Smack / Jan 23, 2008 / 5:25 am

They Shootin’! They Shootin’!

IMAGE DESCRIPTIONRaja Bell (Photo. Brandon Sullivan)

The Suns are rolling right now. Since last week’s loss to the Clips, when they got fricasseed by Sam Cassell, Phoenix has run off four straight W’s: they pieced the Lakers on national TV, smacked the Wolves and Nets with little trouble, and last night mounted a fourth-quarter comeback to take down an inspired Milwaukee team. Good game overall, and we can even forgive the Bucks announcers (including color guy Scott Williams of the Jordan-era Bulls) for being a little over-the-top in their homer-ism; their team generally stinks, and yesterday they came close to knocking off one of the best teams in the League … The Bucks led well into the fourth quarter before blowing it. At the end of the third, they had all the momentum going their way, and when Bobby Simmons hit a 3/4-court shot right after the buzzer, the crowd exploded and it just seemed like Milwaukee’s day. But you can’t leave Phoenix’s shooters open and expect to win, which is what ultimately killed the Bucks. With two minutes to go and Milwaukee down by four, they left Steve Nash (37 pts, 10 asts) all by himself at the top of the key to knock down the triple that pretty much iced it … Nash hit five threes on the night, while Raja Bell — who Williams called “a little pirate” for some reason — had four treys on his way to 19 points … The Andrew Bogut vs. Amare Stoudemire matchup was basically a push. Bogut put up 19 points, 13 boards and 4 assists, while STAT went for 19 points, 12 boards and 3 blocks … During the Bucks’ broadcast they did an “Announcer Swap,” basically meaning Suns’ color guy Eddie Johnson sat in with the Milwaukee crew for a few minutes. Reminiscing on EJ’s career, the subject of his jumper (which was water) came up, to which Eddie said, “I still have it. Unfortunately, I can’t run.” … Worst nickname of the night next to Raja’s: the Bucks’ play-by-play guy called Jake Voskuhl “Body By Jake.” Try again … The Bucks had a contest where, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, a fan chooses one Milwaukee player, and if that player scores the team’s first basket of the quarter, the fan wins a TV. The fan last night picked Charlie Bell, and about 4 seconds into the fourth, Bell stepped up and knocked down a three. Not for nothing, though, why wouldn’t you pick Michael Redd? He had 28 points last night … You want two teams headed in different directions? Try the Kings and the Nets. Going into last night’s game, Sacto had won five of its last seven (including a huge road win in Detroit), while Jersey had dropped five straight (including ugly L’s to Portland and Phoenix). And last night it got even uglier for J-Kidd’s squad, as they got ran through, 128-94 … Huge fantasy stat line for Ron Artest: 27 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, 5 steals, 1 block. When Ron-Ron isn’t doing his “The Offense Stops As Soon As I Get the Ball” routine and his jumper is falling, he makes the Kings a very dangerous offensive team. The problems arise when he throws everything out of whack by jacking fadeaway threes with 18 seconds left on the shot clock … Last night Artest was part of a super-balanced Kings’ attack. Mike Bibby, K-Mart, Artest and Brad Miller all put up between 10 and 14 field goals apiece. Not to mention Mikki Moore, Francisco Garcia and Beno Udrih all scored in double figures … At this point, the Nets’ front office really needs to look at this group they’ve assembled and ask if it’s a legit contender. Is it time to break up the Big Three? You’re paying those guys (especially Vince) too much money to settle for mediocrity … This year marks the 15th anniversary of the passing of one of the all-time great Nets, Drazen Petrovic. Yesterday’s Sacramento Bee had a tremendous story about Petro, who some people say was the best European player ever. But as one of our readers said, Arvydas Sabonis could also lay claim to that crown. Amar pointed out that if Sabonis had come to the NBA back when he was drafted instead of staying in Europe for another decade, “Sabonis would have had two major impacts on the NBA game. The evolution of the big man would have happened sooner (with guys like Dirk and so forth being center height, but having SF skills and SG range), because Sabonis had legit three range and great passing skills. And secondly, the Blazers would have been too amazing in the late ’80s and early ’90s to the point that Jordan’s Bulls possibly could have ended up with ZERO rings until ‘97-98.” … If you haven’t heard, this year’s Dunk Contest field is set: Dwight Howard, Gerald Green, Rudy Gay and Jamario Moon. We broke down the contestants HERE, which sparked a conversation about All-Star Weekend and sparked this from reader Gee: “I am still one who would love to see an AND 1 vs. All-Star Snub game. Like, your players who got snubbed, let them come and get down with AND 1. I know the L wouldn’t do this ’cause, (1) they got to save face, and (2) a lot of League dudes ain’t trying to be embarrassed or possibly lose to AND 1.” Yeah, we’re sure a squad with a possible starting five of Deron Williams, Ray Allen, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson and Chris Kaman — not to mention Tyson Chandler, Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Michael Redd and Jamaal Tinsley coming off the bench — would be worried about The Professor, Go Get It and Helicopter. Seriously, by how much would that team slaughter Team AND 1? Forty? Fifty? A hundred? … We’re out like Body By Jake …

