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It’s not clear what Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker is doing, but he’s definitely doing something in a video he shared this afternoon, titled “Rushium.” The sometimes abstract clip, which is scored by Tame Impala’s “Posthumous Forgiveness,” is a minute long and depicts Parker as a pharmaceutical scientist. The end of the video displays a screen that reads, “Phase 1 Clinical Trials Begin 01/2021.”

So, it’s not clear what the video is meant to promote, but given that a lot of artists have been announcing their first post-pandemic tour dates lately, that at least feels like a possibility. The vial that Parker holds in the final shot of the video appears to read “S.R. Tour,” suggesting that Parker will be announcing tour dates in support of The Slow Rush.

Parker previously told Apple Music of “Posthumous Forgiveness,” “Wrestling with demons of the past. Something from a long time ago doesn’t add up. I was lied to! Maybe there’s a good explanation but I’ll never get to hear it, so it’s up to me to imagine what it might sound like…”

He also previously told Uproxx of The Slow Rush, “I think it would be a stretch, calling it rock music, but that’s really all I can say about it. At the end of the day, genres are genres because of the way they make people feel. Rock music is rock music because it makes people think of rock when they listen to it, not because it has guitars, drums, and bass. […] I wanted to try and use things from totally different worlds in the way that a hip-hop producer would. To be almost collage-y. Make a soundscape and build a song from there.”

Revisit our 2020 interview with Parker here.

Fresh off the successful release of his joint mixtape with Lil Durk, Voice Of The Heroes, Lil Baby is setting out on his Back Outside tour this fall, beginning September 1 in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and running through October 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Naturally, his touring partner is none other than his mixtape collaborator Lil Durk. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 25 at 10 AM local time on LiveNation.com. Citicard members will have early access beginning Tuesday, June 22 at 10 AM through Thursday, June 24 at 10 PM.

9/01 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
9/03 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
9/10 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
9/11 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
9/14 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
9/15 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
9/16 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
9/17 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
9/20 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
9/22 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
9/23 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
9/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
9/25 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
9/27 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre
9/28 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
9/30 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
10/04 – Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Arena
10/06 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
10/09 – Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake
10/10 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
10/14 – Tampa, FL @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/15 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iThink Financial Amphitheatre

The pandemic shut down a lot of festivals in 2020 and 2021, but it was especially unfortunate to see newcomer event Just Like Heaven not get to keep up the momentum it built with its inaugural 2019 event. Now, though, the one-day Goldenvoice festival is finally returning for its second year, on May 21, 2022 at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Next year’s lineup will be led by Interpol, Modest Mouse, The Shins, and M.I.A. The full lineup, in alphabetical order, consists of !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Bloc Party, Chromeo, Cut Copy, Franz Ferdinand, Geographer, The Go! Team, The Hives, Islands, Kele Okereke (DJ set), The Cribs, Interpol, M.I.A., Modest Mouse, Peaches, Santigold, The Shins, The Raveonettes, Them Jeans and More Cinespace DJs, Wolf Parade, and Yelle.

Interpol’s Paul Banks shared a statement about the festival, noting that it will mark the band’s post-pandemic return to Los Angeles: “Interpol is overjoyed to announce we will be performing at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, headlining Just Like Heaven 2022. It’s an incredible line up of artists, we couldn’t think of a better way to be returning to LA!”

Meanwhile, it’s a big day for fans of The Shins: Aside from this news, it was also revealed today that the group’s 2001 album Oh, Inverted World just charted on the Billboard 200 for the first time thanks to a recent 20th anniversary reissue.

After Roma won three Academy Awards in 2019, legendary director Steven Spielberg made a very public move to prevent Netflix from competing at the Oscars ever again. It was one of the more high profile clashes in the ongoing streaming wars, which is why it’s very surprising to learn that Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment has entered into a game-changing deal that will see Amblin produce two movies a year for Netflix for the foreseeable future. Spielberg directing some of the films is reportedly in the mix.

According to Variety, the deal was hashed out by Netflix’s Head of Original Films, Scott Stuber, who had a relationship with Spielberg during his time at Universal. A theatrical release for the Amblin films is also on the table, but will be reviewed on a “case-by-case” basis:

“At Amblin, storytelling will forever be at the center of everything we do, and from the minute Ted [Sarandos] and I started discussing a partnership, it was abundantly clear that we had an amazing opportunity to tell new stories together and reach audiences in new ways,” Spielberg said in a statement. “This new avenue for our films, alongside the stories we continue to tell with our longtime family at Universal and our other partners, will be incredibly fulfilling for me personally since we get to embark on it together with Ted, and I can’t wait to get started with him, Scott, and the entire Netflix team.”

