Author: jhawkes51

Raiders return home to face tough Vikings team

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

photo credit ESPN Raiders Aldon Smith puts the sack on Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger

OAKLAND — Sunday’s match up at O.co Coliseum between the Vikings and Oakland will showcase two of the league’s best young quarterbacks in Minnesota’s Teddy Bridgewater and Oakland’s Derek Carr.

Both quarterbacks were drafted in 2014 to turn around struggling franchises with Minnesota selecting Bridgewater with the 32nd overall pick in the first round, and Oakland drafting Carr with the 36th overall pick in the second round.

Oakland (4-4), who has already surpassed its 2014 win total after finishing 3-13, is in the thick of the AFC playoff race thanks to their second-year signal caller. Carr has thrown 19 touchdowns to just four interceptions, including tossing four touchdowns in each of his past two games.

In Oakland’s 38-35 heartbreaking loss in Pittsburgh last week, Carr completed 24-of-44 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns and an interception. Carr is on pace for just Oakland’s third 4,000-yard passing season in franchise history. Raiders’ passing attack anchored by the wide receiver duo of Michael Crabtree (47 receptions, 591 yards, 5 TDs), and rookie Amari Cooper (45 receptions, 653 yards, 4 TDs) and both are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons.

Crabtree recorded his second straight game with seven catches and 100-plus receiving yards in the loss against the Steelers. The Silver and Black could have their work cut out for them when putting the in the air as Minnesota sports the NFL’s sixth-ranked passing defense, yielding just 220.6 yards a game.

Running back Latavius Murray practiced Thursday since suffering a concussion in Pittsburgh. Murray is seventh in the league in rushing with 630 yards with three touchdowns on 132 carries.

Bridgewater, who also suffered a concussion of his own in Minnesota’s 21-18 victory in overtime against the visiting St. Louis Rams last Sunday. Bridgewater left the game early in the fourth quarter and was replaced by journeyman quarterback Shaun Hill after taking a vicious hit from Rams’ cornerback Lamarcus Joyner.

On the season, Bridgewater has played steady, throwing six touchdowns and six interceptions, but has steered Minnesota to a 6-2 record tied for first place in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers in his second season from Louisville.

Minnesota will host Green Bay next week.

But it was running back Adrian Peterson that was the standout performer in the game.

The NFL’s leading rusher finished with 125 yards on the ground, 21 of which came in overtime that would set up kicker Blair Walsh for the game-winning field goal.

The Raiders were torched defensively in Pittsburgh, allowing 597 total yards to the Steelers, with Antonio Brown recording 284 yards receiving on a franchise-record 17 catches. Safety Nate Allen, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since the home opener, is expected to be back and help a struggling secondary that sports future Hall-of-Famer in Charles Woodson.

Woodson leads the NFL with five interceptions in his 18th season.

Minnesota is currently riding a four-game winning streak, in large part to a defense that has yielded just 306.8 yards total per game and holding the opposition to 18 percent (9-for-50) on third down conversions.

Oakland is 5-1 all time at O.co Coliseum against Minnesota, and have won five of their last seven at home dating back to last season.

This will be the second trip to the Bay Area for Minnesota this season. The Vikings lost to the San Francisco 49ers 20-3 in Week 1 at Levi’s Stadium behind a season-low 248 total yards.

Peterson finished with just 31 rushing yards on 10 carries against a 49ers team that historically holds Peterson in check, yielding just 3.0 yards per carry to Peterson, his lowest against any team for his career.

Warriors tie franchise-best 9-0 start with win in Memphis

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

MEMPHIS, Tenn — Anchored by league MVP Stephen Curry’s 28 points, the Golden State Warriors tied a franchise-best 9-0 to start a season (held by the 1960-61 Philadelphia Warriors), with a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies 100-84 Wednesday night at FedEx Forum.

