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Kyrie Irving said on Wednesday that he called LeBron James to apologize for the way he acted when they were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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After the bad year in 2018 for Neymar, so far in 2019 hes been going off with FC Barcelona.

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Brazil's training session started earlier than expected. The five-time world champions were against the clock as they prepared for their friendly match against Uruguay at the Emirates Stadium in London.

With the sun going down around 4 p.m. on a dull November afternoon, they were worried about the absence of floodlights at Arsenal's training ground.

The coaching staff wanted to make the most of it and allowed reporters to watch only the first 15 minutes of the session.

Nothing much stood out on the pitch, but off it, the presence of Neymar's son, Davi Lucca, on the sidelines raised eyebrows. The seven-year-old suddenly become the news of the day, especially when he unexpectedly appeared with his father at a press conference after the session.

A few weeks later, it became clear that the move was part of an effort within the national team to help restore Neymar's reputation off the field. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he had been heavily criticised for his haircuts, dives and avoiding the media. It was time for a reinvention.

The motivation was simple. They wanted to show a side of Neymar few people had ever seen: his human side. It was Brazil manager Tite's idea.

"When I saw his son there, I insisted Neymar bring him with him [to the press conference] to show...I mean, not to push it, but to show his human side-each of us has one," the 57-year-old explained in November.

ESPN UK @ESPNUK
When your nanny calls in sick. Neymar is currently conducting an official Brazil press conference alongside his 7 year-old son 😂 https://t.co/RI1lwB5cke

The PSG forward is regularly criticised for supposedly living in a world apart from everyone else-a place where he relies on his entourage to defend himself from criticism, his own "Neverland."

A divisive figure, especially back home, Neymar has historically seldom spoken for himself. He rarely opens up or lets others get a glimpse of what he is really like away from the pitch. As a result, for many, everything about "The Neymar Show" seems superficial.

Neymar has been in the consciousness of the Brazilian football public since he was 13, when Real Madrid first tried to sign him from Santos. However, the impression has always been that no one outside of his expansive circle has ever really known him.

Therefore, whenever he cries in public-as has happened at least three times over the past few months-sympathy from fans has been in short supply; instead, they write it off as just another drama and offer little consolation.

However, a more human and down-to-earth version of Neymar appears to have taken his first steps to winning over the public-he seems determined to prove that the perception of him is wrong.

The timing is significant. The second half of the season presents many challenges and potential milestones for Neymar. In the next few months, he will be tasked with spearheading Paris Saint-Germain's bid for a first UEFA Champions League crown; reaching his 100th game for Brazil (he currently has 96 caps and 60 goals); overtaking Zico (66) and Ronaldo (67) to become the country's second-all-time goalscorer behind Pele (95); and winning the Copa America on home soil.

He will have the support of those who know him better than the general public, such as former Santos coach Muricy Ramalho, who only ever speaks highly about his former protegee.

"The truth is that Neymar wasn't 100 per cent fit to play in the World Cup and received a lot of criticism for his behaviour in Russia," Ramalho, who has won four Brazilian league titles as a coach, tells Bleacher Report. "And what's going on now?Titeand others are basically trying to help him out with the public opinion.

"Inside the dressing room, there has never been any reason for concern. Neymar has always been very easy to work with, well regarded by everyone, a group guy."

Ramalho argues that the media perception of Neymar is all wrong and that the public have not been presented with the real Neymar away from the pitch.

"Sometimes, people forget that there is a human being behind the player-and he doesn't really show this side of himself often," he says. "Whenever I have a chance while working as a pundit in the national team games, I try to highlight this, mention the amazing work he does with his foundation, give the audience an insight into him.

"He has always treated fans well, spending half an hour taking photos with them, far from being a prima donna. I've seen him helping Santos employees, inviting over 50 of them to his birthday party and welcoming them warmly, but people don't get to see this. They only hear bad things."

Neymar showed his more modest side after the match against Uruguay in London.

While some of his team-mates headed to David Luiz and Willian's restaurant, Babbo, in the Mayfair area to celebrate Lucas Leiva's wife's birthday and spend the night out before returning to Brazil's camp the following day, Neymar preferred to remain with his family and friends and have a quiet dinner.

For the first time since the end of his on-and-off relationship with Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine in October, the 26-year-old has been getting headlines more for his performances on the pitch rather than anything off it.

For 1994 World Cup-winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who holds an international record for leading teams to the tournament six times, it's all about Neymar finding a balance.

Parreira worked with an array of superstars throughout his career-from Pele in 1970 to Ronaldinho in 2006. He has seen a bit of everything.

"Neymar can perfectly separate his professional side from this human, more personal one," Parreirasaid in an interview with B/R. "People ask me if I have retired from football, 'Have I?' I have. Although it remains a very important thing in my life, it's not my whole life. Writing is part of your life, but your life is not only that either, you've got friends, wife, other hobbies.