The Netflix deal is also significant because, for a while, it seemed like Spielberg was forming a close bond with Apple TV. Whether that relationship will continue going forward will be interesting to watch.

(Via Variety)

A story out of Moore, Oklahoma shows the power of what can happen when people look out for strangers in their communities and take action.

Michael Lynn was running some errands on June 15 on a hot Oklahoma day when he noticed a shirtless young man walking down the side of a service road. Sensing that the man needed some assistance he pulled up beside him and asked if he needed a ride.

The young man, Donte Franklin, 20, replied, “Yes, sir!”

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Donte was doing his daily, eight-mile walk to the Buffalo Wild Wings on the other side of town where he works as a chef. After his shift, he does the same long, eight-mile walk back home. To make it to work on time, Donte has to leave the house three hours before his shift starts.

He walks an average of five and a half hours a day to and from work.

And yet, “I haven’t missed a shift at all,” Donte told Fox News, adding that he’s never been late.

Fundraiser started for Oklahoma man who walks 17 miles for work

www.youtube.com

“I’m like man he’s walking a long way,” Michael said.

Donte got into the car and they had a nice chat about Donte’s life on the way to the Buffalo Wild Wings. When the two arrived, Donte pulled a clean Buffalo Wild Wings shirt out of his backpack and was ready to get cookin’.

Michael found out that Donte didn’t have any cash to get a bite to eat so he gave him $20.

He was so impressed by Donte’s work ethic that he shared a post about him on Facebook that went viral.

“I’m thinking this young man is truly on a mission to survive!” Michael wrote. “During the trip over there he told me a lot about himself because I asked … I just want to wish him well … may God bless him and I hope his days get better for him!”

The post inspired Michael to start a GoFundMe page to raise some money for Donte to get a car. In just five days, the fundraiser has raised over $27,000.

“I can really help my family with this,” said Donte, “It’s just a really good blessing.”

But before Donte buys a new car, he needs to get his driver’s license. To help him out while he waits, a local bicycle club has given him a bike that he can ride to work every day.

When asked where he gets his strength, Donte told Fox News that his mother is his greatest inspiration. Unfortunately, she passed away when he was a teenager.

“She passed away when I was 16-years-old. She had Hepatitis C. After she passed away it’s just been hard for me,” he explained.

via Michael Lynn / Facebook

The story highlights what can happen when one stranger offers help to another. “If it can make just one person go help someone else that’s all that matters,” Michael said.

Now, the chance encounter has resulted in a beautiful friendship. “I think we need to keep each other,” Michael said, hugging Donte. “I love this guy like my own.”

Donte is studying to be a welder and in addition to getting a car, hopes to use the GoFundme money to help his family.

Every so often, a once-in-a-generation athlete appears on the scene, and we’ve just witnessed one of those athletes fly through the Olympic trials and emerge as the fastest woman in the U.S.

21-year-old Sha’carri Richardson is only five feet one-inch tall, and she ran the 100-meter dash against a headwind in only 10.86 seconds, handily beating out the other nine runners on the track.

REMEMBER THE NAME.

Let us introduce you to the newest member of the U.S. Olympic Team: Sha’Carri Richardson.… https://t.co/2YgXRMSll7

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)
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It wasn’t just the win that has people talking. It was how she pulled ahead in the final half of the sprint. It was how she pointed to the clock in the final 30 meters of the semifinal heat, knowing she was dominating the field. It’s the visual flair—the flaming orange hair, huge eyelashes, and long, bejeweled nails. And it was her rush to the stands to bury her face into her beloved grandmother’s lap after her final heat win.

Richardson had been a teenage track star, taking home multiple national titles during her high school years. After a year running collegiate track at LSU, she decided to go professional. She knows she’s good, and she wants the world to know that she knows.

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“I just want the world to know that I’m that girl,” she told NBC Sports after the semifinal run. “Every time I step on the track, I’m going to try to do what it is that me, my coach (and) my support team believe I can do, and (with) the talent that God blessed me to have.”

She finished the semifinal heat with a time of 10.64 seconds, pointing to the time clock in the final stretch. Since it was aided with a tailwind, it doesn’t count toward her personal best (which currently stands at 10.72 seconds, making her the second-fastest woman in the world, only behind Jamaica’s Shelly Ann Fraser-Price). But the flourish counts for something.

