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Super Bowl 49 Preview
The Super Bowl is all about story lines, mainly off the field story lines. Everyone wants to know who had the most struggle, where they came from, and who they are having relations with, mainly everything but the game. Super Bowl 49 is no different as far as storylines go, but unfortunately the main one is "DeflateGate". The worst thing about the Super Bowl is, its easy to forget about the game around the spectacle. Since last Wednesday, I have yet to hear anyone speak about the game, everything has been irrelevant.
Patriots-Seahawks is a very good matchup for the Super bowl. You have a Hall of Fame QB, up against a record breaking defense, similar to last year. Seahawks are looking to be the first team to win back-to-back since the Patriots in 2004 and 2005. Bill Belicheck and Tom Brady are playing in their 5th Super Bowl, trying to win their 4th together. The last time these two played was in 2012 in Seattle, a game the Seahawks won 24-23 in 2012. Richard Sherman became a household name after he ask Tom Bardy "You Mad Bro?" on the way to the locker room. Sherman finished with an interception that game, and Brady threw two picks.
Both teams are different from two years ago, but the cores are still there. Patriots are very different, Rob Gronkwoski being the only pass catcher remaining from that 2012 team. caught 6 passes for 61 yards. Gronk is a different beast now though, a much better beast. Seahawks DB, Jeremy Lane, claimed Gronk to be overrated. Here is his statements on the pro-bowl tight end,
Lane said to the Seattle Times, last Thursday. Pete Carroll joking said "he just didn't watch film yet", I'm agreeing with Carroll on this one. Lane is the nickle-back in the LOB and even though he is talented, I don't think he can call Gronk, who was 1 of 2 players voted unanimously to the All-Pro team (other being JJ Watt), overrated or "just ok". Gronk will be Lane's main assignment, and we will see how physical he can get with Gronk. To a certain extent, he is right about getting physical with Gronk. You have to do more than get your hands on him though, you actually have to hit him and hit him hard. Lane won't stop Gronk from catching the ball but if he can contain him from gaining yards after the catch, and no big plays, he gives his team an added advantage.
The rest of the secondary I think will thrive though. The Patriots receiving core doesn't have enough play-making ability to outduel the Legion of Boom. Julian Edleman is probably the best play-maker out of the group but the size of the Seahawks DBs might be too much. You figure Earl Thomas is the smallest of that group at 5'10, but he pack the biggest punch. If none of these receivers can make plays down the field, then we might see the same results from last year's Super Bowl.
I think the most even mathcup out of this game is the battle at the scrimmage. Patriots' offensive line has always been one of the best in the league, but so were the Broncos last year. Seahwaks' defensive line has managed to give the best QB's in the league fits, reason why the Legion of boom can play how they play. The best way to beat Tom Brady is to make him move outside of the pocket. Brady, similar to Manning, likes to sit in the pocket and pick you apart. If you can make him move around then you can make him uncomfortable. Unlike Manning though, Brady doesn't mind using his feet to gain a few yards, which I think he should do in this game since they won't be expecting it.
This will definitely be a chess match. One thing I love about this matchup, is both teams are very strategic and smart. Earl Thomas, who I already mentioned, is probably the smartest saftey in the league, along with Richard Sherman being the smartest corner. Their pre-game preparation is probably the best I've seen since Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. They study film so much, they have develop the ability to always know your next move. Manning didn't change his signals and it costed him a Super Bowl. Brady isn't know for hand signals, so that may be an advantage for him. Brady's "pre-snap" skills are underrated in my opinion. It may not be as proficient as Manning, but it still get the job done.
Patriots are 0-2 in their last two trips to the Super Bowl, both losses coming against the Giants by a combine margin of 7, which I'm sure doesn't sit well with Belichick. Belichick will have to figure out how to cut Russell Wilson's and Marshawn Lynch big plays to a minimum. Against the Packers, Russell didn't play well the first 3 quarters, throwing 3 interception but threw the game winning pass. Russell will not be able to play like that for another game, because I'm not sure if the defense can hold like they did against the Packers. The Patriots has played well in the postseason, holding the best offense in the league to only 7 points and 209 total yards. Marshawn Lynch wasn't on that offense though.
The Patriots' defense and Seahawks' offense are both potential x-factors in this game. Which ever unit can play best in this game, that team will win the game. Pats defense in those two Super Bowls, didn't come up with the extra play needed to win a title. Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis has made this defense that much better with their play on the outsides. Seahawks have no big names at the receiver spot, but Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin, and tight end Luke Willson, all can make a big play at any time. Seahawks must limit those turnovers and get back to the mistake-free football that they are known for.
I'm going with the Seahawks in this one. I still believe in the mantra "Defense wins championship" and the Legion of Boom has already proved that to be true. The receivers of the Patriots will struggle to gain yards on this big and physical secondary. I don't think it will be as one sided as it was last year, but I can see the Seahawks walking away with it in the 4th quarter. My prediction for the Super Bowl is 28-17 Seahawks, with Marshawn Lynch winning the MVP.