"It's the same thing with Neymar, but, for reasons I can't understand, some people don't get it. He enjoys playing football, but he also likes having his buddies by his side.

"As long as it's a balanced situation, I can't see any problem. He always does what the coaches ask him to do, never misses a game, is a very pleasant boy to deal with. I have a deep affection for him. Bringing more of his human side out for others to see can only be positive."

Those hoping to see some positive changes in Neymar's attitude got a pleasant surprise during the recent winter break in Ligue 1. PSG manager Thomas Tuchel had given his €222 million man a few extra days off during the hiatus, but Neymar decided to head back to Paris three days early in what would have previously been seen as an uncharacteristic move.

Mauro Beting is one of the of most respected media figures in Brazil and believes this is the best way for Neymar to silence his critics: by focusing on improving his game and not his off-the-field activities.

"Whatever crisis Neymar and any other player has to face in their careers, they can only restore their images through the ball, not through their mouths," Beting tells B/R.

It's safe to say that Beting knows the Brazilian superstar far better than most. Alongside Globo reporter Ivan More, he wrote the player's official autobiography, Neymar: My Story-Conversations with my Father, which has been translated into more than 20 different languages.

"Neymar, similar to other footballers of his time, is a pop star. And holds this status on social media. He's always around. He can't do much about it. If Pele played these days, he would be absurdly more in-demand than he has ever been.

"Neymar needs to show everybody the nice guy he is. I'm obviously biased, but I'm not the only one who says it. His team-mates, opponents, even those who kick him during the whole game-he gets hacked down more than anyone else in the world-hug him after the final whistle because he's a peaceful man, one of the nicest ones.

"He does a lot of amazing things. His work with his foundation is fantastic. And yet you hear people saying, 'It might be money laundering.' What else can you say to convince them otherwise? Neymar does a lot and doesn't speak much. But I don't think he needs to change. Fans will always remain critical-even if he brings the sixth world title home, they will demand more from him."

Few stand to benefit more from a refocused Neymar than Brazil boss Tite. The experienced coach has abandoned his captaincy rotation and handed Neymar the captain's armband on a permanent basis again after the World Cup.

Even though the decision was difficult to understand at first-especially because Neymar had lost his temper a few times in Russia, insulting referees, opponents and even his own team-mates on the pitch-the main goal has been to give more responsibility to the No. 10.

So far, it seems to be working.

"Neymar is a technical leader who can also become a behavioral leader. And he has grown up a lot in that way, improved his relationship with you [media]. He's opened up a bit more. I told him, 'Show your human side more frequently.' It's a side we already know," Tite said in a December interview with O Globo newspaper.

His attitude has been praised by Brazilian outlets such as Globo Esporte and UOL, who have pointed out his new role as the spokesperson of the group. Before that, he used to pass the mixed zone with headphones on and refuse to take questions.

It's been a nice surprise, even for those who know him closely.

"He has never been the kind of player who really cared much about being the leader of the team. He did not pay much attention to these things. You could take the armband off him and he would not complain about it," Ramalho recalls.

"He's not one of these stars that demand to be the captain for status reasons."

For some, Neymar's father is the one to blame for his son's lack of voice and introspective behavior throughout most of his career. Neymar Sr. tends to take care of every single detail so his son is not bothered off the pitch and can just play his game. His massive influence, however, has been questioned more than once.

Prestigious football columnist Juca Kfouri once wrote that overbearing parenting has "prevented Neymar from getting rid of his Peter Pan syndrome, a refusal to grow up."

A former lower-league footballer himself, Neymar Sr. has been at the centre of multiple controversies. The latest came after Brazil's game against Switzerland in the World Cup.

Unlike other relatives, he went against the instruction of the Brazilian confederation and decided to stay in the same hotel as the team in Sochi, Russia.

He was then accused of bringing women into the hotel and having a party. When asked by a Folha de Sao Paulo reporter if he could confirm it, he repeatedly responded that the party was with the reporter's mother.

Such stories have led many pundits to suggest that Neymar should follow the path of his friend, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, and sack his father as his agent. It doesn't seem very likely to happen, however.

"It's not easy for Neymar to dribble past his father the same way he does with opponents. It should not come as a surprise since his father has been around since the beginning, making him a better player, teaching him how to shoot and escape from going down," Beting says.

"His father is always prepared to defend him, building a shield, a bubble, a dome for him. I think it's understandable and natural to behave like this with a boy that is not spoiled, but so well trained, so well cared, so protected."

Beting references a story in his book that shows how hard Neymar's father pushes his son. It came after Santos beat Penarol to win the Copa Libertadores in 2011, the club's first success in the competition since the Pele-inspired teams of the '60s.

"The first thing he said to his son was about a ball he had lost," Beting reveals.

"That's Neymar's father. He's demanding, super demanding, sometimes too demanding.