PeriodT. https://t.co/F7zAhLOwBk

— stas (@AstasiaWill)
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Iconic. @itskerrii https://t.co/uUYQudw5SJ

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)
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“When you stand five feet one-inch tall, you get told your entire life what you can and cannot do,” the announcer said in the lead-up to the final Olympic trial. “That chip on her shoulder is because every time she’s been told that. She’s been able to overcome those odds and get it done.”

In a post-race interview, Richardson talked about how much her family and coach’s support means to her.

“My grandmother is my heart,” Richardson said after the race. “My grandmother is my superwoman, so to be able to have her here for the biggest meet in my life and being able to cross the finish line and run up the steps knowing I’m an Olympian now is just so amazing.”

This ❤️

Sha’Carri Richardson embraces her family after qualifying for her first Olympic Games.… https://t.co/AI2LUvYEde

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf)
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She revealed in a television interview after returning to the track that she had found out her biological mother had passed away the week before. In praising her family and coach, Richardson began to choke up.

“Nobody knows what I go through,” she said. “Everybody has struggles and I understand that. Y’all see me on this track and y’all see the poker face that I put on, but nobody but them and my coach knows what I go through on a day-to-day basis. And I’m highly grateful to them. Without them, there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’carri Richardson. My family is my everything. My everything, until the day I’m done.”

Watch the final heat and post-race interview here:

Sha’Carri Richardson, now America’s fastest woman, scorches her Olympic Trials final | NBC Sports

www.youtube.com

Back on January 22 (a few months after the failed January 6 MAGA coup), Roger Stone penned a scathing op-ed, in which he tore into Donald Trump’s pardon of Steve Bannon for his defrauding of Trump supporters. Bannon had allegedly embezzled donations to help Trump build that “big, beautiful” U.S.-Mexico border wall, and Stone was incensed that Trump was cool with letting his guy off the hook. Did Stone’s saltiness have a defensive air to it as well? Perhaps, because although Trump commuted Stone’s own seven-felony sentence, there may have been some jealousy and cross-pollination behind Stone’s anger.

The political strategist and Nixon fanboy who helped Trump get elected remained loyal to Trump throughout his presidential tenure and even held a MAGA rally a week before January 6. And as it turns out, members of Congress like Josh Hawley (who appeared to be quite concerned over cell phone records) aren’t the only ones who should possibly worry about what the feds uncover about the planning that led up to January 6. LA Times legal affairs columnist Harry Litman appeared on MSNBC on Sunday to discuss how Stone is reportedly under investigation by the Department of Justice.

Via Raw Story, here’s part of what Litman said about the alleged involvement of Stone and Alex Jones:

“They were not just there. They made really incendiary comments and, look, we already do have a conspiracy — nine people have been charged so anyone, including Stone, Jones, [Ali] Alexander who adopted that unlawful purpose and did any overt act would be guilty of conspiracy. In the case of a Stone, we know from previous conduct that the [Justice] Department isn’t spoiling generally to go after him and former Trump people, but the paramount goal here is to really leave, forgive the expression, no stone unturned with respect to Jan. 6.”

Litman added that the DOJ is keen to piece together exactly how MAGA followers “were radicalized” into believing the “Stop The Steal” propaganda. Given that Stone’s been pushing Stop The Steal disinformation since the 2016 election (while possibly anticipating a Trump loss against Hillary Clinton) alongside Steve Bannon, well, Stone should probably be very worried. And that’s even more reason to explain why he was so irritated about Bannon’s pardon (because Stone obviously won’t be getting one from Trump if this DOJ effort comes to shove against Stone).

(Via Raw Story)

Fans have known for a little bit now that Lorde’s next album is titled Solar Power and that it’s on the way in the not-so-distant future. Now, we have some more concrete info: Today, Lorde shared the Solar Power tracklist and confirmed the album will be released on August 20.

Lorde says of Solar Power, “The album is a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors. In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learned to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through.”

Another interesting note from the announcement is a new physical release format for the album, dubbed the “Music Box.” Described as “a first-of-its kind, discless format” and “an alternative to a CD,” it “will contain extra visual content, handwritten notes, exclusive photos, and a download card. The card will give purchasers a high-quality download of the music, two exclusive bonus tracks, and access to some special surprises along the way.”

Lorde said of the format, “I decided early on in the process of making this album that I also wanted to create an environmentally kind, forward-thinking alternative to the CD. I wanted this Music Box product to be similar in size, shape and price to a CD, to live alongside it in a retail environment, but be something which stands apart and that’s committed to the evolving nature of a modern album.”

