Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Let the Sunshine In resounded as the anthem from the musical Hair when it debuted on Broadway in 1968.
In that year, photo-voltaic cells, now more commonly known as solar cells, were very expensive novelties. I bought one about 4 inches square for about $20 that could barely power a transistor radio.
Perhaps Bob Dylans song, The Times They Are A-Changin, or are a-chargin, is equally prophetic.
In mid-December, StraightUp Solar installed 23 solar panels on my roof, which on a good sunny day should generate almost 7.5 kilowatts.
StraightUp estimated that that should compensate for about 98 percent of our yearly electricity usage.
Of course, just like miles per gallon in a car, real-world numbers are tricky. We even asked our very artistic arborist, Gus, to carefully remove a tree limb that shaded some of the roof.
My solar quest started with a friend in Massachusetts boasting to me that he was going solar.
My next-door neighbor installed solar panels on his roof about three years ago, when it was more expensive than today.
People generate a lot of hot air discussing climate change. Most of us lack much individual control over greenhouse gas emissions.
Sure, you can drive a hybrid or electric car, which is not satisfactory for many people. You can install a highly efficient furnace and air conditioner while dialing down the heating and cooling in your home. Please dont lecture me about staying off airplanes. Some readers of this paper abhor wind turbines.
Installing solar panels for electricity is a major way you can fight climate change without sacrifice or disturbing your neighbors.
If you go solar for the financial benefits, youll wait about 10 years (it used to be 20 years) to amortize your investment.
There are three financial incentives.
The first is a 26 percent federal tax credit. Congress extended it through 2021. It was supposed to fall to
22 percent this year.
The second is selling solar renewable energy credits. Your solar installer will link you with a broker who buys the credits from you and sells them to major utilities that pollute too much, such as Commonwealth Edison.
Sometimes theres a market for energy credits and sometimes not. Timing is everything.
Then theres the slippery, controversial compensation known as net metering. This requires your utility company, such as Ameren, to buy the power from your solar panels at a wholesale rate and apply it toward your electric bill.
They will still charge you for delivery of power. So if your monthly electric bill is $100, you may see as much as an $80 discount, depending on your system and the utility.
Power companies detest this provision because it reduces their profits. Net metering is one of those political footballs that the Legislature deals with in the dead of night when no one is looking. Hello, Mike Madigan and Commonwealth Edison?
I barely have space left to tell you about my terrific experience with StraightUp (straightupsolar.com).
With that said, StraightUp supplies a lengthy contract that requires reading the fine print. Some clauses are negotiable, some are not.
The worst is the energy-credit contract from Carbon Solutions Group. Take this to your attorney. Ill explain more in a future column, where Ill also discuss the installation and first month of operation.
The 2021 virtual Consumer Electronics Show starts Monday. It baffles me how even the most sophisticated internet technology with an unlimited budget can substitute for the 140,000 people who take over most of Las Vegas every January.
Manufacturers will release their new products and technologies, but how do you appreciate the newest 100-inch 8K TV on a 24-inch HD computer screen? Or test drive the latest electric car?
Ill report on the most significant new developments from the forthcoming virtual CES in my Jan. 24 column.
Rich Warren, who lives in the Champaign area, is a longtime reviewer of consumer electronics. Email him at hifiguy@volo.net.
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Rich Warren | The times they are a-chargin' - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
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Tech specialist. Social media guru. Evil problem solver. Total writer. Web enthusiast. Internet nerd. Passionate gamer. Twitter buff.
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Top 10 Best of Thermostats That Work With Alexas 2020 - Best gaming pro
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Eliminate all your man-made belongings and you will soon realize that planet earth is quite a punishing place. Without your clothes, home, and cooling and heating, it would become a great challenge to handle the summer and winter seasons and the rains. Unlike other animals, the average human body is not built to withstand extreme climate conditions. Both extreme heat and cold can be lethal and our world is full of places that have these conditions. Talking a bit more about the latter, heres a quick look at some of the coldest places on earth.
Snag, Yukon Territory, Canada This village was earlier inhabited, but is currently abandoned. It also has a World War II era military airfield, which is now defunct. The origins of this village can be traced back to the Klondike Gold Rush. Snag has subarctic climate and the lowest recorded temperature was 81.4 F (63.0 C) in February 1947.
Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia The capital city of Sakha Republic, Yakutsk is situated around 450 km from the south of Arctic Circle. It is the largest city to be located on continuous permafrost. Lowest recorded temperature was 83.9 F (64.4 C) and the highest was 101.1 F (+38.4 C). The city has an estimated population of more than 300,000. Yakutsk is a preferred location for tourists who want to experience extreme cold.
Oymyakon, Sakha Republic, Russia This rural locality remains frozen throughout most parts of the year. Due to the unique topography of the region, cold winds from the arctic get trapped, resulting in colder climate. Minimum recorded temperature was 89.9 F (67.7 C), making it the coldest inhabited place on earth. Oymyakon has a population of around 1000 residents. It gets its name from Oymyakon River that flows in the area and remains frozen during winters.
Verkhoyansk, Sakha Republic, Russia This town shares its cold record with that of Oymyakon. Verkhoyansk also holds the record for being the hottest place in the north of Arctic Circle. At 100.4 F (38.0 C), Verkhoyansk can be pretty hot in the summer months of June, July and August. These temperature differences make it a tough place to live. As per estimates, Verkhoyansk has a population of around 11k residents.
East Antarctic Plateau This is a frozen icy ridge located at an altitude of 12,467 feet (3,800 meters). Its apparent that no one lives here, even though scientists have visited this place to install a range of equipment including temperature sensors. Based on the readings, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 148 degrees Fahrenheit (or -100 Celsius). This makes it the coldest place on the planet.
Original post:
Which Is The Coldest Place On Earth? - NewsPatrolling
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
(Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
The Western Athletic Conference on Thursday announced the addition of four teams formerly of the Southland Conference, plus the addition of one Big Sky team.
Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin will join the WAC for the 2021-22 academic year, while Southern Utah out of the Big Sky will follow them to the conference in 2022-23.
