As some of you already know, D-nice (Demetris Nichols), Jared Jordan and Walker Russell are no longer Knicks.
I thought Isiah would wait until the last minute to trim the roster, but that just goes to show how much I know Isiah.
I guess we’re stuck for another year with ol’ Jerome James riding the pine. His contract makes him virtually untradeable, yet it is almost certain he won’t be a factor this season with the latest rumors being that he needs season-ending surgery. Talk about getting off the couch the wrong way! Lookout Greg Oden. The knicks already have Randolph Morris ahead of Jerome in the rotation as the backup center, as well as Malik Rose who can spot Curry some minutes at center in certain situations.
>>>
Speaking of Demetris, didn’t that jumper look “pure” last night against the Sixers? Sure he looked a little goofy trying to put the ball on the floor, but, let’s face it, that was the most burn he’s had in a real NBA preseason game thus far. I thought for sure Jerome would be cut, because I am such a big fan of Isiah’s uncanny drafting abilities, I wanted to see more of Jared Jordan and D-nice as knicks but that’s a mute point by now.
We haven’t even seen what Renaldo can do after a year under his belt. He was as impressive in the Vegas summer league games as Nate was in my opinion. We have one of the most dynamic benches in the league with the three key energy guys: Nate, D Lee, and Renaldo. You may be able to throw Fred and Chandler in there depending on how the season plays out this year. Clyde confirmed last night what I was saying, you need the rotation to be about 8 guys, no more than 9.
Nate Robinson, I have to admit it–the man looks unstoppable right about now. I doubt J. Kidd will play on Friday, but it would have been nice to see him go up against another top-flight guard to see if he can continue to dominate like this. What I wish to see Nate continue to develop is his sense of what the team needs when he comes into the game. Some nights he’ll need to put up 20 for us to win, other nights we’ll need him to get certain key guys involved in the game, other times we’ll need him to be a ball hawk on defense. When you have the energy of Nate Robinson, and you’re able to control it, and harness it to do what the team needs you to do, that is real power. We probably don’t need another guard off the bench–that’s what I was saying the last post: Steph, Jamal and Nate in the back court seems more than adequate on most nights in the east.
Zach Randolph is just making it look easy out there at this point. He barely leaves the ground on that excellent j of his.
Another quiet night from the centerpiece Eddy Curry, the E-Z mystery has yet to be solved with Eddy getting into foul trouble again.
Jared Jeffries played well last night in my opinion. He still has no jumper, but he was out on the breaks getting easy baskets, using his length to be a pest on defense, this is the Jared Jeffries that I remember during his tenure in D.C. I can see why Isiah wanted him, he can be a difference maker in a game without showing up on a stats sheet. Some fantasy people have trouble understanding that phenomenon some times.
For some of the NBA veteran fans out there, I want to ask you this question: how complete of a player was Isiah Thomas when he first came into the league? I know he was the best in his championship days because I saw it with my own eyes, but when he was a collegiate champion, and his first couple of years in the league, was he already a complete point guard, or were there aspects of the game he worked on improving?
***Note: i don’t know what to say about the spam filter. I have everything turned off, it has been off for days, so there should be no reason for it to select comments to send to the spam folder, yet it continues to do so. My apologies to Barf, Tom and Steady, and anyone else that has experienced this, if your post doesn’t first show up, please be patient while I work out the kinks to this blog software.
{ 122 comments… read them below or add one }
Just watching the rewind of last nights game! Man that stroke of Nichols looks Pure!
Gotta move on now!
It’s too bad IT could not find a waynto keep JJ & DN. DN will be a 3-pt force to be dealt with. Hope he won’t return to hunt the NYK. VERY SAD DAY FO NYK FANS! Lost of next year 2 2nd round picks.
DNick was a project and will develop on someone elses roster. He was not ready to make a big contribution this year. Zekes on the hot seat this year. There is no time to coddle this kid right now.
That said, I’m still thinking that Dolan refused to let 18M walk out the door w/ 20 M pending the ABS appeal. I understand that The Hindenberg was a necessary signing at the time because we were starting KThomas at C but its time to cut and run. Zeke knows this. Maybe his demeanor last night was indicative of Dolan saying no to his request to keep DNick ???? That worth speculating at least.
and don’t be too sad about losing the 2nd round pick next year. If we make the playoffs, how good will that pick be ? We have enough young talent on this roster right now not to sweat a 2nd rounder.
