When the NBA announced their plan to resume action later this July with 22 qualifying teams in Orlandos Disney World, it was no surprise when we found out the Boston Celtics had made the cut.

Prior to the COVID-19 induced hiatus on March 11th, the Cs managed to muster up a record of 43-21, ranking them third in the Eastern Conference standings, fifth in the entire NBA and, with their victory over the Indiana Pacers on March 10th, were on their way to their sixth consecutive postseason appearance.

Now, as the countdown begins for when the league will resume action assuming it still will despite contradicting reports , its understood that players and team personnel are gearing up for what many project to be a deep playoff run, what with their fifth-ranked placement within NBA.coms most recent power-ranking.

Currently rostering one of the best core groups in these bubble games, the Celtics look to be a matchup nightmare for virtually any team they could face in the early rounds of the playoffs. With guys like Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Marcus Smart, its easy to see why.

However, thats not to say the rest of their roster is as sound as it is at the top.

From their lackluster scoring punch off the pine to their underwhelming center rotation, there are quite a few holes within the rotation that could use some patching up.

Now, due to the newly reported transaction window that will allow teams to add players via free agency, G-League call-ups, or conversations of two-way/ 10-day contracts, theres a chance the Boston Celtics could look to add some extra talent for a presumed deep playoff push.

However, with additions, there are bound to be subtractions.

Read on to see who on the active roster may be at risk of being replaced in the lineup via the upcoming transaction window:

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Boston Celtics: 2 players that could be replaced during transaction window - Hardwood Houdini

The Reno County Commission on Tuesday will review plans for four major restoration or repair projects at the Reno County Courthouse that are cumulatively estimated to cost more than $3.2 million.

The largest project, which is expected to take a year to complete, is the repair and restoration of deteriorating windows on the historic six-story building, estimated at just under $1.6 million.

Other work, which will be partially covered by insurance, is for more than $1 million in structural and plaster repair work for damages from last years pair of 4.0-plus magnitude earthquakes.

The final project is a proposed general weatherization and tuck-pointing maintenance project recommended to occur every 10 years, now a year overdue, on the outside of the building.

Reno County maintenance director Harlen Depew will update the commission on the four projects, including updated cost estimates, funding recommendations, and project timing. No action is scheduled to be taken by the board.

Windows

According to a memo from Depew, all but a handful of the 212 windows in the 91-year-old courthouse are original to the building. Since the building is a registered national historic place, replacing the windows is an option the Kansas State Historical Society would likely not approve.

In December, the county commission contracted with Wichita-based GLMV Architecture to put together bid documents for the window project.

The length of the project is dictated by the window sashes having to be removed from their frames a few at a time and taken to a contractor shop for restoration work, Depew noted.

The window frames themselves are anchored in the walls of the building, and so will have to be restored on site.

"There is a lot of plaster repair within many of the window openings from years of sunlight, condensation, and in some cases, water infiltration, that will need to be completed as part of the project," Depew said.

Another cost is removing and then rebuilding various trim materials that have been added in different locations during interior remodeling projects over the years that obstruct access to the window frames.

Other issues

Theres also a unique issue on the west side of the building.

"When the building was constructed, the west side of the third floor, where the Division II courtroom is now located, was a mirror image of the east side courtroom, which is two stories high," Depew said.

The west side, however, was left unfinished with the intent of finishing out a second "grand courtroom" in the future.

When a decision was finally made to add a second courtroom on the third floor, "presumably sometime during the 1960s," Depew said, it was created only as a single-story courtroom, with a floor added above it to create the Division IV courtroom on the fourth floor.

When that was done, new wood stud frame walls were built on the interior of the original exterior west wall of the building, which covered up the tall windows on that side of the building and made them inaccessible. The new walls were filled with insulation, which is visible through windows and has started to sag in places.

"During the window restoration project, this wall will need to be opened up to gain access to the windows, and we would recommend that we take this opportunity to clean up this visual eyesore by finishing out the walls in a way that will once again reveal these windows from inside the building," Depew said.

"Doing so will provide natural light to the third and fourth floors and leave the restored windows accessible from inside the building for future maintenance purposes," he said.

Replacing non-functional blinds or other window treatments in some of the windows is also included in the cost.