While that changes the 13-team leagues football landscape, the Grand Canyon Antelopes who do not have a football team said the additions boost the WACs basketball prospects.
Particularly in basketball, GCU has had the makings of a top-20 program because of its incredible facilities, a game atmosphere that is second to none, a Power Five coaching staff, a competitive mid-major budget and a location as a destination city, GCU President Brian Mueller said in a school release. The last step was participation in a strong athletic conference and this expansion accomplishes that. This is a giant leap forward in our Division I journey.
This is one of the biggest mid-major expansions in NCAA realignment history and puts the WAC in a very strong position moving forward.
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GCU believes basketball gets boost from WAC additions - Arizona Sports
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Beth Treffeisen|Cape Cod Times
PRINT DECKHED:Historical Commission wants new construction for senior housing to fit in with the character of the existing building
SANDWICH A portion of the Henry T. Wing School is set for demolition after receiving approval from the Sandwich Historical Commission, but plans to build senior housing on the property and rehabilitate the remaining portion of the school are on hold.
We are excited about it, Maria Nye, chair of the historical commission, said at the commission's meeting Wednesday. We are not going to vote...because we need some changes to come through.
The commission unanimously voted Wednesday to allow for partial demolition of the school while keeping the 1927 portion of the building intact.
The demolition will include three additions located behind that school that were added in 1958, 1963 and 1974, according to Maureen Cavanaugh, senior planner at Public Archaeology Laboratory, who spoke on behalf of the project applicant, Stratford Capital Group.
However, Stratford Capital Group will have to return for the second part of its application to rehabilitate the 1927 potion of the school and construct new senior affordable housing units at 33 Water St.
The Henry T. Wing Residences would include 128-units on the Water Street site mainly for low- and moderate-income residents aged 62 or older. The project would retain the facade of the 1927 school building and demolish the remaining structures to create the housing.
The historic school building is made up of red brick, while the new buildings are designed to be a cooler, blue color. Board members felt the new construction contrasted too much with the historic structure and asked the design team to return Jan. 27 with updated plans.
I find the juxtaposition between the old and the new to be jarring, board member Michael Sullivan said.
Nye agreed. Separately they are stunning but together they dont go well together.
The board recommends the design team go with more earth tone colors and possibly consider a brick veneer on the sides that align with the front of the school.
Instead of differentiating the old and new buildings, Nye suggested the design team make it more cohesive.
We would want it to have it look and feel historic, Nye said.
At town meeting in June, there was overwhelming support to transfer the school property to a developer to convert it into age-restricted housing.
Stratford Capital Group is working with the nonprofit organization CHOICE Choice Housing Opportunities for Intergenerational & Community Endeavors on the project.
Construction would take place in three phases. The first phase, from Oct. 2022 until Oct. 2023, will consist of constructing 43 units, with 10 inside the 1927 portion of the building. This phase will include construction of a senior service center, and the community will still have access to the schools existing auditorium.
The second phase, from July 2023 to July 2024, calls for building 41 units within a new three-story building. The third year-long phase will begin immediately afterward and consist of constructing another three-story building with 44 units.
Nye reiterated the commission's desire to see the new buildings, which are currently designed in a Cape Cod-style, designed to look and feel similar to the historic school.
We want to give them the flexibility to come up with acolor that complements, said Nye. You have really nice taste and we want to see what you come up with.
Contact Beth Treffeisen at btreffeisen@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @BTreffeisenCCT.
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Partial demolition of historic Sandwich school approved - Cape Cod Times
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Second-year forward expected to center a line that includes Boone Jenner. Koivu still 'unfit' and didn't travel to Nashville.
The 2021 season will begin Thursday without the Blue Jackets having a key piece of their offseason additions.
Mikko Koivu missed practice Wednesday, his second in a row, and did not make the trip to Nashville with the team while being termed unfitto participate. The37-year-old forward started training camp as the Jackets center on the third line, a role that Boone Jenner handled much of the past two seasons.
Adding Koivu wasgeneral manager JarmoKekalainensideato let Jenner go back tomore of aforecheckingrole at left wing and that wont change despite the veteran pivots absence.The center role for the third line is expected to be handled by Alexandre Texier, whos going into his second season.
I still want to take a look at Tex in the middle,coach John Tortorella said. Ive got him and (Jenner)together. Itll be interesting in how much pressure they can put on a (defense), as far as how hard they work.
Coinciding with that decision, Tortorella is sticking with Mikhail Grigorenko to fill Texiers previousspot at left wing on the top line.The Russian forward, a former first-round pick of the BuffaloSabres, has begun to look more comfortable in that role,paired with center Pierre-Luc Dubois and OliverBjorkstrand.
I thought they had agood scrimmage (Sunday) night, Tortorella said. I thought there was some chemistry right away. Its nice to have a Grigorenko, who can play all three forward positions. I think his camp has gotten better as wevegone along. The biggest key is intensity all the time in a 60-minute hockey game. Im anxious to see him play.
Grigorenko, 26, made his NHL debut with Buffalo and also played with the Colorado Avalanche before heading back to theKontinentalHockey League for the past three years. After excelling there, hes looking to revive his NHL career.
As usual, Tortorella did not reveal whether goalie JoonasKorpisaloor Elvis Merzlikins would start the opener Thursday in Nashville.
He said he informedtheone whowill start, butis not planning tousean extensive road mapfor which games each will playin a crammed56-game schedule.
I told thestarting goalie today whos going (Thursday) and thats as far as Ill ever go, Tortorella said. I mean, we just dont go too far out. But (Im going to be asked) about No. 1 ... and theres really not going to be a No. 1. Theres going to be a tandem here, because I think we have two really good ones and we are going to need them.
The Blue Jackets made their final cutsWednesday,announcingboth their NHL roster and taxi squad.
The NHL rosterhas13 forwards, eight defensemen andthetwo goalies, while the taxi squadconsists of six players:forwardsNathan Gerbe,RyanMacInnisand Stefan Matteau, goalieMatissKivlenieksand defensemen Adam Clendening and Andrew Peeke.
