in his garage, showed unexplained scuff marks on his bloodied prosthetic limbs. Another from the Paralympians bedroom showed a box with a label that said "Testis compositum." The runners representatives have identified the substance as an herbal remedy used for "muscle recovery." A product by that name also is sold as a sexual enhancer and contains the testicles, heart and embryo of pigs, among other ingredients. Some retailers also say it can be used to treat fatigue. Also found in the bedroom was a box with the label "Coenzyme compositum" as well as syringes and needles. Steenkamps mother, June, was in the Pretoria courtroom for a second time Monday but had left by the time van Staden was describing some photos being displayed of the bloody bathroom scene where her daughter was shot. June Steenkamp last attended the trial on the opening day on March 3. Nike Zoom Offerta .Hammel pitched inside more and it helped him get into the seventh inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Friday night. Scarpe Zoom Scontate . - Because they didnt go into Beast Mode, the Seattle Seahawks found themselves in Spin Mode. http://www.nikezoomscontate.it/ . Browns advice worked. Irving scored 20 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 88-82 Saturday night. Irving made his first shot of the night on a layup a little over three minutes into the game. Nike Zoom Saldi . The start of the seasons fifth and final major was delayed two hours due to heavy rain in the area. The tournament eventually began, but with water on the greens and the rain persisting, players were called back to the clubhouse less than an hour after the first group teed off. Nike Zoom Outlet Italia . Rockies manager Walt Weiss was unhappy, too. Weiss addressed the issue in a 15-minute meeting with his pitcher and catcher after the Rockies gave up 14 hits and lost 10-1. De La Rosa lasted only 4 1-3 innings and allowed five runs in his first opening-day start.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Golden State Warriors are the best team in the NBA for reasons passing the obvious. Bold moves and commitment have put the Warriors atop the standings in the NBA. They havent lost since the Hoover Administration and are the associations most lethal two-way threat. They rank third in scoring and sixth in opponents scoring. Doesnt take an analytics nerd to figure that yields a high margin of victory. The Warriors win by an average of 10.9 ppg. Thats also first. The Splash Brothers are headed to the All-Star game, deservedly so. Steph Curry is a statistical freak of nature. Hes sixth in scoring, fifth in assists, eighth in steals, third in free-throw shooting and first in 3- pointers made. Klay Thompson is 14th in scoring, eighth in 3-point shooting percentage and fourth in made 3-pointers. Even Curry has emerged into a legitimate NBA defender and Thompson was already considered an elite wing stopper. So, yes, the Splash Brothers are studs who carry this team offensively. The nickname is still stupid, but the point is they are All-NBA caliber guys. Their importance is paramount to be clear. It is not singular to the Warriors obscene success to this point. Steve Kerr came into the Warriors coaching job as the trendy name this offseason. He brushed aside the courtship of one of his mentors, Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks, to take the Golden State gig. Hes a west-coast guy and the rosters werent comparable, so it made sense. It wasnt the easiest transition in the history of business transactions. Former coach Mark Jackson resuscitated this franchise, but was shown the door because of some friction with ownership. Jacksons players were fiercely loyal to their former coach, but now, it looks like Kerr has been their uncle for eternity. The group plays beautiful team basketball and Kerr made perhaps the biggest, boldest decision he could make from the beginning. He reinserted Harrison Barnes into the starting lineup in favor of Andre Iguodala. Barnes started as a rookie two seasons ago, then went to the bench when Iguodala was signed in the summer of 2013. Getting maximum output from Barnes has been crucial to the Warriors success. Building him back into the productive player he was as a rookie was a tough task for Kerr. I think he needed to play this year, Kerr said after Thursdays victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Last year was a tough year for him. He needed to play and let loose. Hes taken advantage of the minutes. Draymond Green is a similar story. He played quite a bit in the last playoffs under Jackson, but now, hes becoming vital. And their presence has given Golden States biggest asset to date - their ability to switch on defense. With the exception of Andrew Bogut, every player in the starting