The $1.597 million project estimate from Pishney Restoration Services is based on the project being done in a single phase. If spread out over multiple phases, the cost would be expected to ride, Depew said.

Weatherization

The window project as well as the one to weatherize and tuck-point the outside of the building, estimated at more than $604,000 should qualify for a 25% reimbursement through Kansas income tax credits, Depew said.

The weatherization project must be done periodically to maintain the integrity of the stone and masonry exterior of the building.

The work consists of an inspection of the building exterior which will be done using drone photography then cleaning all the surfaces, patching or replacing any broken material, cutting out and replacing deteriorating mortar joints, caulking around doors, windows and other penetrations, and finally applying a water repellant product to the surface.

Since the building was listed as a historic place in 1999, weatherization projects have been done twice.

Since there is no longer a Reno County-based architect that specializes in historic restoration projects, however, Depew is recommending contracting with GLMV to do the drone photography and create project specifications for up to $93,000, which is not included in the project estimate.

Earthquake damage

In August 2019, a 4.2 magnitude earthquake caused significant damage to the upper dome of the building, shifting stone slabs, blowing out mortar joints between them and leaving some stones significantly out of alignment, Depew reported.

Temporary repairs were done in late 2019 to seal up the open joints to prevent freeze-thaw damage, pending the creation of a plan to make permanent repairs.

Hutchinson structural engineer Brent Engelland determined through 3D modeling that adding reinforcement to the steel trusses in the roof system will be required under modern building codes, but it would also minimize the chance of repeat damage from future quakes.

The estimate for repairs, which includes the added steel, disassembling the stone veneer on the dome to reset it properly, and new mortar and caulking is about $420,800. Architectural services are another $94,500.

Since the expense should be covered by the countys insurance coverage, the project is not eligible for tax credits.

Besides the doom repairs, an initial estimate for plaster repairs is around $600,000, Depew said, which should also be covered by insurance.

Timing

Depew is recommending the weatherization and earthquake repairs to the dome be done this summer, using Capital Improvement Project dollars in the 2020 budget, and that the window and plaster projects be done in 2021.

"(We) would be able to fund the windows through our CIP fund, or the Board may wish to consider utilizing the Public Building Commission as a means of funding this project over several years," Depews memo said.

Link:
Estimated $3.2 million in courthouse work on commission agenda - The Hutchinson News

In normal times, many professionals can give their homes a cooling break all day long while they're at work during the summer. This year, however, many offices still have work-from-home policies in place. And kiddos who usually enjoy camp from May to August are also stuck at home. This means your air conditioning units are working harder to ensure a comfortable body temperature and sanity.

Though seemingly necessary, all that air conditioning can run your electricity bill incredibly high. After all, there's a big difference between just cranking up the AC at night versus having it blasting an icy breeze all day long.

Since you don't want to be sweating as you take another Zoom meeting, but you also want to be mindful of your budget, how can you save money this season? Here, home experts offer their most cost-effective strategies for keeping a cool space.

Consider where you spend the most time during the day: The home office? The living room? Kitchen? Rather than having the AC running through every room, it's better for your wallet to select specific areas only. Unfortunately, this is tricky if you have an older unit, or your home hasn't been recently updated. Luckily, recent tech developments have created a loophole via smart thermostats, according to home flipper and Villa Real Estate Realtor AJ Olson Whitfield.

"It is time to invest in a thermostat that allows you to set a range. This helps your unit from working in overdrive to maintain a constant temp," she explains. "Also, smart thermostats have eco settings to help you save on your energy bills. Look for the leaf on packages."

Try this: Google Nest Learning Thermostat ($224, originally $249; amazon.com)

Google Nest Learning Thermostat

This is the first smart thermostat to receive Energy Star certification, and the company estimates it can pay for itself in bill savings within two years. As an additional benefit, you can geek out via its app, which shows your energy history, humidity levels, trends and more.

Believe it or not, your outdoor landscaping can have a significant impact on your indoor temperatures, according to interior designer Jodi Davison. By selecting climate-smart greenery and planting it on the sunny side of your home, you cut back on the sunlight that pours through your windows. Also, indoor plants create humidity from the leaves, cooling the air around the plant and room. Davison recommends ficus trees or ferns for the best results.

