Celtics Notes: Mazzulla, Brogdon, Vonleh, Pritchard
The circumstances that made Joe Mazzulla a head coach were unusual, but he’s showing that he’s up to the challenge, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Friday’s win at Miami gave the Celtics a 2-0 start to their regular season for the first time since Doc Rivers did it in 2009/10.
Mazzulla became the team’s interim leader after Ime Udoka was suspended for the season following an affair with a staff member. Mazzulla has adapted quickly to the job and has Boston looking like title contenders again, even after losing Robert Williams and Danilo Gallinari with injuries.
“The humility of our team is super important,” Mazzulla said. “We have eight guys that can start games and finish games. We have the ability to get different looks, and it makes us very, very good. Credit to our guys, they want to win. They understand that, and they’re willing to do what it takes. We’re grateful for that.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- The team’s commitment to defense has impressed Malcolm Brogdon, who was acquired from the Pacers in an offseason trade. “I haven’t played on a team like this where one through five, everybody that’s on the floor takes pride in the defensive end. It’s a championship characteristic for sure,” Brogdon said after Friday’s game (video link).
- Noah Vonleh had to battle for a roster spot, but he’s already making his first start tonight, notes A. Sherrod Blakely of Full Court Press. Al Horford is sitting out the second game of a back-to-back due to load management, so the Celtics turned to Vonleh, who’s enjoying the opportunity with his hometown team. “I just want to go out there, continue to help the team, bring energy,” Vonleh said, “… just keep doing the things that help get me on the floor.”
- Payton Pritchard wasn’t used in the first two games, but he remains a valuable part of the roster considering Brogdon’s history of injuries and Marcus Smart‘s reckless style, Steve Bulpett of Heavy states in a mailbag column. Pritchard is still on his rookie contract and he has been effective off the bench during his two seasons in Boston, averaging 6.9 points per game and shooting 41.2% from three-point range, so Bulpett doesn’t expect the Celtics to use him as a trade chip.
New York Notes: Rose, Quickley, Simmons, Warren
Knicks guard Derrick Rose hasn’t been happy with his performance to start the season, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Playing for the first time since December because of multiple ankle surgeries, Rose scored just four points in the season opener, but followed that with 13 points and six assists in Friday’s win over the Pistons.
“This too shall pass. This is probably the worst you see me play,” Rose said. “I don’t play pickup. I’m feeling out the games, trying not to mess up the game by being out there and being too aggressive. Just feeling out who’s out there and who is with me.”
Before the ankle issues, Rose was the team’s most reliable point guard, even though he was used primarily as a reserve. Free agent addition Jalen Brunson has solidified that position, so Rose has averaged just 14 minutes per night in his first two games.
“I’m letting (coach Tom Thibodeau) dictate that. I didn’t talk to him at all about it,” Rose said when asked about his playing time. “My job is to just be vocal and try to express what I see on the court. As far as minutes, I don’t worry about it because of the saying, ‘If you stay ready, you don’t got to get ready.’ That’s my mindset.”
There’s more NBA news from New York:
- Immanuel Quickley provided some scoring punch off the bench Friday with a team-high 20 points, Botte notes in a separate story. The Knicks‘ third-year guard remained aggressive after going scoreless in Wednesday’s opener. “It was great to see him play like that. I thought he and the rest of the bench did a terrific job. They gave us a big, big lift,” Thibodeau said. “I love when he shoots. I feel every time he shoots, particularly his threes, I think they’re all going in. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense.”
- Nets coach Steve Nash admits that Ben Simmons has been “rusty” after not playing for 16 months, but he believes patience is the best approach, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Simmons hasn’t been looking for his shot so far and has just 10 total points in the first two games.
- T.J. Warren has a medical connection with the Nets that influenced his decision in free agency, Lewis tweets. The team’s orthopedist, Dr. Martin O’Malley, performed the surgery on Warren’s foot. “There’s definitely a comfort level O’Malley being team doctor here; he’s seen everything since Day 1,” Warren said. “So it gave me a peace of mind that he’s in my corner here.”
Southeast Notes: Suggs, Martin, Bogdanovic, Leonsis
Jalen Suggs hasn’t been able to avoid injury issues since coming to the NBA, writes Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel. After being limited to 48 games as a rookie, the Magic guard suffered a capsule sprain and bone bruise in his left knee in an October 7 preseason contest, then had to leave Friday’s game with a sprained right ankle.
Suggs twisted the ankle in the third quarter after being fouled and landing awkwardly on a drive to the basket. He was able to shoot his free throws, but then hopped to the locker room with help from trainers and didn’t return. An MRI today confirmed that it’s a sprain, and Suggs’ return will depend on how he responds to treatment, the Magic tweeted.
