I had begun an NBA season preview some time ago but like many things I begin, that's as far as I got with it. Before I knew it the season had already begun and my preview became less a preview and more a collection of mislead assumptions and assertions, as this season has been anything but predictable thus far. So instead of a late preview, here is my 'see-view'; a collection of scenarios/events/ points of interest that have jumped out at me to begin this season. Some things we may have seen coming; surprise, surprise - the Spurs are decent again. Others, adios Mike Brown, not so much.
That said, let's begin out East where events have been a bit more predictable thus far, case in point - the Miami Heat and the surest thing of past 20 years, LeBron James. While many potentially elite teams have struggled out of the gate, ahem, the Lakers, the Heat have picked up from where they left off last season as the undisputed kings of the NBA Court. Not only have the Heat regained their place atop the NBA pyramid, but LeBron continues his defiant 12 month 'eff you' run as the best basketball player in the world. 'Best in the world' was previously a tag LeBron courted with, though not without controversy; performing remarkably during the regular season, he had yet to turn it up on the biggest stage of all. Safe to say the days of this argument have long since expired. It appears that since last season's coronation, his summer performance at the Olympics, and now the start of the 2012-13 season, he is the undisputed top dog of the basketball world; a position of dominance we haven't seen since Shaq's early run in the 2000's and Jordan through the early to mid 90's. He's scored 20+ in every game so far this year. You can book him every night. When considering that he has just recently entered his prime, I don't expect him to relinquish this perch anytime soon. The Heat are still my unquestioned contender out of the East. With an Eastern Conference catered to their small ball style, they should remain the peerless leaders of the conference.Current Record: 16-6 Crystal Ball: 66-16 1st in East, 2013 NBA Champs
Check out this interesting timeline supercut of Lebron James' career dissected as it happened on PTI. If you like Lebron, PTI or just the game of basketball in general this is a must see!
Contenders*
So with the Heat establishing themselves as the cream of the East crop and undoubtedly the team to beat when the playoffs arrive, that leaves us with the question - who will finish second out East? Let's take a look at what I've seen out East so far; a mix of a faux contenders (albeit, for 2nd place*), a few yet unknowns, some obvious pretenders dressed up as first round doormats and the those have-nots already jockeying for yet another top lottery position. I'll give a few initial thoughts on each team, an extended look at my Knicks, plus I'll get out the crystal ball and predict a final record and standing for each of the 16 Eastern Conference squads. Giddy up.
My New York Knicks - I'm a complete mix of emotions when it comes to the Knicks hot start to the 2012-13 season. Do I let myself get pulled in by their outstanding start. (Undefeated through their first 6 games, started 8-1 overall, first place in the East to this point!) Do I embrace with pride and joy, or do I fear the inevitable swoon as they presumably fall from grace, crushing my hopes and dreams, yet in their infancy. It's a long season no doubt, and at some point Amare Stoudemire (very soon) is going to come back and the Knicks are going to have to play their 100 Million Dollar man and his 2 dollar defense. Ironically, getting our most highly prized free agent signing of the past 10 years back on the court is my biggest fear. Go figure. There is something really not quite right about that feeling, but it certainly persists. Consider the Knicks have been terrific when they go small. Melo taking over the 4 spot; allowing him to punish bigs with penetration and shooting from mid range and long range, while doing a decent job defending them on the other end. Also, Chandler has proved more than competent at the pick and roll, a skill previously thought to be Stoudemire's bread and butter. So with Stoudemire back, the pick and roll doesn't really improve and we lose the advantage of Melo's versatility. If I thought Stoudemire was a team first guy and would embrace a move off the bench this would be a terrific bounty, giving the Knicks a remarkably solid scoring option off the bench when Melo or Chandler need rest or replacing. (Melo will inevitably end up in foul trouble checking fellow bigs on ocassion.) Unfortunately, I don't think Stoudemire is that guy and that's what keeps me up at night. How he and the Knick's handle his return, will decide the competitiveness of the 2012-13 edition of the Knicks; and ultimately his legacy as a Knickbocker. Current Record: 18-6 Crystal Ball: 52-30 3rd in the East. Atlanta Hawks - The Hawks have been the definition of addition by subtraction, wisely realizing that running the same team that has gotten beaten in the playoffs each of the past 5 years was not the answer, the Hawks used the offseason to shake up their mix; gone is former 'franchise' talent Joe Johnson and his mammoth contract, instead the Hawks have replaced him with a series of other lower cost replacements in Lou Williams, DeShawn Stevenson, Kyle Korver and Devin Harris that provide more than he had in nearly every department except scoring. Jeff Teague has finally come into his own as one of the many above average point guards across the league and is more athletic than most people think. With a healthy Al Horford up front and Josh Smith still doing Josh Smith things on the break and on the defensive end, this team has the potential to be a tougher out than they have been in some time. I like this squad as a regular season standout, aided in large part by the fact aside from the Heat, they also share a division with the Magic, the Bobcats, and the Wizards - that's 12 W's waiting to happen. A weak division and a lot of depth should spell a great regular season record. That said I still don't think they have enough offensive fire power to see them competing for the crown when it's all said and done.