Try these: Ficus Lyrata Plant in 9.25 in. Grower Pot ($25.23; homedepot.com)

Ficus Lyrata Plant in 9.25 in. Grower Pot

As beautiful as they are useful, consider purchasing a few of these. It's a win-win for home decor and temperature regulation.

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Fiddle Leaf Fig ($195; bloomscape.com)

Measuring about 4 feet tall, this gorgeous plant comes with a planter in a lovely muted shade, and with plenty of instructions on how to keep it alive and thriving.

Have you looked up recently? There's a reason ceiling fans have never gone out of style, since they are one of the easiest and most efficient ways to cool down any area.

"They continually circulate air throughout the room like a cool breeze and help to make the room feel colder than it really is," explains Ward Schraeder, a DIY home improvement expert and co-host of "Bargain Mansions" on HGTV. In the summer, he says, the blade rotation should be set to force the air straight down for the best results.

Try this: Merwry 52 in. Integrated LED Indoor Ceiling Fan ($119; homedepot.com)

Merwry 52 in. Integrated LED Indoor Ceiling Fan

With more than 2,000 reviews, this sleek, energy-efficient fan is loved by reviewers, and it's available in three colors: white, brushed nickel and matte black. The best part? It comes with a remote control, so you can turn it on without leaving your couch or bed.

Whitfield says the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" does not apply to your air conditioning unit. How come? She explains it's a hard-run piece of equipment that requires frequent cleaning and maintenance.

"Replace those air filters and hose down/clean those fan coils, so your units are running at optimum efficiency," she says. "This will save on your energy consumption and make sure you get through the hottest days with a functional unit."

Try this: LG Electronics 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner ($549; homedepot.com)

LG Electronics 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner

If you're due for a new window unit, try this Wi-Fi-enabled smart option from LG. Its line of inverter window models has been recognized by Energy Star's Most Efficient Products, and it earned Emerging Technology Awards in 2018 and 2019.

One of the most stressful times to break out in a sweat is while you're trying to fall or stay asleep. Rather than blast freezing air conditioning throughout the night or have a fan blowing on your face, experts like Davison recommend rethinking your bedding. A simple change in sheets, pillows and mattress protectors can make a big difference in your ability to catch z's comfortably.

Try these: Celliant Sheets by Sleepletics (starting at $114.99; amazon.com)

Celliant Sheets by Sleepletics

These sheets are considered an FDA-determined medical device, offering luxury hotel-like feel with impressive technology to keep you fresh. They're created with sateen, long-staple cotton and patented Celliant polyester yarns, and reviewers say it really does feel like they're adjusting throughout the night to ensure you aren't overheating.

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Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Mattress Protector (starting at $99; brooklynbedding.com)

Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Mattress Protector

You can turn off the fans and the AC with this uber-cooling mattress protector. Pair with cotton or humidity-fighting sheet sets, and you'll enjoy those summer nights.

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Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow ($169; tempurpedic.com)

Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow

While most of the time folks flip over their pillows for the chilly side, with this option, every angle will offer a break from sweating. Thanks to the double layer of Tempur-Breeze Gel, you'll also sink into comfort when you rest your head.

You may never enter your attic in the summer months, but it is hot, and that heat permeates the rest of your house. That's why Whitfield suggests installing a solar attic fan to draw that hot air out and promote fresh air circulation.

"It costs a few hundred dollars, but it's worth it, plus with the solar power you aren't adding to your monthly energy bill, a definite win," she adds.

Try this: Remington Solar 25-Watt 1450 CFM Black Solar Powered Attic Fan ($339; homedepot.com)

Remington Solar 25-Watt 1450 CFM Black Solar Powered Attic Fan

Not only does this lower the temps in your attic, but it also fights moisture that could promote mold growth. As a bonus, it takes the pressure off your HVAC system, thus lowering your electricity bills.

When you're under stress say, from working remotely it's easy to get overheated. The uptick in anxiety causes a physical response too, which could make you feel super-hot for a short period of time. Rather than cranking up the AC, Davison suggests having a personal fan nearby that you can flip on when you need it.