Andre Iguodala scored 20 points and Harrison Barnes added 19 points for Golden State, who shot 41 percent (11-of-27) from 3-point range. Curry, who is human after all, shot just 9-of-21 from the floor (3-of-10 on 3s).

Marc Gasol finished with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Zach Randolph scored 19 points and seven rebounds for a Memphis team that has dropped their fourth straight game.

Golden State destroyed Memphis 119-69 on Nov. 2 in Oakland, the worst loss for the Grizzlies in franchise history.

Golden State, who built a 15-point first-half lead, got bullied in the post by Randolph in the third quarter, allowing the bruising power forward to score 12 points in the quarter pulling Memphis to a 55-53 deficit.

But the Curry and the Warriors, who looked sloppy at times committing 23 turnovers, had other plans.

Curry knocked down a 40-footer at the horn to end the third quarter, giving the Warriors a 74-63 lead. Curry, who also drilled a 62-footer in Game 6 of the Western Conference semi-finals that sent Golden State to the conference finals, also added five assists and five rebounds.

Back-to-back 3s from Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the fourth quarter proved to be difference maker for Golden State, who found themselves up 86-71 with 6:29 left.

The Warriors (9-0) seems to have the Grizzlies (3-6) number after picking up their sixth victory in seven regular season games Wednesday night.

Golden State continues its back-to-back road trip Thursday in Minneapolis, while Memphis hosts Portland Friday.

Raiders face tough road test in Pittsburgh for Week 9

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

Bing photos of Oak Raiders QB Derek Carr

OAKLAND — If last week’s 34-20 victory over the visiting New York Jets was any indication that the Raiders are a team to be reckon with in the AFC, then Sunday’s trip to the Steel City to face the Steelers may forecast the remainder of the season for Oakland.

Raiders’ starting quarterback Derek Carr dismantled a star studded Jets’ defense headlined by cornerback Darrelle Revis, throwing for a career high-tying four touchdowns to go with 333 yards passing.

For the season, Carr has thrown for 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions for an Oakland team that is in the thick of the AFC playoff race.

Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh, kickoff at 10:00 a.m. PT, could have that playoff type atmosphere, something that the second-year signal caller from Fresno St. appears to be ready for. Carr’s play this season in each game is reminiscent of a 10-year veteran who doesn’t let the moment get bigger than it is.

Oakland (4-3) has come a long way this season after starting last season 0-10, thanks in large part to the play of Carr, a talented receiving corps led by rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree (both are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons), and a strong defense led by the ageless wonder, safety Charles Woodson.

”It’s fine for some people to play from the underdog role, but I don’t like it,” said Woodson (via CBSSports.com), who played for the Raiders’ last Super Bowl team. ”I don’t like being the underdog. I want to be expected to win games. I want these guys to go out there and be expected to win games. Yeah, it’s a little premature to be thinking that far ahead, playoff-wise, but there’s no reason you can’t think of yourself as a playoff team.”

The 18-year veteran leads the NFL with five interceptions and is the heartbeat of the Silver and Black.

Pittsburgh (4-4) is coming off a tough loss at home last week to fellow AFC North rival, the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10. The Steelers blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead after having the still undefeated Bengals (8-0) on the ropes, and lost All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell for the season with a torn MCL in his right knee.

Steelers’ starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who made his return to the lineup after missing the previous four games with a left knee injury, looked rusty completing 28 of 45 for 262 yards with one touchdown, but threw three interceptions.

Roethlisberger is 1-4 in his career versus Oakland, but does average 300 yards passing and a quarterback rating of 97.5 against the Raiders.

Oakland’s 31st ranked passing defense (giving up 302.1 yards a game), will have its hands full with wide receiver Antonio Brown (52 catches, 718 yards, 3 TD).

Brown is a wide receiver that just runs right by people and if Oakland gives Roethlisberger time in the pocket to survey the field, he will find his dynamic wide receiver.

Mix in reliable tight end Heath Miller (you know Oakland has had issues covering tight ends this season), and Pittsburgh can move the ball and get first downs at a rapid rate.

