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Alex Wakely, the Northamptonshire captain, hailed his teams apparent weaknesses - their small squad and financial worries - as key factors in his sides success in the NatWest T20 Blast.Wakely led the side to their second T20 trophy in four years at Edgbaston on Saturday, overcoming a Nottinghamshire side containing nine international players in the semi-final and a Durham side boosted by the return of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood in the final.But while Northants small squad has, at times this season, seen their coach phoning around the counties for loan players ahead of games in order to be able to name a competitive team, it has also helped create a close-knit team spirit and sense of confidence in a dressing room that knows it need not fear for places. Crucially, in a format where role definition is so important, it has also given Northants players clarity and confidence in what is exacted of them and what they can expect of their team-mates.The difference was highlighted in the semi-final. While Nottinghamshire arrived at Edgbaston with a choice of three overseas players (only two could play) and having decided to leave out batsman Greg Smith, a regular in the qualifying games, in place of England opener Alex Hales, Northants had just one overseas player and committed to the team that had helped them reach Finals Day. Hales was subsequently bowled for a duck while Stuart Broad, having his first T20 bowl of the campaign, sent down only two overs.While it was Northants first victory over Nottinghamshire in any format since 2006, Wakely suggested that not facing such selection dilemmas might have been a factor in the result.A lot of the reason weve been successful over years is that weve played pretty much the same team throughout the competition, Wakeley said. You look at Notts they chopped and changed their side and it doesnt always work.Greg Smith for instance for Notts he was one of the best players all year and then hes not playing. I dont agree with it, but it is the way it is.We dont have that problem and thats a massive reason why weve come out here and done what weve done.Our small squad means we dont look over our shoulders. When someone does well, we are always enjoying it. At bigger counties, there is always someone looking over their shoulder thinking that could be me. We dont have that.The continuity in the dressing room helps. Weve played pretty much the same team all the way through the competition for the last three years. We dont want to be a feeder club. Going forward, theres a two or three year plan to keep our best players.While Northants have not always been in the news for the right reasons of late - their financial troubles have been well chronicled - Wakely insisted the dressing room culture was the best he had experienced. Indeed, it seems the us against the world attitude has helped forge a spirit within the squad that proved so important on finals day when Northants twice found themselves three wickets down within the first 14 balls of their innings.Theres a lot of off-field stuff written that we have to try and ignore, Wakely said. People on our backs, hammering us down, calling us overweight, all that kind of stuff.But we ignore it. That dressing room is the best Ive played with. I couldnt be more proud. I love this club to bits. Ive been here since I was 13 and things keep getting better and better. Laurie Evans came in [on-loan from Warwickshire recently] and said it was the most enjoyable dressing room he played in.Its pretty simple: I believe that, if you have a happy changing room, you perform.They were words backed by Saturdays Man of the Match, Josh Cobb. Cobb, who made a sparkling 80 in the final, also won the Man of the Match award for his bowling in the 2011 final (bowling a few long-hops as he modestly put it) while representing Leicestershire, but admitted he was enjoying his cricket much more with Northants. As a result he has rejected approaches from other counties - Derbyshire are believed to have been especially keen - and signed a new three-year deal.I wasnt massively enjoying my cricket at Leicester, Cobb said. I had a few tough seasons. But Ive come here and they had an exceptional white-ball side, but more than anything Ive just really enjoying my cricket. The team spirit is exceptional and Ive been here two years and Ive played in three out of a possible four quarter-finals and played in two T20 finals in two years. Im really enjoying it and, ultimately, thats why you play the game.Such was Cobbs enthusiasm for the cause that he delayed knee surgery for several weeks to help Northants in their Royal London quarter-final and at T20 Finals Day.This is the last time youll see me on the field this season, he said. I have been struggling with my knee. But I always believed that wed be playing in a final and thats the reason Ive taken the pain killers and decided to battle through. Nike Shoes Cheap China . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Cheap Nike Shoes China Free Shipping . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. 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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kevin Durant decided his best chance for growth means leaving his beloved Oklahoma City behind for a big move out West to join the star-studded, record-setting Golden State Warriors and play alongside Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.In the most anticipated move of the NBA offseason, Durant announced his decision Monday on The Players Tribune. His contract is for $54 million over two years and includes a player option, a person with knowledge of the deal said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because details werent made public. Durants move will become official as soon as Thursday, when free agents can sign their new contracts.Independence Day, indeed.The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player -- as that has always steered me in the right direction, Durant said in the article.But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.And the 2015 champion Warriors, who squandered a 3-1 NBA Finals lead to lose to LeBron James and the Cavaliers last month, know how tough Durant is in any lineup: They rallied from down 3-1 to beat Durant and the Thunder in a seven-game Western Conference Finals.Golden State applied a full-court press to land Durant. On Friday in the Hamptons, the Warriors sent owner Joe Lacob, general manager Bob Myers, coach of the year Steve Kerr, Curry and Thompson to meet with the 6-foot-9 superstar.Also Monday, the Warriors reached a one-year agreement with unrestricted free agent center Zaza Pachulia, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said. He spent last season with Dallas, averaging 8.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists.Durant, the 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champion, led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012 and to the Western Conference finals in four of the past six years -- and hes only 27. He recovered from a broken bone in his right foot that cost him much of last season to post one of the best years of his career.Durant met with the Thunder, Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat once teams could begin negotiating with free agents.With the addition of Durant, the Warriors become the leagues latest team to add a superstar chasing a championship to a lineup of All-Stars.James made the move from Cleveland to Miami in 2010, joining a lineup that featured Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. They reached four NBA Finals as a group and won two championships.Im from Washington, D.C. originally, but Oklahoma City truly raised me. It taught me so mmuch about family as well as what it means to be a man, Durant said.ddddddddddddThere are no words to express what the organization and the community mean to me, and what they will represent in my life and in my heart forever. The memories and friendships are something that go far beyond the game. Those invaluable relationships are what made this deliberation so challenging.It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career.He should be a good fit in Golden States varying lineups and gives All-Star Draymond Green another physical body and rebounding presence to complement 3-point aces Curry and Thompson.The Warriors topped the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls mark and set the NBA regular-season wins record with 73 victories and led the league in scoring.Durant has been a difficult opponent for the Warriors -- he averaged 30 points per game against them in this years Western Conference finals and dropped a career-high 54 points on them in 2014.Adding Durant will give the Warriors another chance to chase a title after the bitter feeling that was this season -- a record-setting year that ended without the teams biggest goal being reached.Durant has had to carry much of the scoring load for the Thunder over the years, but having Curry, Green and Thompson on the floor with him should open up space he hasnt had during his tenure in Oklahoma City.But the Warriors will have to move players to make room for Durant.Golden State and Dallas have agreed on a deal to send center Andrew Bogut to the Mavericks, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP. The person said other details of the trade are still being worked out, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be finalized until Thursday.Before Durant announced his move, Bogut removed all references to the Warriors from his Twitter page, which afterward featured a photo of the 7-footer in an Australia jersey.The Mavericks also will sign Harrison Barnes to a max four-year, $94 million deal after Golden State renounces his rights and he becomes an unrestricted free agent, a person told the AP.Losing Durant to a top rival will sting for the Thunder.Kevins contributions to our organization during his nine years were profound, on and off the court, Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett said in a statement. He helped the Thunder grow and succeed in immeasurable ways and impacted the community just the same.We thank him for his leadership, his play, and how he represented Oklahoma City and the entire state of Oklahoma.---AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon in Dallas and Cliff Brunt in Oklahoma City contributed to this report. ' ' '