“My heart goes out to the kid,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He’s working and continuing to battle no matter what happens. He’s continued to put the work in despite injuries. He’s doing the work with the film. He’s a resilient, tough kid. He’s going to continue to bounce back.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- The Hornets may be without Cody Martin for a while, according to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Martin sat out Friday’s game with left quad soreness after getting injured in the first quarter of the season opener. He also missed all but one preseason game while recovering from left knee tendiopathy. “Hopefully, it’s not anything that’s going to linger,” coach Steve Clifford said. “When he first went in (Wednesday’s) game … he kind of stumbled and his knee bent, the one that he’s had issues with. So it flared back up and so obviously we need to be careful with this. They had done a great job getting him back. He’s, to me, is a critical, critical player on our team and we need what he brings. But the priority right now is just to get him healthy.”
- Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic still has a way to go before returning from knee surgery, per Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Coach Nate McMillan said Bogdanovic hasn’t progressed beyond light shooting and drills, and the medical staff can’t determine how close he is to playing until they can watch him at practice.
- A group led by Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has emerged as the frontrunner to buy baseball’s Washington Nationals, report David Aldridge, Brittany Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Leonsis also owns the NHL’s Capitals and the WNBA’s Mystics.
Silver: NBA “Paying Particular Attention” To Tanking In 2022/23
Commissioner Adam Silver says the NBA is keeping a close eye on tanking this season while conceding that he understands why teams might want a better shot at landing a generational prospect like Victor Wembanyama, reports ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.
“We put teams on notice,” Silver said. “We’re going to be paying particular attention to the issue this year.”
Silver made the comments in a Q&A session with Suns employees after apologizing multiple times on behalf of the league in the wake of Robert Sarver‘s workplace misconduct. Sarver is now in the process of selling the team after facing public backlash from team sponsors and others around the NBA.
According to Holmes, Silver said tanking was a “serious issue” and the NBA has had “hundreds of meetings” to address the issue. While the bottom three teams in the standings will each only have a 14% chance each of landing the top pick after the NBA flattened the lottery odds in 2019 to disincentive intentionally losing, that might not matter for the upcoming season, and Silver acknowledged that tanking will likely occur in 2022/23.
“It’s something we have to watch for,” Silver said. “A draft is, in principle, a good system. But I get it, especially when there is a sense that a once-in-a-generation player is coming along, like we have this year.”
Silver didn’t mention the French center by name, sources present told Holmes, but stated that the league will tweak the draft as necessary.
“Teams are smarter, they are creative, and they respond — we move, they move — so we’re always looking to see whether there’s yet a better system,” Silver added.
The commissioner said the league has considered a relegation system to address tanking, which would involve demoting the bottom two teams in the standings and promoting a couple of G League teams, similar to European soccer leagues, but said it would be “destabilizing,” per Holmes.
“It would so disrupt our business model,” Silver told employees. “And even if you took two teams up from the G League, they wouldn’t be equipped to compete in the NBA.”
Addressing a question about expansion, Silver said the NBA won’t seriously consider it until it negotiates a new media rights deal in 2025, but noted that there are several cities that are strong candidates.
Community Shootaround: Detroit Pistons
After going 43-111 over the past two years, tied with the Magic for the second-worst record in the NBA over that span, the Pistons are one of the rebuilding teams hoping to take a step forward in 2022/23. General manager Troy Weaver has completely reshaped the roster since being hired on June 18, 2020, and the trade for Bojan Bogdanovic showed Detroit is serious about improving in both the short and long term.
The starting lineup features several recent first-round picks, including Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart (Bogdanovic is the fifth starter). The reserves include a couple more recent first-rounders in Killian Hayes and Jalen Duren, plus veterans Cory Joseph, Hamidou Diallo, Kevin Knox and Rodney McGruder.
Marvin Bagley III (knee), Alec Burks (wrist) and Nerlens Noel (foot) are currently sidelined with injuries, but second-year forward Isaiah Livers (hip) has been removed from the team’s injury report and could make his debut in Saturday’s game against the Pacers, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The Pistons have gotten off to a 1-1 start thus far, with a close victory over Orlando and then a blowout loss to the Knicks. Ivey and Duren, both lottery picks this year (No. 5 and No. 13) have been surprisingly effective for rookies in the early going. Ivey has averaged 18.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 6.5 APG and 1.5 SPG on .519/.375/1.000 shooting (30.5 MPG), while Duren has put up 11.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 1.5 BPG in 22 MPG.