“They’re coming in here, it’s going to be very physical,” Roethlisberger said. “Their defensive backs like to do a lot of grabbing, holding, and just being physical in general. It’s a really good test for our receivers and for me to be accurate.”

Curry’s 31 points gives Warriors upper hand over Clippers

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND, Calif — In a game between the only undefeated teams in the Western Conference, Stephen Curry scored 31 points to lead keep the Golden State Warriors past their bitter rival, the Los Angeles Clippers 112-108 in front of a sellout crowd at Oracle Arena Wednesday night for their fifth straight win to begin the season.

“We’re better than we were last year,” said Curry after the game to ESPN’s J.A. Adande. Curry nailed 7-for-11 three-pointers, including the go-ahead three with a minute left to go.

Curry’s 25 made threes are the most made by a player in his first five games to start a season in NBA history. His 179 points are the most through five games since Michael Jordan’s 182 points during the 1991-92 season.

Golden State (5-0) overcame a 10-point lead with just a little over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to Harrison Barnes who went on a 8-1 run in 38 seconds highlighted by his back-to-back threes. Barnes finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in a game that had a playoff-type atmosphere to it.

Klay Thompson scored 16 points and Festus Ezeli, starting for injured center Andrew Bogut, finished with 10 points. Ezeli’s block on Blake Griffin’s dunk attempt in the first quarter sent shock waves through Oracle Arena.

Draymond Green chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds.

Chris Paul led the Clippers with 24 points and nine assists on 9-for-15 shooting, but four points came just after halftime. Paul also missed two crucial free throws late in the fourth quarter.

Blake Griffin finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but went scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles (4-1), came into the game winners of four straight, just like the Warriors but dropped their eighth straight game in Oakland and find themselves looking up at Golden State in the Pacific Division.

Let’s face it, these teams don’t like each other. Golden State feels the Clippers don’t respect them or the NBA Championship the Warriors won last year; while Los Angeles believes that Golden State are arrogant and were “lucky” to even win the franchise’s first title in 40 years.

With the win, Golden State becomes the first defending NBA Champion since the 2010-11 to start the next season 5-0.

Golden State will try to add to its 21 straight home victories Friday night when they will host the Denver Nuggets.

Both teams will meet each other three more times, with the next installment coming up Nov. 19 when Golden State heads to Los Angeles.

Curry, Warriors ease by Grizzlies by 50 points

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — The Golden State Warriors are putting the NBA on notice: it’s going to be tough to beat them.

Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry scored 21 of his game high 30 points in the third quarter helping the Warriors dismantle the Memphis Grizzlies 119-69 Tuesday night at Oracle Arena. It’s Golden State’s 20th straight win at home, a first in franchise history and their third 50-point win in franchise history.

Curry, who won Western Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 39.3 points per game during the opening week, shot 10 for 16 from the floor, with four 3-pointers, and three assists.

In three of the team’s first four games, Curry has scored at least 20 points in a quarter.

Klay Thompson finished with 14 points and seven rebounds on 6 of 11 shooting.

Festus Ezeli, starting for the injured Andrew Bogut, scored 11 points and 10 rebounds. Draymond Green nearly had a triple double, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Golden State shot a blistering 51 percent from floor (43 for 84) and 44 percent from 3-point range (11 for 25). Green knocked down 3 of 4 3-pointers.

The Warriors held Memphis to just 27 percent shooting form the floor (26 of 96) and out-rebounded the Grizzlies 65-44. Memphis was outscored 72-27 between the second and third quarters.

Memphis’ starting lineup combined to shoot 11 for 45 from the floor, with center Marc Gasol leading the Grizzlies with 13 points and nine rebounds. Point guard Mike Conley was the only other Grizzly to score in double figures with 10 points.

Golden State (4-0) has defeated their first four opponents by 10 points or more for the first time in franchise history, while Memphis has dropped their last three straight in Oakland.

