Latest news with #Sheppard
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to ‘level up' the offense
In the recently completed 2024-25 season, the Houston Rockets (52-30) had the fourth-best record in the NBA and second-best in the Western Conference. That represented quite a climb from a 41-41 season and the West's No. 11 spot a year earlier, but it still wasn't in the top rung of contenders. So, what held them back? Advertisement Their defense was consistently rated in the league's top five, but the offense was middle of the pack. When isolated to halfcourt situations, it was often worse than that. With that in mind, when it comes to areas needing improvement in the 2025 offseason, it seems pretty clear which side of the ball could use a boost. Bleacher Report's Dan Favale writes: The Rockets are so close. Their defense is hellfire, they have plenty of depth, and unlike other contenders, there's tons of room for internal growth. Whether that internal growth will be enough to level up the offense is a separate matter. Houston ranked 22nd through both the regular season and playoffs in first-chance points scored per possession, according to PBP Stats. The rotation doesn't seem to have a shotmaker and facilitator of the future—unless the Rockets believe Reed Sheppard is that dude and are prepared to unleash him next year. Failing that, they need to work the trade market as soon as free agency begins. Though they have pathways to opening the full mid-level exception ($14.1 million), it should not come at the expense of letting Fred VanVleet (team option) sign elsewhere. The free-agency market is too barren. Star pursuits will dominate headlines. Houston should absolutely be open to one. But improvement can also come in the form of a middle-rung creator and deadeye shooter. It just has to be someone good enough to crack the playoff rotation. The notion of Houston pursuing a star on the trade market, such as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been well chronicled. The more interesting notion is a 'middle-rung creator and deadeye shooter,' and what that might look like from a rotation perspective. The Rockets had eight consistent rotation players in the 2025 playoffs between VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Steven Adams. They would also like to find more minutes in 2025-26 for Sheppard and Cam Whitmore, two talented young prospects from the first round of the previous two NBA draft cycles. Advertisement If the Rockets are to trade for a superstar, the question of rotation minutes likely resolves itself, since the Rockets would presumably be sending out as much or more than what they are take in, from a minutes perspective. But to sign or bring in a more moderate upgrade raises questions. Are there any players from the aforementioned eight-man rotation that Houston would trade or reduce minutes for? Would the Rockets further stall the development of Sheppard and Whitmore? Might they look to trade one or both of those prospects for future equity, in such as scenario? After all, if a young player doesn't play, he's unlikely to develop and his market value is likely to gradually depreciate. Or, should general manager Rafael Stone simply stay the course and bet on Houston's halfcourt offense to improve organically through the continued development of young players such as Green, Sengun, Thompson, Smith, Eason, Sheppard, and Whitmore? There is certainly a case to look externally for upgrades, but the moderate path through free agency will bring its own set of questions. Advertisement More: Podcast: Is 2025 the right time for Houston to make a superstar trade? This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to 'level up' the offense
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
One Acre Hope Project aims to help farmer, community in Helene aftermath
ELK PARK, N.C. (WJHL) — After floodwaters from Hurricane Helene washed away farmer Rudy Holden's equipment and left debris, rock, and silt behind on his eight acres of farmland, he thought his 11 years of farming were over. 'I was kind of disheartened to be honest, because half my equipment got washed away, cars trucks, all kind of debris,' Holden said. But a local church in his area is hoping to restore at least one acre of farmland for him this season while helping the community at the same time. Elk Park Christian Church pastor Jonathan Sheppard remembers hearing about Holden's farm one day during a conversation with the farmer and was impressed with his faith that 'God would provide.' 'In that conversation, he didn't ask for help, he wasn't asking for help,' Sheppard told News Channel 11. 'And something he said really struck me. He said, 'God will provide.'' Sheppard has a plan to help not only Holden but others in the community by restoring one acre and planting potatoes. He's calling it the One Acre Hope Project. 'I thought we'll buy all of the stuff that it takes to do it, and we'll pay him what he would normally make on an acre. So that way he's got some income. And then I said, we'll take this. Whatever he grows, and we'll just give it to the community,' Sheppard said. One acre of planted potatoes can yield around 120 bushels of mature potatoes. Sheppard plans to distribute the crop in half-bushel bags, helping more than 200 families. He says it's not just about flood relief, it's about food relief for an already impoverished area. 