47 Responses to “They Shootin’! They Shootin’!”

  1. the_don_mega says:

    “THE GREATEST EUROPEAN PLAYER EVER”

    …i’d luv to see sumthin’ on DIME regarding this… the arguement regarding Sabonis is pretty much legit… i’d bet that Dirk wouldn’t have been able to lace Sabonis’ shoes in his prime…

  2. Str8baller says:

    Team And1 would be KILLLLLLLLLED. Tyson Chandler would dunk on those 6′6″ centers at will.Go Get It would be renamed Just Got Dunked. The guard battle would be even more tragic. They would post up The Professor’s little midget ass all night long. As much as we like And 1 and all that, but it wouldn’t be fair. THEY CAN’T KEEP UP.

    I had the pleasure of watching both Petrovic and Sabonis and I tell you.. those Euros could play. Sabonis could knock down 3’s and before his surgeries he had mad bounce for a man that tall. Ask The Admiral how many times he got dunked on by him. And Petrovic was a scoring machine. Think a White Ray Ray. I saw him at the Barcelona Olympics and boy, could he shoot. His team gave the Dream Team some problems.

  3. Str8baller says:

    Just imagine Petrovic runnin with Steve Nash. He would just fire at will like Barbosa. That would be illegal. Homeboy would shatter 3 point records.

    My 2 cents

  4. Tux says:

    *putting on my best Chris Tucker voice*

    Gee, ‘you got knocked the fugg out’ by the Smack Gods. Myrie is still The Don and you still Luca Brasi baby…

  5. williams says:

    Str8baller..

    for someone who is old enough to have seen petrovic at the Barcelona olympics, dont you think its time to stop the “first” and “second” comment bullshit? no-one cares..

  6. Bron42 aka Remember Where You Heard it First says:

    Team AND1 would get murdered, although they’d have a few highlights of their own. Helicopter would get his usual fast break between the legs yadda yadda but once it came down to winnin and losin the League would shut it down. would bring some excitement to new orleans.

    Petro was better than sabonis. sabonis was ahead of his time as a big man, but petro was ahead of his time period. givin jordan and magic buckts with that same behind the back intro a crossover move. And to think the blazers were gonna let him rott before givin him to the nets.

    This dunk contest could be really sick or get real ugly really quick. Reminds me of the year josh smith won it. You got moon takin the place of chris andersen (tall skinny guy who got ups but isnt really a contest dunker), Rudy Gay takin Jr smiths place (athletic as hell but will miss a few attempts) Dwight will be like amare with more hops (big guy who can get creative but wont get credit since hes 6′10, with gerald green takin it home in the role of josh smith (doin basic dunks but gettin so high you cant really argue)..

    whats the rookie soph game gonna look like this year? did enough rookies even stand out to make a team? or are we gonna have the 35+ year old rookies vs the 22 year old sophs. just let brandan wright play so his jersey actually gets some dust on it this season

  7. Bron42 aka Remember Where You Heard it First says:

    williams has a point, cuz str8baller is like dad age actin like a 12 year old…so somethin aint right

  8. Str8baller says:

    FYI

    The Str8baller is not that old. The Str8baller was a kid at the 92 Olympics. The Str8baller just turned 32 so he’s still a young’n. As far as first and second B.S. GTFOH and STFU Bitchez… Worry about your own ish.