Memphis (2-2) wanted to extract some revenge on a Golden State Warriors team that eliminated the Grizzlies in six games during last season’s playoffs in which the Warriors captured their first championship in forty years, but Golden State’s stingy defense stymied the Grizzlies.

The two teams will meet each other again on Nov. 10 when Golden State travels to Memphis.

Golden State continues its three-game home stand Wednesday with the hated Los Angeles Clippers visiting Oracle Arena.

Carr and Raiders look to validate legitimacy with Jets visiting Oakland Sunday

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — As October comes to an end and November begins in the National Football League, the playoff puzzle starts to take shape and the Raiders are hoping to be a major factor this year.

After boat-racing the Chargers 37-29 last Sunday behind an offensive onslaught led by quarterback Derek Carr’s 24 of 31 completions for 289 yards three touchdowns, Oakland (3-3) faces a tough pass defense when the Silver and Black host the New York Jets Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper has been absolutely dynamite this season and is by far the odds on favorite to win the rookie of the year award.

Cooper torched the Chargers’ shaky pass defense for five catches and 133 yards, including a 52-yard catch and run touchdown that put Oakland ahead 30-6 shortly before halftime.

The former Alabama star leads all rookies with 33 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns and became the first rookie to have three 100-yard efforts in his first six games since tight end Mike Ditka in 1961. Both Cooper and former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree are on pace to have 1,000-yard receiving seasons, which Oakland hasn’t had since Randy Moss’s 1,005 yards in 2005.

But the Jets (4-2) aren’t the San Diego Chargers and New York’s cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. It can be expected that first-year Jets head coach Todd Bowles will have Revis following Cooper all day to prevent Cooper’s explosive play-making ability.

New York squandered a 20-16 lead at AFC East-leading New England last week with 13 minutes to go, before falling 30-23 to the Patriots. The Jets, who sacked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady three times, comes into the game with seven sacks over their last three games.

Stud defensive tackle Muhammed Wilkerson leads the team with five sacks, while Oakland’s offensive line has protected Carr all season just yielding seven sacks.

Gang Green leads the league in stopping the opposition’s running game, surrendering just 71.5 yards per game. New York held New England to 16 rushing yards, their fourth-lowest total in franchise history.

Oakland has given up 303.8 yards per game this season, but has registered seven interceptions in the last five games after picking off Philip Rivers twice last week.

Raiders safety Charles Woodson, who was named AFC defensive player of the month for October, continues to be a marvel at age 39. It’s the fifth time Woodson has won defensive player of the month after recording three interceptions in three games in October.

Chris Ivory is the Jets’ bellcow, is dealing with a hamstring injury and his status for Sunday remains uncertain. Ivory mustered just 41 yards on 17 carries against New England.

In last season’s 19-14 victory over Oakland at MetLife Stadium last year, Ivory wore down Oakland with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. Given the hamstring injury to Ivory, Oakland maybe better suited to stopping the Jets’ ground attack as the Silver and Black are third against the run this season allowing just 84.3 yards per game.

If Oakland is able to win this game against the Jets, it will give Oakland the head-to-head advantage in any tiebreaker situations for a playoff spot.

After Sunday’s game, Oakland travels to 4-3 Pittsburgh, in another tough game with possible playoff implications for both.

Warriors raise championship banner, drop Pelicans in season opener

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND, Calif — Talks of a championship hangover for the Golden State Warriors were quickly put to rest behind Stephen Curry’s 40 points, leading the reigning NBA Champions to a 111-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday night to begin their title defense.

Curry was blistering hot in the first quarter, knocking down seven of his first nine shots, including four 3-pointers, en route to 24 points in the opening period. The Warriors point guard finished 14 for 26 from the floor, with seven assists and six rebounds for his 10th career 40-point game.

The Warriors raised their championship banner and received their rings in a pregame ceremony. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who is out indefinitely while recuperating after offseason back surgery, was on hand and got a huge roar from the sold out Oracle Arena crowd. Assistant coach Luke Walton is serving as interim head coach until Kerr returns.