Try these: Honeywell TurboForce Air Circulator Fan Black ($14.94, originally $15.99; amazon.com)

Honeywell TurboForce Air Circulator Fan Black

This small but mighty fan offers a breeze you can feel from 27 feet away. Compact enough to fit on a table or cool down an entire room, it features three different speeds and a 90-degree pivoting head so you can aim it exactly where you want.

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Gulaki Hands Free Portable Neck Fan ($23.99, originally $29.99; amazon.com)

Gulaki Hands Free Portable Neck Fan

Wrap it around your neck and take the cooling powers of the fan wherever you go. Imagine how nice this would feel if you're working outside, too.

If you've been cooped up in the house more than usual, you may crave the outdoor breeze more than ever. To keep your space cool, though, Whitfield suggests opening the windows in the early morning and late evening to circulate the air in your area.

Try this: Deconovo Room Darkening Window Curtain ($13.99; amazon.com)

Deconovo Room Darkening Window Curtain

When you aren't letting the outside in, keep your shades pulled to reduce heat indoors. And to sleep in a little later, consider blackout curtains like these that will prevent even the smallest ray from sneaking through.

If you live in an apartment or smaller home and don't want to buy separate air conditioners for the living room and the bedroom, consider investing in a high-quality portable option. This way, you can take the cool air with you, and you avoid having two units running at the same time.

Try this: Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier Fan ($608.19, originally $649.99; amazon.com)

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 Air Purifier Fan

Though expensive, this Dyson hot and cool air purifier fan is among the highest-rated out there. Not only will it clean your air, but it cools it down with 10 fan speeds. You set the preferred temp and then let it do its magic year-round. That's right: It also works in the winter to save you money. It's a smart choice for those with babies as well, since it's Quiet Mark-certified, so it won't wake them from slumber.

Though it may be a pricey upfront investment, installing energy-efficient blinds, like cellular shades, can reduce the overall AC use in your home. As Schraeder explains, a well-made window covering can reduce heat transmission from the outside in.

"If you keep them closed during the day, especially on the south side of your home, your energy bill will be substantially reduced since your AC will not have to work as hard," he says.

Try this: Levolor Light-Filtering Cellular Shade ($78.88; homedepot.com)

Levolor Light-Filtering Cellular Shade

Sometimes called honeycomb blinds, this type of window covering filters the light that flows into your home. This not only creates a pretty ambient effect that makes for beautiful light, but the cell shape builds a barrier between the window glass and your space. In other words: It keeps it more refreshing.

If your home is multilevel, remember that heat rises and cold air falls, Schraeder says. Thus, one of the easiest ways to reduce waste in your cooling bill is to shut your lower-level AC vents and open the upper-level vents. Or vice versa, depending on where you spend the majority of the day.

"If you wish to have a more consistent temperature throughout the home, run your fan continuously and make sure your cold air returns are unobstructed," he continues. "This allows just the fan to circulate cool air throughout the home."

Try this: Lasko 2510 Oscillating Tower Fan, 36 Inch ($50.99; amazon.com)

Lasko 2510 Oscillating Tower Fan, 36 Inch

From one of the most trusted brands for high-quality products, this oscillating tower fan from Lasko can cool a larger area. Plus, it has a variety of colors and designs, so you can find something that seamlessly blends into your home decor.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed prices at the time of publication.

See original here:
11 cost-effective ways to cool your home this summer - CNN

Ensemble activity and perception

The mechanisms by which sensory percepts are encoded in neural ensembles are still incompletely understood. Chong et al. used single-spot optogenetic stimulation to control neuronal activity in mouse olfactory glomeruli in space and time. Animals were trained to recognize a learned activity pattern that was likely perceived as a specific odor. The authors then systematically varied the activity patterns by changing either the activated glomeruli or the timing between activation of glomeruli to evaluate their impact on odor recognition. Glomeruli that were activated early during the synthetic odor contributed more to odor recognition than glomeruli that were subsequently activated. This approach allows neuroscience to explain how features combine in complex patterns to generate perception.

Science, this issue p. eaba2357

Advances in monitoring brain activity at large and fine scales have revealed tremendous complexity in how the brain responds to, and represents, the external world. Although many features in brain activity patterns (which brain cells fire and when) are found to correlate with changes in the external sensory world, it is not yet known which activity features are consequential for perception and how they are combined to generate percepts. Some studies have shown that many of these correlated changes in activity may be redundant or even epiphenomenal.