  9. QQ says:

    Kings torching the Net’s ass shouldn’t come as a surprise. Seeing how mediocre that pathetic club is (except Kidd; ya’ll can’t touch that dude), lower tier teams would actually love to see the Nets in their schedule.

    Trade Carter!!!

  10. Sith Lord 24 says:

    And while everyone is bs’n, Reggie Theus should win coach of the year. No one expected the Kings to win over 25 games this year with their roster and injuries in the West.

  11. GEE ...Go and get ya money lil' shoebox boi says:

    DIME indeed AND 1 would no doubt more than likely lose. I still think it would be exciting and that some NBA players would get served like they have been served in the past (see Jerry Stackhouse and Mike James). Then to it’s not like NBA players who have went to Rucker and played with AND 1 at different times have just went out and dominated all the time either.

    As far as them getting blown out, well yea if you talking about posting up and as someone referenced before cause of the height issue.

    There is still this thought in my mind that if it is just fun and helter skelter and minimum D being played and they are just running. AND 1 would stand a chance. Plus if they play AND 1 style you only talking a first and second half instead of 4 quarters and like I said, NBA style sure a 40 point blow out, AND 1 style of just running then, they (AND 1 ) could possibly eek one out.

    That is just GEE though.

    LOL and Tux I will just go the way of negative press is still press baby.

    Ok it’s less than a month now for some trades to go down, and between McGrady, Sam-I-Am and Damon S. I am looking for something at some point to go down.

    Oh yea and if they do let Howard get that rim raised to 12 it’s a wrap unless and this would be insane and probably not possible, one of the others got a dunk at 12 too considering they are smaller.

    I enjoy that whole skills competition I just wish it was longer or had more people in it.

    I really think, if the NBA will allow him too, Tracy will give up his spot this year and that will let CP in.

    N.O. is getting all the love this year, the college football championship, not to mention Sugar Bowl (wich they get regardless) and now the All-Star game.

    Sometimes it sucks to be in a state where they don’t have any ish lol. Can’t wait for stuff to come back to ATL.

    The NBA really should give Vegas a team, lol and call the team the gamblers.

    I am out like Robert Reid bustin a 3 from deep back in the day.

  12. Jason Kidd says:

    Man, Steve Nash ain’t shit. I could get 37, 10 and 4 if I wanted…

  13. Top Gun says:

    And1 is more style than anything and since NBA players only care about the 2 points rather than a flashy dunk, they would be killing And1.

    And Bron42, that’s the worst comparisson of dunkers since every year there’s going ot be someone who’s tall and skinny and someone else whose going to pull off basic dunks.

    And of all people you chose to compare Chris Anderson to Jamario Moon. I don’t know if you remember but Chris Anderson missed a lot of dunks and also had basic dunks. Rudy Gay dunks with power, wereas JR Smith had style in his dunks. Come on now fool.

  14. Bron42 aka global-4A-reason says:

    Str8, in the words of owen wilson in wedding crashers “we’re not really kids anymore” firs, 32 does not count as “youn’n”. your one bad job away from a mid life crisis so calm ya ass down. second, 32 is still old a hell to be all excited about bein first on a internet blog. third, if your gonna mke comments that people can comment on, anything you say is “mindin our own ish”. so why dont you grow the fuck up and stick to ya walmart desk job instead of jumpin on here mad early just tryin to be first like u win a cookie for it

    I kno its just Gee bein Gee but they aint gonna let Dwight raise the rim, he asked last year and they said no. He’ll probably do his kiss the rim dunk and let the judges kno ahead of time so they dont think he just jumped and dunked it. And when ya think about it, hes not THAT much bigger than the other guys who are all 6′8+

  15. Brown says:

    The Nets should blow it up. Trade Kidd and Carter while they can still get something reasonable for them, and keep RJ because he’s young and has been balling out of his mind this year. I don’t see him as a guy you can build a team around, but he’d be a big part of a solid core with whoever they decide to pair him up with. Kidd and Carter should be able to get them at least a talented young player each along with a couple of draft picks.

  16. williams says:

    Str8baller calm down homie im just saying…

    if you want to be taken seriously, especially on dime where i have to admit there is a lot of intelligent and articulate dudes, writing “first” on every post, using lame internet abbreviations and now referring to yourself in the third person…probably isnt the best way to go about it.