The Blue Jackets also assigned defensemen GavinBayruetherand Jake Christiansen,goalie Cam Johnson andforwards Zac Dalpe, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Cliff Pu and Kole Sherwood to the Cleveland Monsters.
bhedger@dispatch.com
@BrianHedger
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Alexandre Texier to play center for Blue Jackets with Mikko Koivu out - The Columbus Dispatch
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
The cast of the Dexter revival is starting to take shape. In addition to our original favorites such as Michael C. Hall, the show will also bring on several newcomers. The revival is being marketed as the final chapter of Dexter Morgans story and, from the looks of it, it seems like its going to go out with a bang. Learn more about the revival series and its cast, here.
After nearly seven years and eight seasons, Dexter ended in 2013 with what has been called one of the most disappointing finales ever.
Full of grief and despair for the pain hes caused his loved ones, Dexter drove his boat out to sea as a hurricane approached Miami, seemingly to kill himself. But as it turned out, he was just faking his death amid heat from law enforcement.
In the final moments of the show, it was revealed that Dexter went into self-imposed exile in Oregon, where he started over as a lumberjack.
RELATED: Dexter: The Alternate Ending Makes So Much More Sense to Viewers
While the finale was widely panned by fans, producers defended it. Executive producer Sara Colleton told Entertainment Weekly that it only made sense for Dexter to isolate himself given his past longing for real human connection.
His punishment is banishment. He sends himself into exile. Killing himself is too easy. When he turns and looks into the camera at the end hes stripped everything away, Colleton said.
It seemed like the ending that was most justified, added showrunner Scott Buck.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Showtimes longline for the show says, Set 10 years after Dexter Morgan went missing in the eye of Hurricane Laura, the revival sees the character now living under an assumed name in a world away from Miami.
Showrunner Clyde Phillips said on The Hollywood ReportersTVs Top 5 podcast that the revival will make up for the finale. But he again noted it wont be erasing anything that previously happened.
Ten years, or however many years, have passed by the time this will air, and the show will reflect that time passage. So far as the ending of the show, this will have no resemblance to how the original finale was. Its a great opportunity to write a second finale.
The 10-episode series is expected to air later in 2021, should coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions allow it.
RELATED: Dexter Revival: Release Date, Plot Details, and Everything Else We Know
Earlier in January, TV Line reported that The Crown actor Clancy Brown will star in the revival as Kurt Caldwell, the de facto mayor of a small town in New York who realized the American dream by going from driving big rigs, just like his father did, to now owning several trucks and the local truck stop. Powerful, generous, loved by everyone hes a true man of the people. If hes got your back, consider yourself blessed. But should you cross Kurt, or hurt anyone that he cares for, God help you.
Julia Jones of The Mandalorian will play Angela Bishop, the first Native American Chief of Police in her town in upstate New York, according to a statement from Showtime. Bishop is also the mother of a brash and opinionated teenage daughter named Audrey, who will be played by Believe actor Johnny Sequoyah.
Sylvies Love actor Alano Miller, meanwhile, will play police sergeant and high school assistant wrestling coach Logan.
Then theres Jack Alcott from THE GOOD LORD BIRD as Randall,with whom Dexter (Michael C. Hall) has a meaningful encounter.
Just like before, it sounds like there will be a lot more crime and pressure from law enforcement in the revival. But well have to wait and see what exactly happens. In the meantime, check out more of our TV coverage below.
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'Dexter': New Cast Additions Offer Insight Into the Plot of the Revival Series - Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Even in a 2020 college football season that featured more starts and stops than Los Angeles traffic, there were a handful of near certainties, such as Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State reaching the College Football Playoff.
Even a pandemic couldn't balance power in the most top-heavy sport.
Will we finally see those heavyweights fall back in 2021? Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence has already declared for the NFL draft. Will Alabama's Mac Jones and Ohio State's Justin Fields be next? Will it be enough for programs such as Georgia, North Carolina and Texas A&M to close the gap on teams that have dominated their conferences for much of the past decade?
We'll have to wait about eight months to find out.
For now, here's the first edition of the 2021 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings, featuring projected returning starters, starters who might leave, key additions and outlooks for each team.
( * Denotes players who have already announced they're leaving for the NFL draft, transferring or not returning to their current programs for other reasons.)
2020 record: 10-2, 8-1 ACCProjected returning starters: five offense, 10 defense, one special teams
Projected losses: QB Trevor Lawrence*, RB Travis Etienne*, WR Amari Rodgers*, CB Derion Kendrick, LB Baylon Spector, FS Nolan Turner, OT Jackson Carman*
Key additions: LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., RB Will Shipley, DT Payton Page, WR Beaux Collins
Outlook: The Tigers' shortcomings were exposed in the CFP for the second season in a row, as they were pushed around on defense and couldn't protect Lawrence. This time, at least, those problems might be blamed on their youth and inexperience. A potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, Lawrence, as well as Etienne, will be remembered as one of the best players in school history. Rodgers on the perimeter is another big loss.
The good news is Clemson has a more-than-capable quarterback in waiting: freshman D.J. Uiagalelei, who threw for 781 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the two games when Lawrence was sidelined because of COVID-19. Star wide receiver Justyn Ross might be back from a neck injury, along with Joseph Ngata. There isn't an obvious successor at tailback, so that will be a focus in the spring. Three starting offensive linemen are expected back.
The defense was pretty young in 2020 and should only get better; six of its 14 leading tacklers were sophomores, and freshmen Myles Murphy, Bryan Bresee and Trenton Simpson might have been the best players on that unit. Clemson has the clearest path to the CFP, especially with Notre Dame heading back out of the ACC. The Tigers open the season against Georgia in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the winner will be No. 1 in the polls after Week 1.