Current Record: 15-7 Crystal Ball: 54-28 2nd in the East
Just in case you were still skeptical of Jeff Teague.
Too Early To Exclude - The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics have not looked like much so far into this new season. The Celts have struggled out of the gate with a lack of size up front and some of it's key players showing their age early on. The return of Avery Bradley and Doc Rivers ability to galvanize the defense has me thinking it's still too early to weigh in on the C's ability to contend this year, they always seem to have a second half run in them. With regard to the Bulls, much of it comes down to the return on Derrick Rose and his reconstructed knee. To call them a contender is certainly premature, with so much potential for change to take place, it's still to early to suggest they won't be around at season's end. And lastly, Brooklyn still gets my benefit of the doubt, having only assembled the majority of principal players in the offseason, it may still take some time for the nucleus of Williams, Wallace, Lopez, Johnson, and Humphries to gel as a unit.
Boston Celtics - The Celtics came into the season with quite a bit of hype as they seemed poised to add some much needed youth to their rotation, while still counting on their aging vets continued heavy lifting. Early returns have been mixed as some of the new faces have panned out, while others have yet to show up. Is Jeff Green any good? Couple that with the fact that some of the aging veterans have begun to show their age and this team may have more issues than initially thought. Pierce, while still entirely capable of playing at a high level - say a quarter at a time, doesn't seem like the same guy capable of carrying the offensive load for a full 82 games at 35 minutes a game. Garnett too, isn't getting any younger and he seems to have taken on more of the load inside than ever, with a seemingly undersized front line, that will only get smaller when the Darko Millicic experiment goes the way of Patrick Swayze (Ghost, not mortality. P.S. RIP). The X Factor continues to be Rondo. His development as a leader will be paramount for an offense that depends largely on his ability to create shots for others and pick the right spots for himself. There was quiet talk of a Rondo MVP type season, and while Rondo continues to show improvement, yet he still hasn't added a consistent mid range game. So in my mind, he hasn't taken the leap that many Celtic die hards had hoped for. Unless that happens the Celtics window for Pierce and Garnett appears to be quickly coming to a close.
Current Record: 13-12 Crystal Ball: 48-34 5th in the East
Chicago Bulls- Chicago, the land of many questions, few answers. What we do know is that Tom Thibidou has changed the culture here in such a way that the undermanned Bulls will be able to continue carrying out their suffocating defensive game plan in the undersized East. Despite the loss of Chicago's favourite son, Derrick Rose, the Bulls have continued to show a competitiveness and intensity to be admired around the league. That said their ability to contend for the crown this season depends entirely on his ability to return from a scary ACL injury last year in the playoffs. If Rose returns to form by the All Star break, I could see Chicago making a run down the stretch. Regardless, I think their defense first mindset (and weak lower half of the Eastern will get them enough wins to be a playoff team, how they go from there depends entirely on Derrick Rose's surgically repaired left knee.