There’s definitely talent on the roster, with Cunningham, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, headlining the group. Bogdanovic helps improve the team’s shooting, which has been a major weakness (the Pistons finished 29th in both two-point and three-point percentage last season).
Still, the East is stacked with strong teams, including (in no particular order) the Celtics, Bucks, Sixers, Raptors, Hawks, Cavs, Heat, Nets and Bulls. I liked the Knicks’ free agent additions of Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein, and the Wizards should be better than last season’s 35-win campaign if they’re healthy, so it seems like the Pistons might have a difficult time finishing better than 12th in the standings unless there is major internal development.
In our over/unders last month, 51.6% of our voters predicted the Pistons to finish with more than 28.5 wins (they finished 23-59 in ’21/22).
That brings us to our question of the day. What’s a reasonable goal for the Pistons this season? Do you think they have a shot at the play-in tournament if things go well, or is it a year too early? Would an incremental step forward, like winning 30 or so games, be considered a success?
Head to the comments section and let us know what you think.
2022/23 NBA G League Draft Results
The NBA G League held its draft for the 2022/23 season on Saturday afternoon.
The 28 G League teams affiliated with NBA franchises participated in the event, as did – for the first time – the Mexico City Capitanes. The G League Ignite, which is made up of top prospects and veteran mentors, doesn’t take part in the draft.
[RELATED: NBA G League Announces Schedule, Format For 2022/23 Season]
The first player selected in today’s G League draft was 2020 second-round pick Sam Merrill, a swingman who was in camp with the Kings this fall but missed out on earning a regular season roster spot.
Merrill’s contract with Sacramento included a partial guarantee of $150K, making him ineligible to suit up for the Kings’ G League affiliate in Stockton this season. The Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers‘ affiliate, snared him with the No. 1 overall pick.
The No. 2 pick was another player who was under contract with an NBA team up until last week. Joe Wieskamp was the odd man out in San Antonio, having been waived by the Spurs (despite having a guaranteed 2022/23 salary) to help the team get down to 15 players for the start of the season. The Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks‘ affiliate, grabbed him with the second overall selection today.
Among the other notable picks was No. 4 overall Jared Rhoden, who was selected by the Hawks‘ affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks. Atlanta claimed Rhoden off waivers near the end of the preseason in the hopes of securing his affiliate rights, but it appears he didn’t meet the criteria — the Skyhawks instead secured his G League rights in today’s draft.
The player with the most NBA experience selected in today’s draft was Norris Cole. The veteran guard, with 360 NBA regular season appearances under his belt, went 48th overall to the Grand Rapids Gold, the Nuggets‘ affiliate. Cole, who turned 34 this month, will be looking to take the same path Isaiah Thomas and Lance Stephenson did last season, making an NBA comeback after impressing in Grand Rapids.
Finally, it’s also worth noting that today’s No. 10 overall pick, Amauri Hardy, is the older brother of Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy. Dallas’ affiliate, the Texas Legends, picked him.
Here are the full 2022/23 G League draft results:
Round One:
- Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers): Sam Merrill
- Wisconsin Herd (Bucks): Joe Wieskamp
- Greensboro Swarm (Hornets): Aaron Wheeler
- College Park Skyhawks (Hawks): Jared Rhoden
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder): Jericole Hellems
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): Kadeem Jack
- College Park Skyhawks (Hawks): Terrell Brown Jr.