2020 record: 13-0Projected returning starters: four offense, nine defense, one special teams
Projected losses: QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris, WR DeVonta Smith, WR Jaylen Waddle, OT Alex Leatherwood, C Landon Dickerson, G Deonte Brown, LB Dylan Moses, CB Patrick Surtain II, TE Miller Forristall
Key additions: OT Tommy Brockermeyer, OT J.C. Latham, OLB Dallas Turner, DT Damon Payne, ATH Ga'Quincy McKinstry, RB Camar Wheaton, CB Khyree Jackson
Outlook: The Crimson Tide are more than likely going to lose a slew of players to the NFL draft, including potential first-rounders Jones, Smith, Waddle, Surtain and Harris. Perhaps no program has assembled as much talent as Alabama, however, and coach Nick Saban has capable replacements ready to go.
Still, Alabama is losing a lot of experience, as well as offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, whom Texas hired as its new coach. More times than not, the Tide figure it out. Former Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien might be Saban's top choice to replace Sarkisian. Bryce Young was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the 2020 ESPN 300 and is Jones' heir apparent. Running backs Brian Robinson Jr., Jase McClellan and oft-injured Trey Sanders will try to fill Harris' shoes. Replacing Smith and Waddle won't be easy; John Metchie III and Slade Bolden are next in line.
Moses was the only senior starting on defense, although a handful of juniors and redshirt sophomores might leave for the NFL draft. The Tide open the 2021 season against Miami and play SEC road games at Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Texas A&M.
2020 record: 9-2 (6-2 Big 12)Projected returning starters: six offense, eight defense, two special teams
Projected losses: OT Adrian Ealy*, OT Erik Swenson, C Creed Humphrey*, RB Rhamondre Stevenson*, DE Ronnie Perkins*, CB Tre Brown*, DB Tre Norwood*, WR Charleston Rambo
Key additions: RB Kennedy Brooks, WR Mario Williams Jr., OT Savion Byrd, QB Caleb Williams, WR Billy Bowman Jr., OLB Clayton Smith
Outlook: It has been two decades since the Sooners last won a national championship, and they'll have a chance to end that drought if things fall right in 2021. Quarterback Spencer Rattler improved throughout his first season starting and will be a leading Heisman Trophy contender next season. Five other starters are expected back on offense, although Stevenson's departure stings. OU expects to bring back Brooks, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2019 who opted out this past season. Wide receiver Charleston Rambo, who started the past two seasons, entered the transfer portal.
Defensively, the Sooners have made great strides under coordinator Alex Grinch. This past season, they ranked second in the Big 12 in scoring defense (21.7 points) and run defense (105.1 yards) and third in total defense (350.6). OU's nonconference schedule in 2021 is more than manageable with a road contest at Tulane and home games against Nebraska and FCS program Western Carolina.
2020 record: 8-2 (7-2 SEC)Projected returning starters: nine offense, five defense, two special teams
Projected losses: G Ben Cleveland*, LB Azeez Ojulari*, LB Monty Rice*, LB Jermaine Johnson*, CB Eric Stokes*, CB Tyson Campbell*, S Richard LeCounte*, DE Malik Herring*, C Trey Hill*
Key additions: CB Kelee Ringo, WR Dominick Blaylock, ATH Smael Mondon, OT Amarius Mims, ATH Xavian Sorey, QB Brock Vandagriff
Outlook: Georgia's offense made significant strides with USC transfer JT Daniels playing quarterback in the last four games, and he should be even better with a full offseason in coordinator Todd Monken's offense. He completed 67% of his passes for 1,231 yards with 10 touchdowns and two picks in his four-game audition. There will be plenty of playmakers coming back around him, including wide receivers George Pickens, Jermaine Burton, Arian Smith and Kearis Jackson, as well as tight end Darnell Washington.
The defense will have to replace some of its most productive linebackers, but Adam Anderson, Nolan Smith and Quay Walker are more than capable. The return of Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt up front helps tremendously. With Stokes, Campbell and DJ Daniel leaving, building cornerback depth will be a priority in the spring. Georgia has assembled a boatload of talent. Is it enough to get over the hump against Alabama?
2020 record: 7-1Projected returning starters: six offense, five defense, zero special teams
Projected losses: QB Justin Fields, WR Chris Olave, RB Trey Sermon, OT Thayer Munford, C Josh Myers, G Wyatt Davis, LB Pete Werner, LB Tuf Borland, CB Shaun Wade
Key additions: DE Jack Sawyer, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Emeka Egbuka, QB Kyle McCord, WR Jayden Ballard
Outlook: The Buckeyes have enjoyed a seamless transition from Urban Meyer to Ryan Day, who has guided them to back-to-back CFP appearances. The Buckeyes don't seem ready to slow down anytime soon. Fields is projected as a top-five pick in the NFL draft, so he's probably leaving after two seasons at OSU. Freshman Jack Miller III, who set the Arizona high school record with 115 career passing touchdowns, was Fields' backup this past season. C.J. Stroud was the No. 2 pocket passer in the 2020 ESPN 300, and incoming freshman McCord was the No. 4 pocket passer in 2021.
There are a handful of other offensive starters who are candidates to leave, including Olave and Sermon. Defensively, the Buckeyes might have big holes to fill on the defensive line and at cornerback and linebacker, depending on who comes back. The Buckeyes' nonconference schedule next season includes home games against Oregon and Tulsa, and they're scheduled to play Big Ten road games at Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers, Indiana and Michigan.
2020 record: 9-1 (8-1 SEC)Projected returning starters: six offense, six defense, two special teams
Projected losses: QB Kellen Mond*, OT Dan Moore Jr.*, C Ryan McCollum*, G Jared Hocker*, OT Carson Green, LB Buddy Johnson*, CB Myles Jones
Key additions: DE Shemar Turner, DE Tunmise Adeleye, WR Shadrach Banks, ATH Dreyden Norwood, G Bryce Foster, CB Elijah Blades, LB Ke'Shun Brown, WR Camron Buckley
Outlook: The Aggies finally got a sizable return on their $75 million investment in coach Jimbo Fisher, closing the season with eight straight victories (each of the last seven by 10 or more points), including a 41-27 win over North Carolina in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Texas A&M might be destined for even bigger things in 2021 if it can replace some key pieces on offense. Mond and at least three starters from a very good offensive line are leaving. Freshmen Zach Calzada and Haynes King will battle for the QB job this spring.