Peaceman:
The responsibility to inform Nichols, Jordan and Walker
(especially Nichols) of decision to waive them from roster may
well explain Isiah’s demeanor last night in the MSG press interview. Clearly, he along with us, hold ambivalen feelings
about Nichols potential, but by acting now Nichols has opportunity to catch on with another team–hopefully somewhere in the Western
Division. At any rate, I guess the task of informing the three
players was on his mind. That’s why he–not me or your–is paid
the big bucks. So be it. KFL and LGK
The Knicks have an option to pick up a 4th year on both Lee and Nate, don’t they ? and is that this year or next ?
John Q
The later of your post was the exact sediment of mine last blog!
If it was truly Zeke’s call, he wouldn’t of been as serious
as he was after a blowout! Now watch who picks him up!
I’ll give odds that Riley signs him before Midnight!
Again, lets hope he goes West! I see Detroit has a need as Stucky just
broke his hand! Either way, I’ll be rooting for this Kid, and I hope he torches us
when he plays against us, but that we win! What a mistake, I feel the “Rod Strickland”
mistake all over again!
He’s a 2nd round rookie regardless of who picks him up and won’t make a major contribution. If you are worried about years down the road you may have a point. In the short run its no big deal.
Post-up Prince
A little Hahnesque? “So be it!” Is that the same as “Get over it?”
Well I wish it were that easy! I’m not alone in being pissed that
Jerome James is still on this team, when we let a YOUNG Pure shooter go!
JohnQ, I keep sayin til i’m blue in the face that you gots 15 spots, there could’ve been room for this so-called “project” (project my butt, he fell to the second round of the deepest draft in yeears cuz of some bogus health reports) — i mean, whut thee hell is so precious about Rose? It’s about havin some goods in the hopper for future seasons. That said, some have made the good point that Zeke can recover from the loss — in time — as he does have a great eye talent. Chandler in the meantime can be given his time to mature.
Fuck it! I’ll take “CLYDE” MSG’S Knick fan over
Jerome James!
The guy who made the CNNSI prediction with the knicks in the 6th playoff spot elaborates on his unpopular forecast (almost ALL the previews have the knicks coming in 4th place in the atlantic with the knicks out of the playoffs and back in the lottery).
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/10/25/picks/
Can we stop putting the kid on a pedestal ? By listening to you guys, he’s the next Ray Allen, Michael Redd, or Allan Houston. Relax, what has he proven so far ? 3 years from now I may be eating my words but not right now.
Defenders,
We all have been “bloggin’” in anticipation of this day and the move that IT would make. “Don’t cry for me Argentina”! There are so many unknowns at this point. If “Dillusional But Nice” played along with the script IT played out, we would not be having this discussion. It is still too early to tell WTF is going on with player moves. DBNice made is professional choice/decision based on his representation and now will live through it.
Hey Peaceman,
I’m not coocoo for coco puffs nor do I do salty nuts, I just rinse the salt off. So far, IT has not delivered on any of your requests. Jordan is gone as Cooleyhigh warned you would happen; Berger has been selling wolf tickets about Ron Ron coming; and now DBNice is cut too–much to your and ChuckFM’s chagrin. Don’t sweat it (no salty nuts pun intended) big fella, workman’s comp will be paying JJsnaxx. I’m not qualified to dis or hate on any of these ballers–they made it through and they gots mad more coins than I could count in my lifetime.
KFLL
Steady
Don’t even mention Jordan to me! I never thought twice about him, and
called him “Pauly Shore.” You got Da wrong guy! I always thought he SUCKED,
and said Brian Green should have got that preseason spot!
Yo Steady, not to MY chagrin nothin. I’m pretty confident DNice’ll end up somewhere in the NBA this season and will do just fine. I’m just annoyed cutting him might be to Zeke’s chagrin.
Jazz just mentioned the Nets have an open spot!
BARF said that would suck! I agree!
I have a question for all of you. Do you think is important to send a message to NJ or rest the starters for the 1st game ? Theres no JKidd so I don’t think its sending them any message to whip them tomorrow. Please weigh in defenders.