"If he were only his agent, adviser, tutor, it would already be difficult for Neymar to move away from him; being his dad and considering his importance on his career and everything, it's even more unlikely."

Despite all this, Beting argues that Neymar's relationship with his father is "a very positive thing."

He adds: "It's no use handling Neymar more autonomy, more of a voice, because he will not take advantage of it. He's like that. He's not one of those who speaks too much; he gets things done."

And at the end of day, that's what PSG and Brazil fans will judge Neymar on-can he get things done?

A new version of Neymar seems to be emerging: a more humane, outspoken character, but how that translates to on-field success and perception off it remains to be seen.
Follow Marcus on Twitter:

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The Reinvention of Neymar: From 'Peter Pan' to Brazilian Leader

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Brazil's training session started earlier than expected. The five-time world champions were against the clock as they prepared for their friendly match against Uruguay at the Emirates Stadium in London. With the sun going down around 4 p.m. on a dull November afternoon, they were worried about the absence of floodlights at Arsenal's training ground.

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A 60-year-old woman has died after falling off a terrace in India while being chased by a gang of monkeys.

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A 60-year-old woman has died after falling off a terrace in India while being chased by a gang of monkeys.

Savitri Devi was sitting with her daughter-in-law Renu in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district when they were attacked by the primates, local police said.

But as they both fled the terrifying assault, the pair fell off the terrace - a plunge which killed Savitri "on the spot", reports The Times of India.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE SUN
Renu was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, according to reports.
MONKEY SNATCHES 12-DAY-OLD BABY FROM MOTHER'S ARMS, FATALLY BITES HIM
It is not clear the distance the pair fell from the terrace or Savitri's exact cause of death.
WOMAN BLEEDS TO DEATH AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY MONKEYS
This is the third death caused by monkeys in Uttar Pradesh in the last three months.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP This story originally appeared in The Sun. For more from The Sun, click here.

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Indian woman, 60, chased to her death off rooftop by gang of monkeys

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A 60-year-old woman has died after falling off a terrace in India while being chased by a gang of monkeys. Savitri Devi was sitting with her daughter-in-law Renu in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district when they were attacked by the primates, local police said.

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Clemson's Justyn Ross Almost Quit Football; Now, He's CFB's Best Big-Play WR

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Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Late in the third quarter of the national championship, Clemson holds a 37-16 lead. Comfortable, sure, yet Nick Saban and Alabama know this stage. It's not over.

Star freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence is having a tremendous game, slicing a Crimson Tide defense like few have ever done. On this 3rd-and-9, however, the ball is drifting behind his intended target.

But that target is Justyn Ross.

He leaps, extends a hand over Alabama cornerback Josh Jobe and snatches this pass. Seriously, the ball hardly moves from the moment it arrives in his grasp. Four plays later, Clemson scores another touchdown and kicks the extra point for a 44-16 advantage.

It's over.

This sequence, though, almost never had a chance to happen.

During his freshman year at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, Ross didn't want to play football anymore. Instead, as he told Matt Connolly of The State in October, basketball had his attention.

Fortunately for Clemson, football coach Jamey DuBose persuaded the talented athlete to stick it out.

"He walked in my office and told me he didn't want to play anymore," DuBose told Connolly. "I stood in front of the door and told him he wasn't going to ever walk out because he'd be making the biggest mistake of his entire life."

Within four years, Ross is on the brink of becoming a college football icon. His production is already worthy of the label.

As a true freshman, the 6'4", 210-pound wideout grabbed 46 passes for a team-high 1,000 yards. Ross scored nine touchdowns, and his 21.7-yard average per catch ranked fourth among qualifiers in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He ranked in the top six nationally of catches for at least 30, 40 and 50 yards.

The only comparable players returning for 2019 are 2018 Biletnikoff Award winner Jerry Jeudy from Alabama and Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace―a second-team AP All-American. Those rising juniors are the class of the position in college football.

Along with teammate Tee Higgins, Ross is closing the gap.

While no one reaches 1,000 yards by accident, Ross didn't simply demolish weak teams. Sure, his first career 100-yard display came against Georgia Southern. But his two best performances of the season were under the brightest lights.

Against Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl, Ross set career highs with six catches, 148 yards and two scores. During the national championship, he grabbed six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.

Consider this, though: Ross hardly played a full season.

Four games into 2018, per Anna Hickey of 247Sports, he'd managed only 58 snaps―not routes, snaps. Ross gradually held a larger role, but his statistical ceiling is far from reached.

According to Pro Football Focus, he led the FBS in yards per route run.

PFF College @PFF_College
That is a strong collective of wide receivers, led by Justyn Ross, who ran 4.98 yards per route this season. https://t.co/llCTGquzjc

Impressive, right? Given that he totaled 1,000 receiving yards, that number also means Ross ran fewer than 15 routes per game.