    And i would love to see that AND1/All-Star game just to watch Professor get abused by B-Roy or Deron every time.

  17. Str8baller says:

    Bron Faggot for no reason…

    I’m in thus no Walmarts, K-Marts, etc. Get your facts str8 B.

    Also, if I wanna write first everyday for the rest of my life, WHO THE EFF are you to tell me not to. Man, for real man. I’m in Barcelona son. As in Barcelona, SPAIN - Europe. So go back to nickel and dime’n to make ends meet partna.

    42 years old and still with hoop dreams. Yeah I can’t jump or shoot but I can blog the ish outta people.

  18. str8baller says:

    Just wanna tell everybody that someone is impersonating the REAL STR8BALLER. Bro, it ain’t cool son. For real, get your own name and if u wanna say first, second or third do it under your OWN name.

    I’m out like punks tryin to use name.

  19. Jason Kidd says:

    Str8

    Never give up the dream. I’m in my mid-thirties and can’t shoot either, but I still got a job

    Brown

    You can get young players and draft picks for me, but who in they right mind would trade FOR Vince, I mean, apart from the Knicks.

    Bron42

    Whatchu mean we don’t get a cookie?

  20. Sho-Nuff says:

    What did Stackhouse have to prove? What did Vince have to prove? Mike James?

    Nothing. They HAVE what those AND1 cats ASPIRE to get. A multi year seven figure deal. (look at Skip 5 years $30 mill) Yeah some of those AND1 cats make $75K-$100K, but look at what happened this summer, they bit the hand that feeds them and get no pub for their tour (ball4real), they had good sponsors but NO pub whatsoever.

    AND1 still got the pub.

    AND1 would get murdered. It would be like Main Even playing in the league. Who can he guard as a 6′4″ PF? Who is he dunking on? EVERYONE in the league has mad hops (well not everyone,but you get my point), why, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE LEAGUE!

    AO had a tryout, Spyda ( and I like him ) is 5′10″. Nothing.

    Heads need to stop giving those AND1 dudes so much props as ballers vs. compared to the league. They would trade places with NBA players in a heart beat.

  21. doc says:

    The NBA could make a roster of 12th men and trash And 1. Sabonis is NOT better than Jordan so cut the Mike would have no chips until 98 if Sabonis played bullshit yall playin yaself.

  22. Bron42 aka Remeber Where You Heard it First says:

    lol 42 years old, thats cute…19 years too early but cute none the less…

    The fact of the matter is, one second you lookin like a 12 year old dumbass postin first like anyone really cares and knowin theres no point, and then you wanna jump on people like they supposed to respect what you say. gotta come correct instead of talkin like a lil girl text messagin someone with all the gtfu,sthu,omfg type shit. you a grown ass man, step up.

    As for nickel and dime? lol not since 11th grade pops. I already said on this site mad times where my career is at in 5th gear so you can chill in spain and work meanwhile thats just a vacation spot to me.

    The guy posin as jason kidd, nah no cookies but i hear if you keep losin the second round of the west finals you get a mvp, might wanna look into that.

    sho nuff: you got a point, i mean people talkin like the nba guys were goin full force and tryin to get buckets. no they were playin the and1 type game, bullshittin and tryin to put on a show. Were talkin AND1 players, not the hardcore streetball legends. AND1 has already proven against guys who can really play like at the kingdome, they lose. so how would they stack up against legit nba guys on national tv.

  23. Willis says:

    hold on now Sith Lord, aint no way Reggie wins Coach of the year unless Nate McMillan like dies or the Blazers crumble down the stretch. They are only four games out of the playoffs at this point, them Kings. Whats the over/under on them actually getting in? Considering they have Golden State AND Utah 3 times each over the next few months, and if they can win all six of those games and hold a 3-1 winning pace, i’d say their golden for the 8th or 7th. Lakers vs Kings 1st ROUND BABY!

  24. Str8baller says:

    Bron 42 aka The Girl Next Door

    Kid… u got me. I’m old and miserable and you’re God’s gift to mankind.