To address how brain activity generates perception, we directly and systematically manipulated neural activity in the mouse olfactory system while measuring perceptual responses. Mouse olfaction is an attractive model system because the relevant brain circuitry has already been carefully mapped out and is accessible for direct manipulation. We used genetically engineered mice in which brain cells can be activated simply by shining light on thema technique known as optogenetics. Optogenetics allowed us to directly generate and manipulate brain activity in a precise and parametric manner. We first trained mice to recognize light-driven activity patterns in the olfactory system, or synthetic odors. Subsequently, we measured how recognition changed as we systematically manipulated learned activity patterns. Some manipulations led to larger changes in recognition than others, and the degree of change reflected the importance of each manipulated feature to perception. By the additional manipulation of multiple features simultaneously, we could precisely quantify how individual features combined to produce perception.

The perceptual responses of mice not only depended on which groups of cells were activated, but also on their activation latencies, i.e., temporal sequences akin to timed notes in a melody. Critically, the most perceptually relevant activation latencies were defined relative to other cells in a sequence and not to brain or body rhythms (e.g., animal sniffing) as previously hypothesized from observational studies.Moreover, earlier-activated cells in the sequence had a larger effect on behavioral responses; modifying later cells in the sequence had small effects.To account for all results, we formulated a simple computational model based on template matching, in which new activity sequences are compared with learned sequences or templates.The model weighs relative timing within each sequence and also accounts for the greater importance of earlier-activated cells.Based on our model, the degree of mismatch between the new sequence and learned template predicts the extent to which recognition should degrade as neural activity changes across many different manipulations.

We developed an experimental and theoretical framework to map a broad space of precisely and systematically manipulated brain activity patterns to behavioral responses. Using this framework, we uncovered key computations made by the olfactory system on neural activity to generate percepts and derived a systematic model of olfactory processing directly relevant for perception. Our framework forms a powerful, general approach for causally testing the links between brain activity and perception or behavior. This framework is especially pertinent given the continued development of advanced tools for manipulating brain activity at fine scales across various brain regions.

(A) We trained mice to recognize synthetic odor patterns: artificially stimulated neural activity in the olfactory bulb. Patterns were defined in space (top right) and time (bottom right). (B) Perceptual responses were measured across systematic modifications of trained patterns. (C) Template-matching model of pattern activity (left) accounts for perceptual responses (right).

How does neural activity generate perception? Finding the combinations of spatial or temporal activity features (such as neuron identity or latency) that are consequential for perception remains challenging. We trained mice to recognize synthetic odors constructed from parametrically defined patterns of optogenetic activation, then measured perceptual changes during extensive and controlled perturbations across spatiotemporal dimensions. We modeled recognition as the matching of patterns to learned templates. The templates that best predicted recognition were sequences of spatially identified units, ordered by latencies relative to each other (with minimal effects of sniff). Within templates, individual units contributed additively, with larger contributions from earlier-activated units. Our synthetic approach reveals the fundamental logic of the olfactory code and provides a general framework for testing links between sensory activity and perception.

Read more from the original source:
Manipulating synthetic optogenetic odors reveals the coding logic of olfactory perception - Science Magazine

The campus is in for another busy summer of hammers, cranes and drills as many university projects take shape, said Brian Larson, UNDs director of construction management.

Montgomery Hall, located between the Chester Fritz Library and Gamble Hall, was torn down a couple of weeks ago to make room for the universitys new business school, the Nistler College of Business and Public Administration.

In the coming weeks, the old UND steam plant will transfer power over to the new building located on the southwest side of campus.

Removal of the old steam plant will take some time, according to Larson, adding that work is set to start toward the end of June or beginning of July. He said crews have been working for several months to prepare for the demolition, which will extend well into the fall semester with a road closure. A large crane will be on campus to take apart the stackhouse and other big elements of the building, he said.

It shows a lot of progress here on our campus, Larson said of the project.

Craig Machart, Steam Plant manager at UND, walks through the plant Monday. A new plant will be coming online in the upcoming months. Photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

The old plant will be replaced with a parking lot thats closer to the core campus buildings. There also will be a realignment of the road near the steam plant, so people will no longer have to cross the street to get to class, he said.

