But what is a “good” shot? Are all good shots created equally? And how might one identify players who are more or less likely to make and prevent those shots in the first place? The concept of basketball “analytics,” for lack of a better term, has been lauded, derided, and misunderstood. The incorporation of more data into NBA decision-making has been credited—or blamed—for everything from the death of the traditional center to the proliferation of three-point shooting to the alleged abandonment of the area of the court known as the midrange. What is beyond doubt is that understanding its methods has never been more important to watching and appreciating the NBA. In The Midrange Theory, Seth Partnow, NBA analyst for The Athletic and former Director of Basketball Research for the Milwaukee Bucks, explains how numbers have affected the modern NBA game, and how those numbers seek not to “solve” the game of basketball but instead urge us toward thinking about it in new ways.The relative value of Russell Westbrook’s triple-doublesWhy some players succeed in the playoffs while others don’tHow NBA teams think about constructing their rosters through the draft and free agencyThe difficulty in measuring defensive achievementThe fallacy of the “quick two”From shot selection to evaluating prospects to considering aesthetics and ethics while analyzing the box scores, Partnow deftly explores where the NBA is now, how it got here, and where it might be going next.

    The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody restores the dark undercurrent of the Van Doren Stern’s short story “The Greatest Gift” to the uplifting plot of Capra’s film, and explores how the familiar characters in it might respond to the dire circumstances created by George Bailey’s disappearance from their lives. The paths of an introspective cab driver, a ruthless henchman, and a wayward daughter collide nearly twenty years later in the town that defined their reputations for better or for worse.

    Chelsea Tory needs is to be snowbound with the man she’s in love with, especially since he doesn’t seem to notice. However, she took an oath to help the sick, so when he needs a doctor for his sick mother, she goes home with him knowing she’s going to end up trapped. Brawny Winters loves the beautiful doctor. But if he can’t stand to look at himself since the accident that scarred him, how can he expect Chelsea to? It’s even worse: now she has to help with his sick mother and becomes snowbound at their home. To save her reputation, he has to marry her. Can they both overcome their misunderstandings? Can Chelsea heal her love's heart? Can Brawny see past his own scars to heal the ones he’s causing Chelsea?  Or is their love destined to be Snowbound for all eternity?***This is a companion tale to the popular Silverpines series. It is an opportunity to visit the Silverpines Community with additional stories.You can join the Silverpines Reader's Group by visiting https://www.facebook.com/groups/silve...Read all of Christine's Black Hill Brides Romances:1. Her Secret Past2. Her Secret Baby3. Her Secret Shame4. Her Secret Love5. Her Secret HusbandRead all of Christine's Silverpines Romances:1. Wanted: Medicine Man2. The Coffin Maker3. Wanted: Gravedigger4. Snowbound5. Wanted: RedemptionRead all of Christine's Proxy Bride Romances:1. A Bride for Jeremiah2. A Bride for ElijahRead all of Christine's Pinkerton Matchmaker Romances:1. The Pinkerton Matchmaker2. An Agent for Claudette3. An Agent for PenelopeRead all of Christine's Holiday Romances1. Wynter's Bride2. A Cozy Mitten Christmas

    — The Gift is a modern LDS Christmas classic that will warm the hearts of all who read it, and help keep Christ as the vital part of this miraculous season.

    A Tempting Christmas is now available with a final bonus chapter!You fell in love with Brittan McKenna and Jordon Valentine in Tempt My Heart. Now fall in love with them all over again with this sweet and sinfully sexy holiday short story! Experience Jordon and Brittan's first Christmas together in his hometown of Chicago! Prepare to laugh your butt off and swoon hard for Jordon more than you did in Tempt My Heart! Brittan and Jordon fans are going to love this sweet and sexy short read!

    The evergreen wreath symbolizes eternal life and includes four candles—typically three purple and one pink, with a white candle in the middle that symbolizes the purity of Christ. Various traditions assign different topics to each candle, and the candles are usually given names to remind us of the good news of Christ's birthTo celebrate this season, TGC's editorial team put together 25 devotional readings that use the Advent wreath as a guide to focus hearts and minds on Christ during the month of December. Structured around traditional Advent themes—hope, peace, joy, love, and faith—these reflections will encourage your heart in this season of celebrating Christ's first coming, and longing for his second.

    I hope you enjoy it.

    A Very Real Love Christmas is #3.5.Its Christmas time in San Diego once again and there’s holiday cheer everywhere. The stockings have been hung, and the mistletoe is in place. The lights are all twinkling and there’s even a chill in the air. Sure, you won’t find a single flake of snow adorning the palm trees outside, but you will find Real Love. Come visit and celebrate the holiday with your favorite members from the Baxter, Michaels and Lawson families. The whole gang is coming, with some new additions, so you won’t want to miss out. In this special holiday novella, we get to see how this large extended family celebrates. From Christmas Eve gatherings to Christmas Day chaos, all rounded out by the silence of night when everything is finally done. So grab your hot chocolate and get ready to dive in for some Christmas cheer, Real Love style.Other books in Real Love Series"Love RealizedLove ResistedLove Required

    Her life is one straight out of the pages, except she’s missing that leading man. Although she has a crush on the handsome auto mechanic, Quinton Hendricks, Kendall wants an old-fashioned type of romance—the stuff swoon-worthy romance books are made of. But Quinton seems to need a little prodding. Something about Kendall sparks hope in Quinton Hendricks that love could be his again. Only being abandoned by his ex-wife has made him cautious to the point of non-moving. Can two people hesitant on second chances find love as they Deck the Shelves?