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|2,400 sq ft
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|3 - 8 nights
City of Ventura Vacation Rental Permit #2108
Please review our guest feedback (Traveler Reviews 70+, 5 Star reviews) at the top of the page. 2018 will be our 12th year renting the house as the owners. See the rates tab for the seasonal rates.
Entire house remodel completed at end of January 2014 that involved inside and outside work. New kitchen, new appliances, new bathrooms, new bedrooms, wood floors throughout, new furnishings, new outside, new garden, etc.
If you rent this house, you are renting from an owner who lived in it since the early 1970's (my parents built the house in 1972). Personalized service from booking, to arrival and on through your stay. We also live in Ventura.
1045 WATERBURY LANE, VENTURA, CALIFORNIA BEACH FRONT HOUSE - ON THE SAND!!! Waterbury Lane has one of the widest stretches of beaches in all of Pierpont.....great for the kiddies to run and play on. This house is located in the wonderful Pierpont beach community in the City of Ventura (60 miles north of Los Angeles/45 miles south of Santa Barbara).
A year round weekly rental (or monthly outside of summer), our beach house easily sleeps 10 and is a perfect getaway for families, or a group of friends and it would also make a great business retreat (wireless internet, big dining room table).
As a beach front home sitting on a prime beach, you'll enjoy the comfort and amazing views of the ocean and offshore Channel Islands which provide a background for spectacular sunsets and if you are lucky, jumping dolphin right outside the surf line. Relax on the deck or back patio (with gas fire pit), or curl on the couch along side our gas fireplace. With all the creature comforts of an exclusive resort, you may never want to leave our getaway on the beach.
Two full stories above the ground level garage, this home has 3.5 bedrooms and three baths, a family room, living room, large open concept dining room (table for 10), and full kitchen in approximately 2400 square feet of living in a very open floor plan with lots of windows to show off the ocean/island view.
SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS (bedrooms on top floor)
Bedroom One - Master bedroom with king bed. New bathroom and vanity area redone. Nice size deluxe shower with a double vanity sink and very large walk in closet. Private balcony with NANA doors that are only accessed from master bedroom with panoramic ocean/island views. Master has Direct TV satellite cable with a DVD/VCR playerand a 32 inch LCD TV. Two sitting chairs.
Bedroom Two - This room features a queen and one twin bed in a remodeled room. Walk in closet and attached bathroom (just redone) with step in shower. Flat screen TV with Direct TV Satellite cable with a DVD/VCR player.
Bedroom Three - This room features one california king bed and a walk in closet. Ample room for rollaway bed or for a crib. Attached bathroom shared with bedroom two. Flat screen TV with Direct TV Satellite cable with a DVD/VCR player.
Pocket bedroom - small but super cute bedroom for one person that is separate and private with a door.
Large open living room on main floor has couch with a pull out queen bed. Living room also has a fire place and a 55 inch High-definition LED 3D Smart TV with Direct TV satellite cable (with TIVO). High quality/compact surround sound stereo is connected to the TV. Enjoy movies in style or listen to the radio/CD. Open up the NANA wall to the deck and enjoy the perfect indoor/outdoor openness.
Family room/bar. Also has a pull out couch (new 2014) as well as a HD TV and stereo. Sink and small fridge in bar area.
Standard nightly rate is $495/nt Three night minimum. If you can't stay three nights, a two night stay is possible buy add $250/cleaning fee.
Standard weekly rate rate is $2859/week. No cleaning fee.
Thanksgiving/Christmas rate is $3000/week minimum
Summer (June 8 to September 7, 2018). $4475/week, 7 day min stay. All summer rentals are based on Friday to Friday (no deviations)
Keywords: Beach House, Ocean Front, Island Views, Custom Home
This is our childhood home that our parents built in 1972 and we grew up in the house and completely remodeled it in 2006 and 2014. Rent from owners who know the property since 1972. We also live nearby and are happy to help make your stay the best it can be.
Biedebach and Berry Families
The Owner purchased this house in 1972
Enjoy the widest beach in the Pierpont area with our house. We cater to the family types, friends and business groups. The house has all the good stuff for the adults on down to the little kiddies. Walking or a short drive to everything great about Ventura. Bike path right near by, Ventura Pier about one mile away and you can see it from the house. Lots to do and see in Ventura.
Hi dears,
We enjoyed your lovely weather and beautiful sunsets the last few days...and the new remodel seems quite nice in many ways. The doors that open completely are a great asset! Beautiful to have the downstairs one open wide.
Love the kitchen, baths, etc.
And spent a good deal of time in the lovely back outdoor space. That's the first time we have done that. THAT is really, really nice.
Thanks, as always, for your hospitality.
Love the new refrig and stove! And I especially love the wooden bench and wooden table in the dining area. It has a large seating capacity and keeps the theme of minimalism (sp?) that is so welcome throughout the house. We found that the emphasis on simplicity is a great one. It's very calming and enjoyable.
We all spent a lively amount of time discussing all of the new touches, etc. decor, renovations, lighting... designing itself, in fact, with all of its many twists and turns, and being such a creative thing..and so on...and our overall consensus?
This home was not just perfectly located (right on the sand), but perfectly appointed and extremely comfortable. Mike & Erica were exceptionally friendly and wonderful hosts. Our family stayed here for a week this summer and we could not have been happier. We loved having all the accordian doors open to experience the great ocean breeze and listen to the sound of the waves, both in the living room and the master bedroom! We also made great use of the the extra large dining table for all our family meals. Having a home right on the beach made our days relaxing in the sand, boogie boarding, taking walks along the coastline, searching for sea glass & rocks easy and effortless! We also walked to the pier for lunch, and to neighborhood restaurants for dinner and frozen yogurt! We really appreciated all the beach towels, toys, boogie boards and chairs provided. The home has a few outdoor seating areas for dining and relaxing, with an outdoor shower to rinse off all the sand, and a fire pit that we enjoyed for late night s'mores!
Thanks for an unforgettable summer get-a-way!
This house was absolutely perfect for our girls retreat last February.
The house wasn't just a vacation rental, it was a home, with all the amenities you could ask for. The owners did not cheap out on linens, towels, kitchen supplies, anything. It was all top notch! Erica was a wonderful host and showed us around the place, including the "funkier" features like how to operate the fridge doors or the accordion porch doors!! What will they think of next!! At some point during our long weekend, we just had the windows/doors open and we just curled up like cats and napped in the California sun (we all came from cold winter places like Omaha, Chicago, Boulder and DC!!). The house comes stocked with everything you can want from beach toys to kitchen appliances.
She gave us some wonderful recommendations to local restaurants and made us feel at home. Ventura itself was also super cute with lots of restaurants, bars and shopping. Check out the Golden China Restaurant if you want to karaoke. We took the Pacific Surfliner to Santa Barbara and enjoyed our day wine tasting in the many wine bars. But really, we just parked ourselves at the beach and watched for dolphins and little sandpipers.
We look forward to visiting again.
Everything we needed and more for our small family to reunite for 5 days. Our kids freely ran out to the beach outside as we watched on from the deck of the wonderful living area. Great house and wonderful hosts.
My family had a fabulous time at this beach house. Located on the beach with amazing views. The sunsets are beautiful. The house is spacious, clean and equipped with everything you need for a fun-filled stay. Easy walk to the pier to enjoy Beach House Tacos or to the grocery store. Beach chairs, boogie and sand toys for children are provided. This is our second time staying at the beach house and we look forward to returning. Erica and Mike are wonderful to work with.
This was probably the most expensive house that we ever rented, and it still felt like a bargain. We instantly knew that we had chosen the right home when we opened the front door for the first time. Everything was clean, perfectly decorated and furnished and the views were more than impressive. Just something we normally only see in magazines.
The following days were something to remember forever. The walks across the beach in the morning to get fresh bakery items from the grocery store, the extended breakfast at the table outside. The nights with the sound of the waves (beds were super comfy), the fire pit in the back yard.... So many things to do... I wish we had booked more than 4 nights, but I`m sure we will come back again. Thanks Erica and Mike.
We have been vacationing here with our family and friends for 5 years and can't wait to return for #6!
Such wonderful memories we have all made together!
Everything you need, is always there!
Love walking to the pier for Beach House Tacos and off course, Social Tap and Duke's on Seward!
Erica and Mike are the best!
Four beach volleyball courts 600 feet away at Ventura State Beach. Bike path starts at Ventura State Beach and it continues for the coast for miles.
Historic Ventura Pier one mile away, Surfers Point next to Pier (great surf spot)
Channel Islands National Park - use Island Packers Cruises to take an island trips, whale watching trips, island kayaking, scuba, camping, etc,
Golfing- two public 18 hole golf courses are 2-5 miles away
Vons Market, Starbucks Coffee & retail shops/restaurants are 0.6 mile away at Seaward Avenue.
Seaward Avenue....fun little walking area with small restaurants to visit. Rent surfboards, etc at store on Seaward.
Downtown Ventura - amazingly fun, robust & recently revitalized Historic Downtown Ventura with great restaurants & bars, shopping & antiquing, movie theather, etc. Lots to do & see downtown.
Day trips to Santa Barbara (25 miles), & Ojai (15 miles) are fun.
NOTE: Ask property owners about other trips and things to do as they have lived here since the early 1970's.
|Refundable damage deposit
|Pet Fee
Rates are subject to change until reservation has been confirmed. 3 night minimum. If you can only book for 2 nights there is an additional cleaning fee of $250

subset: commoncrawl


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What Characteristics Are Important In Criminal Appeals Barristers?
Filing a criminal appeal is a complex process that can be fraught with uncertainty. Many people worry that they will have as little luck during their appeal as they did during their initial trial. Just as with any other legal process, having the right representation can mean the difference between success and failure.
Knowing what characteristics are most important in criminal appeals barristers is key if you want to hire the right person to assist you. This is a very significant decision to make, so it is not one that should be made without doing enough research. The more you know, the easier it will be to find the right person for the job.
One important thing to look for in an attorney is their experience. You do not want to be represented during your appeal by a novice who is working on their first case, or even someone who has only worked on a handful of appeals. You need the most experienced appeals lawyer you can find.
Look for someone who knows the ins and outs of this process and is deeply familiar with all the procedures of an appellate court. The last thing that you want is to be represented by someone who is still learning the ropes. Filing a successful appeal is enough of a challenge without making things harder on yourself.
In addition, you need an attorney who is very diligent and detail-oriented. A successful appeal often means going through the trial records and looking for those one or two items that will provide the path to victory. You need an attorney who is able to put in the time needed to properly consider all of the evidence.
You might think that it would be simpler to just be represented by the same lawyer during your trial and your appeal. After all, they would be most familiar with your case. However, for most people, it is actually best to hire a separate trial attorney and appeal barrister.
One reason for doing so is that it can be very helpful to have someone new look at your case after the trial has concluded. Precisely because your trial lawyer is so familiar with your case, it can be more difficult for him to successfully file an appeal. Someone who is not as personally involved will be better able to find new avenues to pursue that may be more successful.
However, it is a good idea to make sure that your appeals lawyer is involved during the trial as well. He can help advise your lawyer on the best way to proceed to ensure a successful appeal. His involvement will also mean that he will be well-prepared to begin your appeal, without having to spend a lot of time learning about your case.
Finding qualified criminal appeals barristers can be a lengthy process, so be sure to start as soon as possible. By doing so, you can feel confident that you will be as well-represented as possible.
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Track Another Hyundai Consignment >>
Hyundai Shipping Container Tracking Help
If you experience problems using our system, please click on the link below to track and trace your container directly on the Hyundai website.
Official Container Tracking Webpage >>
365Tracking.net is only able to provide tracing and tracking services. Should you wish to make an enquiry regarding the status of your shipping container, we advise you to contact Hyundai directly.
About Hyundai
Established 'Cyber Customer Service Center' to provide the customers with internet service.
Establised a shipping portal site – GT Nexus – with 12 world's leading ocean carriers.
Deployed 6,500 TEU class container vessels on the PSW (Pacific-Southwest service) route.
Established a shipping information site 'iloveshipping.com'.
Cheol-Soon Jang was elected as a new President.
Made a partnership with FESCO in the East Asia and Australia lane and commenced a new service to New Zealand by slot charter arrangement with FESCO.
Selected as a 'Green Supplier' by Tetra Laval in environmental field.
A new service route between East Asia and Australia/New Zealand opened.
Car Carrier Business sold to Wallenius/Wilhelmsen.
Noh Jeong-ik named as the new President of HMM.
Permanent non-dispute declared between labor and management.
Mr. Noh Jeong-ik selected as HMM's President & CEO…
Related Shipping Container & Cargo Companies
You may find the following related container companies useful.