Work is also beginning on Carnegie Hall. Crews have begun removing the two additions on the south side of the original building and then restore the building exterior to its original footprint. Masonry restoration, window replacement, roof replacement and building accessibility will all be addressed with this upcoming project. Interior renovations will follow in a second phase of the project, Larson said.

When the project is completed, in about another year, it will be used as office space.

The Chester Fritz Library, which has been under renovation for more than a year, is also taking shape. Work has been done to the north entrance of the building with a new staircase as well as other upgrades aiming to improve the circulation within the building.

The Chester Fritz Library is also taking shape. The north entrance of the building has a new staircase and other upgrades, which are meant to help with the circulation of the building. (Sydney Mook/Grand Forks Herald)

New windows and a new sprinkler system are being installed. There are also renovations being made to the quiet study area in the library.

Progress is also being made on the new Memorial Union building as crews hope to have much of the exterior work wrapped up before winter before turning to the interior of the new building.

Work continues on the new Memorial Union on the UND campus. (Sydney Mook/Grand Forks Herald)

This project is going very well, Larson said. They worked hard all through the winter, no stops and pushed all the way through. Now, we're in a really good place here in the early summer to get this building buttoned up, and we can finish the inside next winter.

Work on the Gershman Graduate Center, the old president's home, is also ongoing. Behind the building there will be a patio and grassy area for students to use when it's nice out.

Work on the Gershman Graduate Center, the old president's home, is also ongoing. (Sydney Mook/Grand Forks Herald)

Excerpt from:
Another year of construction heats up at UND - Grand Forks Herald

By NASAJune 12, 2020

Expedition 36 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy is pictured on July 9, 2013, during a six-hour, seven-minute spacewalk at the space station. Credit: NASA

Two spacewalks are set to continue upgrading power systems at the International Space Station at the end of the month. The Expedition 63 crew is getting ready for the summer excursions while also researching a variety of space phenomena to benefit Earth and space industries.

Two NASA astronauts will exit the orbital lab on June 26 and July 1 to continue replacing batteries that store and distribute power collected from the solar arrays. They will work on the outer portion of the truss structure, or the Starboard-6 truss, disconnecting and removing the old nickel hydrogen batteries. Following that, new lithium-ion batteries will be installed in their place and powered up by mission controllers on the ground.

The two spacewalkers are following up on the battery swap work that begun last year and continued into January. The complex repair job has been taking place on both the starboard and port sides of the stations truss structure. That is where the basketball court-sized solar arrays are located. The solar arrays slowly rotate around the truss structure and track the sun but are locked into place during the spacewalks.

Station Commander Chris Cassidy and Flight Engineer Bob Behnken spent the morning resizing U.S. spacesuits before splitting up for a variety of science activities. Cassidy spent the rest of the day configuring the new Spectrum imager that will view the cellular growth of plants in multiple wavelengths. Behnken continued more space bubbles research to promote advanced oxygen and medicine delivery systems.

NASA Flight Engineer Doug Hurley started Thursday on life support maintenance before continuing to unpack Japans HTV-9 resupply ship in the afternoon. The two cosmonauts, Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, spread out in the stations Russian segment focusing on life support maintenance, window inspections and Earth atmospheric studies.

Visit link:
NASA Astronauts Gear Up for Spacewalks to Replace Space Station Batteries - SciTechDaily

As the NBA firms up its 22-team Orlando restart schedule, 14 of the teams will be eliminated within 53 days of arriving -- and only four teams will remain after 67 days, sources said.

The NBA has been working to make clear to players that the actual commitment of time for most teams in Orlando, Florida, may be less daunting than originally perceived, especially once seen in the context of the timetables constructed into the league's revised schedule.

The NBA is planning to begin camps July 9-11. Teams will briefly quarantine before beginning formal training camps before regular-season games resume July 30, sources said.

The six teams eliminated after eight regular-season games and a possible play-in tournament for the No. 8 seed would leave Orlando within 35 to 40 days, sources said.

2 Related

The NBA expects the conference finals will end within a maximum of 82 days, leaving the two NBA finalists, sources said. The league expects the NBA Finals could start by Sept. 30.