In 2019, Ross will be a fixture in the starting lineup. That, by itself, should lead to an increase in production. He'll likely garner a larger target share now that everyone's favorite AARP member, Hunter Renfrow, has finally run out of eligibility.

Development isn't necessarily linear, but Ross should improve. Lawrence is potentially a legend at quarterback, and the two's clearly apparent on-field connection isn't going to disappear.

Plus, Lawrence will have a greater impact next season. In 2018, he served as the backup to Kelly Bryant through four weeks. Throw in an injury-shortened fifth game, and the freshman quarterback was basically Clemson's full-time quarterback for only 10 appearances.

Despite that, Lawrence racked up 3,280 yards and 30 touchdowns to only four interceptions. Just think what he can accomplish as the undisputed No. 1 on the depth chart.

And that's the guy throwing Ross the football. He's still growing as a receiver and earning his place at Clemson, yet Ross is already college football's premier big-play weapon.

It's over.
All recruiting information via 247Sports' composite rankings. Stats from NCAA.com, cfbstats.com or B/R research. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

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Clemson's Justyn Ross Almost Quit Football; Now, He's CFB's Best Big-Play WR

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Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images Late in the third quarter of the national championship, Clemson holds a 37-16 lead. Comfortable, sure, yet Nick Saban and Alabama know this stage. It's not over. Star freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence is having a tremendous game, slicing a Crimson Tide defense like few have ever done.

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A newborn's remains were found in the trash of an Amazon distribution center. This happened Wednesday at around 8:30 p.m. when a woman saw the newborn in the trash in a women's restroom.

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newborn's remains found in trash at amazon building in phoenix - cnn

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Newborn's remains found in trash at Amazon building in Phoenix

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Phoenix Police are investigating the discovery of a newborn's remains in the garbage at an Amazon distribution center.

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A 53 year old women was driving to Kansas City, got robbed and got shot 21 times. She is still alive and recovering.

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It's been six weeks since Teresa Meitl was shot 21 times within close range and, although she's still recovering in the hospital, she feels grateful to be alive.

"It's like a miracle," Meitl, of Kansas City, Missouri, t old ABC local station KMBC in a recent interview. "Really, I shouldn't even be here, being shot as many times as I [was]."

The shooting happened on the night of Dec. 4. Meitl, a 53-year-old driver for ride-hailing company zTrip, drove a passenger to his destination in Kansas City and was waiting for someone to bring out the cab fare, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

Video from cameras inside the vehicle and on the front dashboard show an individual approach the van and open the rear driver's side door to speak to the passenger. The passenger then holds a rifle up to Meitl's head and demands she give him everything, according to an affidavit from an FBI special agent.

KMBC

"He goes, 'This is a real gun, and I want everything you got,'" Meitl told KMBC.

Meitl tells the passenger that he's being recorded on camera, but he says he doesn't care. Meitl then turns around and grabs hold of the rifle. A struggle ensues, and the passenger tells the individual standing outside the car to beat Meitl up. The individual hits her in the face, in the back and in the back of the head. Meitl releases her grip from the rifle and that's when the passenger opens fire approximately 21 times. Both suspects then flee the scene, according to the affidavit.

Meitl said she couldn't feel the bullets as they hit her but the pain was unbearable.

"The bullet that hit my jaw, broke, shattered my jaw," she told KMBC. "The pain was so severe."

KMBC

Meitl said she remembers someone coming into the vehicle to ask if she was all right, and she told them she had been shot. Investigators later learned that it was one of the suspects who returned for his cellphone which he left in the backseat.

Police responded to the shooting and Meitl was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. Her condition continues to be critical with "substantial and serious bodily injuries," according to the affidavit.

Meitl said she knows there's a long road ahead for her recovery and she will need physical therapy, but she's trying to to remain positive. She's thankful to her family and friends as well as everyone who has taken care of her, she said.

"I didn't know actually how many friends I do have until now," Meitl told KMBC from her hospital room. "I'm grateful, I'm very grateful."

Police have identified 18-year-old Derron Nevels as the passenger in Meitl's car. Nevels was arrested on Dec. 10 and charged in federal court for the armed robbery and assault. If convicted, he could spend more than 30 years behind bars.

The federal public defenders who were assigned to represent Nevels did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment Friday morning.

Investigators are still searching for the second suspect.

KMBC

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zTrip driver survives being shot 21 times in robbery attempt

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It's been six weeks since Teresa Meitl was shot 21 times within close range and, although she's still recovering in the hospital, she feels grateful to be alive. "It's like a miracle," Meitl, of Kansas City, Missouri, t old ABC local station KMBC in a recent interview.

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There is an amazon for teens ages 13-17. It has more stuff that teens would be interested in. Parents still have to text or email the letter "Y" to Amazon to confirm the order.