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Even today, throughout much of the world, a diamond ring worn on the third finger is viewed as a symbol of the commitment of love. For you to understand better about color matching, just refer Mens Fashion Color Coordination for more info on coordinating similar hues and same hues. It is engraved with sand-blasted transverse grooves with curved sapphire crystal on both sides.
Various jewelry items such as silver, gold, diamond and platinum were incorporated in various proportions by the manufacturers to give watch an attractive look. Whatever type of wedding you are having, there is a beautiful wedding sandal out there for you. Try looking on line before dragging yourself out to stores to hunt for wedding sandals.
The tradition of presenting a woman with a diamond engagement ring when proposing began in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy and in most cases, the woman you plan to propose to will expect a ring to accompany that proposal. Who do we tell first about the engagement If you want to go by the rules of enagement ring etiquette, the bride's parents are told the news first, followed by the groom's parents. God forbid one of us breaks off the engagement, what happens to the ring.
Anything of lesser value and lesser quality materials than fine gold, silver, or diamond jewelry is now referred to as costume or fashion. Or, the woman may drop some hints about the kind of ring that she wants, so that it is still somewhat of a surprise. It is always kosher for the groom to present the ring as a surprise.
The claws are holding the stone properly, which will prevent the loss of the diamond. You can point to her ring and recount the many hours you toiled saving up for it. If your financial situation sucks, consider gettting a less expensive ring now and upgrading later or taking out a loan.
Like a relationship, a diamond ring needs care too. It reminds me of an episode of Sex in the City where Carrie throws up when she searches through Aiden's gym bag and sees the ring that he is going to propose to her with. After all, the ring could always be exchanged or modified.
There is nothing like doing due diligence and finding out what the qualities of diamonds are and the current prices of wholesale diamonds While Jill Nichols interviews an executive for a deposition, his assistant finds a bomb in the room directly below them. Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning fashion. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Air Fresheners There's no denying that fashion plays a huge role in modern society.
In addition, with the lower overheads, inline suppliers have an advantage over the retail shop as their expenses are lower and they can afford to give a real reduction in the price of diamonds. The body jewelry used in the eyebrow is similar in style also allowing for the choice between barbells and even dangling charms. The jewelry used in the navel and for pierced nipples is very popular and gaining in popularity all the time.
So if someone tells you they are a wholesaler of diamonds to the public that is incorrect and likely to be a marketing ploy. Many people are beginning to realize that their bodies are another area which they can adorn with different types of decorations and jewelry to make them even more beautiful. The use of belly rings in particular calls attention to the mid section, although some I have seen would do better not to do so.
The 17th To 18th Centuries And Filigree However, in the 17th Century due to refined methods of faceting gems the emphasis moved once more from precious metals to gemstones, and the diamond became the preferred item for jewelry. To be presentable and fashionable, you must have a stylish leather jacket this winter, so as to dress up or down or walk brisk or calm in pleasurable autumn or cold winter. Men's jewelery has seen a rebirth in recent years with loads of new cool designs in rings, bracelets and necklaces.
Earrings is affiliated with Diamond Hoop Earrings. Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Jewelry, Toys, and Clothing. There are numerous dilemmas plaguing the modern fashion industry.
If a diamond weighed the same as four grains of rice, it was four grains or one carat as we recognize it to be today. Hip-hop fashion began to gain momentum in the late seventies and continued to survive as a unique culture and fashion through out the early eighties. Within the Hip Hop fashion culture Nike Air Force One shoes became very popular almost immediately.
The market for coloured diamonds has been growing as consumers begin to understand their scarcity value. Save Money on Australian Fashions With the recent increase in exports of Australian fashions, there are many retailers who are located outside of Australia but still ship the items to consumers around the world. Those who are always on the lookout for unique apparel will adore the look and feel of Australian ladies fashion.
If you believe diamond prices are likely to continue rising then consider buying shares in diamond producers such as Firestone Diamonds, River, Petra and Brazilian Diamonds. These classy Australian designer fashions are available in Australia, Europe, Asia and the United States. Dollar Babes is one of Australia's top designers in ladies fashion offering colorful apparel such as cocktail dresses, chiffon gowns, cruise day dresses and more.
The best cut stones reflect light in such a way as to optimise the fire and brilliance of the diamond. So why are men so drawn to titanium rings. All this gives a Titanium ring the perfect mix of masculine emotions to give men the reassurance to wear jewelery.
The vast majority of diamonds some 80% - are used for industrial purposes and, here again, prices have been rising as demand outstrips supply. Of course, our women have caught up to the rest of the world and wear lots of jewelry today, but is it too late for the opal. But one thing is for sure the rest of the world loves our national gemstone and wears it freely in all kinds of opal jewelry.
Nor is this growth limited to diamonds for jewelery. Australian men have never traditionally worn much in the way of jewelry and gemstones were never really on the agenda. Australian women also traditionally have not been wearers of a lot of jewelry in the past.
De Beers, which controls 60% of the world's diamond production, has increased its prices five times in the last 24 months, but worldwide demand is still rising at 8% a year. Make sure that you maintain the quality of the beads so that the elegance and beauty of the antique bracelet will be sustained. Well, you would only have to look in mum's jewelry box to find some opals wouldn t you.
Some sites also offer assistance in the resale of your diamonds or of diamonds purchased at wholesale. It is recommended that you keep your jewelry in a proper storage place when it is not used. It may cause discoloration on the jewelry.
Buying loose diamonds wholesale allows customers like you to save around 75 to 85 percent. For this reason make sure that you keep each piece of pearl jewelry separately in their silk pouch away from all other jewelry. If the jewelry gets dirty then try to hand clean it with a soft cloth.


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With one billion users across multiple platforms, WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in daily usage — even if it technically requires a subscription to use after a set period of time. But apparently that wasn't working out for the service, so some big changes are coming down the line.
First and foremost, WhatsApp has confirmed that it will be dropping all subscription charges from the service, making it a free-to-use app across all of its platforms. Up until this change, WhatsApp was free for only the first year. After that year was up, it cost $0.99 per year to keep using the service.
According to the official announcement, WhatsApp became aware that many of its users didn't have access to a credit or debit card to pay for that yearly fee. As a result, they're changing the model completely.
The switch to the free service will take some weeks, but WhatsApp is currently undergoing the process.
To accommodate this change, WhatsApp is making other key decisions, including allowing businesses and other groups to reach out to users of the messaging service. WhatsApp says that these will only be from groups and businesses that you want to hear from, though, so it will be interesting to see what that means when the changes start rolling out. The company also confirmed that there won't be any ads within the app.
If you use WhatsApp, what do you think of the changes?


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But first! It's time for the September edition of #fearlesshome. As a reminder, #fearlesshome is an Instagram tag for showcases your bold looks and risk-taking projects. Follow along with hosts Brittany of Britt Kingery, Cassie of Cassie Bustamante, Jenna of Rain on a Tin Roof, Kimberly of Swoon Worthy, and of course, me (hi!) to check out some killer off-the-beaten path designs and for a chance to be featured in our monthly blog roundup. Catching up on what you all have shared is such a thrill, and I love that you're all as excited as I am to see bold, fresh, and fearless takes on home decor. So let's get to it!
So what do you think? Inspired to grab some shag carpet and work on some black on black wall hangings? Next, head on over to my cohosts to check out their favorite #fearlesshome rooms. And please keep sharing your own adventures in fearless home making!


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Your profile is in fact regularly checked and moderated and every time you update it. The process is to make sure the profile/CV/Resume always remains in accordance with our policy after having been modified.
When your profile/CV/Resume is moderated, it is important to apply the modifications that you were asked to do by the moderator as soon as possible in order that your account is not suspended.
Employers from a range of businesses, recruitment professionals as well as our own Business Managers, who have been commissioned by companies to hunt for the best candidate for their jobs, will all be able to view your profile.
It is therefore vital that your profile is as complete as possible and updated on a regular basis.


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Suffering from gynecomastia can be extremely embarrassing for men. In men's minds, not only are man-boobs embarrassing in the presence of other males, they may also turn women off. As men look for ways to "cure" gynecomastia, Gynexin becomes an option. Knowing how Gynexin works will help men make informed decisions about using it to help them combat theory gynecomastia symptoms.
In order to understand how Gynexin works, it is important to understand the causes of gynecomastia. For some men, man-boobs appear when they are overweight. Obese men with pseydo-gynecomastia have increased fatty tissue of their mammary glands. For others, however, there is a chemical imbalance in the body, causing breast tissues to become enlarged. In these cases, gynecomastia is caused by the fact that too much estrogen is produced in the body, and not enough androgens, particularly testosterone.
Plastic surgery is always an option for men. The risks, however, are much larger. Any time surgery is involved, the procedures can be extremely expensive. In addition, there are risks of infection and other side effects of going under the knife. There is also a huge potential for scarring with surgical procedures, causing major blemishes on the skin.
A non-surgical option for combating gynecomastia is to take Gynexin daily. The ingredients go to work together to gradually decrease the size of the man-boobs. Gynexin works on the fatty cells to reduce the size of deposits, preventing them from congregating and eventually removing them altogether. As the fat deposits get smaller, a typical male chest will replace the man-boobs. You will look down to see that you are sporting a firmer, tighter chest and torso.
Gynexin is extremely easy to use as it is in pill form. There is no anesthesia involved. There are no potential surgical scars. Simply take one pill with eight ounces of water, twice a day, before breakfast and dinner. After a period of three to six months, you will notice a huge difference. Once you reach your goal, you are able to decrease pill intake to one a day and maintain your manly chest.
Some men are concerned about the fact that only one side of their chest is dealing with gynecomastia. With Gynexin, this concern is not a factor at all. Gynexin can work just as effectively with a chest containing unbalanced boob-sizes.
In essence, Gynexin is an extremely safe alternative to surgery when it comes to removing or reducing man-boobs. Taking Gynexin is also a relatively fast way to combat gynecomastia. In no time, excess breast tissue will be removed, leaving you feeling proud to show off your manly chest without extreme embarrassment.How Gynexin Works,