Several roster rules that the NBA and NBPA have agreed on are expected to govern the league's resumption at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, according to sources.

Free-agent players such as DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas -- who were on NBA rosters this season -- and those who weren't -- JR Smith and Jamal Crawford, for example -- are eligible to sign into open roster spots.

Teams won't be allowed to sign international players, such as Nikola Mirotic, who weren't on NBA rosters this season. Players who were playing internationally and did not have FIBA clearance at the time the season was postponed would be ruled ineligible.

Teams are allowed to bring as many as 17 players to Orlando, including 14 or 15 players on a standard NBA contract and additional two-way spots. For instance, Brooklyn can designate two-way players Chris Chiozza and Jeremiah Martin as roster spots 14 and 15 to replace injured stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. However, the Nets wouldn't be allowed to sign two replacements for Durant and Irving.

Playoff rosters will consist of 15 players, including 13 active and two inactive. Once the playoffs start, teams can replace any player who tests positive for the coronavirus with a substitute player. This new player would be subject to a minimum seven-day quarantine period.

There will be a one-week transaction window in late June that will allow teams to waive or sign a player. During this period, a team can convert two-way players such as Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder to a standard contract. For example, if Dort is converted to a standard contract, Oklahoma City would be allowed to sign a two-way player to replace him.

Eight teams -- Denver, the LA Clippers, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento and San Antonio -- have an open roster spot and can sign a player who played in the NBA or the G League this season.

The eight teams left out of the Orlando resumption are allowed to waive or sign players during the transaction window. They cannot sign a player to a two-way contract.

More:
Sources - 14 of 22 NBA teams in Orlando will be done within 53 days - ESPN

Premier League players will wear the words Black Lives Matter on the back of their shirts in the opening round of fixtures upon next weeks restart. The slogan will replace the footballers surnames in one of several initiatives marking recent events agreed by the clubs at a meeting on Thursday, which also include a minutes silence to honour those who have died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The shirt tribute was proposed by a group of Premier League captains and Professional Footballers Association representatives, with moves under way to ensure kit is prepared appropriately. One club told the Guardian their kit staff had been primed to order shirts reflecting that change.

It will not be the only new piece of design on players kit, with heart-shaped badges paying tribute to NHS workers and Black Lives Matter badges also being embroidered. The placement of the latter is yet to be finalised, although the intention is they will be displayed on the front of shirts.

The league is also understood to have no problem if players or teams wish to take a knee before games. The issue of what happens if a player removes his shirt to reveal a slogan in support of the movement was raised at the meeting. Referees had expressed concerns about the appropriateness of issuing a yellow card and are expected to be asked to use their discretion.

Proceedings finished within an hour in what had been billed as a wrap-up meeting, with far fewer issues of contention than in previous weeks. The clubs unanimously approved the leagues matchday protocols on player health and safety, meaning the way is clear for the competition to restart with Aston Villas match against Sheffield United next Wednesday.

This week the Premier League confirmed it would not be bringing in the Rooney Rule, requiring at least one BAME candidate to be interviewed for a coaching vacancy.

The Brighton manager, Graham Potter, says the situation surrounding opportunities for black and other minority coaches must nonetheless be addressed.

With football, you want it to be meritocratic, you want it to be the best person gets the job, and thats what we all think it should be, he said. But the realities of the historical situation, for whatever reason, [are] that hasnt been able to happen and we have to understand why that is. Why is it a disadvantage to be black in this country? Why are there not enough coaches and managers that are black in football? We have to understand the historical context and educate ourselves around that in order to understand today and the context we face now.

Meanwhile, new Fifa regulations will allow leagues to open transfer windows before this season is concluded, though the Premier Leagues chief executive, Richard Masters, has said its clubs will not be able to sign players before 25 July, after the campaign is brought to an end.

Go here to read the rest:
Premier League player names to be replaced on shirts by Black Lives Matter - The Guardian

For a number of reasons this summer has been and will continue to be a strange one in Scottish football with the transfer window one of many aspects set to be affected.

When it comes to recruitment, clubs tend to focus their shopping in one of two aisles: Scotland and England.

Across last season 164 players were signed by the 12 top-flight clubs with more than half (83) arriving from English teams.