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Amazon launched "Amazon for Teens" on Thursday, a program that gives teens their own profiles - even if the tab is picked up by their parents.

Interested in Amazon?

Add Amazon as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Amazon news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

Teens will be able to "search, browse, read recommendations and place orders on their own," according to the company's announcement on its website. The program is for minors ages 13 to 17.

After a teenager places an order, parents receive the order details by text or email and can type "Y" to approve. Orders can also be declined.

Parents then receive all the order details by text or email.

If a blank check is the route parents choose to go, they "can also set spending limits to have orders approved automatically," the company said.

Teens also get access to their parents' Amazon Prime shipping accounts, the Prime video library of thousands of TV shows and movies, and "free in-game loot with Twitch Prime," on the retailer's streaming gaming platform.

Critics, however, see the program as further encroachment on user privacy.

"Amazon targeting teens with a program designed to get them to click the 'buy' button more and more often shows exactly why parents cannot trust the company. It's a shameless data grab and a sneaky attempt to drive blind consumer loyalty from cradle to grave," said Bob Engel, spokesman for the Free & Fair Markets Initiative, a nonprofit coalition that advocates for small businesses and local communities, in an email to ABC News.

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Amazon for Teens has arrived, but parents will still be picking up the tab

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Amazon launched "Amazon for Teens" on Thursday, a program that gives teens their own profiles - even if the tab is picked up by their parents. Add Amazon as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Amazon news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

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NBA Adam Fromal @fromal09 National NBA Featured Columnist

Zion Williamson is the ultimate prize.

Though RJ Barrett, Ja Morant and plenty other top-tier prospects will reward NBA teams for their losing endeavors in 2018-19, the spring-loaded Duke freshman is the obvious crown jewel of the class.

Averaging 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.9 blocks while shooting 66.2 percent from the field and posting the best qualified box plus/minus since 2010-11 (with room to spare), he's one of the best NCAA products in recent memory, promising enough to inspire frenzied tanking from a select few squads.

But we're not here to shine yet another spotlight on Williamson so much as highlight the five teams best positioned to earn the top lottery odds in pursuit of his services. And to determine both the outfits comprising the bottom-feeding quintet and the order of these rankings, we're getting objective.

Four metrics matter: win percentage, net rating, net rating over the last 10 games and remaining strength of schedule, per Tankathon (harder is better, for our purposes). By summing the z-scores in each of the four categories for all 30 teams in the Association, we can come up with the ultimate tanking hierarchy, ranging from the Milwaukee Bucks (6.694), Toronto Raptors (4.669) and Golden State Warriors (3.166) to our five glaringly negative representatives.

Current Win Percentage: 0.318 (No. 26)

Current Net Rating: minus-7.6(No. 26)

Net Rating in Last 10 Games: minus-5.0 (No. 23)

Even if the Atlanta Hawks shouldn't have much interest in competing for a back-end playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference, they might end up working their way into the fringes of that conversation. This roster has slowly been piecing together lengthier stretches of positive play that offer more hope for a future built around the incumbent core but also lessen the probability of a Zion Williamson pursuit.

Over the team's last 10 games, culminating in a Tuesday night explosion against the vaunted defense of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the three-man nucleus comprised of Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter has looked the part of something special:

Young: 17.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.1 blocks while slashing 43.1/40.4/84.1

Collins: 19.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.1 blocks while slashing 57.7/50.0/75.7

Huerter: 14.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks while slashing 42.4/39.7/69.2

Young has started to minimize his mistakes and exhibit signs of better shot selection. Collins is an athletic marvel who compresses defenses around him and requires constant attention in off-ball scenarios. Huerter is beginning to find his shot and demand surveillance from the opposition at all times. Even without Kent Bazemore (and while Taurean Prince gets healthy/attempts to bounce back toward the level he reached late in 2017-18), that trio alone has allowed Atlanta to remain competitive.
Honorable Mentions: Memphis Grizzlies (minus-1.807), Los Angeles Lakers (minus-1.595), Detroit Pistons (minus-1.542)
To be fair, the Hawks could supercharge their tank by offloading Jeremy Lin, Dewayne Dedmon and Bazemore at the deadline, as the New York Times' Marc Stein reported. But even in that scenario, these youngsters have already inspired enough confidence that Atlanta should be viewed as a distant fifth in the race for a certain Duke phenom. Maybe they'll just get one of the other two lottery-lock Blue Devils instead.

Current Win Percentage: 0.244 (No. 27)

Current Net Rating: minus-8.6(No. 28)

Net Rating in Last 10 Games: minus-9.0(No. 26)

Devin Booker alone makes tanking a difficult endeavor for the Phoenix Suns, though losses are always possible while the organization keeps trying to find a franchise point guard and shoehorns raw, inexperienced players or out-of-position contributors in at the 1.