five, and much of the bench, can switch any pick-and-roll on the floor. Thats the strength of our defense really, along with Bogs protecting the rim, the versatility on the wings, the ability to switch and get out on 3- point shooters, Kerr said. Bogut is undervalued, but Kerrs decision to tweak that starting lineup has been genius. It was a brash decision. Iguodala signed a four-year, $48 million contract in 2013, meaning, a man making a shade over $12 million was demoted for a third-year guy who lost his spot a season prior and a second-round pick in Green. Its brilliance is how its enhanced the second unit. Iguodala isnt the explosive player he once was, but can still get the oppositions shirt. Shaun Livingston was signed in the offseason after a career redefining season with Brooklyn in 2013-14. Marreese Speights averages 12.4 ppg in 15.8 minutes per game. We have enough scoring coming off the bench, but the fact we can continue to defend even with our starteers off the floor, thats a really big factor for us, said Kerr.dddddddddddd And the bench should get enhanced shortly. David Lee has played all of seven minutes for the Warriors this season, but is expected back shortly from a hamstring injury. Kerr should be committed if he tinkers with that first unit, so where does Lee fit in? We are talking about a two-time All-Star who averaged 18.2 ppg and 9.3 rebounds a night for Golden State last season. We need him. Well find ways to play, noted Kerr. It may mean a few less minutes for Harrison and Draymond. We have great chemistry and guys are playing for each other. When David comes back, and things change rotation- wise, guys are going to accept it. And that demonstrates another beautiful aspect of this Warriors team. This is a cohesive group that doesnt let ego get in the way of a good thing. Sounds simple and obvious enough, but in 2014, how often does that really happen? Theres nothing better in the NBA than being on a team like this where you have good guys and youre winning, Kerr said. For veterans like Iguodala and Lee to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the group is too uncommon. Barnes and Green are better players right now and better fits in Kerrs schemes, which are predicated on versatility. And good on Kerr for going with whats best. Iguodala and Lee make a combined $27 million and were integral to the development and success of Golden State. It would be easy to play favorites to the veterans, especially in your first gig and especially considering the potentially fragile nature of the group after what transpired with Jackson. But Kerr put his horses on display and its working. It also doesnt hurt that Kerr has gone younger during this process. We talk about the development of [a franchise] is when your young players develop, said TNTs Reggie Miller. Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have gotten better each year. Thats why the Warriors franchise is in good hands moving forward. Its in great hands now. RANDOM THOUGHTS - Good for the Philadelphia 76ers. No one wants that record of worst start to a season. They play hard, they work hard, so good for them. The all-time worst record of 9-73 is, however, in play. - Potential Western Conference All-Star guards: Curry, Thompson, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Monta Ellis and Damian Lillard. Frontcourt guys: Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Marc Gasol, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge and Zach Randolph. That doesnt account for the fact that Kevin Durant will probably fare well in the fan vote and Dwight Howard was superb before injury. - The Los Angeles Lakers are 5-14, but 1-13 within the Western Conference. So, that should show how bad the East is that LA is 4-1 against them. - You love the Washington Wizards? I do. Theyre loaded. Going to be a force in the Eastern Conference, right? The Atlanta Hawks are a game behind them. The always .500, duller than taupe Hawks could be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by the end of the weekend. - Movie moment - Im a sucker for the Oscars, so its cool to me that one of my favorite character actors - J.K. Simmons - is sounding like a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actor. Before you look him up, he was the dad in Juno, the psychiatrist in Law & Order, the hideous white supremacist in Oz, is the yellow peanut M&M and currently is the dean of students for Farmers Insurance. What range. - TV moment - My son was acting up a bit on Thursday night so my girlfriend put on the live screening of Peter Pan on NBC. He said, am I in trouble? I was harsh on The Sound of Music and Id never watch that, or Peter Pan voluntarily, but I respect those involved. They knew scorn was coming, but did it anyway. ' ' '