Tailbacks Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane, utility man Ainias Smith and tight end Jalen Wydermyer give the Aggies a nice core of returning players on offense. More playmakers are needed on the perimeter. The defense, under coordinator Mike Elko's direction, led the SEC in total defense (317.3 yards per game). Top tacklers Johnson and Hansford, as well as top pass-rusher Bobby Brown III, will have to be replaced.
2020 record: 8-4 (7-3 ACC)Projected returning starters: eight offense, 10 defense, two special teams
Projected losses: RB Michael Carter*, RB Javonte Williams*, WR Dazz Newsome*, WR Dyami Brown*, LB Chazz Surratt*
Key additions: DE Keeshawn Silver, QB Drake Maye, LB Raneiria Dillworth, LB Power Echols, WR Gavin Blackwell
Outlook: Mack Brown might only be getting started at UNC. Even with Carter, Williams, Newsome and Brown moving on, UNC should have a high-powered offense coming back in 2021. Quarterback Sam Howell will be a Heisman Trophy favorite, and all five starting offensive linemen are expected to return.
Young wide receivers Josh Downs and Khafre Brown played well against Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl, and injured receiver Beau Corrales should be back after a sports hernia limited him to four games in 2020. Six of UNC's defensive starters were freshmen or sophomores this past season, and the returns of top pass-rusher Tomon Fox and linebacker Tyrone Hopper are big boosts. The Tar Heels will play at Notre Dame this coming season.
2020 record: 9-3 (8-1 Big 12)Projected returning starters: 10 offense, eight defense, zero special teams
Projected losses: DE JaQuan Bailey*, FS Lawrence White IV*
Key additions: OT Tyler Maro, DT Howard Brown, OT Jim Bonifas, RB Deon Silas, S Ben Langston
Outlook: It's difficult to say what is more remarkable: Iowa State coach Matt Campbell leading his teams to 32 victories over the past four seasons -- the most in a four-year span in school history -- or the Cyclones hanging on to Campbell despite overtures from multiple high-profile programs and NFL teams. This past season, the Cyclones tied school records with nine wins total and three victories over ranked opponents, including a 34-17 victory over Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, their first New Year's Six bowl appearance.
With quarterback Brock Purdy (2,750 passing yards, 382 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns) and tailback Breece Hall (1,572 rushing with 21 touchdowns) returning, the Cyclones might have two Heisman Trophy contenders in 2021. Five offensive line starters will return after senior left tackle Sean Foster opted to come back and star tight end Charlie Kolar did the same on Sunday. Bailey, the school's career sacks leader, has already announced he's entering the NFL draft. Eyioma Uwazurike and linebackers Jake Hummel and Mike Rose opted to come back.
2020 record: 5-1 Pac-12Projected returning starters: eight offense, eight defense, two special teams
Projected losses: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker*, SS Talanoa Hufanga*, WR Tyler Vaughns*, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown*, CB Olaijah Griffin*, DT Marlon Tuipulotu*
Key additions: DE Korey Foreman, DT Ishmael Sophsher, S Xavion Alford, QB Miller Moss, QB Jaxson Dart, ATH Kyron Ware-Hudson, ATH Julien Simon
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Outlook: The Trojans squandered their chance at winning a Pac-12 title and playing in a New Year's Six bowl by losing to Oregon 31-24 in the league championship game. USC won its first South Division title since 2017, but the loss to the Ducks soiled what might have been some good equity for embattled coach Clay Helton. He is only 18-13 over the past three seasons, so USC needs to continue to show progress in 2021.
The Trojans can start by improving their woefully inadequate running game, which ranked last in the league and 120th in the FBS, averaging 97.3 yards per game. Maybe that's why Helton fired offensive line coach Tim Drevno and strength and conditioning coach Aaron Ausmus. USC's defense improved under new coordinator Todd Orlando; it ranked third in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (26 points) and run defense (153.3 yards). The Trojans are scheduled to play at Notre Dame next season but will avoid Oregon and Washington in conference play.
2020 record: 6-2 (6-1 Big Ten)Projected returning starters: nine offense, 10 defense, one special teams
Projected losses: WR Whop Philyor*, C Harry Crider, DT Jerome Johnson*
Key additions: DE Ryder Anderson, C Zach Carpenter, WR Rashawn Williams, RB Tim Baldwin, WR D.J. Matthews, OT Luke Haggard, G Dylan Powell
Outlook: Indiana put together one of the better seasons in school history, but it never felt as if it got the credit it deserved. The Hoosiers were bypassed for Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game and then dropped in the Big Ten's bowl pecking order. Playing without injured quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Hoosiers lost to Ole Miss 26-20 in the Outback Bowl.
With potentially 19 starters coming back on offense and defense, it seems as if coach Tom Allen is only getting started. Led by a very talented secondary, the Hoosiers ranked fourth in the Big Ten in scoring defense (20.3 points), although Allen is searching for a new coordinator after Kane Wommack was named South Alabama's head coach.
Penix's recovery from a torn ACL in his right knee will be monitored closely this summer. Matthews, who had 84 catches and 582 punt return yards in 35 games at Florida, transferred to Indiana. Former Ole Miss pass-rusher Anderson plans to join the Hoosiers as well.
2020 record: 9-1 (6-0 AAC)Projected returning starters: eight offense, seven defense, one special teams
Projected losses: S James Wiggins*, S Darrick Forrest*, LB Jarell White, DE Elijah Ponder*, RB Gerrid Doaks*, OT James Hudson*, OT Darius Harper
Key additions: DL Jowon Briggs, QB Evan Prater, WR Jadon Thompson, LB Jaheim Thomas
Outlook: The Bearcats narrowly missed finishing unbeaten, losing to Georgia 24-21 on Jack Podlesny's 53-yard field goal with three seconds left in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. It was still a memorable season for Cincinnati, which has won 31 games in the past three seasons under coach Luke Fickell. Even with defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman departing for Notre Dame, the Bearcats will again be the top AAC contender in 2021.