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder): Michael Weathers
- Texas Legends (Mavericks): Taze Moore
- Texas Legends (Mavericks): Amauri Hardy
- Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies): Ty Gordon
- Iowa Wolves (Timberwolves): Mamoudou Diarra
- Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Pacers): Abu Kigab
- Ontario Clippers (Clippers): Warith Alatishe
- Westchester Knicks (Knicks): Mayan Kiir
- Capital City Go-Go (Wizards): Theo John
- South Bay Lakers (Lakers): Nate Roberts
- Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies): Keith Williams
- Long Island Nets (Nets): Taz Sherman
- Raptors 905 (Raptors): Devon Daniels
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): Jai Smith (Overtime Elite)
- College Park Skyhawks (Hawks): Adrian Delph
- Wisconsin Herd (Bucks): Tyrn Flowers
- Windy City Bulls (Bulls): Nick King
- Ontario Clippers (Clippers): David Collins
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers): Derek Culver
- Motor City Cruise (Pistons): Ryan Turell (Yeshiva — Division III)
- Motor City Cruise (Pistons): Tom Digbeu
- Maine Celtics (Celtics): Kendall Smith
Round Two:
- Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers): Rashad Vaughn
- Mexico City Capitanes (N/A): Jassel Perez (Dominican Republic)
- Greensboro Swarm (Hornets): Tyson Jolly
- Raptors 905 (Raptors): Hasahn French
- Greensboro Swarm (Hornets): No pick
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): Landon Kirkwood
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): Justin Kier
- Iowa Wolves (Timberwolves): No pick
- Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors): Jayce Johnson
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers): No pick
- Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers): Remy Martin
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder): Noah Starkey (Southern Nazarene – Division II)
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder): Philip Flory
- Maine Celtics (Celtics): Zak Irvin
- Westchester Knicks (Knicks): Jahvon Blair
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): Brandon McCoy
- South Bay Lakers (Lakers): John Meeks
- Stockton Kings (Kings): Seth Allen
- Grand Rapids Gold (Nuggets): Norris Cole
- Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies): No pick
- Stockton Kings (Kings): Austin Trice
- College Park Skyhawks (Hawks): No pick
- Greensboro Swarm (Hornets): No pick
- Stockton Kings (Kings): Isaac Johnson
- Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz): Elijah Lufile
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers): No pick
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets): Eron Gordon
- Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors): Jack Nolan (Washington University in St. Louis – Division III)
- Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz): Armon Fletcher
Round Three:
- Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers): J.J. Moore
- College Park Skyhawks (Hawks): No pick
- Greensboro Swarm (Hornets): No pick
- Lakeland Magic (Magic): Jachai Taylor
- Lakeland Magic (Magic): No pick
- Birmingham Squadron (Pelicans): Trey McGowens
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): No pick
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder): Kevin Kangu
- Windy City Bulls (Bulls): Wayne Stewart Jr. (Texas A&M-Commerce – Division II)
- Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Pacers): No pick
- Maine Celtics (Celtics): No pick
- Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers): No pick
- Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Pacers): No pick
- Maine Celtics (Celtics): No pick
- Westchester Knicks (Knicks): Dazon Ingram
- Grand Rapids Gold (Nuggets): No pick
- Mexico City Capitanes (N/A): No pick
- Windy City Bulls (Bulls): No pick
- Long Island Nets (Nets): Alan Griffin
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): No pick
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): No pick
- College Park Skyhawks (Hawks): No pick
- Wisconsin Herd (Bucks): No pick
- Grand Rapids Gold (Nuggets): No pick
- Ontario Clippers (Clippers): No pick
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers): No pick
- Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors): No pick
- Capital City Go-Go (Wizards): Nick Hornsby
- Raptors 905 (Raptors): No pick
Teams will fill out their rosters with affiliate players, returning-rights players, tryout players, and players who are assigned to the G League from the NBA roster (including those on two-way contracts).
G League training camps open on Monday, with this year’s NBAGL Showcase Cup tournament tipping off on November 4.
Zach LaVine To Play Saturday After Missing First Two Games
Two-time All-Star Zach LaVine will make his regular season debut on Saturday against the Cavaliers after missing the Bulls‘ first two games, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
LaVine has been dealing with left knee soreness and the issue isn’t a new one — he dealt with knee problems most of last season and had arthroscopic surgery during the offseason.
Head coach Billy Donovan said that LaVine won’t have a minutes restriction, but a substantial workload is unlikely.
“There’s no minute restriction on him, but clearly the more load there is on him, you’ll have to take a look at him,” Donovan said. “There’s nothing going into the [games] where they are saying, ‘Listen, we’ve got to keep his minutes right here.’ Certainly, him playing 40 minutes or 39 or 38 isn’t the best thing.”
According to Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune, LaVine was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.
“He feels fine,” Donovan said Friday. “He was able to get work in and told me he felt good. Obviously yesterday (Thursday) was a very, very light day. He had player development guys out there guarding him, he was coming off screens, working on his ballhandling, using pick-and-rolls. He was doing his normal things. He needed a crisp workout and he was able to do that.”
After reporting to camp this fall, LaVine spoke repeatedly about how good his knee was feeling, and was able to play in three of four preseason games. However, he later stated that he and the team decided it would be best to manage the issue so he’s feeling his best at the end of the season.
LaVine, who re-signed with the Bulls on a five-year, maximum-salary deal over the summer, will be held out one game of back-to-backs for the foreseeable future, but his availability remains unclear beyond that.
“It’s hard just to go in and say, ‘OK, here’s the schedule, and here’s the games that we’re going to rest him or manage him when he’s feeling great,’” Donovan said, per Cowley. “You know if he’s feeling great, he’s obviously going to want to play, but I also think we need to be smart and [that] this is more the medical and doctors, those guys looking at, ‘OK, sometimes it’s not in that moment — it’s a cumulative effect of something happening later on.’
