In one of the most shocking moments of the 2014-15 NBA season so far, the Detroit Pistonsreleased forward Josh Smithon Monday, according to the team"s official Twitter account:
Detroit head coach and president Stan Van Gundy spokeabout the decision in a release on the team website:
Our team has not performed the way we had expected throughout the first third of the season and adjustments need to be made in terms of our focus and direction. We are shifting priorities to aggressively develop our younger players while also expanding the roles of other players in the current rotation to improve performance and build for our future. As we expand certain roles, others will be reduced. In fairness to Josh, being a highly versatile 10-year veteran in this league, we feel its best to give him his freedom to move forward. We have full respect for Josh as a player and a person.
Vincent Goodwill of TheDetroit News shared the details of how Smiths contract will count against Detroit"s salary cap moving forward:
According to Jake Fischer of TheBoston Globe, the Pistons tried to trade Smith, but theycouldnt find a willing partner:
Gary Washburn of TheBoston Globe chimed in with his shock surrounding the move to cut ties with Smith:
In 28 games this season for Detroit, Smith averaged 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. With the team stumbling out to a 5-23 record and J-Smoove shooting a career-worst 39.1 percent from the floor, Van Gundy decided now was the time to move on.
Teams will surely kick the tires on a veteran player like Smith, who, at just 29 years old, could be a difference-maker for a team already in contention. According to Jonathan Feigen of theHouston Chronicle, the Houston Rockets would be interested in signing him assuming he clears waivers. ESPN.com"s Marc Stein suggested theLos Angeles Clippersand Dallas Mavericks could make a run at Smith, too.
For the Pistons, it"s just the next step in what looks to be a massive rebuilding effort under Van Gundy as he tries to bring the franchise back to its previous heights.
Despite a few division champions being crowned over the weekend, it"s still anyone"s guess as to how the NFL playoff field will come together with Week 16 fast approaching.
Football fans will have to wait until Sunday to see games with playoff implications, with the 2-12 Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars battling for draft position onThursday Night Football. But that"s only one of two games out of the 16-game slate that won"t have some sort of ramifications to teams" playoff hopes.
Some of the work has already been done for four teams, as ESPN Stats and Information shows, but even they still have playoff seeding to play for:
Whether it"s teams that desperately need a win to stay alive, squads hoping to sweeten their playoff position down the stretch or anything in between, things could get really wacky entering the final week of the season if more upsets take place.
With that said, let"s break down the latest playoff outlook by the conferenceentering Week 16.
AFC Playoff Outlook
AFC Standings Entering Week 16 Denver Broncos 11 3 0 at CIN, vs. OAK Kansas City Chiefs 8 6 0 at PIT, vs. SD San Diego Chargers 8 6 0 at SF, at KC Oakland Raiders 2 12 0 vs. BUF, at DEN New England Patriots 11 3 0 at NYJ, vs. BUF Buffalo Bills 8 6 0 at OAK, at NE Miami Dolphins 7 7 0 vs. MIN, vs. NYJ New York Jets 3 11 0 vs. NE, at MIA Cincinnati Bengals 9 4 1 vs. DEN, at PIT Pittsburgh Steelers 9 5 0 vs. KC, vs. CIN Baltimore Ravens 9 5 0 at HOU, vs. CLE Cleveland Browns 7 7 0 at CAR, at BAL Indianapolis Colts 10 4 0 at DAL, at TEN Houston Texans 7 7 0 vs. BAL, vs. JAX Tennessee Titans 2 12 0 at JAX, vs. IND Jacksonville Jaguars 2 12 0 vs. TEN, at HOU
NFL.com (highlighted teams have clinched division)
The three AFC teams that have separated themselves from the pack throughout the 2014 season all had a chance to wrap up their divisions in Week 15, and they didn"t hesitate at the opportunity.
With big wins on Sunday, New England, Denver and Indianapolis all clinched their respective division titles once again. Now, next up on the docket for all three teams is clinching a first-round byealthough only two of them will succeed.
The odd team out is looking more and more like Andrew Luck"s 10-4 Colts. They"re already a game behind both the 11-3 Pats and Broncos, and would need one of the two to lose both games down the stretch (Indianapolis lost to both teams, so identical records wouldn"t favor the Colts).
New England also beat Denver convincingly earlier in the year, which means the Patriots can wrap up the AFC"s top seed by beating the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills to finish at 13-3. The Broncos need to win out and a Pats loss to jump them, but one more win will clinch at least a first-round bye.
We may not be officially on course for another AFC Championship Game between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but the improved play of both defenses makes it feel like an impending reality, per Pro Football Focus" Steve Palazzolo:
The fate of the top teams are close to sealed, but that"s far from the case in the AFC North and wild-card racewhich are becoming close to one in the same.
While the Browns fell to the wayside, all three other divisional teamsCincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburghwon in Week 15. That"s making this tweet from NFL Network become closer and closer to a reality:
Some teams sit in better positions than others entering the final two weeks. Pittsburgh will clinch a playoff spot with a win over Kansas City. Baltimore can do the same with wins over both Houston and Cleveland.