Current Record: 14-10 Crystal Ball: 46-36 6th in the East
Brooklyn - The newly relocated Nets have found a home and roster they like in Brooklyn and early returns, while positive have not been overwhelming. It will still take a little while yet for this team to gel entirely and they likely could still use one more long perimeter defender and a knock down shooter but the Brooklyn Nets have come together quite well early in the season and with one of the only legitimate bigs in the Eastern Conference the Nets squad has enough talent to think of itself as a potential darkhorse for this season's crown. Now it's gonna take a Wally Szczerbiak amount of gelling but an injury to any of Miami's big 3 could have the Nets looking like the upset pick out of the East. They've got great guard play in Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, size and strength up front on the boards with Humphries and Lopez and a good mix of veteran glue guys and young athletes to boot. If Brooklyn says healthy and comes together through the more traditional 82 game season, two big if's, they can start talking about contending, or at the very least as we saw last night, being the best team in New York. Gulp.
Current Record: 13-12 Crystal Ball: 49-33 4th in the East
Playoff Doormats - These teams have the roster make up to make a run at the post season, but that's about as much success as they can hope for from this season. This is arguably the worst place to be for a franchise, on the outside looking in without a lottery pick to show for it. That said, both Philly and Indy are missing crucial components of their respective teams with Bynum and Granger both nursing long term injuries, if either were to return it could make a difference but I don't see it being meaningful enough or with enough time. However, were either team to tank the season, (more on this below) Bynum or Granger's return, plus a quality draft pick could mean big things for next season, a la the 1997 San Antonio Spurs, just a thought.
Current Record: 12-14 Crystal Ball: 44-38 7th in the East
Indiana Pacers -Two steps forward one step back is what I see from the 2012-13 edition of the Pacers. Last season's ... record representing the two steps forward. That said, the Pacers are a good team, but not a great team. Despite being on the fringe of actual contention last season, the Pacers seem to have taken a step back this season with the loss of Danny Granger, Darren Collison and . Furthermore they probably overpaid for Roy Hibbert's services, however the case could be made to keep him; they had the cash to spend, and no other legit BIG's were available to them (they weren't getting Dwight). Also consider, it's quite clear you're not going to beat Miami at their own game, so you need something they don't have (low-post scoring). You could talk me into believing the Pacers had really no choice but to pay Hibbert, that said, I don't see this ending well.
Current Record: 14-12 Crystal Ball: 43-39 8th in the East
Playoffs Possibilities - Here are some teams that I believe will have a legit shot at winning 40 games this season, which should put them in the talk for the final couple playoffs spots when the season all shakes out. That said most of these squads are only a fortunate injury away from the lottery contention which is where they would likely benefit most heading into next season, barring a quantum leap in ability from more than a couple of players. This is always a tricky spot, especially for 3 franchises which will have a desperately difficult time luring the potential free agents it would take to lift these squads to the next level. Orlando just been jilted by free agency with Dwight Howard holding them in free agent purgatory and Milwaukee hasn't signed a big name free agent since. Both of these teams need major help to move from out of the mediocore zone, instead they look to be there for awhile.
Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks are another guard led squad that is exciting to watch but doesn't have enough dynamics to compete with the big dogs of the East. Jennings and Ellis are as forminable a tandem as there is in the league at the guard spot, when their on. This squad looks very much like Golden State East now that Ellis has shifted coasts and traded his former shoot first PG S. Curry for his current shoot first PG. Brandon Jennings. This usually makes for exciting viewing, yet mediocore results. The Bucks continue to miss a solid low post scoring option up front and I don't see Ilyasova taking another quantum leap; like the leap he took last year. This is the definition of a team that is one All-NBA talent up front away from balancing out the offense and turning the Bucks into a team worth talking about in May. As for June, there's still a ways to go before we can discuss the idea of June basketball in Milwaukee.
Current Record: 13-11 Crystal Ball: 42-40 9th in the East
Orlando Magic - Once thought to be definite undeniable losers of the Dwight Howard fiasco. Wait, didn't I already acknowledge the Sixers as the definite undeniable losers? Let's start by saying everybody, but the Lakers, wait, I think now we can say even the Lakers lost in the trade, complete debacle. Furthermore, when I say fiasco, it extends beyond the trade itself and into the whole way in which the Dwight Howard trade saga shaped the league wide view of Orlando. Not only did the Magic trade one of the 5 most dominant players in the league for a collection of spare parts and used batteries, they also sent a nasty message of player driven authority and sacrificed a great coach for a 'chance' at a player that never wanted to be there in the first place. So from a philosophical point, I still think the Magic mishandled the situation. From a talent standpoint, Afflalo wasn't a bad addition but this team is a few lottery selections away from actual contention. Reddick and Big Baby have shown over their careers that they can be reliable bench options on a good squad; franchise cornerstones, not so much. There's a lot of rebuilding left to go in Orlando but they've already shown a admirably resiliency compared to some of the other chronically annual, basement dwellers.