“There may be some times where he does feel OK and the doctors, our medical group, says, ‘OK, this is the game to rest and get yourself back.’ So I can’t tell you I’ve looked at the schedule and here are the games we know [he’ll sit].”
Central Notes: Merrill, Stewart, Duren, Williams, Jones
The Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ affiliate, hold the top pick in the upcoming NBA G League draft and guard Sam Merrill could be the top pick, Marc Stein tweets. Merrill was waived late in training camp by the Kings. He played six games for Memphis last season and 30 for Milwaukee the previous year.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart is only 21, but he’s become a mentor to the youngest player in the league, Jalen Duren, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic. It doesn’t bother Stewart that Duren might cut into his playing time. “I know this is a league where you’re fighting for positions and minutes, but that’s not something I’m worried about,” Stewart said. “I know what’s most important is being there for the young fella. I’m there for him, whatever he needs. Sometimes I’ll just start talking to him just because. I know you’re a rook, first year.’ I want him to feel and know that I’m here for him on a positive note.”
- After missing most of last season due to injury, Bulls forward Patrick Williams is struggling through the early portion of this season, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times writes. Williams is trying to determine how he can make the biggest impact for his teammates. “I’ve been talking to them about it and trying to figure it out,” he said. “I’m totally confident we will. Specifically, because of the player I know I am.”
- The Bulls waived guard Carlik Jones last week but they still want him in the organization. Their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, acquired his returning player rights in a three-team trade, according to a press release.
New York Notes: Knox, Harris, Brunson, Nash
Kevin Knox takes responsibility for his failure to establish himself with the Knicks, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post.
“I had my fair opportunity; didn’t make the best of it, unfortunately,” Knox said.
The ninth pick of the 2018 draft was traded to Atlanta last season, then signed a two-year contract in free agency with the Pistons.
“Got to move on, got to play harder, learn from it,” he said. “Learned a lot playing under (Tom Thibodeau), playing here in New York. I have to take it to my next chapter.”
We have more from the New York teams:
- Joe Harris made his season debut on Friday for the Nets, posting modest stats: three points, two rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes. He hadn’t appeared in a game since November 14 of last season due to an ankle injury. Harris was thrilled to be back, Brian Lewis of the New York Post relays. “Oh, yeah, it was amazing. The fun atmosphere, great team win. So I think it was a perfect, perfect game to come back,” he said. “Yeah, everything felt great. I was definitely a little winded, the lungs were burning. But you know, that’s to be expected.”
- Jalen Brunson hasn’t made a turnover in his first two Knicks games, Braziller notes. “He has a great understanding of the game, and I think that’s probably the most important thing,” Thibodeau said of his new point guard. “And I think how you manage and control the game is another strength. But usually, when you analyze turnovers, they fall into one of two categories. They’re either risky passes that you’re trying to thread the needle, or you’re going too much one-on-one. And he has a great feel for when to go and when to pass.”
- Nets coach Steve Nash said it wasn’t all that difficult for him to move on from this summer’s drama, which included a Kevin Durant request to the team owner that he be fired, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca tweets. “It was just that we needed to sit down at some point,” Nash said. “That was it. That’s kind of what happened. I would say our environment has been outstanding.”
Pacific Notes: Lakers, Westbrook, Fox, Silver, Suns
It’s only a two-game sample, but the Lakers’ shortcomings are already in full view, according to Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register. Their lack of perimeter shooting and depth at the wing has been noticeable in those losses. The Lakers have made just 13-of-58 3-point attempts (22.4%) in which the nearest defender is at least four feet away. The lack of wing depth was on display when they tried to guard Kawhi Leonard with a combination of Russell Westbrook and Juan Toscano-Anderson.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- The Lakers need to move on from Westbrook immediately, Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times opines, arguing that they would have defeated the Clippers if he hadn’t played or been on the roster. His poor shooting, reckless play and divisive personality will continue to prove costly on a team that otherwise looks feistier than last year’s, Plaschke adds.
- De’Aaron Fox signed a five-year extension in November 2020 and he hopes to continue his relationship with the Kings for many seasons, as he told Sam Amick of The Athletic. “I’ve never been the type of person that wants a big market,” Fox said. “(So) if I can go to a small market, and then win, those are the types of things that I feel like are more important to me. It’s being able to bring winning back to the city. That is definitely my goal.”
- Commissioner Adam Silver met with Suns employees before their game against Dallas on Wednesday and expressed regret for the misconduct of owner Robert Sarver, according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN. Sarver is now in the process of selling the team. “I’m incredibly empathetic to what many of you have lived through,” Silver said to those employees, who gathered in the lower bowl of the team’s arena hours. “To the extent that you feel let down by the league, I apologize. I take responsibility for that.”