All Cincinnati needs is one win and corresponding Ravens and Steelers losses to clinch the division, but that will be a tough propositionthe Bengals face Denver in Week 16 and close the season against the Steelers.
Kansas City, San Diego and Buffalo will be the AFC North"s biggest enemies down the stretch. All three teams sit at 8-6 and need help to get back into the conversation, but would do just that if the Steelers and Ravens both lose in Week 16.
NFC Playoff Outlook
NFC Standings Entering Week 16 Arizona Cardinals 11 3 0 vs. SEA, at SF Seattle Seahawks 10 4 0 at ARI, vs. STL San Francisco 49ers 7 7 0 vs. SD, vs. ARI St. Louis Rams 6 8 0 vs. NYG, at SEA Dallas Cowboys 10 4 0 vs. IND, at WSH Philadelphia Eagles 9 5 0 at WSH, at NYG New York Giants 5 9 0 at STL, vs. PHI Washington Redskins 3 11 0 vs. PHI, vs. DAL Detroit Lions 10 4 0 at CHI, at GB Green Bay Packers 10 4 0 at TB, vs. DET Minnesota Vikings 6 8 0 at MIA, vs. CHI Chicago Bears 5 9 0 vs. DET, at MIN New Orleans Saints 6 8 0 vs. ATL, at TB Carolina Panthers 5 8 1 vs. CLE, at ATL Atlanta Falcons 5 9 0 at NO, vs. CAR Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 12 0 vs. GB, vs. NO
NFL.com (highlighted teams clinched playoff berth)
The Green Bay Packers entered Week 15 on a furious win streak that looked like it couldn"t be stopped, but a trip to Buffalo halted the NFC"s darling in their tracks. Now, they"re not even leading the NFC North.
A loss to the Bills dropped the Pack to 10-4, putting them even with the red-hot Detroit Lionswho have won seven of nine. Aaron Rodgers and crew don"t hold the tiebreaker over Detroit right now, but that shouldn"t be a worry given what"s ahead.
All the Packers have to do is beat the Lions in their season finale and the NFC North is theirsand probably a first-round bye. The teams" tight records make their Week 16 matchups seemingly unimportant, per Bleacher Report"s Zach Kruse:
The Packers and Lions won"t be the only divisional race practically coming down to one head-to-head matchup, as the NFC West is in the same boat. However, fans won"t have to wait until the final week of the season for that one.
Despite losing two quarterbacks, the Arizona Cardinals have improved to an 11-3 record, clinching at least a postseason berth. But if they don"t take care of business against Seattle in Week 16, the Seahawks will tie them in the NFC West and maintain that crucial tiebreaker with both head-to-head wins.
Folks like ESPN"s Robert Flores were quick to crown the Seahawks when Arizona announced Ryan Lindley as its starting quarterback for Week 16, but crazier things have happened:
Because head-to-head battles for the division are apparently the popular thing in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles faced off in a Week 15 battle that wouldseemingly decide the NFC East. Dallas came up big in the rematch, but it"s far from in the clear for a postseason berthmuch less the division.
Dallas would lose the tiebreaker against Philadelphia, which is only one game back at the moment. The Cowboys can move closer to the prize by winning against the Colts at home, but ESPN"s Skip Bayless noted the team"s woes at home:
Don"t be surprised if the NFC East team missing out on the division ends up missing out altogether. Whichever teams fall flat in both the NFC North and West will have similar records of 10 wins or more, and there are only two wild-card spots up for grabs.
Should the NFL consider allowing a third wild-card team when division champs are below .500?
As for the NFC South, well, at least a few of them are showing some sort of interest in grabbing the available playoff spot. The New Orleans Saints convincingly beat the Chicago Bears onMonday Night Footballto move into first in the division, and the Carolina Panthers are a half-game behind after taking care of Tampa Bay.
The Saints can win the division with two victories down the stretch, but one defeat will allow the Panthers to do the same. Atlanta still remains in the hunt at 5-9 (miraculously), but will need the Saints to fall apart down the stretch along with winning out.
Either way, it will be seriously debated whether one of the hot NFC wild-card contenders deserves a spot over whoever wins the division.
Two suspects were arrested following an armed robbery Friday night, police said.
Police received reports of two men with handguns seen entering a home on 9th Street near Solano Avenue around 8 p.m.
Responding officers found two men exiting the house, both with guns. Police told them to drop their weapons and both men ran. One man dropped his weapon and ran, while the other took off with weapon in hand and headed north on Rice Street.
One suspect was found under a truck next door to the victim"s home, police said. The suspect is identified as Devante Akheem Costello, 21, of Richmond.
Police sectioned off the block of Rice Street between 9th Street and Central Avenue after the suspect fled, and officers began searching the area.
Another man was later found at Solano Avenue and Central Street, one block away from the robbery. Police identified him as Quentin Gordon, 18, of Rodeo.
Both a .40-caliber handgun and a Beretta 9mm handgun were recovered, according to police.