Now reaching the middle of June and with a potential start to the 2020/21 campaign a little more than six weeks away, theres been just six signings, while more than 100 players have departed.

Of those six signings, three were confirmed prior to May.

This is in no way a criticism of clubs being slow of the mark. It is simply to highlight the stark change to the environment in which they are operating in. The coronavirus pandemic has created a climate of uncertainty and general unease with teams remaining vigilant, moving forward with extreme caution.

When so many clubs, who at times survive on a hand-to-mouth basis, have a key revenue stream in season-ticket sales and gate receipts, taken from them it makes a prudent approach not only sensible but a necessity.

The free agent market in Scotland is brimming with talent that could improve most Scottish Premiership sides, from Jonny Hayes and Vaclav Hladky, to Alex Gogic and Drey Wright.

Waiting for further developments and clarity over league reconstruction, structure of the leagues for the 2020/21 season or calculating the impact of selling virtual season tickets, could see clubs miss out on key targets.

There are so many moving parts for clubs to consider.

On the other side, in an interview with the Scottish Sun, Jason Holt, who was released by Rangers, expressed the dilemma facing players.

You need to get your timing spot on, he said. If you wait a little bit too long, the options you might have in Scotland, those clubs might go for other targets.

Theres a difference between Scotland looking to start their season and England being a few weeks behind, the English clubs might not be looking to sign players until August.

In Scotland, if their season is starting in August they might want their squads sorted by the end of July.

The former Hearts midfielder spent last season on loan at St Johnstone and revealed he has interest north and south of the border.

The timings of the English market are set to be very different to Scotland due to both the Premier League and Championship resuming the 2019/20 campaign and not finishing until the middle of July.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters confirmed the transfer window would not open until the conclusion of the season on July 26.

Fifa, according to reports, are set to grant permission for those countries who have resumed their campaign to alter their dates

The summer window lasts 12 weeks. In Scotland it opened on Wednesday and will run until September 1. In England it is set to operate between the end of July and potentially October.

On the playing side, there is the dilemma Holt noted.

Getting a contract is set to be more competitive than ever with teams expected to run with smaller squads in the likelihood of having reduced budgets. It means there are only so many spaces going around.

The Athletic estimate that around 1,400 players will be released by clubs in the top four divisions in England. One agent said: The bottom line is its definitely not the summer to be out of contract.

With that in mind, do players like Holt take the first offer that comes their way or bide their time and assess the English market?

Clubs in England are not going to spend a lot of time assessing their squad and making transfer moves with so much focus on the conclusion to the current season.

Teams in Scotland who have set their sights on players in the Championship or Premier League are going to have to play a waiting game which means managers are unlikely to have the squad they want in place until after the season is well underway.

For example, loaning players from Premier League U23 sides has been a useful route, but clubs will be hesitant to allow individuals to leave before they have brought in the players they want so they are not leaving themselves short.

On top of that, with the Premier League and Championship transfer market likely to stay open well into September it means they can swoop for players in Scotland.

They can still be sold once the Scottish transfer market has shut but managers in the SPFL wont be able to replace those lost unless there are free agents still without clubs.

It could lead to the position where Arsenal make their move for Odsonne Edouard in September or a club comes in for Martin Boyle. The money could be too good to turn down, but there is not going to be anyone available on a free who can replace what those players bring to Celtic and Hibs respectively.

There are a number of different approaches clubs could take to the transfer market.

Will they switch focus to players from abroad, will they put more faith in their academy or will they take the risk and leave space in their squad and budget in the hope they can do a deal between the Premier League and Championship concluding and the Scottish market closing.

Or, alternatively, they could perhaps judge this moment as one to take a risk and move for players who would normally not be in their price range, or potentially try to prise players from clubs whod be open to selling at a knock-down price because they are in need of revenue.

On the one hand, for both clubs and players, opportunities which may never present themselves could arise, but equally there are going to be dilemmas, risks and misfortune.

One thing for sure, it is set up to be both fascinating and frustrating.

Link:
The transfer window dilemmas facing SPFL clubs and players - Edinburgh News

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Read the original:
New York Homeowner Tips To Replace Single Or Double Paned Windows - Patch.com