Current Record: 12-13 Crystal Ball: 28-54 13th in the East
Which essentially brings into question this idea of tanking; the notion that I've already covered briefly to this point, where it is best for a team to 'mail the season in', ensuring them of a high draft pick and a shot at a future superstar talent to help raise the team up from the dole-drums of mediocrity. This is easier said than done and at the very least a bit hypocritical as fans. I'll look at Toronto because tanking this season for them has greater implications than for some of the other teams in similar losing situations. The Raps will lose there 2013 1st Round draft pick, which belongs to Houston as part of the deal that brought Kyle Lowry to Toronto, that is unless they recieve a top 3 pick as the trade had a special provision which left the top 3 picks protected for Toronto. Essentially meaning they need to be a bottom 3 team or worse to have a real shot at attaining one of these picks and not having the whole losing season be a waste. In other words, if the Raptors are going to suck this season it is in their best interest to really suck for said sucking to matter.
The Raptors are also the team to do it as they have some valuable trade pieces in Bargnani and Calderon that could yield some positive haul. It's alleged that a Bargnani for Amare Stoudemire deal was floated earlier this spring, before the Raptors pulled out. It's unlikely that Bargnani would command such value on the open market with his performance thus far this season but Calderon has certainly improved his value with his heady point guard play. Trade those pieces for future consideration and the team becomes worse in the present and has a better chance at finishing in those final couple spots. Where it becomes hypocritical for me, is where we accept teams no longer trying their best to win in the short term, yet when Vince Carter chose not to try his best in the short term during the end of his contract we've spewed venom and hatred in his direction ever since and now we essentially want the team to do the same. If all the players gave a half assed effort than we could ensure this high pick but, no, everyone goes bonkers when this happens and we cry overpaid, greedy assholes. I understand the circumstances were different when VC was moping around the Dot and yada, yada, yada,. Let's be clear I'm in no way apologizing for Vince Carter's terrible selfish disgrace of a final season in Toronto. I'm just saying the notion of tanking, 'suck for Luck' if you will, though a frustrating reality, makes us a bit hypocritical as fans. Just think if the Raps had just sucked just a tad more frequently last season they'd have Harrison Barnes instead of Terrence Rosss. Screw you Golden State.
Charlotte Bobcats - The formerly fiery Bobcats were my long shot of the century to make the playoffs. A former college coach, unheralded new bench boss, Mike Dunlap has brought his hard working collegiate approach to the pros and with so many young guys on this squad it seemed appropriate, and more importantly, it seemed to be working. The Bobcats had been grinding out 4 hour practices, trying to develop their young talent as quickly as possible and there's already been marked improvement in the development of Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd Gilchrist, and B.J. Mullens. That said, perhaps the arrival of the players first pay cheques served as a quick reminder that they are no longer in college and they do not need to listen to their coach or his college level tactics. Since their hot start to the season (relative term), 7-5, the Bobcats have since lost 13 straight decisions, taking what was once a promising start and rendering it a distant memory in another underwhelming season for the fans in Charlotte. The Bobcats could certainly still use some lottery level talent proving it's still too early to start talking about light at the end of the tunnel here.
Current Record: 7-13 Crystal Ball: 37-45 10th in the East
Toronto Raptors - The Raps have made some significant progress this season adding last years lottery selection Jonas Valuncunius to this year's lottery pick Terrence Ross, but most important has been the addition of Houston cast off Kyle Lowry. Lowry has shown himself to be a veritable pitbull on the court, a tenacious competitor with a gritty aggressive personality the Raptors have long been in search of. The Raps can score with just about anybody, but they continue to struggle on the defensive end, despite Coach Dwayne Casey's pleas. Early on I thought this Raps team had the potential to compete for one of those final playoff spots, a bit of a surprise following last season's disappointing finish, but following some tough losses and an even tougher road heavy schedule to start the season it seems the Raps spirit may have been broken and they're in for another long winter up north. I still believe this team can win games, but the Atlantic division may be the best in basketball and if the Raps continue to struggle into the All Star break then they would certainly be a candidate to sell some of their talented offensive pieces. From a personal GM note, I'd move Bargnani, looking for a potential pick or expiring contract. Also I'd cut ties with Jose Calderon at the all star break despite his obvious offensive abilities (play him for now, up his trade value). They can't continue to play two undersized point guards on the defensive end for long periods of time and expect other teams not to take advantage.