A bit off topic but it’s the Yankees
I hope Joe Girardi get’s the job with the Yankees. He will get those playing to their potential. He’l make A-Rod play in the post saeson.
Also Brian Cashman is overrated. He took over form B. White who built the chanpionship teams and after Cashman started putting his stamp on the team they have not won again. Lose Cashman take girardi and maybe we can get back on track. The socks suck.
Now for DBNice. that is probably a correct moniker. I trust that IT picked the players who best fit the needs for this team. DBN may have potential but not for this team right now. Should have taken that trip.
Too bad! It does appear D. Nichols could really be a player. Though, as many have pointed out he wasn’t going to be a major / minor contributor this year. As well, as our host smartly noted he needs to work on his handle. I think everyone’s in agreement that the team should part ways with J. James. But I don’t think you can argue the financial reasoning for it. In addition to the 18MM remaining on James’s contract because the Knicks are woefully over the salary cap they would have to count an additional 18MM in luxury cap penalties. That’s a whopping 36MM! Not sure you want to absorb this in order to give a roster spot to a mainly unproven young player.
Reports are the Knicks are hoping he signs a 1yr. contract and have an opportunity to sign him next summer.
I can’t blame the kid for wanting to play now.It sure would have made it easy, if he went to Europe. But I don’t think he will crack some team’s starting line up or 9 man rotation this year.IT did have some options to keep him, trade other players, cut jjames,or jjefferies (big contracts) OR (and you may not want to hear this) buy out Collins who has not looked good so far with his knee problems. IT did not use any of those options which tells me, he couldn’t find a good trade and he values the money(buying out a big contract) over what talent this kid MAY have.And he may not want to put the Knicks in more debt, and admit his mistake in signing JJames.
The last couple games are the last tune-ups before season starts so it’s time to tighten up the roster and really firm up the rotation. It’s not to be taken too seriously, but assuming HMHA and Jefferson are still playing then they’ll still have some firepower in effect. If they win, they win, if they lose, they lose, either way no big deal, but it’s def a game to be taken seriously as far as rotation goes and guys knowing their roles. This is prolly partly why all three guys were cut today — the message to the rest of the team is,”LGK!”
If the NY press can get a license to ride IT like some sway back nag, why is Cashman getting a free get out of NYC MSM hell free card. One more thing Reggie Miller and Greg Anthony epitomize the uncle tomism that pervades black broadcasters today. Reggie has always been full of Shyt and Greg Anthony is so unfit for the job that the only way he can keep it is by kissing up to his masters by kicking down the brothers in the field. They need to read the autobiography of Paul Robeson or Jackie Robinson, or Bill Russel, or Wilt. Oh how far these suckas have fallen have fallen
That’s it from the EC perspective
DLT Knicks;
Did you mean to say Buy out Collins. Tell me there is a bug in your keyboard that caused those keystrokes to happen. Last season at the end of the year wasn’t Collins a big time player for us? After not playing in the PS the man came in bad wheels and all and had 4 steals 1 block and 3 FTs in 10 minutes. The Knicks have scorers (see JC, N8, ZR, EC, SM).This kid plays defense. I can’t believe you could propose a buy out in favor of DBN.
from the NY Post
maybe this explains why Little Jimmy didn’t want to take an 18 million dolar hit? Business is not very good right now.
THE DOLANS FLOP
INVESTORS CRUSH CABLEVISION BID TO GO PRIVATE
By PETER LAURIA and ZACHERY KOUWE
October 25, 2007 — The Red Hot Chili Peppers once sang, “Walk away and taste the pain,” and for Cablevision shareholders the lyric could not be more appropriate.
After the founding Dolan family’s stinging defeat yesterday in its fourth bid to take the cable company private, investors can now expect the firm’s stock and growth prospects to drift lower.
Though a number of Cablevision’s smaller institutional shareholders supported the Dolans’ offer, their collective stakes weren’t enough to overcome opposition from the company’s largest investors, including ClearBridge Advisors, Mario Gabelli’s Gamco and T. Rowe Price, which together represented a nearly 30 percent stake in Cablevision.
“While we are disappointed that shareholders did not approve the transaction, there is really nothing negative about [the] outcome,” father-and-son duo Chuck and Jimmy Dolan said in a statement issued after a 30-minute meeting held at the company’s Bethpage, L.I., headquarters.