    Son, I don’t care what you do. For all I care you can suck dick for a living. I just wanna make u happy.

    my 2 cents

    don’t want u to respect me whatsoever. Just do your shit man. got shit to do now so enjoy your week.

    Hope Kobe kills Manu 2nite. Can’t stand that dude

  25. T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:

    Are we approaching the day when Andrew Bogut is an All-Star? Over the next few years, the standout East centers will be Dwight, Okafor (maybe), Bogut and Curry (maybe), with Dalembert as a potential sleeper.

  26. Top Gun says:

    Whoever thought that the Bulls wouldn’t have won the championship till the 97-98 season is the biggest idiot. Arvydas Sabonis was talented , especially when he was young. Shaq was ten times better than Sabonis even though he didn’t have range or a high FT %.

    If young Shaq and Penny couldn’t stop Jordan, no one could. (Although they beat the Bulls after Jordan’s first comeback).

  27. Bron42 aka Remeber Where You Heard it First says:

    girl next door? now thats not even clever, ur slippin in ya old age. But thanks for wantin to make me happy, you and every other bitch out there.

    TMP:
    nahh probably not really, hes not consistant enough, his team sucks and people here dont like him so unless he earns a starter spot on points alone, i dont see him gettin voted in really.

  28. GEE ...Go and get ya money lil' shoebox boi says:

    LOL

    Bron you got a point on D. Howard still just saying “if” and you never know they might this year, the official “no” has not been given yet and I don’t even think Dwight has requested they raise it yet.
    6-11 vs. 6-8 I still think they (6-8’s) struggle on 12.

    AND 1 vs. NBA, D-Leauge, WNBA, Pee-Wee league lol whatever, I still think they (AND 1) would get theirs in. It’s not like them dudes are total scrubs.

    Hmm lets see: Some NBA players have told several AND 1 players they would do ok in the league.

    Various NBA players have went out against AND 1 and at Rucker and have played hard and have also gotten served.

    It’s not like Skip’s in the leauge doing boo boo, he is actually starting right now and fairing well.

    Sure they more than likely won’t win. I am just saying in an AND 1 style of play they would have a better chance, and even the sun shines on a dog’s a%$, so who knows it may be closer than 1 thinks.

    I just think it would be fun and exciting to see. I love the NBA, at the same time I love AND 1.

    Evolution.

  29. Myrie says:

    DIME–

    Good job. Nice to see other posters (Amar/Gee) getting published and requoted in the Smack section. They deserve their shine!

  30. Sith Lord 24 says:

    Willis….

    u got a good point but for my money Theus has done a better job than anyone this year. the blazers actuall got a little talent the Kings are 100% gargabe

  31. GEE ...Go and get ya money lil' shoebox boi says:

    LOL yea Myrie mine got published more cause I guess they felt I made a ridiculous post lol. It’s cool though, like I said before: Negative press is press still lol.
    DIME still gets props though, and I ain’t even mad.

    Go AND 1 lollllllllll

  32. Jules says:

    Good to see Dime give it up to my man Sabonis. I couldn’t believe it when Sports Illustrated ran “The Greatest Players at Every Height” feature in their NBA preview section, and said that Zydrunas Ilgauskas was the greatest 7′3″ player of all-time. Morons…he’s not even the best 7′3″ LITHUANIAN player ever! Big Bonis run this ‘ish!

  33. Bron42 aka global-4A-reason says:

    Gee, like i said, AND1 would have a few highlights but they’d still get washed. Their not scrubs but their not nba guys either lol. I mean their tallest guys are around 6′6 so their not guarding tyson chandler, or chris kaman or anyone like that. I think would be interesting to watch but they’d have no chance. and ya skip is ok NOW but it took him about 6 years and gettin lucky with the heat before he even was a average PG in the league. No one seems to remember his terrible years with the bucks or his first time in toronto i think it was. if you were talkin homicide or someone, maybe but even he is barely a 9th man in the nba and hes one of the top all around ballers in nyc.

  34. Bron42 aka global-4A-reason says:

    and how does Gee got love from DIME but they quoted me like 5 times and all i get is “one of our readers thinks” i’m tellin you man…racist lol jk

  35. T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:

    Even if you limited the NBA squad to guys 6-6 or shorter, they’d still mop AND 1. Yeah, some NBA guys have told AND 1 they’d do alright in the League, but think about it: Are you really gonna go up to a guy and be like, “Yeah, dude, you’re not that good.” Of course you’re gonna be diplomatic and gas him up a little.