“This is an unbelievable day,” Curry said. “We would not have been able to do what we did last year with your guys’ support.”

Andrew Bogut had 12 points and five rebounds before leaving the game in the third quarter with a right eye laceration following an inadvertent headbutt from Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham. Bogut was already wearing a protective face mask after breaking his nose during the preseason.

Festus Ezeli chipped in 13 points off the bench, while Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green combined for 18 points on 6 for 24 shooting. Earlier in the day, Barnes and the Warriors broke off talks for a new contract extension but left on “amicable terms” according to Warriors GM Bob Myers.

Golden State never was really threatened by the Pelicans, building a 10-point halftime lead and never looked back. The Warriors dominated the Pelicans on the boards, holding a 56-33 edge.

Anthony Davis, who terrorized Golden State last season, shot just 4 for 20 from the field finishing with a team-high 18 points. Golden State played great defense on the Pelicans center, who scored the majority of his points from the free throw line (10 for 15).

Ish Smith scored 17 points and dished out nine assists for the Pelicans, who had just nine players in new head coach and former Warriors assistant coach Alvin Gentry’s debute. The Pelican were without stars Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Omer Asik.

Curry had the second-most points by a reigning MVP in an opener since 1963-64, according to STATS. Milwaukee’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 41 on Oct. 13, 1972, against Phoenix.

Raiders take on Chargers in key divisional game in San Diego

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — With the bye week in the rear view mirror, it’s time for the Raiders to get back to the business of football. And business begins in San Diego Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT against the Chargers. Both Oakland (2-3) and San Diego (2-4) are jockeying for position in the AFC West as they’re trying to keep pace with the division-leading and undefeated, Denver Broncos (6-0).

Oakland’s 26th ranked defense will have to contend with Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers, who was a passing machine in San Diego’s 27-20 loss in Green Bay in Week 6.

Rivers, who set career highs for completions (43, is also the most completions in a loss in  NFL history), passing attempts (65), and passing yards (503) to go along with two touchdowns, just couldn’t engineer the Chargers to victory against the Packers. Rivers and the Chargers were stopped by Green Bay on fourth-and-goal with 15 seconds to play in the fourth quarter.

In six games, Rivers is the NFL leader in passing yards with 2,116 and touchdown passes with 12. His 70.0 percent completion percentage is just .6  behind league leader Tom Brady (70.6) for quarterbacks with at least 150 passing attempts.

Rivers’s gunslinger mentality can get him into trouble, as his five interceptions can attest, three of which have been returned for touchdowns, a league-high.

San Diego boasts the NFL’s top ranked offense in total yards at 433 yards per game, and passing yards at 349 yards per game, thanks in large part to the return of perennial All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates.

Gates, who missed the first four games of the season due to performance-enhancing drugs, has been on a tear the past two games. The future Hall of Famer (in my honest opinion), has 18 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders have had a penchant for allowing tight ends to have big games on them.

Gates is the one tight end that the Raiders can’t afford running down field freely on Sunday. In 24 career games against Oakland, Gates has 96 catches for 1,273 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Those are numbers that some guys have in an season.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (1,171 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions; 93.9 passer rating) and his pair of standout wide receivers in rookie Amari Cooper (28 catches, 386 receiving yards, and two touchdowns) and Michael Crabtree (27 catches, 318 receiving yards, and one touchdown) will face a much improved Chargers defense that ranks seventh against the pass, just yielding 222 yards per game this season.

Carr has been able to stay relatively healthy all season, thanks in large part to a quality offensive line that has taken all 341 snaps together. The second-year signal caller is the 30th-least pressured quarterback (25.9% of his dropbacks) according to Pro Football Focus resulting in just seven sacks surrendered by offensive line coach Mike Tice’s crew.

San Diego has just 11 sacks as a unit this year, ranking 18th in the NFL.

