Lewis Hamilton is confident Mercedes will be in a strong position in 2017 following an amazing meeting with team boss Toto Wolff on Sunday.Hamilton lost out on a fourth F1 drivers championship in 2016 by five points to Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who achieved his maiden title success in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago. Rosberg shocked the F1 world by announcing his immediate retirement just five days later, freeing up a seat at the German manufacturer for next year.Mercedes began its search for Rosbergs replacement last week, with the likes of Fernando Alonso, Pascal Wehrlein and Valtteri Bottas among the drivers linked to the seat as the Brackley-based outfit considers all options for 2017.Wolff previously stated the team is prepared to make a brave decision in selecting the Britons new teammate. Hamilton took to social media on Sunday night to reveal a positive meeting between himself and Wolff, posting two short videos of the pair on the Story section of his Instagram account.Hi everyone, were in Totos kitchen. We just had an amazing meeting, Hamilton said. I just wanted to send you all a message out, let you know that were going to be the strongest partnership next year, and we look forward to fighting for this championship again. Hope youre all well.In the second video, Wolff added: Hi everybody. We spent a good couple of hours together, we had a really fantastic meeting. Well be coming back so strong in 2017.Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Carlos Sainz are just some of the other names to be linked with the sole-remaining spot at Mercedes for 2017, with the team expected to confirm its new driver line-up before the end of the year. Alonzo Mourning Hornets 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. Dell Curry Hornets Jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. https://www.hornetslockerroom.com/Robert-Franks-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Terry Rozier Hornets Jersey .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Bismack Biyombo Hornets Jersey . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season.SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili sat in mostly stunned silence, all that playoff experience not preparing them for how they felt after two games. They were satisfied, yet shaken. The San Antonio Spurs had taken home-court advantage away from the Miami Heat, but then the reigning champions took them apart. So as they prepared to bring the NBA Finals back home for the first time in seven years, the veterans struggled with how they were supposed to sum up their situation. Getting one in South Florida was an accomplishment, but nothing that provided them any momentum after the Heats 103-84 victory Sunday in Game 2. "Not after tonight. I think they regained that," Duncan said. "Obviously we were glad to win a game here in Game 1. Our goal was to get two. But they got the one tonight. We get to go back home. We got a game here. We have three at home, so were excited about that. But if we play like we did tonight, thats not going to matter." The teams took Monday off, with the series resuming Tuesday night. The Spurs will also host Game 4 on Thursday and Game 5 on Sunday. The finals were once as much a part of June as the heat in this city deep in the heart of Texas. San Antonio won four titles in a nine-year span starting in 1999, but hasnt hosted a game in the NBAs championship round since the Spurs took a 2-0 lead over LeBron James and Cleveland in 2007. Here comes James again, needing to win one here -- which hasnt been easy for Miami -- and not concerned that the finals 2-3-2 format now gives the advantage to the Spurs. "It doesnt matter," he said. "Two best teams in the NBA at this point. Both teams have won and can win on each others floor. So its not a biggie." The Heat are just 3-22 in San Antonio, though they did win this year even while James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers sat out the late-season meeting. James had no cause for concern after Game 2, which validated his belief that he can depend on his teammates until he gets rolling, as he did late in the third quarter and well into the fourth. But a little doubt seemed to creep into the Spurs Big Three, unusual for a group that has been there, done that. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have teamed for 99 post-season victories together, second-most in NBA history, a trio that is well aware of how quickly things can change in the playoffs. They changeed really quickly in this series, about the time it took James to turn Tiago Splitters dunk attempt into a forever finals highlight with a blocked shot.dddddddddddd "Of course if you look at the result, being 1-1, its not bad. But you dont want to play like this in an NBA Finals," Ginobili said. "You dont want to give them that much confidence, and you feeling bad about yourself." Duncan was admittedly awful in Game 2, shooting 3 of 13 for nine points. Parker offset his five baskets in 14 attempts with five turnovers, and Ginobili had three of the Spurs 17 turnovers that led to 19 points. The Spurs, like every other team in the NBA, know that theres no way to beat the Heat with that kind of ball handling. "We have to play better. Definitely have to play better," Parker said. "You know, were playing the defending champs. Theyre a great team. We knew they were going to come in and play with a lot more energy and play harder. Thats what they did tonight. "So its always easy to bounce back after a loss, and now its our turn to see how were going to handle our loss and how were going to respond." Big Three against Big Three provided plenty of buildup to the series, and Ginobili said the Spurs stand little chance of winning if their trio plays poorly. But James, having seen the Heat not have enough when they were largely just he, Wade and Chris Bosh two years ago, insists his current team is deep enough to do big damage even when it doesnt come from the big names. "I think the supporting cast is really why both teams are here," James said. "Theyve been making an impact all year long, and they feel like their supporting cast is better. We feel like our supporting cast is better. Its who goes out and do it each and every night to help seal wins." The Spurs are shooting just 41 per cent and averaging 88 points in the series, perhaps lucky to not be down 2-0. Duncan, the three-time NBA Finals MVP who always seemed to be more reliable the later in the season it was, has made only 11-of-32 shots. "Obviously, theyre contested shots, but theyre the shots I feel I can make. So whether it be them or me or whatever it may be, Im going to get back in the gym tomorrow and hopefully come out with a better stroke," he said. "But Im getting the shots I want. I just have to knock them down." ' ' '