“In fact, in many ways, it is a very positive event. We see [the] outcome as a vote of confidence in the prospects of Cablevision.”
The rejection marked the fourth time in two years the Dolans failed to convince shareholders that they were offering a full and fair price for Cablevision.
And despite increasing their offer each time – from $21 per share in 2005 to $27 and then $30 earlier this year before coming back in May with its $36.26 offer – some investors think all those offers undervalued the company.
Gabelli, for one, said yesterday that he believes Cablevision is worth upwards of $50 per share.
Maybe so, but the stock isn’t going to reach that level anytime soon.
Cablevision closed yesterday down $1.04 to $30.82 per share. Analysts expect the stock to fall even further in the near term on lower subscriber and profit forecasts as well as competition from Verizon’s FiOS service.
Given that, shareholders who were betting the deal would go through are hoping the Dolans will do something to boost the stock price in the near term.
“I’m always open to the suggestion that the Dolans start running this company properly,” said one large Cablevision shareholder.
Analyst have suggested that the Dolans sell Rainbow Media, which houses cable channels AMC, IFC, WE: Women’s Entertainment, and flip the cable systems to Time Warner, leaving Jimmy Dolan to operate his true passion: Madison Square Garden and its related sports teams.
The Dolans previously said in a regulatory filing that they might sell assets to pay down debt if the deal was approved. And analysts think they might still sell assets.
Given the current credit crunch and the unprecedented amount of leverage that Wall Street provided for the deal, the Dolans are not expected to try another privatization attempt for at least a year or more.
To be sure, the Dolan family’s lender banks, which together agreed to provide $15.5 billion in debt financing for the deal, are said to be relieved that the deal was rejected.
That’s especially true for Bear Stearns, which is no longer on the hook for $5.2 billion, which represented more than half of the bank’s entire leveraged buyout commitments.”
peter.lauria@nypost.com
LGK?
predictions from DOUBTERS!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-NewYorkPreview0708#
That ESPN prediction has to be one of the worst written predictions in the history of predicting things. Did they have a board meeting and say “Hey everybody this is the stance we are going to take against that sexual harrasser Isiah Thomas and his NY Knicks.” I honestly believe the whole world wants our GM fired and the thing is he’s not half as bad as Mchale and Bird. Larry Bird’s team has been in so many club brawls, arena fights and weed stoppages it’s not even funny anymore. I’m telling you my friends the hunt is on and Isiah’s Knicks are the prey.
@St_George #24
The keyboard is fine, yes you read correctly. BUT, we were talking about how to keep DNicks.If this guy has the talent that most feel he has, how to you keep him?……what are your options. Yes, Big snacks would be the best option, but he does help EC practice better. Or lose Rose, who has leadership and is our best post defender. JJeferies?
St_George NOW YOU ARE THE GM………..AND NO GOOD TRADES ARE AVAILIBLE….HOW DO YOU KEEP DNICKS?
REMEMBER YOU ALREADY HAVE 4 AND A HALF(counting Q) GUARDS.
Will da JJordan knut-rider steph forward? No worry, the ridicule will not be unbearable.
KFLL
@Boomann #27
Not to mention Layden…..who put us in this situation in the first place.
Nice interveiw with Zach
Was Sahwn Kemp actually on the team when ZBo was there ?
If the value of Cablevision’s stock is expected to go down, the investors would rather have pulled their money out and allowed the Dolan’s to take the company private. Most investor’s see the Cable TV, Internet and Phone as one sector in Telecommunication that is expected to grow over the next few years. Although I must add that it sucks whenever I pay my cable bill. The reason not to cut Jerome may lie elsewhere, not necessarily finances.