    . .Antonia prefers a quiet Christmas. She's happy to spend it on her own, watching Hallmark holiday movies in her pyjamas, eating what she wants, when she wants.Antonia's friend Jules, on the other hand, loves a big Christmas celebration and plans on travelling to the Yorkshire Dales for a festive break. But when Jules breaks her leg, she persuades Antonia to make the trip on her behalf. Arriving at the little cottage, Antonia meets the handsome property agent Oliver. But she can't escape the weird locals--or avoid embarrassing situations like mistaking a cow for a burglar.As Christmas approaches, the attraction between Oliver and Antonia grows. She could choose to return to the bustling city and spend it alone. Or she could choose love and have a not so quiet Christmas . . .

    Now with a fresh new cover and six new stories, the entire collection of twelve is available in this beautiful volume. Beginning is a foreword by David Jeremiah, followed by adventures that evoke the splendor and love found at the manger over 2000 years ago. You ll meet a shy, bookish boy who finds himself center stage in a Christmas pageant, a family whose car full of presents and groceries disappears, and a mountain man trapped in a blizzard with his twelve-year-old grandson. You ll meet characters you feel you ve known your whole life who ll make you laugh one minute and cry the next.So this year, and the years to follow, gather your family and experience the true spirit of adoration and worship at Christmas through this timeless gift of story.Trim Size: 7 x 7"

    Featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, and the whole PEANUTS gang, The Peanuts Guide to Christmas celebrates the holiday season the PEANUTS way! This lovable cast of characters is always up to something leading up to Christmas. And now, with this gifty collection of beloved illustrations from the classic comics, fans of all ages can get in the spirit by cherishing all of their favorite PEANUTS Christmas memories. This PEANUTS holiday keepsake is for the millions of faithful Charles Schulz fans and those who fondly remember our best-loved beagle and his friends.

    This beautiful new gift edition of a classic collection combines all three. In thirty compelling Christmas excerpts from his sermons, Luther vividly portrays the human realism of the Nativity: Mary's distress at giving birth with no midwife or water; Joseph's misgivings; the Wise Men's perplexity; and Herod's cunning. Throughout, Luther suggests the question: If we had lived in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, would we have believed that this newborn baby was God in human form? And he reminds us that keeping Christmas is a year-around mission of caring for those in need. Nine elegant illustrations by Luther's contemporaries-including four by noted engraver Albrecht Durer-capture timeless scenes from the Christmas story. And two of Luther's beautiful Christmas carols are included on the final pages of the book.

    She moves to a lovely Scottish seaside town and opens up a vintage tea shop and bakery selling cakes, bread, scones and tea.It's Christmas time, and although Erith wants a quiet life, baking during the day and sewing her quilts in the evenings in her house above the shop, the local shopkeepers soon involve her in their festive plans.Stuart, who owns the shop that sells everything, flirts with her. Handsome interior designer, Muir, takes an interest in her, but is she interested in him? And what about Zack, the gorgeous bad boy?In this Christmassy romance, Erith bakes everything from chocolate bread to traditional Victoria sponge cakes. She blends her special selection of teas. She becomes friends with the local sewing bee women, Doreen, Millie and Belle. She also realises that when it comes to love, she has to trust her instincts rather than listen to local gossip.Set in a Scottish seaside town in a snowy December, there's baking, sewing, snogging and sexy men in this light-hearted romance novella. It's 22,000 words of Christmas cheer.Amid the chaos of Christmas, will Erith find time for love? Will there be a festive proposal? Who will be Santa and switch on the town's Christmas tree lights? In the busy little town there's only one thing for sure - no one wants to dress up as the reindeer's bum.

     Mr. Goldson is filthy rich. He’s also callous and cruel and hasn’t got a festive bone in his ancient body. Naturally, he’s due for a holiday haunting. When his business partner, Bolbi Baggs, announces that they’re to be visited by three spirits, Mr. Goldson braces himself for a whirlwind tour of his past, present, and future.Typically, a trio of time-traveling ghosts heralds a heartwarming tale of hope and redemption for the human race. Mr. Goldson, however, isn’t a member of the human race. He’s a Dwarf, and Mr. Baggs is a Halfling, and the adventure that’s about to take them across the enchanted world of Arth is anything but typical. Holiday magic and economic realities collide in A Song of Three Spirits. It’s A Christmas Carol for the 21st century, with a dash of high fantasy. Read this hilarious satire of Charles Dickens’s classic today!