Entertainment
Jason Kidd pleads guilty to leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals a year after a chaotic ending
DALLAS (AP) – Jason Kidd is not fond of non-public debt collection.
Leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals as their coach 13 years after he was the point guard on the franchise’s only championship team means more to Kidd than proving he was right about Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving needing time to grow into tandem competing for the title.
There is a a part of the 51-year-old, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame playerwho thinks he doesn’t have much to prove.
“I know how to win,” Kidd said. “I’ve been doing it since grade school, at the highest level. I won gold medals. I won the championship. I also won the championship as a coach and assistant coach. Now I even have the opportunity to try this as a head coach. “
When the Mavericks face the Boston Celtics in Game 1 on Thursday night, they will probably be overlooked of a 1-6 tie that has experts once more wondering how long Kidd will coach in Dallas.
The Mavs will probably be faraway from Kidd for nearly 14 months amid questions on his job security and the club’s strange decision to walk away two games before the end of the season while still retaining a likelihood to play in the postseason.
The Doncic-Irving pairing has deteriorated in the two months since the blockbuster trade that brought Irving from Brooklyn in 2023. Never mind that just a year earlier, Kidd’s coaching debut in Dallas resulted in Doncic’s first trip to the Western Conference Finals.
“I guess you have to go through a few losses to really believe that you can do it,” said Kidd, whose assistant title he won with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 playoffs. “We weren’t very good. But it’s ok. Even though people feel like they should be sold or fired because of their failures, sometimes it’s sad. We had to get through it.”
Now Kidd will try to grow to be the eighth person to win the title as a player and coach on the same team. Seven more did so under different franchises.
Kidd achieved this by giving a mixture of perennial All-Stars Irving and Doncic time to marinate and convincing the offensive wizards to play defense.
“He understands mine and Kyrie’s role because he’s played it himself,” Doncic said of the two-time Olympic gold medal winner. “That’s why he helps us a lot. But everyone. He kept everyone together. We were often weak, especially during the season. There were at all times ups and downs, but he kept us together.
Kidd and his staff made changes midseason, trading PJ Washington, a 3-and-D wing, and Daniel Gafford, a pick-and-roll rim protector to add depth at center with rookie Dereck Lively II.
The team that began the season repeating Kidd’s mantra that “our offense is our defense” has transformed into a defense-first group, very similar to his first season in 2021-2022.
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Here’s the summary.
In the 10 seasons from the 2011 championship until Kidd took over as coach, the Mavs didn’t win a playoff series. They won five in his three seasons, losing to Golden State in the West in the finals two years ago.
“It’s not very often that you go from the lottery to the final round,” Kidd said, referring to the draft pick the Mavs retained – and traded for Lively – by tanking at the end of the 2022-23 season. “But we actually believed we had the pieces. Sometimes you’re taking a step back to see what you’ve got.
Even when the Mavs felt that they had found the right combination, their seven-game winning streak dropped to 1-6. They were over .500 in six games and were flirting with the play-in tournament, which might put Dallas liable to missing one other playoffs after such a promising start under Kidd.
What followed was a 16-2 run that put the Mavericks in fifth place in the West. Now they’ve won three series without home advantage and can try to repeat that. Houston, which finished sixth in 1995, is the only minor leaguer to win the championship.
“I think at one point in the season everyone thought the world was ending,” Kidd said. “But we still came to work. We were positive and everything changed for the better. I think that’s just who we are. It’s just about trust, about working and having fun at the same time.”
The Mavericks are a reflection of their coach, stoic in the face of criticism and questions from a year ago, with possibly a little vitriol thrown in when there’s a sense of, “Enough is enough.”
Kidd has long preached that it’s OK to fail, which has impressed Lively as the 20-year-old has quickly emerged as an influential player the club didn’t necessarily expect so quickly.
“He puts me in situations where he expects me to fail, and even if I fail, he leaves me there to learn,” Lively said. “He comes into the locker room and asks, what do we predict? To find a way to have a coach like that who gets the players talking, talking to one another after which saying what they think is a tremendous process.
Last year, Kidd threw an expletive at a reporter when asked about the vote of confidence he received from then-owner Mark Cuban as the season ended, essentially saying those questions weren’t asked during the 2022 West Finals.
A ten-time All-Star and second in profession assists behind only John Stockton, Kidd shrugs as he looks back on the chaos.
“You ask all the hard questions. These are difficult questions,” Kidd said. “You’re doing all of your job. As the head coach of the Mavericks, I do my job. Last year these were tough questions, tough questions that will probably be a part of this series. I’ll offer you the answer. Some people may like this. Some may not.
Either way, Kidd prolonged his contract. He did it on the heels of the first of three series wins this spring.
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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