'Even before the storm, you know, there's lots of, you know, food insecurity just in this know, a lot of poverty and things like that,' Sheppard said. The church also has a community garden and served as a distribution center after the floods for months. But there are a few hurdles to overcome to make the plan work. The biggest challenge right now is finding seed potatoes, specifically Kennebec potatoes that Holden usually plants. He also needs someone to volunteer some equipment to help with the planting. 'Well, I need one certain piece of equipment to cover them, and, you know, just kind of getting them in the ground, I guess, is the main thing,' Holden said. 'It sounds like a good idea. It's a sort of a win-win situation to me. You know, if we can make it work.' The church has created a link on its website to learn more about this project. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Age
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Invisible no longer, Holden Sheppard releases blistering new book
FICTION King of Dirt Holden Sheppard Pantera Press, $34.99 Brash, bolshy and bold, Western Australia's Holden Sheppard has created a layered and pitch-perfect anti-hero in his latest work, a seasoned and confident novel that traces one of humanity's deepest yearnings: the desire to belong. Sheppard was born in the rural town of Geraldton on the state's Mid West coast, and now lives in Perth. His debut young adult novel Invisible Boys was adapted for a Stan original series this year after winning the WA Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer and being shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. His second book, The Brink (2022) won two Indie Book Awards. King of Dirt is his first novel aimed at adults, and follows Giacomo Brolo, aka Jack, whose life is a mess. He's a closeted gay alcoholic, who has been estranged from his family since his teens, and is working piecemeal construction gigs in remote WA. Jack's consumed with shame and self-loathing, but is functioning, more or less – until he gets a wedding invitation from his home town of Geraldton. Against his better judgment, Jack returns and ignites an emotional firestorm. Back home, he finds a lost love who would prefer he left the closet, and a traditional Italian family that wants him to stay firmly in. Then a fresh bombshell drops, hitting 10x on the complications scale and forcing Jack to face an impossible choice. This is a story about the hard-won recognition that to gain love and connection, other things must sometimes be lost – and that to choose such sacrifices takes both bravery and support. Like Sheppard's earlier novels, it depicts friendships and explores the concept of the found family, and is unafraid in evoking the darkness that awaits human beings continually denied love and self-expression. A raw undercurrent of longing runs through the novel: for the past, for youth and simplicity, for companionship and acceptance, both from society and the self. The scenes of Jack yearning for his teenage friendships, and for a long-gone sense of comradeship with his father, are among King of Dirt 's most powerfully realised. Sheppard continues his tradition of capitalising on the dramatic potential of ritualised milestone occasions such as hens' and bucks' nights, weddings, family dinners, Italian pasta-making rituals and Leavers/Schoolies week in The Brink.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Invisible no longer, Holden Sheppard releases blistering new book
FICTION King of Dirt Holden Sheppard Pantera Press, $34.99 Brash, bolshy and bold, Western Australia's Holden Sheppard has created a layered and pitch-perfect anti-hero in his latest work, a seasoned and confident novel that traces one of humanity's deepest yearnings: the desire to belong. Sheppard was born in the rural town of Geraldton on the state's Mid West coast, and now lives in Perth. His debut young adult novel Invisible Boys was adapted for a Stan original series this year after winning the WA Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer and being shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. His second book, The Brink (2022) won two Indie Book Awards. King of Dirt is his first novel aimed at adults, and follows Giacomo Brolo, aka Jack, whose life is a mess. He's a closeted gay alcoholic, who has been estranged from his family since his teens, and is working piecemeal construction gigs in remote WA. Jack's consumed with shame and self-loathing, but is functioning, more or less – until he gets a wedding invitation from his home town of Geraldton. Against his better judgment, Jack returns and ignites an emotional firestorm. Back home, he finds a lost love who would prefer he left the closet, and a traditional Italian family that wants him to stay firmly in. Then a fresh bombshell drops, hitting 10x on the complications scale and forcing Jack to face an impossible choice. This is a story about the hard-won recognition that to gain love and connection, other things must sometimes be lost – and that to choose such sacrifices takes both bravery and support. Like Sheppard's earlier novels, it depicts friendships and explores the concept of the found family, and is unafraid in evoking the darkness that awaits human beings continually denied love and self-expression. A raw undercurrent of longing runs through the novel: for the past, for youth and simplicity, for companionship and acceptance, both from society and the self. The scenes of Jack yearning for his teenage friendships, and for a long-gone sense of comradeship with his father, are among King of Dirt 's most powerfully realised. Sheppard continues his tradition of capitalising on the dramatic potential of ritualised milestone occasions such as hens' and bucks' nights, weddings, family dinners, Italian pasta-making rituals and Leavers/Schoolies week in The Brink.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Why I stand by my claim after fierce debate that followed it
