Two weeks into the NBA's delayed and condensed season, the quality of play is erratic. Too many games in too few nights have led to weary teams, weird substitution patterns and many lopsided contests.
But, somewhat surprisingly, fans have been forgiving and the overall drama is rising.
A lockout delayed the 2011/12 season by nearly two months. Training camps were cut to two weeks and two exhibition games.
The season started on December 25 and a compressed schedule saw some teams immediately play three games in as many days.
But fans have been along for the ride from the start. Television ratings are up. All tickets were sold for 25 of the league's first 32 games, compared to 19 of the first 32 last season.
They are not witnessing the best basketball the NBA has to offer, and the inconsistent play could continue.
Jeff Van Gundy, the former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets coach, who is a television broadcast analyst, told the Los Angeles Times that ragged games might persist until the play-offs begin, in late April, predicting "a lot of disappointing nights for a lot of teams and most of it is unavoidable because of the schedule plus lack of preparation in the pre-season".
He said: "Only when the season gets to the play-offs will there be any return to normality, as far as play. Right now, you play five games in six nights and six games in eight nights and the human body can only take so much."
The players cannot complain; they signed off on the plan to play 66 games in 124 days to maximise their earnings.
Still, performances are suffering. Collectively, NBA players are making 44.1 per cent of their field goal attempts, down from the 45.9 per cent last season. They are averaging 94.7 points per game, down from 99.6.
Storylines, however, are not lacking, and fans seem eager to follow.
The Miami Heat have hit the ground running, and LeBron James seems determined to win his first championship. The Knicks are finally of interest outside New York.
The Clippers have added Chris Paul and Chauncey Billips to the reigning Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin and, for the first time, are battling the ageing Lakers for supremacy in Los Angeles.
The Dallas Mavericks, the champions, are struggling, and it remains unclear whether the San Antonio Spurs can make one last title run.
Are the Portland Trail Blazers for real? Can the Chicago Bulls beat the Heat and win a championship?
It all is unfolding quickly, and it somehow seems more interesting than a year ago.
sports@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows
Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.
Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.
The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.
After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.
The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.
The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.
But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.
It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
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Joker: Folie a Deux
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