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I first met Rowena and Frank one winter night in January. It was cold and dark but the Ramada, Southport was warm and cozy all ready for a meeting to talk about a wedding. They filled me in with all their wonderful ideas and family concerns they had about the big day but it was a great first meeting and I was excited to be a part of their wedding.
May arrived and the big day came closer, and closer. Although they had been engaged for a while they hadn't lost any excitement about finally tying the knot. It was the week glorious sunshine and torrential rain but Saturday came and it was dry, well so far. Rowena was getting ready with all but one of her bridesmaids in a lovely room with a wall of windows on one side so you could look over the river and out to the sea. Hair and makeup was being put on, panicked phone calls from other halfs came and went, torrential rain poured, glasses of Prosecco were being poured and handed around, shoes were flying along with jewellery but everything stopped for a moment when Rowena put on her wedding dress.
Frank was downstairs sorting guests and keeping calm but all too quickly the moment had arrived and everyone filtered into the now sun drenched room the ceremony would take place in. The whole room turned and looked as Rowena was walked down the aisle by her son, Frank beamed as his bride smiled at him. This was the moment they had waited 5 years for. The whole day had a party atmosphere, a celebration with family and friends both old and new.
Rowena and Frank had planned many surprises one of them being singing waiters just after the meal had finished. I have never experienced it before and it was rather fun. Family members were up dancing, swinging serviettes around their head and singing along.
Thankfully the rain subsided and the sun came out meaning we could utilise the lovely surroundings and take photos next to the river and along the pier. I had such a great day photographing this wedding, the couple were wonderful and the weather cooperative.
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Japan has been pumping out some relatively spectacular growth numbers this year. Yet, the modest upward trajectory of the yen has been underwhelming. What's the story? And is this growth a flash in the pan or a whiff of something different coming out of Japan?
Capital is attracted to growth, and Japan has been pumping out some relatively spectacular growth numbers this year. Yet, the modest upward trajectory of the yen since January has been underwhelming relative to the good economic news. Stronger growth in Europe, for example, has helped lift the euro over 13% since the start of the year. In contrast, the yen is up only 7% over the same timeframe. What's the story?
Like Europe, Japan has been growing above trend and was up 1% during the second quarter, earning it the top spot among the Group of Seven developed economies for that period. This level of growth was anomalous considering that second quarter growth alone was close to Japan's average annual growth since 2010. Even more anomalous was the nature of the expansion. Japan typically rides the ebb and flow of the global economic cycle via the trade channel, with exports driving marginal changes in its growth profile. But the second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) snapshot was a portrait of an economy firing on all cylinders, including final domestic demand.
So is this growth a flash in the pan or a whiff of something different coming out of Japan?
It is easy to be skeptical given the physical realities of Japan's shrinking population. However, there are other considerations. Japan saw 28 million visitors from abroad in June (seasonally adjusted and at annual rates), a figure representing 22% of its population. This influx has increased over 150% in only three years, and the government is hoping and planning for much more tourism in the years ahead. Technically, money spent by tourists and visitors should be recorded as an export but could easily be misreported as domestic demand.
Additionally, nominal capital spending accelerated to over 6% in the second quarter, year over year. This figure is in line with the reality that firms need to invest in automation in order to overcome the shortage of labor created by a shrinking population.
Money growth and bank lending are expanding smartly, profit growth is up, price inflation for corporate goods is climbing, and employment is expanding at roughly a 1% growth rate due to an increased participation rate, notwithstanding the contraction in the population.
Even wage growth is beginning to stir. The job offers-to-applicants ratio has been above the previous cyclical peak since 2014. Different measures of employee compensation tell different stories, but nominal compensation per employee in Japan is rising at roughly a 1% annual rate, up 3.6% over the last three years. As my colleague, Richard Lawrence, discussed elsewhere, Morgan Stanley publishes a wage trend measure that makes adjustments related to temporary workers and a host of other factors. It recently has broken out above 2%, suggesting that wage growth in Japan may be higher than previously thought.
The currency market remains skeptical. The Commitment of Traders Report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) shows that traders' net speculative positions are short the yen, even after this year's modest rally. Brandywine Global's estimate of purchasing power parity (PPP) for the yen is below ¥100 per U.S. dollar (see Chart 1). The level of the real effective exchange rate in early 2015 was the lowest in 35 years; it has risen only slightly since then. Both measures reflect a discount in the yen to its longer-term fair value, a sign of skepticism or pessimism in either the economic outlook or currency or both.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged, and not available for direct investment. Index returns do not include fees or sales charges. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect the performance of an actual investment.
The current account also has rebounded back to nearly 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and export growth is strong, normally positive developments for the currency. Even more supportive are some of the capital account details in Japan's balance of payments. There have been no net outflows of portfolio capital in the last 12 months due mainly to a paucity of net fixed income flows, despite near zero bond yields and stories of Japanese retail investors looking for yield abroad (see Chart 2). The one capital account category recording strong outflows is "other investment" which is where carry trades can show up. It is possible that yen bearishness has encouraged investors in a "risk on" environment to treat the low-yielding yen as a funding currency for speculation.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged, and not available for direct investment. Index returns do not include fees or sales charges. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect the performance of an actual investment.
It is easy to be negative on the yen, and its current price seems skewed towards a negative view. A shrinking population, the highest government debt-to-GDP ratio in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the most aggressive example of unorthodox monetary policy in the world hardly seem like the building blocks for a foundation of confidence in the country or its currency. The Bank of Japan is an investor in the equity market and its holdings of Japanese government bonds (JGBs) are approaching 100% of GDP, a figure that dwarfs comparable statistics for the Federal Reserve or European Central Bank. Sporadic but persistent episodes of North Korean missiles dropping out of the sky into the Sea of Japan do not help much either.
However, a lot of the negatives are in the price, at least for now, and investors might be ignoring some important positives. The economy could continue to make progress and sustain productivity through capital investment while the balance of payments could remain currency-supportive. There is no predetermined path for the yen that follows from the decline in the population; instead it is still a question of growth, inflation, and monetary policy. True, Japan's stock of national debt is unsustainable. But the Bank of Japan (BOJ) has effectively neutralized nearly half of it through monetization—it likely will remain on the books of the central bank permanently—without any sign of instability. While the market seems preoccupied with the central bank's fight to create inflation, the counter-factual might be more significant. The BOJ seems already to have successfully overcome deflation. All of these observations suggest that information risk for the yen could be tilted toward a positive surprise.


text: Home Welcome to BSPS Area 1A BSPS Area 1A Covers Northumberland and County Durham, the website hopes to keep our members informed and fully up to date with all of the events, activities and latest news from both the committee and the area members. BSPS Area 1A presently holds around 9 shows a year –. We also regularly run training events, clinics and social events for our members and have an active junior membership – including our keen young judges. The aim of the committee is to ensure the area reflects what our members want and to ensure that the area is managed efficiently to the members benefit. Please keep us informed of your news and results so that we can keep our site relevant and up to date. Online Entries Here you can find out how to enter online for our upcoming events and shows. Go to Online Entry System Events and Schedules A list of schedules and upcoming events can be seen here with location details as well as judges. Click here to enter our Events and Schedules Page News and Information See our latest news with newsletters and information about what is going on in and out of the area. Click here to view our latest news. Camp Payment Please follow this link to complete your camp payments Pay for your camp place here. Latest Posts


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Hmmm…"Emotions are For ugly people"…I'm not sure I can agree with that! (But remember, it is April Fool's Day after all!) But concerning Laura's makeup, well, I must admit that you have a point.
In the beginning, I had wanted to draw Laura as "Practically Perfect" and bad makeup seemed to be the best way to break that perfection!
Once her son, Elliot, was introduced with his red hair and freckles, it became obvious to me that the bad makeup was to conceal her freckles!
Honestly, makeup and glamour perplex me. I just don't quite get them. Emotions, I get. That other stuff, not so much!
Nevertheless, the next installment of "The Lloyd Servant Show" will reveal Bradeena Martin, wife of televangelist Bradley Martin, now known to hundreds of television viewers as "Lloyd Servant, Your Servant Of The Lloyd."
PARENTAL ADVISORY: There may be what some would consider "gratuitous cartoon cleavage"! Comic Strip Viewer Discretion Is Advised!
(Remember it is April Fool's Day, at least here in the U.S.! I think it would be difficult to find this new character rated anything other than "G" maybe "PG-13" at the most!?! You may want to hold off on the protest signs!!!)