Check out the Solar Power tracklist and Lorde’s upcoming tour dates below.

1. “The Path”
2. “Solar Power”
3. “California”
4. “Stoned In The Nail Salon”
5. “Fallen Fruit”
6. “Secrets From A Girl (Who’s Seen It All)”
7. “The Man With An Axe”
8. “Dominoes”
9. “Big Star”
10. “Leader Of A New Regime”
11. “Mood Ring”
12. “Oceanic Feeling”

02/26/2022 — Christchurch, NZ @ Electric Avenue Festival
02/27/2022 — Upper Moutere, NZ @ Neudorf Vineyards
03/01/2022 — Wellington, NZ @ Days Bay
03/02/2022 — Havelock North, NZ @ Black Barn Vineyards
03/04/2022 — New Plymouth, NZ @ Bowl of Brooklands
03/05/2022 — Auckland, NZ @ Outerfields
03/10/2022 — Brisbane, AU @ Riverstage
03/12/2022 — Melbourne, AU @ SMMB
03/15/2022 — Sydney, AU @ Aware Super Theatre
03/19/2022 — Perth, AU @ Belvoir Amphitheater
04/03/2022 — Nashville, TN @ Opry House
04/05/2022 — Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre
04/07/2022 — Montreal, QC @ Salle Willfrid Pelletier
04/08/2022 — Toronto, ON @ Meridian Hall
04/12/2022 — Boston, MA @ Boch Center – Wang Theatre
04/15/2022 — Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
04/16/2022 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
04/18/2022 — New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
04/20/2022 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
04/22/2022 — Chicago, IL @ The Chicago Theatre
04/25/2022 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory
04/27/2022 — Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
04/30/2022 — Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theatre
05/01/2022 — Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds
05/03/2022 — San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
05/05/2022 — Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Auditorium
05/07/2022 — Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
05/25/2022 — Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy
05/26/2022 — Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall
05/28/2022 — Manchester, UK @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
05/30/2022 — Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
06/01/2022 — London, UK @ Roundhouse
06/02/2022 — London, UK @ Roundhouse
06/07/2022 — Paris, FR @ Casino de Paris
06/08/2022 — Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
06/10/2022 — Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/13/2022 — Zurich, CH @ Halle 622
06/14/2022 — Munich, DE @ Zenith
06/16/2022 — Rome, IT @ Cavea – Auditorium Parco della Musica
06/17/2022 — Villafranca di Verona, IT @ Castello di Villafranca
06/18/2022 — Sibenik, HR @ Saint Mihovil Fortress
06/21/2022 — Cologne, DE @ Open Air am Tanzbrunnen
06/23/2022 — Berlin, DE @ Verti Music Hall

Solar Power is out 8/20 via Republic. Pre-order it here.

As video games have advanced over the years, and technology improved, one aspect of gaming has dominated the future and it’s online multiplayer. All the biggest titles today like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto all feature some kind of online multiplayer. However, while online multiplayer is definitely fun, it misses a part of gaming that really can’t be replicated: Couch co-op and in-person party games. Yes, we’ve all played a round of Among Us and screamed at each other on discord, or done raids in Final Fantasy XIV until the early morning, but there’s a certain joy to screwing over a friend and seeing their reaction in person or working together as a team and overcoming an obstacle on the couch together. It’s an aspect of gaming that’s sorely missing today.

There are still games out there though that create these feelings. More often than not they’re party games, video games designed to bring a group of people together and have some fun. Party games don’t have to be the most well-designed games, and sometimes they can even be intentionally infuriating, but they are always at their best when a group of friends is in the same room together. These are some of the best party games that are currently available.

Mario Party

The most classic and well-known party games. Everyone has played Mario Party at some point in their life. The concept of it is so simple. Take four players, put them on a board, and try to collect stars. Whoever has the most stars at the end of the game wins. Where Mario Party shines of course is the wackiness that occurs throughout the board and the pure rage that takes place during those matches. Players can make each other mad, stealing stars, using items to mess up your friend’s strategy, or just being a general menace. However, that’s just one aspect of Mario Party. The game itself is designed to fight the player in every way. Negative spaces, moments that will take away stars and give it to other players, and general chaos can reign at any moment. There’s a reason it’s known as the game made to be mad at your friends.

