SAN FRANCISCO — About 90 minutes before the Warriors’ Christmas Day game against the Lakers, Steph Curry addressed his team. This season can go one way or another, he told them. The message was brief, only two or three minutes. They’d lost 10 of 13 entering the Lakers matchup, sinking from 12-3 to 15-13. They didn’t quite need a players-only meeting, but Curry decided it was time to at least speak up. “It is an inflection point on obviously which direction our season can go,” Curry said at the postgame podium. “Thirty games in, you’re one game above .500. You need some context on how you got there. I think our last 14 games, it’s just been tough. Trying to find any type of momentum or consistency. Through that, you just can’t lose spirit and belief that we’re a good enough team to figure it out. Because this league is ruthless, this league changes from window to window of what you’ve got to fall back on. When you dig yourself a hole like that, sometimes it can be hard to pull out of. We’re right in that window where we can still regain some momentum. These next however many weeks before the break are pivotal. Or else we’ll be in a situation where we’re chasing down the stretch, and nobody wants to do that.” Curry has always chosen his words carefully with the media, but it seems like he’s been more pointed this season than in years past. At media day, he said he was confident that the Warriors can be “relevant” early. Recently, he said that if the team’s string of late-game offensive failures continues, they’ll be a “mediocre” team. Taking time to address his teammates is far from unprecedented, but it is noteworthy from Curry. He often uses the word “urgency,” and this was another way to try to evoke more of it. Golden State played with ample effort on Christmas Day, but couldn’t beat the Lakers even after Anthony Davis exited seven minutes into the game. Curry scored the Warriors’ last eight points, including two ridiculous 3-pointers to tie the game late, but Austin Reaves beat Andrew Wiggins off the dribble and Jonathan Kuminga didn’t rotate as the help defender, allowing Reaves to bank in the game-winner. Curry scored a season-high 38 points in the loss. He has had two stinkers recently, but unimpeachably remains one of the best players in the league. And he’s always been a revered leader in his own right. “When Steph talks, he talks at the right moment,” Wiggins said. “It was needed. The message was clear. That’s the leader here. We go where Steph goes. Definitely needed. Motivational. I think it’ll be the start of something good for us.” The start of something good will have to begin after Christmas. Golden State has games against the Clippers, Suns, Cavaliers, Grizzlies and 76ers — who just beat the Celtics — upcoming. Their schedule has been unrelenting and doesn’t let up immediately. In their 3-11 skid, the Warriors have proven that they’re not solid enough to overlook any opponent. They’ve lost to the Nets, Spurs, Pacers and now the Lakers without Davis or D’Angelo Russell. “We’re down,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “Everybody’s disappointed. We’ve lost some confidence, you can feel it. We had a great vibe early in the season and we’re going through it now. I love our guys. High-character guys. They care about the game. They care about each other. I believe in them, I believe we’re going to get this thing turned around.” Curry has a similar belief. The Lakers loss, while a gut punch, was a nice reminder that he can still ramp it up and take over a game in crunch time, like he did consistently during the 12-3 start. Perhaps the biggest source of optimism for the Warriors should be the status of the Western Conference. They’re currently the 10-seed, but they’re 1.5 games back of fifth place. The Thunder, Rockets and Grizzlies have separated themselves at the top of the West. The Mavericks were right there, but on Christmas lost Luka Doncic to a calf strain. The rest of the conference is up for grabs. The Warriors are certainly a candidate to snatch a real seed. Or they could keep tumbling and spiral toward the lottery. The season can go one way or another. “I still have hope, faith and confidence that we can figure it out,” Curry said. “That’s how I’m built. I feel like we can go out there and talk about it, but how you execute, how you show up on a nightly basis — the effort we’re giving, even considering what our record’s been over the last stretch — is a team that’s desperate, trying to figure it out. It just hasn’t gone our way. Until things change, you have to keep that mentality.” ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.For much of the NBA season, the Miami Heat have found themselves at the center of the NBA trade rumor mill. At the end of last year, Heat president Pat Riley made it clear they would not extend Jimmy Butler, allowing him to enter unrestricted free agency this summer if he opts out of the $52.4 million last year on his contract. If Butler hits the open market, the Heat could try to re-sign him, although they will likely have to compete with 29 other teams. Given that risk, Butler has been included in mock trades, reports and rumors all season long, with the Heat expected to trade him for something rather than let him walk for nothing. However, Riley recently poured cold water on any Butler rumors. “We usually don't comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley announced on social media via the Heat’s X account. “Therefore, we will make it clear - We are not trading Jimmy Butler." Why would the Heat want to part ways with their best player? Historically, Riley refuses to tank and always fields a competitive team. The Heat are 14-13 and are very much alive in the postseason picture, and they have won five of their last eight games, suggesting an upward surge. Even if the marriage between Butler and the Heat is on the rocks, expect Riley to stay true to his word and make one last push with “Jimmy Buckets” playing on his team. More NBA: Christmas matchup between Spurs and Knicks personal for All-NBA superstar