The new defensive coordinator will have to replace some key pieces, including Ponder and both starting safeties. The good news is quarterback Desmond Ridder announced he's coming back, along with at least three starting offensive linemen. The Bearcats are scheduled to play road games at Indiana and Notre Dame next season.
2020 record: 6-2 Big TenProjected returning starters: seven offense, six defense, one special teams
Projected losses: OT Alaric Jackson*, DT Daviyon Nixon*, DE Chauncey Golston*, DE Jack Heflin*, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette*, WR Brandon Smith*, LB Nick Niemann*, G Cole Banwart*, K Keith Duncan*
Key additions: DB Xavior Williams, DE Matt Lorbeck, DE Deontae Craig, WR Keagan Johnson, LB Justice Sullivan
Outlook: Iowa's season was delayed and then cut short when its regular-season finale against Michigan and bowl game against Missouri were canceled because of COVID-19 issues. The Hawkeyes still showed promise in finishing the season with a six-game winning streak after an 0-2 start. Tyler Goodson (762 yards) was one of the top tailbacks in the Big Ten, and he'll carry more of the load in 2021 with Mekhi Sargent leaving for the NFL.
Quarterback Spencer Petras threw eight touchdowns in the final six games. The offensive line got a boost when center Tyler Linderbaum opted to come back. The defensive line will have to be rebuilt, but end Zach VanValkenburg's return was more good news. The secondary will return intact if cornerback Matt Hankins doesn't turn pro.
2020 record: 4-3 (3-2 Pac-12)Projected returning starters: seven offense, seven defense, two special teams
Projected losses: TE Hunter Kampmoyer*, NG Jordon Scott*, DT Austin Faoliu*, CB Deommodore Lenoir*, WR Jaylon Redd, WR Johnny Johnson III, OT George Moore, S Nick Pickett*
Key additions: WR Isaiah Brevard, QB Ty Thompson, WR Troy Franklin, WR Dont'e Thornton
Outlook: It's difficult to put much of a grade on Oregon's performance in 2020 because it played only seven games and was missing a handful of its best players after they opted out before the season, including star tackle Penei Sewell, safety Jevon Holland, linebacker Brady Breeze and cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. The Ducks won a Pac-12 title without winning their division and lost to Iowa State in the Fiesta Bowl. Overall, Oregon fans probably anticipated a little more in coach Mario Cristobal's third season.
First and foremost, the Ducks must decide on a starting quarterback this spring. Tyler Shough, Justin Herbert's former understudy, completed 63.5% of his passes for 1,559 yards with 13 touchdowns and six picks. Boston College graduate transfer Anthony Brown took a lot of snaps in the Pac-12 championship game and the bowl game. It's unclear whether Brown will return for another season.
The Oregon defense has three budding stars in Kayvon Thibodeaux, Mase Funa and Mykael Wright, and more help is on the way in linebacker Justin Flowe and cornerback Dontae Manning, who played sparingly because of injuries. Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos took the head-coaching job at Boise State, his alma mater.
2020 record: 3-1 Pac-12Projected returning starters: 11 offense, eight defense, one special teams
Projected losses: DB Elijah Molden*, DB Keith Taylor*, DL Josiah Bronson*
Key additions: QB Sam Huard, TE Quentin Moore, QB Patrick O'Brien, LB Will Latu, WR Jabez Tinae, G Owen Prentice
Outlook: Jimmy Lake's first season as Washington's head coach was incomplete, as the Huskies played only four games and won the Pac-12 North but couldn't play in the Pac-12 championship game because of COVID-19 issues.
The good news is that all but three starters might return in 2021 and the Huskies added Huard, the No. 1 pocket passer in the 2021 ESPN 300. Three other quarterbacks -- Ethan Garbers, Jacob Sirmon and Kevin Thomson -- left, so the Huskies also added O'Brien, a Colorado State graduate transfer. Huard and O'Brien will compete with returning starter Dylan Morris, who completed 60.9% of his passes for 897 yards with four touchdowns and three picks.
Washington's priorities this spring are finding a bona fide No. 1 receiver and rebuilding the secondary.
2020 record: 10-2 (9-0 ACC)Projected returning starters: three offense, six defense, two special teams
Projected losses: OT Liam Eichenberg*, G Tommy Kraemer, G Aaron Banks*, OT Robert Hainsey*, QB Ian Book*, WR Javon McKinley, WR Ben Skowronek*, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah*, SS Shaun Crawford*, DE Daelin Hayes*
Key additions: QB Jack Coan, QB Tyler Buchner, TE Cane Berrong, G Rocco Spindler, WR Deion Colzie
Outlook: With their 31-14 loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One, the Fighting Irish fell to 0-7 in BCS or New Year's Six bowl games since 1998 and have been outscored by 161 points in those games, with all seven losses by at least 14 points. While the Irish have been very good under coach Brian Kelly, they're still not at the level of Alabama (along with just about every other FBS program).
The Irish will have a face-lift on offense, starting at quarterback. Coan, a Wisconsin transfer, will battle Buchner, Drew Pyne and Brendon Clark for the starting job this spring. Notre Dame has good pieces on offense to build around, including tailbacks Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree and wide receivers Braden Lenzy and Jordan Johnson.
Four starting linemen are gone; center Jarrett Patterson is coming back from a broken foot. Kelly hired Cincinnati's Marcus Freeman to replace defensive coordinator Clark Lea, who left to become Vanderbilt's coach. Freeman will have to rebuild the defensive line and find more depth in the secondary.
2020 record: 8-4 (8-2 SEC)Projected returning starters: five offense, seven defense, one special teams
Projected losses: QB Kyle Trask*, TE Kyle Pitts*, WR Kadarius Toney*, WR Trevon Grimes*, C Brett Heggie*, OT Stone Forsythe*, LB Ventrell Miller, S Brad Stewart Jr., DL Kyree Campbell*, CB Marco Wilson*, K Evan McPherson*
Key additions: RB Demarkcus Bowman, DB Ethan Pouncey, OL Jaelin Humphries, CB Jason Marshall, QB Carlos Del Rio, S Corey Collier, DE Jeremiah Williams, DE Tyreak Sapp
Outlook: Florida's breakthrough season under coach Dan Mullen ended with a big flop, as the Gators lost their last three games, including a 55-20 rout against Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Most of Florida's offensive firepower is departing, including Heisman Trophy finalist Trask. Sophomore Emory Jones looks like the quarterback of the future, and the Gators will have to identify reliable pass-catchers with Pitts, Grimes and Toney departing.