Three weeks ago, I argued that central to any strategy must be a successful campaign to change UK constitutional law so that the prohibition on the Scottish Parliament even discussing the matter is removed. This provoked more reaction among readers of this paper than any column I've written before or since. Most of it negative, some harsh. I was variously accused of indulging in political fantasy, not having a clue, offering false hope, sowing confusion and offering an irrational analysis. Jings! A long reply concluded: 'So long as the SNP of Mr Sheppard and his ilk blind themselves to the straightforward reality of the issue and keep wittering on about the useless diversion of a never-never referendum, independence will elude us.' READ MORE: Scottish independence support at 58 per cent if Nigel Farage becomes PM – poll Now, before we go any further, I should make it abundantly clear that I speak only for myself, I do not represent the SNP. Nor do I now, or have I ever had, an ilk. Let me try to clarify why this is important. In November 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that the reservations to the 1998 Devolution Act prevented the Scottish Parliament discussing or acting on matters relating to the constitution of the UK. Unless and until that is changed, it will not be possible for the Scottish Parliament to take any action in pursuit of Scotland's independence no matter how many of its members want to do so. That is why I say the main problem is not obtaining a mandate but getting the means to implement it. Pretending this is not a problem doesn't make it go away. I'm not saying it is the only thing we should be campaigning on, just that it needs to be part of our approach. Of course, the priority must be making the arguments for independence in the first place and showing that self-government would be a better way of marshalling this country's enviable resources than having them siphoned off by Westminster. Nor am I saying that we re-run a request for Westminster to grant Holyrood the power to hold a referendum. I'm saying the law must be changed to recognise that the Scottish Parliament has the responsibility to represent the views of the people on how they should be governed. It is up to that parliament how they do it. A referendum could be one way. Or a citizens' assembly leading to legislation. Or, in some circumstances, simply demanding that the UK start negotiations on Scotland's independence. I do not for one moment think this will be an easy change, or that the UK will meekly agree to it even if a new Scottish Parliament overwhelmingly demands it. We will need a serious campaign of public education and mobilisation together with a legal and political strategy designed to apply the maximum pressure to the UK. Once next year's Scottish elections are over, the UK will move towards the 2029 Westminster election. With an unpopular government and its political classes in disarray, the British state will experience unprecedented political turbulence. We would be daft not to take advantage of it. Several correspondents have challenged the importance I put on the Supreme Court decision, arguing it does not hinder Scotland deciding to go independent. To quote one: 'UK law and constitution, for what they are worth, do not prohibit it. The Supreme Court decision said nothing about it.' This line of reasoning says the Supreme Court decision only ruled on the competence of the parliament and not the principle of self-determination of the people. I stand accused of misleading people by conflating the two. There are two points here. The first is that if the people of Scotland cannot exercise their right to self-determination by electing a representative parliament, then by what other conceivable means might they do so? The court's judgement is very much a real-world block to the exercise of the right to self-determination. But there's more. As well as ruling on the competence of Holyrood, the Supreme Court also gave an opinion on the matter of self-determination itself. This was in response to argument presented by the SNP, not the Scottish Government, who argued that the Scottish people had the right to self-determination under international law. The court cited the example of Quebec and extensively quoted the Canadian Supreme Court which denied the province's right to self-determination. It went on to say (paragraph 89) 'in our view these observations apply with equal force to the position of Scotland and the people of Scotland within the United Kingdom'. There's not a lot of ambiguity there. Changing UK constitutional law isn't the only thing that needs to be done to offer Scotland a path to independence, but it is part of it. As we ask the electorate to vote for the principle of Scotland's political independence, we must also offer a route to it. The more votes we get, the more pressure will build for constitutional change, and the sooner people will get the right to choose an independent future.