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A teenager’s worst nightmare came true on Christmas after he admitted to his “chaotic” family that he had a girlfriend. Young love inevitably leads to heartbreak, but for one teenage boy, it led to utter embarrassment when his family found out he had a new girlfriend . Fortunately, for the amusement of social media, the boy’s older cousin Addison captured the moment when his family found out the exciting news. As the family opened Christmas gifts around the tree, they erupted in laughter and applauded the teen. But that wasn’t all, his family then devised a plan to embarrass him the best way they could. In moments, a crew of about 20 people from his family tracked down his girlfriend so they could sing Christmas carols outside of her house. “POV: Your family just found out your little cousin has a girlfriend and decided to show up to her house and Christmas carol,” Addison wrote on her viral TikTok , which boasted over 8M views. “This is extreme,” the teenager said to his family, who were prepared with not only a variety of songs but instruments as well. Teen’s family sings ‘Jingle Bells’ to his girlfriend and her family As several cars pulled up to his girlfriend’s home, his family hopped out and began to walk towards her doorstep. “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, hey!” the family sang as the teen’s girlfriend and her family stood on their porch. The group even took a selfie together to remember the embarrassing moment. Related: Viewers of the viral encounter found the prank hilarious, with some agreeing that it was the “funniest thing” they had ever seen. Others said that the boy’s embarrassment was exactly why they would never tell their family members private information about themselves. “This is cute but this would be grounds for me never telling my family anything personal ever again,” commented one. Some viewers even agreed that the teen’s family was the perfect family to marry into. “Now this is a cool family to marry into,” wrote one. In another Christmas prank that went viral this season, three employees wrapped their boss’ office in wrapping paper . When he came back from a long vacation, he was fairly upset that everything, including his mini fridge and beverages, was covered in festive wrapping paper.The Governing Council of the University of Abuja, chaired by Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (rtd) has approved the promotion of 154 members of staff to various ranks. Among the academic staff, 19 were elevated to the rank of professor, 14 to associate professor, 20 to senior lecturer, six to lecturer I, and one to lecturer II. Similarly, 94 non-teaching staff were promoted across various ranks, including two to deputy director, six to assistant director, and others to different grades. According to the acting Registrar, Mrs Islamiyat Foyeke Abdulrahim, the promotions were approved during the Council’s 98th Regular Meeting held on Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th and Saturday 14th December 2024. The breakdown of promotions includes specialities such as automobile engineering, energy engineering, library management, international economic law, environmental and development law, political sociology, media and conflict studies, cardiology, educational administration and planning, medical microbiology, banking law and policy, science education, curriculum studies, English language education, social studies education, sociology of dance, and applied geophysics. In a congratulatory message to the promoted staff, the acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, commended the staff’s dedication, hard work and discipline, adding that the University was committed to ensuring timely promotions for all deserving staff, with the support of the Governing Council. She said, “These promotions reflect the University of Abuja’s commitment to fostering excellence, recognising merit, and encouraging growth among its staff. “I, therefore, congratulate all the promoted individuals and urge them to continue contributing to the University’s vision of academic and professional distinction and excellence. “All outstanding backlogs of promotion cases have been meticulously reviewed and resolved, ensuring fairness and recognition for deserving staff. The remaining cases are now awaiting external assessment reports, reflecting the University’s commitment to transparency, meritocracy, and timely career progression for its workforce.”Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass
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