The standout shooting guard is in the midst of another sterling season, averaging 24.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 45.0 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from downtown and 84.3 percent from the stripe-percentages dragged down by the magnitude of his responsibilities for the desert-based organization, as well as its inability to run out compatriots capable of demanding much defensive attention. But injuries have also limited him to just 32 appearances in the team's first 45 games, and the Suns have only mustered a 3-10 record in his absence.

With an 11-34 overall mark, Phoenix is on pace to win 20 games during the 2018-19 campaign. However, it's also seen its net rating improve from minus-8.8 to minus-6.6 when Booker is on the floor, and he should only grow more effective as his fourth professional season progresses and allows him to build up more chemistry with his youthful running mates.

The Suns are still overmatched most nights. That's inevitable when Richaun Holmes (4.0), Deandre Ayton (1.4) and Booker (0.2) are the only men qualified for the scoring leaderboard and posting positive box plus/minuses for the franchise. The talent deficit is significant, and it's not like this collection of inexperienced youngsters understands how to win games at the sport's highest level.

But having an established star matters in this type of downward-spiraling pursuit.

Current Win Percentage: 0.233 (No. 28)

Current Net Rating: minus-8.4(No. 27)

Net Rating in Last 10 Games: minus-12.0(No. 28)

Even as Kevin Knox continues blossoming into a foundational piece (on offense, at least) for the New York Knicks, this team is struggling to win any games. A minus-8.4 net rating on the season is rancid enough, but that mark has fallen to minus-12.0 during the last 10 outings. Expand the range even further, and the Knicks have still posted a cringe-inducing minus-11.1 net rating while going 3-19 in their last 22 games.

Gross.

Yes, that's an arbitrary cutoff that intentionally falls just shy of a Nov. 25 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. But do you really want to cite a close win nearly two months ago against another lottery outfit as a reason to have some semblance of optimism about the Madison Square Garden residents?

Normally, these numbers would be enough to make New York the clear-cut favorite for the top draft odds. But not in 2018-19, when the marks still pale in comparison to the utter putridity of the two squads topping the Knicks in these rankings. Plus, two other factors should make you feel even better about the third-place finish.

First, the youngsters really are starting to develop into quality assets. Knox is the obvious headliner, but Luke Kornet, Frank Ntilikina, Emmanuel Mudiay, Allonzo Trier and Damyean Dotson have all shown some flashes of production in 2018-19. And that's saying nothing of Mitchell Robinson, who should soon return from a groin injury to continue racking up fouls and thriving in short-minute stints.

Second, we still can't rule out the possibility of Kristaps Porzingis making his way back from an ACL tear, especially after Marc Berman of the New York Post provided a nice dose of optimism. If the Latvian 7-footer plays, everything changes for the better in the Big Apple.

Current Win Percentage: 0.227 (No. 29)

Current Net Rating: minus-10.1(No. 29)

Net Rating in Last 10 Games: minus-13.2 (No. 29)

Not to pin too much of the blame on any one player, particularly a 21-year-old sophomore who's been forced to fight through injuries just to make it back on the floor, but Lauri Markkanen's stagnation has crippled the Chicago Bulls' offensive performance. So too has Jabari Parker's utter failure to justify the $20 million average annual salary he was handed this past offseason, and the all-around inability to find a secondary scorer capable of complementing a do-everything version of Zach LaVine.

But let's focus first on the Finnish forward.

During the 2017-18 campaign, Markkanen opened eyes by averaging 18.4 points and 1.4 assists per 36 minutes while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from downtown and 84.3 percent from the stripe. This year, his slash line has stood steady at 43.0/36.9/83.0 while he posts 19.1 points and 1.2 assists per 36 minutes. Diving even deeper, though, his shot distribution has actually moved his true shooting percentage down from 55.2 to 53.8, which sits well below the league-average mark of 55.8 percent.

In his defense, this isn't exactly an aberration on the Windy City roster.

Ryan Arcidiacono (6.4 points per game on 60.2 true shooting percentage), Cristiano Felicio (3.0 on 59.8 in just 28 appearances), Wayne Selden (4.6 on 56.6 in just five appearances) and LaVine (23.2 on 56.4) are the only four players posting above-average efficiency numbers. And that, in a nutshell, is why Chicago's 101.8 offensive rating could be a historic mark for all the wrong reasons, with few indications it'll get much better despite facing a fairly easy remaining schedule.

Not only does that settle 3.2 points per 100 possessions behind the No. 29 Phoenix Suns, allowing for a gap larger than the one between Phoenix and the No. 21 Miami Heat, but it's even worse when compared to the league average (110.1). The era-adjusted offensive rating of 92.5 would be one of the dozen worst marks in league history, per NBA Math.