For one, last week it was reported that Snacks was going to have season-ending surgery, however the next day the same media reported that he had started light training. Don’t know what to believe but this is apparent; Randolph Morris is not ready (maybe another year). Malik can back up Curry but we may need Snacks to bang with some bodies like Duncan, Shaq, Yao. etc. and pick up some necessary fouls for E-City. Too much to pay for a back-up center but at this point the pressure is on and IT need to win now. D-nice cannot defend anyone in this league at the moment. Tough decision either way. Nothing to do with Stock Value
My 2 cents
LGK
Peace
“So be it” is a the phrase I used to console myself. I would also much prefer to have dumped “Big Snax” and keep D.Nice. No intent to imitate Hahn’s lingo. Hard to justify wasting $18.6 million to
keep a player whose playing time would be limited this season. With
Q, Jeffries, Balkman and Chandler able to play the 3, the only other
spot for Nichols is the 2, where Zeke has the option of Crawford, Q,
Nate, Marbury (at times) and F. Jones–the latter showed solid stuff
in Wednesday’s game, and his defensive skill and experience is ahead
of Nice. A hard choice no matter how much we second guess. We still
have to play the team we have, not the team we would like to have (to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld), but our current team is still damn good. That team is what I will be pulling for. KFL
Prince,
You are steady a Prince and a soon-to-be King of da F’n Hill. Love the ones we’ve got.
KFLL
This article really dogs JJefferies. Calling him the worse free agent signing last year.
This article really puts down JJefferies.
JJefferies article
Things going Wright in GS
Although the under-sized PF project isn’t working out for Pietrus, Coach Nelson is surprised by his rookie big man Brandan Wright:
With Nelson turning the game over to his youngsters, Wright came through with seven points and six rebounds in a 14-minute showcase that took his coach completely by surprise.
“He was just terrific,” Nelson said. “And I wasn’t even going to play him.”
The 6-foot-9, 205-pounder left his prints all over the extra period, grabbing four rebounds and firing in his second smooth-looking jumper of the night.
As an aside, Rookie Marco Belinelli also had a solid game Tuesday with 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in 23 minutes.
Diaw to lead 2nd Team in Phx
Maybe a little pep talk will help JCraw understand the important of having a leader on the bench. D’Antoni likes the idea of Diaw coming off the bench:
Diaw’s passing brings cohesiveness to any lineup, and he’s in the NBA’s top five for preseason minutes. The Suns try to run more offense through him when he is with backups.
“I can play with everybody,” Diaw said. “I’m comfortable out there. I can do a lot of different things with a lot of different matchups. It’s good sometimes to come with the second group to give a plus and keep the level of intensity.”
Bulls under New leadership
Is Hinrich ready for his role as a captain? The Bulls time is now and they need him to take them to the next level:
Skiles hopes all his players take ownership in the team.
”That’s another step that we have to take,” he said. ”It’s much easier if guys are policing themselves. I don’t necessarily like that word [policing] because it makes it seem like there are serious things going wrong. But sort of keeping control of the group themselves, so you don’t have to intervene in any sort of negative way.
”I think we’re on the edge of that. But a lot of times you don’t find that out until things start going wrong — you drop three in a row or things are happening. That’s when you really need your leadership.”
Lakers looking for a silver lining
With Odom out for the first few games, the Lakers lineup will look very suspect to start the season. Still, their big men are showing some fight:
Lamar Odom is out at least the first few games, limiting Jackson’s options, but the battle at center between Brown, Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihm has been somewhat narrowed, Jackson said.
“I think ‘Drew’s shooting the ball well and averaging much more, but he’s playing a ton,” Jackson said.
“I think Kwame has had a couple good games. Chris has had one game where he’s played well. You could probably say right now Kwame and ‘Drew are pushing each other.”
I’m with Charles. Malik should go instead of D-Nice. It is also possible that us outsiders are undervaluing Maliks lockerroom chemistry factor
As urged by some, here is the belated response to Hollinger’s bullshit article yesterday: http://www.cosellout.com/?p=147
Sorry I’m with the opinion that says DNice woulda been nice to keep, but he is not the second coming of Lebron James.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the 3 poniters by Jones, during the critical part of the game went just as swish as DNice’s shots in garbage time.
And dang, Jones had some nice jams as well.
This team can’t afford another 2/3 right now.
The only way to keep DNice and Chandler, was to shed Collins, Jones or Jeffries. Didn’t happen, I think Zeke did the prudent thing and the most cost effective thing for Dolan.
Some of you guys forget this is a real business…not a fantasy league.
I’ve had enough of this Malik should go stuff
He’s eloquent, intelligent, a natural leader, successful, consistent, reliable, strong headed, driven, motivated, has taken Curry under his wing, a big brother to all the young’ns, plays defense, hustles and has big man SKILLS…
whats wrong with any of that?