Current Record: 8-19 Crystal Ball: 35-47 13th in the East
Cleveland Cavaliers - With Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao on the court the 2012-13 Cavs can be fun to watch at times. Kyrie continues to elevate his game to the next level and has shown flashes of becoming an All NBA talent. However, without Kyrie and Anderson, this squad can be dreadful to watch. Considering Irving's slight frame and Varejao's intense all out style, the Cavs will be hard pressed to keep both of those guys on the court for the whole season (Kyrie has already been out with a fractured finger early on.) Newly minted lottery selection Dion Waiters has shown signs, but he is not ready in any way ready to carry the load for the Cavs. Which leaves this team's fate in the hands of Alonzo 'Brick' Gee. In case we forgot, God hates Cleveland.
Current Record: 5-22 Crystal Ball: 30-52 14th in the East
Detroit Pistons - The Piston's looked like a team ready to take a step foreward but those thoughts now appear premature as Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey continue to strggule to lead this team to the kind of efficient offense it's going to take to compete. The Pistons don't have the wing scoring that makes NBA basketball so much fun to watch. Greg Monroe continues to be a solid option down low but if Greg Monroe is your franchise player... then hmm you better find another franchise player? I don't even like watching the Pistons play, so they also get a knock on the personal bias test, but when you're averaging the league's lowest points per game, I need not justify such a shabby ranking.
Current Record: 7-21 Crystal Ball: 36-46 11th in the East
Washington Wizards - Started the season 0-12 with no end to the losing in sight. I'll check back in June. *Or now, since I originally started writing this when the Wizards were 0-12, the Wiz have mustard up a couple wins finally, but things are still looking real bleak in the nation's capital.
Current Record: 3-20 Crystal Ball: 18-64 Last in the East
We'll get to the much more wide open and exciting Western Conference later in the week. For now let's shift gears and look at some Hip Hop.
So much good music on the way, not only generally speaking with countless big name records hitting the shelves just in time for the holidays, what with Big Shiny Tunes 38, and the latest installment of Music Dance2012. #stockingstaples. For real though, we've had releases from Big Boi, Game, Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, Wiz, T.I. and countless other swithin the last month or so. Making it easy to find 20 bangers, less easy to weed out the good tracks from the great tracks as I try and define superlatives. We'll keep the music coming in these very pages with my coming blog on the Top Hip Hop albums of the year, plus I'll have a Top 100 Hip Hop Singles for all of 2013, so we can catch up on months of gems passed by. Stay tuned for that in the coming weeks, for today we'll just count off my personal Top 20 songs of the moment for your instant gratification.
New Hip Hop 2.0 - The South Bout To Have Something to Say!
20. Frank Ocean - Blue Whale
As close as Frank comes to rapping I'll give him this one.
19. Game Feat. Dre (From Cool and Dre) - Black Jesus - The next two songs are inexplicably not on Game's album Jesus Piece, I know Game puts out lots of content but both of these songs are as good as many of the songs on that album. Enjoy 'Black Jesus' and 'Holy Water'. Gangster hymns.
18. Game - Holy Water - See above.
17. Pusha T Ft. Raekwon and Joell Ortiz -Tick Tock - Consider this one on it's way off the list but I've been listening to it for quite a while, off Man With the Iron Fists Soundtrack
16.Game Feat. Kanye West and Common - Jesus Piece - The title track off Game's new album. If you can handle Game doing his best Kanye impression, Kanye simply repaying a Crack Music favour, and a just fair showing from Common than you'll love this track. It's not bad, just could have a lot more.
15. 50 Cent - Ft. Adam Levine, Eminem - My Life - If my street cred was in question I'm not sure the falsetto of Maroon 5's Adam Levine is the direction I'd turn, but Eminem certainly isn't a bad cosign, especially post mexican accent. This song is so radio friendly that I should rail against it as cheeze whiz passing as cheese spread, but I won't, I'll enjoy it like a good popcorn pleaser movie, it is entertainment after all.