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Cape Regency Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
120 S Main St
Centerville, MA 02632
$ Request Pricing Write a Review
Categories: Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Memory Care, Adult Daycare, Hospice, Respite
Cape Regency Rehabilitation and Health Care Center is located close by the West Hyannisport neighborhood of Centerville, Massachusetts. They provide senior care in a 120 unit facility for older individuals. The area this community is located in is a mostly average income area, with an average per-family income of $67,464. It has a medium-density population, including roughly 10,742 residents in the surrounding zip code. The community is located in proximity to plenty of local amenities, such as churches, retail shopping, and medical services. They're located just 3.6 miles from Cape Cod Hospital. There are 7 pharmacies within one mile of the facility. Also, there are 16 churches within four miles, including Our Lady of Victory Church, South Congregational Church, St George Greek Orthodox Chr, and Bar Greg Rev.
Cape Regency Rehabilitation and Health Care Center offers several types of senior housing, including nursing home care, dementia care, and assisted living. They can provide care for individuals who aren't able to live on their own and who need a higher level of support and medical care. They can also accommodate individuals who are at any stage of dementia and who have difficulty with day-to-day activities, and who need close assistance on a regular basis. In addition, they can service individuals who need help with day-to-day activities but who also desire to preserve their independence to some degree.
This community features many different facility features that include an on-site cafe, an outdoor garden, a community dining hall, a common living area, and an on-site beautician. In addition, they provide different medical services such as dental care , nurses on staff, medication support, vision care, and occupational therapy. They also provide several dining selections like vegan and vegetarian options and low salt options.
Cape Regency Rehabilitation and Health Care Center has been in business since 1989 and they're registered with both Medicaid and Medicare. They received 1 out of 5 stars in the most recent rating by Medicare. This score was based upon a combined measure of overall quality, staffing ratings, and health investigations. They had 1 fine levied for a total of $1,300, 1 total penalty levied, 7 deficiencies recorded, 1 complaint filed, and no payment denials within the latest year.
Community Features
- Nurses
- Physical Therapy
- Personal Care Assistance
- Medication Support
- Vision Care
- Occupational Therapy
- Podiatry
- Dental Care
- Low Sodium
- Meals Included
- Gluten / Allergin Free
- Vegetarian Available
- Healthy Snacks
- Diabetic
- Room Service Available
- Insurance
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- 24-Hour Staff
- Laundry / Dry Cleaning
- Transportation Services
- Concierge Service
- 120 Total Units
Medical Services
Insurance Types
Personal Services
Other Information
- Public Living Area
- Dining Room
- Restaurant
- Laundry Room
- Outdoor Garden
- Salon / Barbershop
- Wifi / Internet
- Guest Parking
- Resident Parking
- Cable TV
- Sprinkler System
- Kitchens / Kitchenettes
- Emergency Call System
- Maintenance
- Safety / Handicap Features
- Housekeeping
- Central Air Conditioning
- Health and Wellness Programs
- Daily Exercise
- Education Programs
- Social Activities
Property Amenities
Room Amenities
- 120 Total Beds in the Facility
- 117 Current Occupants
- Certified by Medicare and Medicaid
- Medicare Participant Since 02/24/1989
- Offers Resident/Family Counciling
- 7 Total Deficiencies Reported
- 6 Health Standard Deficiencies
- 1 Health Complaint Deficiencies
- 1 Total Incidents Reported
- 1 Total Complaints Reported
- 1 Total Fines Imposed
- $1300 in Fines Imposed
- 0 Payment Denials
- 1 Penalties Imposed


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Plattsburgh Friends of NRA
Cordially Invite You to Attend the Annual NRA Fund Raiser Dinner & Auction
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
American Legion post 20
162 Quarry Rd. Plattsburgh
Live Auction - Silent Auctions - Games - Special Drawings
Limited Edition Firearms, Custom Knives, Art Prints
Many items created especially for this event.
Individual Dinner Tickets: $30
Buy tickets online at http://www.friendsofnra.org/NY/events!
What is the Friends of NRA?
Friends of NRA is an exciting grassroots fund-raising program that fosters community involvement, raises money and gives 100% of the net proceeds to qualified local, state, and national programs. Thanks to dedicated individuals across America, Friends of NRA is making a difference. Working with NRA's Field Staff, thousands of volunteers nationwide are participating in the program by organizing and planning events in their communities.
Where do the proceeds go?
All net proceeds benefit The NRA Foundation, with half allocated to fund projects within the state where the money was raised. The NRA Foundation uses the other half to fund similar projects with a national scope. Friends of NRA committee volunteers are appointed to a State Fund Committee and make recommendations for local grant funding.
Since 1990, The NRA Foundation has awarded over $125 million in grants to qualified organizations that promote the shooting sports and provide Second Amendment education. Much of that money has been raised through banquets like the one to which you are invited.


text:
|23 May 2015
BSOD first time from cold boot, 1000007e
I've just turned on my Desktop today and got my first blue screen since building this computer (built in 2012).
I'm more of a hardware guy than software... but know my way around registry etc. So thought it be best if I post here, as I'm sure someone in here will have allot better understanding of trouble shooting these BSOD's!
I have attached the Zip file as requested in the 'Posting Instructions' so hope I've done all okay.
Many thanks in advanced to anyhow is able to give me an in-sight as to what could have caused this BSOD.
|My System Specs
|23 May 2015
The crash dump blames Creative 20X2 HAL Driver.
BugCheck 1000007E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff880090ae485, fffff880031a7828, fffff880031a7080} Probably caused by : ha20x22k.sys ( ha20x22k+8f485 ) Followup: MachineOwner ---------
On another note, free up the startup. Windows does not need any other program to auto start with it, but the auto start programs often conflicts and causes various problems including BSODs.
|My System Specs
|23 May 2015
Hi Arc,
Thanks for your reply and instructions!
I've done what you asked;
You should search for an updated driver for your X-Fi from Creative Worldwide Support.
Also cleared those start ups as you suggested, removed Deamon tools and ran the "SPTDinst-x64" program however it was grey.
No blue screen what I restarted the last time, so maybe that sorted it.
I'll post back if I get any other issues.
Thanks again Arc! Life saver. :)
I'll mark as solved as no BSOD yet
|My System Specs
|23 May 2015
You are welcome, mate. :) Let us know for any further BSOD.
|My System Specs
|24 May 2015
Hi Arc,
Sadly it BSOD again this morning.
It's odd because it doesn't seem to do it when I restart the computer. Only when I shut it down, turn the power off at the wall; then turn it back on and then the PC. Not sure why it only happens when I do this..
Anyhow, as before I re-ran the log gathering tool as stated in the 'Posting Instructions' (I deleted the old dump file as didn't want you to get confused as to which one to take a look at)
Thanks again Arc for all your help man.
|My System Specs
|24 May 2015
It is still the same thing.
BugCheck 1000007E, {ffffffffc0000005, fffff880068d6485, fffff880031a7828, fffff880031a7080} Probably caused by : ha20x22k.sys ( ha20x22k+8f485 ) Followup: MachineOwner ---------
|My System Specs
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The back office is the operational and financial backbone of your practice. Inefficiency in the back office contributes to lost time, decreased revenue, cash flow problems, and unhappy patients and staff.
Our applications help improve productivity in your back office and reduce document workflow bottlenecks that directly impact your bottom line. Use our applications for chart preparation and exporting, electronic file management, as well as reporting and analysis.


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Included as a part of your membership dues, members may send your question to our Help Desk and within 24 to 48 hours we shall respond. As our current active members are aware, this service alone is worth the price of membership. On average, we receive 100 questions per month, so as you can imagine the staff are busy serving as a resource for membership.
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Peter Zibinski
Peter graduated from Ithaca College in 2017 with a B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications and a minor in Environmental Studies. As the intern communications director for Weaver Wind Energy, a manufacturer of small-scale wind turbines and renewable energy systems, Peter established an online presence for the company and helped showcase the brand's state-of-the-art turbine technology. He also created online content and managed the company's various contact points.
Sydney O'Shaughnessy
Sydney graduated from Ithaca College in 2017 with a B.A. in Journalism and a B.S. in Environmental Science. She wrote for The Ithacan, and in 2016 covered the South Carolina GOP Primary for NBC. She also interned in 2015 as a marketing and social media coordinator for the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce and as an editor/photographer/reporter for both the Carthage Republican Tribune and the Journal & Republican. Sydney currently teaches earth science in NYC and freelances as a science writer and journalist. She is deeply passionate about science and the natural world and is pursuing work in science journalism.


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After announcing that he is "actively considering" running for president, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is meeting with Republican donors in Illinois on Friday.
According to a Chicago Sun-Times report, Bush will "meet with major Illinois GOP donors and fundraisers," and the "main Bush event in Chicago is a breakfast with a small number of folks who have known him or his family."
Bush also indicated that he will start a political action committee in the new year, and his hitting the ground running may be a sign that he is trying to crowd out other potential establishment rivals like Mitt Romney and Chris Christie. Ray LaHood, President Barack Obama's former Transportation Secretary who had also been a moderate Illinois Rep., told the outlet that Bush "represents our best opportunity to win back the White House."
Bush supports comprehensive amnesty legislation and Common Core favored by the donor class. His position on those issues, though, will be hurdles in a potential 2016 campaign. Bush will also reportedly leave Barclays bank at the end of the year and will stop giving paid speeches–more signs that he is more likely than not to enter the 2016 race.


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Mariah felt 'vilified' after NYE disaster
- Bang Showbiz
- 18 February 2017
Mariah Carey has admitted that she felt "vilified" after her disastrous performance during the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest telecast
Mariah Carey felt "vilified" after her disastrous New Year's Eve (31.12.16) performance.
The 'Hero' hitmaker was left embarrassed during the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest telecast after her performance was plagued by technical difficulties and she admitted that the criticism was tough to deal with.
She said: "I didn't obsess over the New Year's Eve thing. I mean, I was upset about the fact that people didn't understand, but it's like, I can only explain it like this to you.
"It's like I'm the only one that has to make five million comebacks... For me there are different rules, I don't know why. I don't know why it's not OK that I was just victimised and vilified by the situation."
Mariah, 46, also admitted that staying relevant in the music industry for over 20 years has not always been easy.
She said: "It's very difficult, especially the way the business is now. I truly love music and always have. It's not like ... "Oh, here's a way to get famous." It wasn't any of those things. It was my release, it was my everything and it still is. So I think that I'm just grateful that people still tune in."
Meanwhile, Mariah is currently preparing to hit the road with Lionel Richie for the 'All the Hits' tour which runs from March 15 to May 27 and her children, five-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe, will join her.
She said: "Roc and Roe do get to come. They love to go onstage and actually they are very musical already.
"They have their school, and they have their teacher. They are doing really well but they don't love the school, let's just put it that way. But they are happy when they get to go with me on tour and there's other kids there, too, so it's good."


text: H & M has a new campaign 'Fashion Against Aids' which features a wide spread of clothing pieces from various artist and designers. They have received creative contribution from Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Christina Milian, The Cardigans, Henrik Vibskov, Rufus Wainwright, Ziggy Marley and many more. Check out the website for details, more product, and featured video clips. The items are expected to drop in H&M stores by the end of January.