The defense also will need a major face-lift after it was gutted for 144 points and more than 1,700 yards of offense in those three late losses. The Gators allowed 28 touchdown passes this season, which ranked next to last among FBS teams. They gave up 30.8 points per game, their most since surrendering 41.2 per contest in six games in 1917. Todd Grantham, one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in the FBS, seems to be on thin ice. Secondary coaches Ron English and Torrian Gray have already been fired.
2020 record: 4-3 (3-3 Big Ten)Projected returning starters: eight offense, seven defense, two special teams
Projected losses: OT Cole Van Lanen*, G Jon Dietzen*, DE Isaiahh Loudermilk*, DE Garrett Rand*, S Eric Burrell*
Key additions: WR Markus Allen, OT Nolan Rucci, S Hunter Wohler, DE T.J. Bollers, S Braelon Allen
Outlook: Few programs had their seasons disrupted by COVID-19 more than the Badgers, who had two games canceled and another one postponed. They looked like Big Ten West title contenders after an early 49-11 rout at Michigan, but then quarterback Graham Mertz was sidelined after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Wisconsin never seemed to regain its momentum from there. Its offense also played without top wide receivers Danny Davis III and Kendric Pryor for much of the season because of concussions. The Badgers scored fewer than seven points in three straight losses. Mertz should improve after a full offseason, and Pryor has already announced he's coming back.
Jim Leonhard's defense once again ranked in the top 10 in scoring and total defense, and with linebackers Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal returning, the unit will be among the best in the FBS in 2021.
Read more here:
The 2021 Way-Too-Early college football top 25 - ESPN
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
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Expectations don't always line up with reality, and that's as true in NBA free agency as anywhere else.
Even this early in the 2020-21 season, buyer's remorse is real.
To the surprise of many (myself included), neither the Charlotte Hornets nor the Detroit Pistons will appear here. Gordon Hayward has been effective, and he's a big reason the Hornets have been so much fun to this point. Jerami Grant's Pistons aren't any good, but he's silenced doubters who were sure he couldn't thrive in a bigger role.
Regret may come for the Hornets and Pistons eventually, but it's nowhere to be found at the moment.
That isn't the case elsewhere, as the following teams should already be questioning their additions in 2020 free agency.
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The Atlanta Hawks got part of the process right, shrewdly acquiring veterans to address last season's main shortcomings: backcourt defense, secondary playmaking and a lack of non-Trae Young shot-creation.
So far, the results have been a disaster.
That isn't necessarily Atlanta's fault, as the lack of production from those new additions is entirely because of injuries. With that said, all four of Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kris Dunn and Rajon Rondo are at least as notable for their checkered health histories as they are for their on-court production.
Gallo, who's played only two games, is out for several weeks with an ankle injury. He's averaged 26 games on the shelf over the past six seasons, and that's after missing the entire 2013-14 campaign with a torn ACL.
Bogdanovic missed 23 games over the past two years, and he just went down with a fractured knee Saturday. He has no timetable to return for now. Dunn, who's missed at least 14 games in each of the past three seasons, hasn't played at all yet. Hehas had ankle surgery, though. Finally, Rondo's balky right knee has limited him to a grand total of 31 minutes of action to this point. He hasn't surpassed the 50-game mark in either of the last two campaigns and has fallen short of 70 every year since 2015-16.
There's absolutely a luck element to injuries, and the Hawks deserve credit for aggressively finding void-filling pieces that made perfect sense in their idealized rotation. But they didn't exactly prize durability in their signings, and it has come back to bite them.
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Tristan Thompson is helping the Boston Celtics on the offensive glass, which is the absolute minimum they likely hoped for when signing him for the mid-level exception. Thompson has always beenamong the league's bestgenerators of second-chance opportunities, and he's doing that for Boston in the early going.
Having now complimented the 29-year-old big man, we can dig into the rougher stuff.
Opponents are feasting at the rim with Thompson in the game, getting to close rangemore oftenand converting at alarming rates. Inside six feet, players are hitting74.4 percentof their shots with Thompson as the primary defender. That's the fifth-highest hit rate allowed in the league among players who've defended at least 40 total attempts. Among bigs, only Enes Kanter, Paul Millsap and Marvin Bagley III have been worse deterrents.
Boston's defensecraterswith Thompson and Daniel Theis on the floor, which isn't what you'd expect from an old-school two-big lineup. Those are supposed to struggle on offense but lock down the lane and suppress opponents' scoring. That hasn't happened.
Thompson isn't a floor-spacer, and he has long struggled to score efficiently in general. If he isn't helping the interior defense, it's hard for him to make a positive impact.
Jeff Teague looked fantastic in the early going, but he's been unproductive outside of some hot, low-volume three-point shooting. Kemba Walker's return can't come soon enough.
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The Toronto Raptors' struggles feel like they stem more from subtractions than additions*, even if those are really two sides of the same roster-building coin. It's as if Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol took some indefinable quality with them when they leftcorporate knowledge, maybe, or championship experienceand neither Aron Baynes nor Alex Len has been able to find what's missing.
Also, neither new big man has been productive on the floor. Maybe we should have just kept it simple and started with that.
Baynes, bounced from the rotation after seven games, hasn't shown the three-point stroke he developed over the last two years. He's at 18.8 percent from deep and has been one of the NBA's most negatively impactful players on both ends. Quick and dirty summation: His minus-8.7 box plus/minus is second-worst leaguewide among players who've logged at least 100 minutes.
Len has gotten some reps in Baynes' place, but he hasn't been much better.