Lakers and Warriors end early due to wet floor

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

SAN DIEGO — With the playing surface at the Valley View Casino Center filled with too many wet spots and players noticeably slipping, the game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers was called at the 2:16 mark in the third quarter with Los Angeles holding a 85-70 lead.

According to CSNBayArea.com’s Warriors’ Insider Monte Poole, “On no fewer than seven occasions, players were seen slipping and sliding on the floor. In one notable first-half instance, Warriors guard Steph Curry slipped and recovered to drain a 3-pointer over Jordan Clarkson.”

Curry finished with 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting (5-of-10 on 3s), leading all Warriors in scoring. Curry also added four assists and three rebounds. The reigning MVP scored 14 points in the first half and drained 4-of-8 3s.

Festus Ezeli, starting for injured center Andrew Bogut, scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Clarkson led all Lakers with 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting, while forward Julius Randle added14 points.

Lakers guard Nick Young, who scored 10 points, said after the game per ESPN, “It was just too dangerous to play on, people slipping left and right.” Young began the game hot, knocking down three straight 3s in under two minutes in the second quarter.

Los Angeles (2-4) shot a better percentage from the floor than Golden State (46% to 38%), and controlled the points in the paint outscoring the Warriors 34 to 22. Golden State turned the ball over 12 times, compared to just five by the Lakers.

Golden Staten continues their three-game SoCal road swing Tuesday against the Clippers on ESPN, before finishing up against the Lakers once more on Thursday on TNT.

At the bye Week, 2-3 Raiders are off to promising start

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND — With the first five weeks of the season down, Raider Nation should be happy with their team sitting at 2-3 at the bye week.

Oakland has been competitive in every contest from start to finish and it can’t be denied that the team is trending in the right direction. Even after dropping their last two games to Chicago and Denver respectively, the Raiders have definitely been entertaining.

Derek Carr, Oakland’s young signal caller, has complete control of the offense. The second-year pro from Fresno State engineers the 21st ranked offense in the NFL, but his numbers have been outstanding; completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,171 yards, eight touchdowns, and just three interceptions.

Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper has made the transition from the college ranks to the pros, leading all rookie wide receivers in catches (28), receiving yards (386), touchdowns (two), and receiving yards per game (77.2). The fourth overall pick in this year’s draft out of Alabama has been as good as advertised.

Pair Cooper with the veteran  Michael Crabtree, and Oakland has a pair of wide receivers that give Carr dependable weapons to throw to. Crabtree, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason after spending his first six seasons in San Francisco, is second behind Cooper on the team with 27 catches, 318 yards receiving, and one touchdown.

Oakland needs to get the running game more involved in the offense, that means Latavius Murray needs to step up and take the running game by the horns.

Murray does have 336 yards rushing on 80 carries and two touchdowns this season, but was a virtual no-show in last week’s 16-10 home loss to the Broncos, carrying the ball 13 times for just 39 yards. Carr had 39 attempts against the Broncos’ top-ranked defense.

With the loss of defensive end Justin Tuck for the season with a torn right pectoral muscle, Oakland’s defense took a hit in the pass rush department. Opposing offenses can now key in on defensive end Khalil Mack and possibly double team linebacker Aldon Smith, another ex-49er.

But the real player that compensates for Oakland’s 25th ranked defense is no doubt, safety Charles Woodson. In his 18th, and most certainly final season of his sure-fire Hall of Fame career, Woodson is making an case for early Defensive Player of the Year.

Woodson has recorded four interceptions this season, two coming off the arm of another future Hall of Famer in Denver quarterback Peyton Manning. The former Heisman Trophy winner has been playing with a separated right shoulder for most of the season, has gutted it up each week for the Silver and Black.

Once the bye week is completed, Oakland’s next four opponents in San Diego (2-3), New York Jets (3-1), Pittsburgh (3-2), and Minnesota (2-2), are all formidable competition that will reveal the Raiders’ true team identity for the rest of the season.