    The Assassin from AND 1 is a decent NBA summer-leaguer. Bad Santa was a high school All-American and has sniffed the NBA minor leagues. 8th Wonder played with Josh Howard at Wake Forest and was a starter. As far as organized ball, that’s all they got.

  36. Guitar Hero says:

    Not only is Sabonis the best European player ever, but he is one of the top 5-10 centers EVER.
    You can probably compare him to D Robinson,but with cojones,more range and less athleticism.

  37. GEE ...Go and get ya money lil' shoebox boi says:

    Bron you got to say something crazy lol.
    I wasn’t even high when I typed that statement either Bron lol.

    You all make valid points. I still think it would be entertaining and closer than most think.

    I guess it’s like that owl and the tootsie pop….the world may never know???

    Then again I guess them boys from Appalachian State never had a chance against Michigan in football this past season either.

    I guess the starting 5 of black players was supposed to get mopped the year they beat Kentucky for a title.

    Evolve
    Upsets happen
    Stop thinking so small.

  38. T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:

    I wouldn’t say all that. Sabonis was good, but Top 10? Was he better than Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Mikan, Willis Reed, Wes Unseld, Artis Gilmore, Bill Walton, Moses Malone, Parish, Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson?

  39. T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:

    *Forgot to mention Shaq, Mutombo, Mourning.

  40. Guitar Hero says:

    Well, I was fortunate to see him in his prime,and he was better than Ewing,Robinson,Mutombo,Mourning and Gilmore. He really was something special. Think Robinson and C-Webb with range and heart.

  41. confused says:

    if str8baller says he’s 32, then why does his bio say he’s 37? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amaechi

    another thing, which current NBA players will “come out” after they retire? Jeff Foster, Antwan Jamison? I’m always leery of ‘dudes’ who get their eyebrows waxed

  42. madgame1106 says:

    New 2 the psoting but I’ve been reading Dime 4 a minute. Anyway, the comments bout the dunk contest and catz dunking on 12 ft. rims is a little off.

    I remember when Vince took the crown back in 00 and he wanted 2 raise the rim 2 12 ft. and they asked Kobe how we felt about it and he wanted it done.

    I can think of like 5 catz of the top of my head that get 12 ft. of elevation easily either in their prime or right now-

    LeBron
    D-Howard
    Rudy Gay
    Vince
    J_Smooth

    Maybe James White, google this cat and see what he did back b4 he hit the L’s

  43. Myrie says:

    madgame1106–

    Welcome to the forum. But please try to keep up. Dunk contest posts were yesterday. We have since moved on….

  44. Ian says:

    Jason Kidd says:

    Man, Steve Nash ain’t shit. I could get 37, 10 and 4 if I wanted…

    ehhh no jason u cant hit for 37 with 5 threes

    bron u r right about petro better than arvydas but since arvydas was a center he would make a bigger impact on a nba team.

    str8baller
    42 for real

    doc and top gun
    it wasnt sabonis vs mj it woulda been a super loaded blazers squad vs jordan
    not saying who wins but it woulda been closer and they would see themselves more than once in the finals

    guitar hero
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    arvydas better than Ewing,Robinson,Mutombo,Mourning and Gilmore
    thanks man i needed a good laugh
    maybe if u took ewing and robinson of the list people would think u were serious

    arvydas got a pussy ass dunk on the admiral and thats it
    besides the fact that david was a kid when that happened
    but both of them in their prime not even close the admiral did everything better well maybe not pass.

  45. Lee says:

    Just learnt fans are voting for the winner of the dunk contest … so I guess it’ll be Yao followed by Yi !!!!

  46. Dirk Nowitzki says:

    Bron42

    Stop givin false hope. I got bounced hard in the First Round last season and I got the MVP
    2nd Round of the West Finals???
    oh sorry, you were cracking on that nash guy.

  47. doc says:

    I dont call the Bulls just MJ they had a hell of a squad . Sabonis, Clyde, Porter,Duckworth,Kersey,Williams. They aint ready.

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