Jackbox Party Pack

The Jackbox Party Pack is a literal party game. While it’s certainly possible to play it with two or three people, the Party Pack is at its best with groups above five. Only one person needs to own the game, and the only thing necessary for everyone to have is their phone and access to a web browser. There’s a variety of games from trivia, drawing, or weirdly competitive. While some packs are better than others, everyone will surely find a favorite to play with their specific group of friends. The large variety across seven different packs has made it a must-have for any party host.

Castle Crashers

An oldie but a goodie. Castle Crashers gained fame as one of the early indie titles on Xbox Arcade to breakout. Up to four players can go on an adventure to rescue multiple princesses and defeat their kidnapper the evil wizard. Along the path, the player will gain animal companions, fight bizarre monsters, and upgrade their knight. Compete with each other for the princesses’ love at the end of stages and try to earn more money than the rest, or just work together to get to the end. While Castle Crashers can be played online, it is best experienced sitting aside each other with a group of friends. The main story typically takes a little over seven hours, so it probably won’t be beaten in one sitting, but if you want to be thrown back to high school gaming sessions all night long then this is the title for you..

Super Smash Bros.

The greatest crossover series in the history of video games. Super Smash Bros. is still going strong and the roster of characters is unspeakably large at this point. 80+ characters are available when including DLC and they range from some of Nintendo’s greatest IPs like Mario to Ken from Street Fighter. What started as a Nintendo crossover has grown to just video games as a whole. Anyone can find someone to play in Smash Bros. and what’s great about it is the competition level of matches really depends on the group. Want to be serious? Turn off all the items and put your skills to the test. Just trying to have a good time? Leave everything on and let chaos rain down from the heavens. It’s going to be a fun time no matter what.

Warioware

The Mario anti-hero may be most famous for being a selfish treasure hunter, but his series of minigame collections are some of the best out there. They’re wacky, energetic, and going to make everyone laugh at some point. Warioware isn’t the best for all-night gaming sessions, but for a quick fun time, there may be nothing better. This is another game that succeeds thanks to the variety in it and if there is one thing Warioware is known for it’s an absurd amount of minigames. Their minigames are unashamedly weird and it’s a huge part of why the series is beloved.

Fortune Street

What’s the worst part about Monopoly? It’s how long every match takes to reach a winner. What if you could have Monopoly but shorter? Well, that’s what Fortune Street is. This series actually first started all the way back in 1991, but it wasn’t released in the United States until 2007. Developed by Square Enix, they’re kind of a weird Mario/Dragon Quest crossover. Similar to Mario Party, everyone plays on themed boards, but unlike Mario Party, the gameplay itself is more similar to Monopoly with the goal of each playing being to collect properties.

Dokapon Kingdom

If Mario Party is a game about getting mad at your friends then the Dokapon Kingdom exists to end those friendships. Dokapon Kingdom, made by Atlus, is notorious for being the party game full of the most rage-inducing moments of any series. The concept of the game is pretty simple. Take your hero and save as many towns from monsters as possible. Collect the most towns, and money, to reach the end to win the game. However, there are two different ways to play. Players can either play custom games with each other that have a set time limit or the story mode. The story mode is 20 to 30 hours on it’s own and that’s if each player is playing as efficiently as possible. This should only be attempted by friends with bonds so strong that someone stealing every single town you own, killing you, and then changing your name to butts will not lead to a broken controller. Of course, that’s if the game itself doesn’t decide you’re playing too well and let a monster get a cheap 1-hit KO on you thus leading to you losing all your items. This game is brutal, but with the right group it can be a really fun marathon to keep your Friday nights entertaining for a month if not longer.

On Monday, the USA Basketball women’s roster was announced, headlined by longtime legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, with an All-Star cast around them of both veterans and newcomers.

The men’s squad is still taking shape, as commitments from stars have been steadily trickling in for the last week, starting with Damian Lillard and Draymond Green and continuing to now include Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. Two more NBA stars made their commitments to the USA Basketball men’s roster on Monday, as Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat will join as a much needed big man on a roster currently with just one in Draymond, and James Harden has committed in a bit of a shocker given his hamstring injury, per Shams Charania.

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1407029773268885514

Harden said he was dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain when he returned to the Nets lineup for Games 5-7 of their conference semis loss to Milwaukee, and given the fickle nature of hamstring injuries a good chunk of time off figured to be a good thing for Harden this summer. However, he chose to join Kevin Durant on the USA roster in what is suddenly a loaded backcourt based on the current commits. The frontcourt remains a bit of a question mark, but Adebayo’s presence will bolster that in a big way and one would expect them to be focus their efforts on rounding out a few more bigs at the 4 and 5 spots in the coming week-plus.