The 35-year-old robbery victim was treated for head wounds. The suspects had tried to take a large amount of cash that was found in the victim"s home and may have known the alleged robbers, police said. ------ (c)2014 Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) Visit Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) at www.timesheraldonline.com
Christmas Tours at Patterson House: Docent-led tours highlighting Victorian-inspired decorations and holiday traditions from the late 1800s. Tours at 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 20-21. 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. $3-$4; plus admission to Ardenwood Historic Farm, $2-$6. 888-327-2757, www.ebparks.org/register.
"Garden Friends and Not-Such-Friends": The Lafayette Garden Club presents this talk by Gary Bogue, former curator at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and longtime gardening and wildlife columnist. 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 1. Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Email cpoetzsch@gmail.com.
Advertisement
Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club: Presentation on therapeutic gardening by Patrice Hanlon. 7 p.m. Jan. 6. Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive. 925-944-4898, www.phgsc.com.
Nickelodeons popular animated series Legend of Korra ended this week and appears to have confirmed a lesbian/bisexual love story, reports Gay Star News.
A romantic relationship between the lead character, Korra, and her friend Asami has long been thought to be a part of the shows subtext by many fans/shippers who lovingly refer to the two by the nickname Korrasami and in the final episode of the Avatar: The Last Airbender spin-off, Korra is shown taking Asamis hand as the two walk off together into the spirit world.
However, the shows ending a nod to the final scene of numerous Hollywood romances where characters embrace and ride off together into the sunset isnt the first time the creative minds behind the series have hinted Korra and Asami are more than friends.
Perceptive fans have long pointed out clues of Korrasamis romance, such as the season 4 episode Korra Alone where the two trade letters and express how much they miss one another while Korra asks Asami, Please dont tell [our male friends] Mako and Bolin I wrote to you and not them. I dont want to hurt their feelings. Its easier to tell you about this stuff.
While the ending isnt as obvious as a passionate kiss, that hasnt stopped many fans from feeling the final episode was enough to validate the relationship, and they took to sites like Reddit to express their excitement. IT HAPPENED. It totally happened, wrote one commenter. I"m almost in ecstatic shock at that ending. I mean, it"s really real, right?! Best ending ever!
The final episode is available to view now on Nick.com, but you can view the last scene in the video below.
Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb movie review
|Print|
Written by Lea VrbelovThursday, 18 December 2014 22:26
We have seen it all before in the previous two movies; of course, that does not make it any less entertaining.
After a couple years of silence, we return to the story of Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), now promoted to director of nighttime operations, and his lively dusk-till-dawn experiences. Once again directed by Shawn Levy, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb starts off with an Indiana Jonesstyled flashback, taking us to the archaeological discovery of the magical Tablet of Akmenrah, which is responsible for all of the mystical powers given to the displays at the American Museum of Natural History.
During a gala dinner for all of Manhattans elite, the reopening of the Hayden Planetarium, we discover a glitch in the magic, with its malfunctioning exhibits attacking the valued guests. The problem of the corroding golden tablet is traced to Akmenrah (Rami Malek) and the Egyptian exhibition. Daley, his now teenage son Nicky (Skyler Gisondo, taking over from Jake Cherry), and all his companions head across the pond to London to get advice from Akmenrahs father Merenkahre (Ben Kingsley), attempting to fix the problem before it is too late and all of our dear friends are turned back to being lifeless wax statues forever.
Naturally, the rest of the films 97 minutes consist of our well-known company of Larrys friendsTeddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Jedediah (Owen Wilson), Octavius (Steve Coogan), Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher), Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), and the rude capuchin monkeyaccompanying him to play something between hide-and-seek and catch, at first only inside the British Museum, but later also outside, in the streets of London.
Even though this family adventure comedy brings in new facessuch as Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens) the knight in shining armor searching for the Holy Grail, Rebel Wilson as a s*x-deprived English security guard, and Laa (Daleys new Neanderthal ancestor addition, also played by Stiller), as well as a brief, yet unexpectedly funny appearance on a theater stage in London by Hugh Jackman and Andrea Martinnothing super innovative has been brought to the new installment of the series. We have seen it all before in the previous two movies; of course, that does not make it any less entertaining.
There are a few funny lines and moments (usually when Kingsley is present), just as there are the awkward, not-so-funny ones (all those previously used in the earlier movies), but in general, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a pleasant, easy watch. My favorite scene is a clever chase for the tablet of Akmenrah inside one of M. C. Eschers optical illusion prints Relativity, where the worlds rules of gravity do not apply.
Starring the late greats Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney in their final performances, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb gives a nice farewell to the museum seriesleaving the door cracked open a tiny bit, just in case. | Lea Vrbelov
According to CNNs Brian Stelter, hackers of Sony Pictures has sent the company a messaging praising its decision to pullThe Interviewas a very wise decision. The collective had threatened attacks on theaters if the movie was not pulled. According to reports on Friday,the FBI has determinedthat North Korea was behind the hack. In the message, the hackers told Sony, "Now we want you never let the movie released, distributed or leaked in any form of, for instance, DVD or piracy." It reportedly went on to demand that, "everything related to the movie, including its trailers, as well as its full version down from any website hosting them immediately."