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The 25 Best Stats of the NBA's 25 All-StarsJanuary 30, 2015
The 25 Best Stats of the NBA's 25 All-Stars
The rosters for the world's greatest pickup game are finally set in stone.
At least until some injuries reshuffle the ranks.
The NBA announced the reserves for the 2015 All-Star Game on Thursday, a group highlighted by three Atlanta Hawks (Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap and Al Horford) and three first-time selections (Teague, Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler).
As usual, the collection came with a certain number of snubs and surprises. But we're not hear to nitpick the decisions—there's plenty of second-guessing being done already. Rather, we want to celebrate those voted in by fans and selected by coaches by spotlighting our favorite statistics of the 2015 All-Star class.
East Starter John Wall: 25 Double-Doubles
At this point of the season, 25 double-doubles is an excellent number for an NBA big man. Only five forwards and centers currently have more.
But John Wall isn't a post player who stumbles into 10 boards a night. He's the tactical floor general for the Washington Wizards and the league leader with 10.1 assists per game. His 25 double-doubles are four more than the next-closest guards: Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and Ty Lawson of the Denver Nuggets (21 each).
Assuming Wall did the bare minimum to hit this mark (10 points, 10 assists), he'd have a hand in at least 30 points per game.
But the former No. 1 pick isn't "scraping by" with that figure. Instead, he's putting up 17.2 points a night with his own scoring and creating another 23.6 points with his assists. He has 10 outings with 20-plus points and 10-plus assists, tied for the most with Western Conference All-Star starter Stephen Curry.
East Starter Kyle Lowry: 19.4 Points Per Game
Did Kobe Bryant trademark the "Vino" nickname? If not, someone needs to get it in Kyle Lowry's possession. The 28-year-old continues to get better with age.
For the second consecutive season, NBA fans are seeing the Toronto Raptors point guard like never before. Both his 19.4 points-per-game scoring average and 21.8 player efficiency rating are personal bests for the nine-year veteran.
His resume is long enough that his ceiling should already be set. But every time you think he's reached his peak, he finds a way to keep climbing. There may have been some concern that last season's breakout had something to do with his impending free agency, but he got paid last summer—and has upped the ante since.
"He is having one of the best seasons in franchise history," the National Post's Eric Koreen wrote of Lowry.
At some point, one would assume Father Time will tighten his grip on Lowry. Then again, the bulldog point guard doesn't seem to play by the same biological rules as the rest of us.
East Starter LeBron James: Two Wins, Eight Losses
That's how the Cleveland Cavaliers have fared without LeBron James this season. The first James-less victory came against a Charlotte Hornets team that had lost four games in a row. The other, on Jan. 28 against Portland, required an NBA season-high 55 points from point guard Kyrie Irving.
Even without an established criteria in place for the NBA MVP award, you'd think Cleveland's performance with and without James would make for quite the compelling argument. The Cavs are 15.5 points per 100 possessions better when he plays. They also own a .676 winning percentage when the King takes the floor.
"He's the greatest player in our game, and...his performance has been as high level as ever," Cavs coach David Blatt said, per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin. "And you don't have to look very far at our record to see what impact he has on this team when he's playing and not playing."
Since taking a two-week break to recover from multiple injuries, James has averaged an absurd 30.5 points on 50.6 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.0 steals. A sore wrist sidelined him for Cleveland's last game, but that's been the only thing capable of stopping him lately.
East Starter Carmelo Anthony: 17.3 Assist Percentage
Record-wise, this year's New York Knicks will almost assuredly be the worst team of Carmelo Anthony's career. Last season was his first on a losing team. If the Knicks continue at their current pace, they'll be his first with a sub-.200 winning percentage.
Given the dearth of talent around him, one might expect him to go rogue and try doing everything on his own. After all, he's been criticized for taking a black-hole approach on far better teams before.
However, that's simply not the case. Yes, Anthony holds sizable leads over his teammates in points (24.3) and field-goal attempts (20.0) per game. But despite having little scoring help—undrafted rookie Langston Galloway ranks second on the team with 12.8 points a night—Anthony has posted the fourth-highest assist percentage of his career.
Contrary to popular belief, the ball flows better when he's on the floor. The Knicks average over a full assist more per 100 possessions when he plays (17.7) than when he doesn't (16.5).
He's making a lot of effective passes. The three-point percentages of Tim Hardaway Jr., Pablo Prigioni and Shane Larkin and field-goal percentages of Amar'e Stoudemire, Quincy Acy and Jason Smith substantially rise off Anthony's passes.
It would be hard to knock Anthony for hunting shots considering the quality of his supporting cast. But it's even easier to praise him for trying to make those players better.
East Starter Pau Gasol: 11.9 Rebounds, 2.2 Blocks
Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol shouldn't be able to set career highs anymore. As now a five-time All-Star and two-time world champion, not to mention he's 34 years old, his best playing days should be behind him.
Apparently, he missed the memo.
His 14th NBA season will be his first as an All-Star starter. And this isn't a lifetime achievement award. The 7-footer has simply been that dominant.
It's hard to overlook the fact that he is scoring more than he has in four years (18.3 points) and shooting better than he has in three (48.5 field-goal percentage). But it's mind-boggling to consider how much high-level mileage he's logged and still found a way to post personal bests in boards and blocks.
These aren't just good numbers for him; they are great marks for anyone. He ranks fourth overall in total rebounds and fifth in total blocks.
"Pau's been playing like Pau. It's phenomenal," former teammate Kobe Bryant said, per Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. "He looks healthy, he looks strong and he's moving very well."
Maybe Gasol's offseason flirtation with the San Antonio Spurs allowed him to swipe some of the Alamo City's anti-aging cream.
East Reserve Jeff Teague: 3.8 Offensive Win Shares
Point guard Jeff Teague makes two things work for the Atlanta Hawks.
The first is their explosive offense, which has tallied 110.6 points per 100 possessions over their franchise-record 17-game winning streak.
He's the proverbial head of the snake, a constant penetration threat who puts defenses on their heels and exposes them to Atlanta's potent passing attack. Teams can't afford to let him slip past the first line of coverage, as he's shooting a career-best 64.2 percent within three feet and posting a personal-high .383 free-throw rate.
But planning to stop his attacks and actually keeping in front of his lightning-quick first step are two different things. And that leads into the second thing he does for Atlanta: giving validity to those San Antonio Spurs comparisons. It isn't easy to find a set of twins between the rosters, but the similarities between him and Spurs point guard Tony Parker are striking.
"Both point guards rely on their breakneck speed, burning defenders on the pick-and-roll and in transition," Hardwood Paroxysm's David Vertsberger wrote. "Both were inconsistent with their jumpers in the early going, but improved over the course of their careers. Both have benefited hugely from their similar systems."
Like Parker, Teague is the straw stirring Atlanta's drink. As such, he's already produced more offensive win shares than he had in any previous season and the 14th-most in 2014-15.
East Reserve Kyrie Irving: 55 Points in a Game
Kyrie Irving's first half of the 2014-15 campaign has been far greater than a single-game outburst, but it's kind of hard to ignore the season's high mark for scoring.
Everything about that night was incredible.
He misfired on his first seven field-goal attempts and then shot 17-of-29 (58.6 percent). He splashed in a franchise-record 11 threes, none bigger than his long-distance dagger to snap a 94-all deadlock with six seconds remaining.
Oh, by the way, he also dished out five assists, tracked down four rebounds and came away with two steals. And he managed all this on a night when James didn't play and Kevin Love scored just 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting.
"What Kyrie did is for the pantheon," Blatt said, per McMenamin. "That's something that everybody here in Cleveland will always be able to relish and treasure."
During Cleveland's current eight-game winning streak, Irving has averaged 28.4 points and posted a sizzling .529/.554/.889 shooting slash. As magical as that 55-point eruption was, Uncle Drew is capable of basketball wizardry on any given night.
East Reserve Jimmy Butler: 123.9 Miles Traveled
There might be do-it-all players similar to Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler, but no one has carried a heavier burden this season.
The 25-year-old leads the league in total minutes (1,790), minutes per game (39.5), total miles traveled and distance traveled per game (2.8 miles). Only four other players have covered more than 110 miles this season, and Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is the only other one above 115 (118.2).
Truth be told, Butler's advantage in ground covered somehow looks deceptively low. It's anyone's guess how high it would be had he not missed four games due to injury.
Butler is always playing at a high intensity. He not only leads the Bulls in scoring at 20.1 points per game, he's also the team's top perimeter stopper (if not best defender overall). He doesn't take plays off and catches shorter breaks on the bench than anyone in the league.
It's an exhaustive workload to even think about, let alone execute.
East Reserve Dwyane Wade: 22.5 Player Efficiency Rating
Last season, Dwyane Wade had LeBron's help in carrying a 54-win Miami Heat team to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals. This year, James isn't around, and Miami is on pace for only 36 wins.
Guess which of the two has been more efficient for Wade. His 22.5 PER suggests it's somehow this season. (He had a 22.0 PER in 2013-14.)