It's a good thing holdover Chris Boucher has taken a step forward. Without him, Toronto's center position might be the most hopeless in the league. A downgrade was inevitable with the Raptors losing two key vets, but nobody expected the free-agency replacements to be this bad.
*Fatigue following two deep postseason runs and the difficulty of playing home games in Tampa Bay can't be ignored, either.
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Davis Bertans has shot it well by normal standards, but his 36.0 percent conversion rate on threes would be a career low if the season ended today. When you give someone a five-year, $80 million contract and further cave by adding an early termination option on the final season, giving Bertans all the power in the team-player relationship, you hope to see more than that.
Specialistsespecially the highly paid varietyneed to be special.
Still, Bertans' minutes coincide with the best point differential among all Washington Wizards rotation players, and his gravity has been a key driver of the team's top-five offensive rating. He's probably overpaid, but Bertans isn't the main reason Washington should be feeling some buyer's remorse over its free-agent moves.
Although Robin Lopez and Raul Neto aren't cap-cripplers on one-year deals at $7.3 and $1.9 million, respectively, they haven't been of much help in the early going.
Lopez typically juices a team's defensive rebounding success, but his impact on that end has barely been noticeable this year. Because Thomas Bryant, who's now out for the season with an ACL tear, is such a defensive minus, many of Lopez's early on-off numbers on that end look better than they have a right toand they aren't even all that good. Washington has been outscored by 9.9 points per 100 possessions in Lopez's floor time, the worst figure on the team among players who've seen at least 150 minutes of action.
Neto is close behind at minus-9.0, and that's despite shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 42.4 percent on threes. Opponents are crushing the Wizards defense six ways from Sunday, but they've found scoring particularly easy with Neto on the floor.
Bertans, Lopez and Neto aren't the problem in Washington. A lack of defensive accountability, head coach Scott Brooks' strange lineups and Russell Westbrook being a massive drag on both ends are the real issues. But the Wizards' offseason signings aren't producing solutions, either.
Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Accurate through games played Wednesday, Jan. 13. Salary info via Basketball Insiders.
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NBA Teams Already Regretting Their 2020 Free-Agency Pickups - Bleacher Report
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January 15, 2021 by
Mr HomeBuilder
As up and down as the first 12 games of the Golden State Warriors new season have been, no contest has underscored the difference between Stephen Curry 's past and present basketball reality more than Thursday's 114-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets. As much as both Curry and coach Steve Kerr tried to hammer home the point that the Warriors' defense has to play with more physicality in order to win, there was another issue that is just as important and grew more prominently throughout the game. An issue that will define the course of how the next four months of the group's season plays out: Curry's greatness isn't enough to overcome lackluster offensive production from those around him. For the first time all season, the Warriors dropped a game in which the 32-year-old two-time MVP scored at least 30 points.
"I think it's just a matter of our team connecting and figuring out who we are and what we are," Kerr said during a video conference with reporters, when asked how to keep Curry from getting frustrated when he's not getting enough help. "It's going to take some time because of the moving parts, new additions, also trying to ease James [Wiseman] along. So you look at Steph's line obviously great scoring night, 35 points, but seven turnovers, Draymond [Green] had five, we're not really in sync yet. And that's going to take time."
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To Kerr's point, the Warriors are still trying to weave in Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. into the offense and both players are still adjusting to the way Curry plays the game. Green had an uncharacteristically off night on both ends of the floor, but since his return from an early season foot injury and conditioning issues due to COVID protocols, he has proven to be a helpful antidote in getting the offense moving and getting Curry in position to operate.
Kerr acknowledged that his team is still figuring out the best way to integrate Wiseman and hasn't gotten comfortable throwing him lobs in the paint yet. But if ever there was a night to remind Curry that Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala weren't by his side to take some pressure off his shoulders, this was it.
After Curry scored 12 points in the first quarter, the Warriors seemed to lose their way. Wiggins and Oubre missed open looks throughout the night, Green had no impact on the offensive end and the bench didn't have many answers against a Nuggets team that likes to get up and down the floor. The starting unit has only shown flashes of rhythm over the first month of the season and continues to struggle to string together solid performances.
"We've had some good days, some bad days," Curry said. "Twelve games in we got to understand what we can do better, especially offensively, just getting in a little bit more flow. And then living up to that expectation of what we're supposed to do defensively and that's just consistent energy. Night to night it's hard with a new group when you're playing really talented teams ... just be real with ourselves and what we need to do better. Not get in our feelings when we don't play well."
Kerr echoed similar sentiments in reiterating that he believes the offense will come together over time. The veteran coach appears much more concerned about getting his defense to play with more consistency than an offense that is still trying to find its way with a 19-year-old center. But as teammates continue to say they need to do a better job of playing off Curry, it's worth noting that there are times when Wiggins and Oubre still don't seem sure about exactly where they need to be on the floor. While trying to take accountability for some of his own shortcomings on Thursday, Curry hinted at the fact that the Warriors are still wrestling with how to work best off each other.
"Just keep being aggressive and being smart with the basketball," Curry said, when asked what he can do to help his teammates feel more comfortable. "There's a couple times tonight -- for instance where you start to rush a little bit. That aggressiveness turns into getting yourself in trouble and a couple untimely turnovers in that situation. I think offensively I got going creating my own shot and then we didn't get to that next level where I'm moving it, we have good flow and things kind of got a little stagnant pretty quick in that first quarter."
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Curry's minus-21 was the second worst plus/minus in his career during a game in which he scored at least 30 points, according to ESPN Stats and Information. As has been the case at various points throughout the year, he is trying to force the action when he sees that he's not getting the help he grew accustomed to when Thompson, Durant and Iguodala were on the floor. Curry continues to pump the outward positivity even though it is nights like these that offer a reminder that even when he does play 38 minutes and scores 35 points, that still won't be enough because the margin for error on this team is so small.
"It's not every time we lose and have a bad night, there's no panic," Curry said. "It's understanding we're 12 games into a new lineup and a new look and some nights it's going to look really, really great, some nights it might look really bad. It just kind of comes with the territory."
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Even when Stephen Curry is on, Warriors struggling to find their rhythm - ESPN
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