Current Win Percentage: 0.205 (No. 30)

Current Net Rating: minus-11.0 (No. 30)

Net Rating in Last 10 Games: minus-17.1(No. 30)

Remaining Schedule Strength: 0.495 (No. 17)

As bad as the Chicago Bulls are on offense, the Cleveland Cavaliers are even worse on the defensive end. They can't stop a nosebleed when handed a new box of tissues, and that's not likely to change as the team offloads key pieces (Cleveland has taken calls about Tristan Thompson, per Amico Hoops' Sam Amico) and faces a tougher remaining schedule while posting league-worst numbers in all three relevant performance categories.

Thus far, the Cavs have hemorrhaged 118.1 points per 100 possessions, which leaves them well behind the No. 29 New York Knicks (114.9). And again, that allows for a yawning chasm between them and everyone else, this time large enough to span the gap between the Knicks and the No. 22 Chicago Bulls.

According to NBA Math's era-adjusted numbers, they'd be one of the five worst defensive outfits in league history:

1. 1998-99 Denver Nuggets: 92.57

2. 2005-06 Seattle SuperSonics: 92.83

3. 1998-99 Los Angeles Clippers: 93.16

4. 2003-04 Orlando Magic: 93.21

5. 2018-19 Chicago Bulls: 93.23

That's less than ideal, especially for a team that's also posting the Association's No. 23 offensive rating.

We won't sugarcoat this one. The Cavaliers are easily the most futile team in the league right now, and they've been playing even worse basketball as the season progresses. They have the lowest win percentage, the No. 30 net rating and a score that's trended in the wrong direction during recent weeks. They also have the second-toughest schedule of our five leading Zion Williamson suitors.

At least there's a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel that can jump out of the gym...unless the ping-pong balls bounce the wrong way.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter,@fromal09. Unless otherwise indicated, all stats accurate heading into games Jan. 16 and courtesy ofBasketball Reference,NBA.com,PBPStats.com,NBA MathorESPN.com.

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The Race to Zion: Tanking NBA Teams Best Positioned to Land No. 1 Pick

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NBA Adam Fromal @fromal09 Twitter Logo National NBA Featured Columnist Zion Williamson is the ultimate prize. Though RJ Barrett, Ja Morant and plenty other top-tier prospects will reward NBA teams for their losing endeavors in 2018-19, the spring-loaded Duke freshman is the obvious crown jewel of the class.

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Perdue is recalling more than 68,000 pounds of chicken nuggets because they may be contaminated with wood

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Divers swim with rare great white shark

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divers swim with rare great white shark - cnn video

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Divers swim with rare great white shark - CNN Video

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Divers off the coast of Hawaii spotted and then swam with a rare great white shark.

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A U.S. Army Ranger has died from wounds suffered in an attack in Afghanistan last week, marking the first U.S. military death in Afghanistan this year.

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A Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke is sentenced for the shooting death of a teen named Laquan McDonold. Jason was found guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery.

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1 Billion oysters were dumped in New York's harbor in 2014 to purifie the water

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Cleaning New York’s filthy harbor with one billion oysters | CNN Business

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The New York Harbor for years has been polluted and depleted of marine life. But one nonprofit is working to clean the murky water and revive its long-lost ecosystem — one oyster at a time.

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Perdue is recalling more than 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms) of chicken nuggets because they may be contaminated with wood.

The gluten free Organics Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets were produced on Oct. 25 and were sold at stores nationwide. They have a UPC bar code of 72745-80656 and the establishment number of P-33944 in the US Agriculture Department inspection mark.

The USDA says Perdue received three complaints that wood was found in the nuggets.

The USDA says there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions. However, the product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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Perdue is recalling more than 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms) of chicken nuggets because they may be contaminated with wood.

The gluten free Organics Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets were produced on Oct. 25 and were sold at stores nationwide. They have a UPC bar code of 72745-80656 and the establishment number of P-33944 in the US Agriculture Department inspection mark.

The USDA says Perdue received three complaints that wood was found in the nuggets.

The USDA says there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions. However, the product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Perdue says it is recalling the product out of an abundance of caution.

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Perdue recalls chicken nuggets due to wood contamination

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Perdue is recalling more than 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms) of chicken nuggets because they may be contaminated with wood. The gluten free Organics Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets were produced on Oct. 25 and were sold at stores nationwide. They have a UPC bar code of 72745-80656 and the...

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It has been six weeks since Teresa Meitl was shot 21 times even though she recovering in the hospital she is happy to be alive.An individual came up to her car and pulled out a rifle and said give me everything you got.

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It's been six weeks since Teresa Meitl was shot 21 times within close range and, although she's still recovering in the hospital, she feels grateful to be alive.

"It's like a miracle," Meitl, of Kansas City, Missouri, t old ABC local station KMBC in a recent interview. "Really, I shouldn't even be here, being shot as many times as I [was]."