Wade's accomplishments this season are nothing short of remarkable.
He has neither a reliable point guard to carry the playmaking duties nor a serviceable backup to pick up the slack behind him. Miami's second scorer, Chris Bosh, is having his worst shooting season since 2004-05. The No. 3 guy, Luol Deng, has been a roller-coaster ride of huge scoring nights (seven games with 23-plus points) and uncomfortably quiet ones (11 with double-digit points).
That means defenses can—and have—key on stopping Wade. Yet the 33-year-old remains one of the most productive, efficient guards in the business. He leads the Heat in points (21.4) and assists (5.4). His 48.7 field-goal percentage is the highest of the nine NBA guards averaging 20-plus points.
But All-Star fans might not catch a glimpse of Wade. He is currently sidelined with a strained right hamstring and said he expects to be out least two to three weeks, per Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.
East Reserve Paul Millsap: 3.2 Assists Per Game
For the equal-opportunity Hawks, it's all about placing the whole above the different individual parts. Paul Millsap's stat sheet abides by the same principle.
His numbers don't jump off the page on their own. His 17.2 points-per-game scoring average is solid, but it ranks behind 33 other players. Ditto for his 8.1 rebounds per game, which sits tied for 25th overall.
His 3.2 assists check in even further down the list, though they do mark a new career high for the nine-year veteran. It's a good number for a big man, especially one this active and versatile on both sides of the ball.
But again, it's imperative to view Millsap's entire stat sheet as a single entity, the likes of which don't come around often. Over the past decade, only three players have posted single-season marks of at least 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals. Millsap is on pace to be the decade's only player to have done it twice, which perhaps best captures the type of force he's become since signing with Atlanta.
"I thought he was a value signing for the Hawks in the summer of 2013," wrote Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Turns out he was one of the greatest buys since Microsoft."
East Reserve Al Horford: 55.1 Field-Goal Percentage
For an NBA center, Al Horford's success rate from the field doesn't initially seem outlandish—until you factor in the type of shots he's taking and making.
Even without that caveat, he's been one of the league's most consistent finishers this season. Only seven players, all forwards and centers, have posted better marks from the field.
But Horford isn't playing the same game as the others. DeAndre Jordan leads the NBA with a 73.0 percent conversion rate, but his average attempt comes 1.1 feet from the rim. That's a similar theme among the top five field-goal percentage leaders: Tyson Chandler (66.9 percent, 2.5 feet), Mason Plumlee (59.4, 2.9), Dwight Howard (57.5, 3.2) and Amir Johnson (57.4, 5.7).
Horford is nipping at their heels in terms of consistency, but his shots are originating a career-long 11.1 feet from the basket. He's shooting 51.9 percent on looks from 16 feet to the three-point line, and he's even 7-of-21 on the season beyond the arc.
"I'm taking good shots within the offense," Horford said, per Matt Winkeljohn for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I have a good rhythm right now."
Fans need to get used to seeing Horford's name near the top of this list. He's having his best shooting month in January (59.0 percent), and he keeps getting hotter (74.1 percent over his last eight games).
East Reserve Chris Bosh: 28.7 Usage Percentage
Leading an offense must be like riding a bicycle. Despite spending the last four seasons as Miami's third wheel, Bosh is back in the driver's seat—and looks like he never left.
His usage percentage is identical to the one he posted during his final year in Toronto. He plays a little differently now than he did then—he's made 53 threes this season and attempted 22 in 2009-10—but he's scoring at a similar rate. He's putting up 21.3 points a night, compared to 24.0, but his main running mate has gone from being Andrea Bargnani to Wade.
It's been a taxing year in South Beach with the roster ripped apart by injuries. But Bosh has handled the turmoil as well as can be expected. He can share the spotlight when his top teammates are out there or have it to himself when they're not.
He's been a better presence on the glass than his 7.5 rebounds-per-game average would indicate. When he's been within 3.5 feet of a potential rebound, he's come away with it 65.2 percent of the time. That's a higher rate than the ones posted by Tyson Chandler (64.6), Kevin Love (63.5) and Kenneth Faried (59.4), among others.
Bosh is producing like a franchise player again, which is a testament to his talent given how much time he spent away from that role.
West Starter Stephen Curry: 62.7 True Shooting Percentage
This isn't about Golden State Warriors sniper Stephen Curry's historically accurate three-point cannon, but rather, how he's used the threat of that weapon to unlock other areas of his game.
Whatever defensive game plan that exists on Curry—and doesn't involve crossed fingers—has centered around running him off the three-point line. He hasn't always been the most reliable finisher around the rim, so there was more to the strategy than simply limiting his damage from distance.
But that's changing. Dramatically.
Prior to this season, he was a career 60.6 percent shooter within three feet. Now, he's converting 70.8 percent of those looks. And defenses are doomed if they put the career 89.9 percent foul shooter at the charity stripe. Playing Curry aggressively now includes its own set of risks.
"Opponents know the scouting report on Curry, and they're loathe to let him get loose from long range," wrote Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes. "Only now, when they run him off the line and send him right into the teeth of the defense, Curry's the one taking a bite."
This has been Curry's worst three-point shooting season (39.1 percent), but his most effective shooting campaign overall due to the diversity in his offense.
West Starter Kobe Bryant: Two Triple-Doubles
Kobe Bryant had a season for the ages, even if it was the third consecutive one prematurely ended by injury, according to ESPN.com. A torn rotator cuff is responsible for shutting down this one and keeping him out of the 2015 All-Star Game.
As he has throughout his career, the 36-year-old gave the Los Angeles Lakers everything he had and then some. He led the team in points (22.3), minutes (34.5) and field-goal attempts (20.4), despite having problems with his shoulder since preseason.
Coach Byron Scott talked about starting the scorer at point guard, per Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. Everyone had a good laugh at the idea—except Bryant. He accepted the challenge and averaged 6.9 assists over his last 18 games, a number that would put him in front of James Harden (6.8), Damian Lillard (6.2), Mike Conley (5.6) and Kyrie Irving (5.2), among others.
During that stretch, Bryant had two points-assists-rebounds triple-doubles. And he joined some historical company by doing so. He became only the third player age 36 or older with multiple triple-doubles in the same season, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Information).
The Mamba hasn't lost all his venom yet, but his body has limited how often he can use it.
West Starter Anthony Davis: 31.9 Player Efficiency Rating
You could throw a dart at Anthony Davis' stat sheet and likely come away with a ridiculous number. In terms of individual play, no one has had a more impressive season than The Brow.
He's the only NBA player with top-10 rankings in points (24.5, fourth), rebounds (10.4, ninth) and blocks (2.9, first). He's also the only one sitting inside the top 20 in both blocks and steals (1.6, 17th). Davis sits second in offensive win shares (6.8) and sixth in defensive win shares (2.6). James Harden is the only other player in the top six of both categories.
"I think he's the best player in the game," Warriors associate head coach Alvin Gentry said of Davis, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. ... "He's so talented that it's scary. To me, if you were starting your team today, he would be your No. 1 choice in the NBA."
Davis does it all on both sides of the ball. It comes as no surprise, then, that he grades out extremely well in all-encompassing categories. ESPN.com's real plus-minus has Davis third behind Harden and Curry. Davis' .299 win shares per 48 minutes are the most in the league.
So, why did we choose Davis' 31.9 PER? Because Wilt Chamberlain has the highest single-season PER in NBA history with a 31.82—that's right, lower than Davis'.
Have we mentioned that Davis doesn't turn 22 until March? Probably not, because that's downright terrifying to think about.
West Starter Blake Griffin: 407 Field Goals
Our apologies to Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin for pinning what appears to be a volume statistic to his name. We promise it's so much better than it sounds.
What if, instead of 407 field goals, it read "league-high 407 field goals"? Would that make it look better? Now, add this element to the equation: Griffin ranks 14th in minutes per game. He isn't stuffing the stat sheet due to an oversized role; he's maximizing the playing time that comes his way.
And he's attacking in different ways than he has before.
Hopefully the "Griffin only dunks" crowd has officially disbanded at this point. But if it's somehow still clinging to life, just realize that his field-goal attempts have come from an average of 10.5 feet away from the basket. He might have some serious hops, but he's not throwing down from that distance.
In fact, he's not slamming down dunks nearly as often as he used to. For the third straight season, he's averaging fewer dunks per game (1.37) than the previous year (2.40).
If anyone thought that would sap his production, well, it hasn't. He might be shooting a career-low 49.8 percent from the field, but he's making a bigger overall impact in the box score. He's on pace to become the decade's first player not named LeBron to average at least 22 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
West Starter Marc Gasol: 5.2 Points Per 100 Possessions
For the Memphis Grizzlies, that's what their offense receives when All-Star center Marc Gasol takes the floor.
Over the past few seasons, Memphis has been a playoff pest for its pesky defense. But contrary to the cliche, history says it takes balance—not defensive dominance alone—to capture a world title. The Grizzlies have found that balance and with it the second-best record in the Western Conference.
There's a subtlety to Gasol's game that doesn't always translate to the stat sheet. He's showing there better now than ever (career-high 18.7 points, 3.8 assists), but even those numbers don't capture his overall impact.