He’s not exactly a scrub. I dont know why people pick on him. JJames, I understand. But Malik is a scholar.
If you are going to fill your bench roster spots with players, first and foremost, you want quality. Malik is quality. DNich has potential. But from the bench you need someone who can get up and give you what you expect, every time out. Malik is that.
Why cut Malik and his remaining years for DNich? You dont know what you will get from him yet.
Knowing that you wont get jack out of JJames, I’d cut him. But the $18/plus the $18 luxury tax makes that a hard pill to swallow for a kid that you havent even seen play in the NBA yet. Especially when you are extremely deep in that position already.
Why would Isiah make the deals to acquire DNich and JJordan if he knew they were prolly gonna get cut anyway?
Cuz he can. No one else seemed to want to. Maybe now that Isiah gave them some NYC shine, they will find themselves in a better position for it.
I wouldn’t trade DNich for Malik. Not yet at least. Maybe I’ll eat my words in 2 years, but it wont be before DNich puts in some serious hours at the gym and finds himself a system in the league that will not only develop him but give him some Playing Time.
Matt Barnes found a home in GS. Maybe DNich will follow his lead. He could also try to find a spot on the Lakers. With Kobe manning the SG position, there’s always room for him behind Luke Walton. Their bench is weak anyway.
“went just as swish as DNice’s shots in garbage time.”
I’m gonna use that one.
Nice.
Modi
Thanks for sharing that article. However, I don’t remember the press being as hard on Layden when he destroyed the Knicks.
I posted this before but here it is again:
Layden facts
1)Traded Ewing for Glen Rice,Luc Longley, Travis Knight. That Houston-Spree-Rice plan never worked.
2)Traded Camby and top 10 draft pick(Nene)to Denver for McDo-Nothing-in-NY.Now in Detriot.
3)Drafted Fredrick Weis OVER Ron Artest
4)Drafted Mike Sweetney OVER Diaw,Barbosa,Josh Howard,Pietrus,David West.
5) Drafted Donnell Harvey…………WHO?
BARF, my feeling was that Isiah was banking on the fact that he might have been able to swing a 2-1 or 3-1 trade. Didn’t happen.
KOOL MODI!
LOOK OUT BIAS MEDIA! WHEN YOU SPEW HALF TRUTHS,
NOW YOU TRULY HAVE SOMEONE ON YOUR ASS! GREAT JOB MODI!
MODI
The trade would’ve been a good idea. But if you’re another team, why make a trade? You can just wait until Isiah does what he has to do.
And why is everyone feeling sorry for DNich?
If Isiah trades him, Isiah picks the best deal for the Knicks.
If Isiah cuts DNich, DNich picks the best situation for DNich.
And, either way, he gets paid. So, you either feel bad for Isiah or the Knicks for having to let him go. You can’t feel bad for DNich. DNich got the NYC exposure and had a chance to showcase his abilities on as big a stage as there is in the NBA. If he finds a spot in the NBA now, he can thank Isiah for throwing that wad of cash at Portland, making fans out of us NYers and carrying him throughout the offseason.
Sure he had to cut him, but its been well documented that everyone thinks DNich will be successful. Unfortunately, not for the Knicks. The folks who use this as an opportunity to bash Isiah yet again, just don’t get it.
By the way, Modi, I left a nugget at your spot. Hollinger caught it nasty from you.
By far and away, my least favorite part of his piece was the “Jalen Rose” trade. You’d swear Hollinger had some money on the MSG stock or something.
BARF
Yeah right!
The Spurs missed the Hell out Rose!
Barf,
I agree 100 percent. Malik is a proven champion, with a lot of pride, who knows how to play the game, despite being overpaid and undersized. His experience, leadership, maturity, and coaching advice is essential on this team, even if he is a bench player. If Lee or Curry or Zach goes down, he’s the guy I want comin off the bench to take a shift at the 4/5, cause you know what you’re gonna get. Morris is nowhere near ready. Can we upgrade when his contract is done or bundle that contract in a trade when it’s expiring? Sure, but in the meantime, he’s a quality, solid, consistent guy.
I was saying all along that if you wanted DNice on the squad, you have to give up Collins or Jones (not to mention Houston). Zeke made the tuff choice of going with proven guards with small contracts.