14. Kanye West - White Dress - Another entry from the soundtrack of the RZA directed motion picture, The Man With the Iron Fists. Kanye continues to produce quality music, which should come as a surprise to just about no one.
13. 50 Cent Feat. Young Jeezy and Snoop Dogg - Major Distribution - Looks like another single off 50 Cent's 'comeback' album, Street King Immortal' due out in February. I donno if 50 needs a 'comeback' album, I think he's still relevant. I think he just needs to accept that it will never be like "Go Shawty, it's your Birthday" ever again.
12. Wiz Khalifa Feat. The Weeknd - Remember You - Wiz has full on crossover and is no longer underground hip hop, instead he is indie hip pop? Something like that, while this is hardly hip hop as Big Daddy Kane may have envisioned; the genre is simply a mutation or evolution, however you prefer it, of sub genres. I enjoy it, that's what I care about.
11.T.I. Feat. B.O.B., Kendrick Lamar and Kris Stephens - Memories Back Then - T.I.'s new album due out any day now, Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head, has leaked some very promising tracks, this and 'Wildside' featuring ASAP Rocky rank as a couple I've enjoyed so far in particular. T.I. has also worked with fellow Southern legends Cee Lo Green and Andre 3000 (See Below) on a couple of other terrific joints that are worth seeking out.
10. Kendrick Lamar - The Art Of Peer Pressure - You could just as easily have Backstreet Freestyle here, all great songs off of Kenrick Lamar's critically acclaimed good kid in the m.a.d.d. city. I'll take the storytelling.
09.A$AP Rocky - LongLiveA$AP - The title track off Rocky's long awaited major label debut, one of the better songs off of the new album.
08. Big Boi Ft. Kid Cudi - She Hates Me - Despite appearing on Big Boi's Viscious Lies and Dangerous Rumours this track has an undeniable melancholic Cudi feel to it. That said, Big Boi adapts effortlessly to the sounds of the Moon Man in one of the highlights off Big Boi's latest expiramental LP.
07. ASAP Rocky - Fuckin Problems - If you can get passed some of the songs colourful language which is inherently terrible in a song which bears this title and course. The beat is undeniably catchy and this song will only further ASAP Rocky's meteoric underground rise to stardom, not unlike Wiz Khalifa from a couple of years back. Will his music become as asscessible, this certainly doesn't suggest.
06. A$AP Rocky Feat. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T. - 1 Train - Epic posse cut off of A$Ap Rocky's new album, some very interesting names and varied flows in this multidimensional boast off.
05. Earl Sweatshirt - Chum - It should be noted that I'm a sucker for any head nod inducing piano driven riffs. Earl talks some real shit over the beat and that's the icing on the cake,
04. Big Boi Ft. T.I. and Ludacris - In the A - Taking a hot line and making it a hot song, Big Boi takes a sound bite from 'General Patton' off his last album and laces it up as a catch ycourse in this Southern banger which boasts solid verses from fellow Atlien residents, T.I. and Ludacris.
03. T.I. Feat. Andre 3000 - Sorry - 3 Stacks takes an otherwise, 'good' track and with his extended verse turns it into a great listen. That's not to say that T.I.'s verse is garbage but when 3000 is at the top of his game, as he is here, there's few who can shine in his light. Lots of collaborations in 2012 for Dre, what will '13 bring?
02. Kendrick Lamar Feat. MC Eiht - M.A.A.D. City - Kendrick Lamar and West Coast vet MC Eiht team up on this coastal banger that shifts gears part way through. Countless other tracks could have surfaced on this list, Bitch Dant Kill My Vibe, Swimming Pools (dated), and the Recipe (also dated) and others listed above speaks to the quality of Kendrick Lamar's first major label debut. Here he prevents an Outkast reunion at the top of the chart. Respect to MC Eiht as well who brings it on this as well.
01. Big Boi Feat. Phantogram and A$AP Rocky - Lines - Probably my most played song off of Big Boi's new album. So with that I'll give it my number one spot, even if the course is a little sing songy. Sir Luscious goes hard.
That's it for now. More to come. Happy Holidays! Peace.