With the slick-passing, sweet-shooting center in the mix, the Grizzlies have tallied 106.9 points per 100 possessions. That number would rank seventh overall. But when the big guy takes a break, so does this offense. Memphis has managed only 101.7 points per 100 possessions without him, which would check in at No. 18.
In addition to his points, Gasol's 22.6 PER is also a personal best. His 50.0 field-goal percentage is as high as it's been since 2010-11. And all of this offensive talk involves a former Defensive Player of the Year.
The Grizzlies look like a two-way beast, and they can thank their two-way giant for that.
West Reserve Chris Paul: 4.52 Assists Per Turnover
Chris Paul is a surgeon with the basketball.
There's a wafer-thin margin of error in what he does. He welcomes defensive attention and demands it as a 17.5 points-per-game scorer and 47.1 percent shooter. But it's all part of a larger chess game, one in which the defense often doesn't realize it's playing until it's too late.
Paul carves up the defense with a butcher's precision and throws bullets through windows most don't even see. It should be a risk-reward style of play, but his basketball genius and ability to manipulate a defense how he needs to keep the odds from ever shifting out of his favor.
To put it lightly, Paul is a hyperactive passer. He averages the third-most passes per game (72.5), ranks first in secondary assists (2.9) and fourth in assists (9.7). That means he has ample opportunity to lose control, but he's almost robotic when it comes to avoiding mistakes.
Among qualified distributors, Dallas Mavericks reserve J.J. Barea is the only other player with at least four assists for every turnover (4.00). Among starting point guards, Lawson ranks closest to Paul with 3.73 helpers per giveaway.
Few teams, if any, ask more from their point guard than the Clippers do with Paul. And it's debatable whether any NBA club gets more from its floor general.
West Reserve Russell Westbrook: 46.2 Assist Percentage
The Oklahoma City Thunder are backed up against the ropes, but point guard Russell Westbrook isn't going down without a fight.
He's been a vital piece of OKC's offense before, but this team is leaning on him a lot more. Westbrook's career-high 38.3 usage percentage is also the highest in the league. It's probably a problematic level of volume (his field-goal percentage has dipped to 42.5), but he's trying to make the most out of it.
With injuries shuffling Kevin Durant in and out of the lineup, Westbrook has tried to play the part of stabilizing force. He ranks third overall in scoring (25.2 points), first in steals (2.3) and seventh in assists (7.5). This offense suffers a net-loss of 8.3 points per 100 possessions when he takes a seat.
It's a bit surprising that number isn't even higher. Not only is Westbrook a premier scorer, he also paces the entire league in assist percentage. To put the figure in simple terms, he assists on nearly half of his teammates' field goals.
Add his own scoring with what his assists create each game, and he's directly involved in 42.4 points a night. Next time you wonder why he wants the ball in his hand so much, there's your answer.
West Reserve James Harden: 10.0 Win Shares
There's a mathematical formula for calculating win shares, but not everyone has that type of time. For those who only need a general idea of the category, just watch a couple of minutes of the Houston Rockets and their glaringly obvious MVP.
Harden is Houston's offense. He leads the team—and the entire league—in scoring at 27.3 points per game. He also paces the Rockets with 6.8 assists, which have resulted in another 16.8 points a night.
He gives this team an elite offense. The Rockets have posted 107.6 points per 100 possessions over his 1,669 minutes, an offensive efficiency rating that would be the NBA's fifth-best. But when he sits, Houston sinks to an embarrassingly low level, with an offensive rating (91.4) that almost mimics that of the blatantly tanking Philadelphia 76ers (91.0).
And Harden is doing so much more than scoring and setting the table. He logs 36.3 minutes a night, which ranks fifth overall. He covers 2.3 miles per game, which is tied for the 26th-most. While he still has a few defensive lapses, he's competed more consistently at that end and produced the fifth-most defensive win shares (2.7).
He might not always look like the total package, but as this stat suggests, no individual has had a greater impact on his team's success this season.
West Reserve Klay Thompson: 37 Points in a Quarter
There could be so many different angles to discuss regarding Klay Thompson, highlighted by the dramatic strides he's made as an off-the-dribble offensive weapon.
But his record-setting quarter of brilliance on Jan. 23 deserves this spot. It was just that special.
Things happened so quickly. Thompson didn't even attempt a shot through the first two minutes and change of the quarter. He had eight points through the first five minutes and only 10 at the period's halfway point.
Then, he splashed in a three from 25 feet and another from 28 on the next trip. At that point, the Warriors just went into a feed-Klay frenzy, and the Sacramento Kings were powerless to stop it.
"They knew at a certain point all we were doing was dribbling around trying to get him the ball like Will Smith in 'Fresh Prince,'" Stephen Curry said, per Bay Area News Group's Diamond Leung. "Just dribble around, give him the ball, and let him shoot, and they still couldn't get there fast enough."
Thompson scored 27 points over the final 5:32 of the period. He shot 13-of-13 in the quarter, including 9-of-9 from deep, and assisted on the Warriors' only other field goal in the frame (a Draymond Green layup).
Thompson wound up with a career-high 52 points on the night—his third game with 40-plus points this season—but it was those 12 magical minutes that etched his name in the NBA record books.
West Reserve Kevin Durant: 51.9 Field-Goal Percentage
Kevin Durant has been battling the injury bug all season.
A Jones fracture delayed his 2014-15 debut, a sprained ankle sidelined him later and he's currently dealing with a sprained big toe on his left foot. He's missed 25 of the team's 46 games and logged a career-low 33.1 minutes a night in the ones he's played.
Nothing about this year can be comfortable for him. Not the injuries, not the uphill fight for a playoff spot and certainly not the incessant questions about his free-agency plans—in 2016.
But when his body has allowed him to play, he has managed to turn out the white noise and deliver one of his most efficient seasons to date.
He's shooting a personal-best 51.9 percent from the floor and staying ahead of his career average from distance (39.3 percent, up from 37.8). And it's not as if he's easing his way back into action. He's averaging more points per 36 minutes (27.8) than he did when he captured three straight scoring titles from 2009-2012.
Durant has always made the game look easy, and injuries apparently haven't stripped him of that power.
West Reserve LaMarcus Aldridge: 23 Made Threes
We all had the same thought while watching Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge hang 89 points on Houston over the first two games of the 2014 playoffs: Clearly, this guy is too easy to stop.
Kidding, of course. He's been a handful since he first stepped foot in this league. He averaged 17.8 points per game as a sophomore in 2007-08 and hasn't fallen below that mark since. If his current production holds up, he'll be the only player to average at least 23 points and 10 boards both this season and last.
He's a 6'11" matchup nightmare. He can bully his way around the low block, pass over the top of double-teams and stick jumpers from anywhere—three-point territory included, as of this season.
He entered 2014-15 with 24 career long-range makes and a single-season high of seven set back in 2008-09. He's drilled 23 shots from distance over 40 games already and converted those looks at a 51.1 percent clip.
Sure, it's a tiny part of his arsenal and may never grow into anything more. But it's still another weapon for a guy who already had plenty to work with.
West Reserve Tim Duncan: 96.3 Defensive Rating
Nothing ages quite like fundamentals. At 38 years young, San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan continues to perform at an elite level.
A glance at his traditional numbers might fool some into thinking his selection was made as recognition for his previous work. His per-game marks aren't bad—14.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists—they just don't quite come off as All-Star-caliber numbers.
Center the focus on the defensive end, though, and Duncan looks like he had an argument to start what will be his 15th All-Star Game.
He has the fifth-highest blocks average at 2.0, and that number would be even higher if Gregg Popovich didn't hold him to only 30.3 minutes a night. Duncan has also held opponents to 46.6 percent shooting at the rim, which is tied for the seventh-best mark among players who face at least six such shots per game.
But it's his defensive rating, which trails only Draymond Green's 96.2, that best captures Duncan's overall impact on that side of the floor. It's an unbelievable feat not only for Duncan's age, but also the fact he's accomplished this while key defenders Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter have both missed extensive time due to injury.
West Reserve DeMarcus Cousins: 22 Games with 20 and 10
If there's a silver lining to injuries at this time of year, it's the openings they potentially create for deserving All-Star candidates who didn't initially get the call. DeMarcus Cousins squeezed his 6'11", 270-pound frame through that opening Friday, when NBA commissioner Adam Silver named Cousins as the replacement for the injured Bryant.
If there's anything surprising about Cousins' selection, it's that it didn't happen sooner.
He's been one of the league's most productive and talented bigs for a while now. But the Sacramento Kings haven't helped their center with an eight-year playoff drought that seems headed for a ninth, and Cousins' on-court outbursts (league-high 16 technical fouls last season) haven't either.
But Cousins has kept his cool this season (one technical every eight games, down from one every 4.4), and his numbers have kept soaring. He ranks sixth overall in points (23.8), third in rebounds (12.3), 12th in blocks (1.6) and sixth in PER (25.2).
There's a consistency in Cousins that isn't seen in many. His 22 games with 20-plus points and 10-plus boards are second only to Davis' 25. And Cousins, who battled a viral infection earlier this season, has hit his mark in 10 fewer outings than Davis.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.