The shooting happened on the night of Dec. 4. Meitl, a 53-year-old driver for ride-hailing company zTrip, drove a passenger to his destination in Kansas City and was waiting for someone to bring out the cab fare, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

Video from cameras inside the vehicle and on the front dashboard show an individual approach the van and open the rear driver's side door to speak to the passenger. The passenger then holds a rifle up to Meitl's head and demands she give him everything, according to an affidavit from an FBI special agent.

KMBC

"He goes, 'This is a real gun, and I want everything you got,'" Meitl told KMBC.

Meitl tells the passenger that he's being recorded on camera, but he says he doesn't care. Meitl then turns around and grabs hold of the rifle. A struggle ensues, and the passenger tells the individual standing outside the car to beat Meitl up. The individual hits her in the face, in the back and in the back of the head. Meitl releases her grip from the rifle and that's when the passenger opens fire approximately 21 times. Both suspects then flee the scene, according to the affidavit.

Meitl said she couldn't feel the bullets as they hit her but the pain was unbearable.

"The bullet that hit my jaw, broke, shattered my jaw," she told KMBC. "The pain was so severe."

KMBC

Meitl said she remembers someone coming into the vehicle to ask if she was all right, and she told them she had been shot. Investigators later learned that it was one of the suspects who returned for his cellphone which he left in the backseat.

Police responded to the shooting and Meitl was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. Her condition continues to be critical with "substantial and serious bodily injuries," according to the affidavit.

Meitl said she knows there's a long road ahead for her recovery and she will need physical therapy, but she's trying to to remain positive. She's thankful to her family and friends as well as everyone who has taken care of her, she said.

"I didn't know actually how many friends I do have until now," Meitl told KMBC from her hospital room. "I'm grateful, I'm very grateful."

Police have identified 18-year-old Derron Nevels as the passenger in Meitl's car. Nevels was arrested on Dec. 10 and charged in federal court for the armed robbery and assault. If convicted, he could spend more than 30 years behind bars.

The federal public defenders who were assigned to represent Nevels did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment Friday morning.

Investigators are still searching for the second suspect.

KMBC

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zTrip driver survives being shot 21 times in robbery attempt

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It's been six weeks since Teresa Meitl was shot 21 times within close range and, although she's still recovering in the hospital, she feels grateful to be alive. "It's like a miracle," Meitl, of Kansas City, Missouri, t old ABC local station KMBC in a recent interview.

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Vice President Mike Pence defended his wife Karen's new job at a private Christian elementary school Thursday, calling for an end to the attacks on Christian education.

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Vice President Mike Pence defended his wife Karen's new job at a private Christian elementary school Thursday, calling for an end to the attacks on Christian education.

Pence came to the Second Lady's defense after it was announced she would be teaching art part-time at Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, Virginia earlier this week. LGBT activists immediately started targeting her and the school for adhering to Christian beliefs.
KAREN PENCE SLAMMED BY LGBT ACTIVISTS FOR TAKING JOB AT SCHOOL THAT BANS GAY TEACHERS
"We'll let the critics roll off our back," Pence tweeted Thursday night. "But the criticism of Christian education in America must stop."

Several groups, including the NOH8 Campaign, the Human Rights Campaign, and The Trevor Project, were upset because the school requires employees to pledge they believe marriage is monogamous and heterosexual and they won't engage in "homosexual or lesbian sexual activity" or adopt or promote "transgender identity," as well as an agreement that the school can deny admission or remove a student whose behavior is "in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches."

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo compared her job to GOP Iowa Rep. Steve King's remarks. The Trevor Project also announced it plans to send 100 copies of John Oliver's pro-gay book about the Pences' pet rabbit to the school.
CNN'S CHRIS CUOMO LINKS KAREN PENCE'S JOB AT IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN TO STEVE KING'S WHITE SUPREMACY REMARKS
"Karen and I have been in and around public life for almost two decades, so to be honest with you, we're used to the criticism, but the attacks on Christian education by the mainstream media have got to stop," Pence told " Washington Watch with Tony Perkins" Thursday night.

He characterized the criticism as an attack on the First Amendment.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"If we cherish the freedom of religion in this country, this administration stands foursquare for the freedom of religion for people of all faiths, and to see the mainstream media criticize my wife cause she's choosing to return to the classroom of an elementary Christian school is wrong," Pence said. "Again, the attacks on Christian education must end."

The vice president also called out the media for its lack of coverage of the annual March for Life taking place Friday in the nation's capital.
MARCH FOR LIFE: A LOOK AT THE LARGEST PRO-LIFE RALLY IN THE US
Pence told Perkins participating in the March for Life has been one of his favorite memories, especially alongside President Trump, "the most pro-life president in history."

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Pence tells media 'attacks on Christian education must end'

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Vice President Mike Pence defended his wife Karen's new job at a private Christian elementary school Thursday, calling for an end to the attacks on Christian education. Pence came to the Second Lady's defense after it was announced she would be teaching art part-time at Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, Virginia earlier this week.