The Arizona Cardinals must figure out how to find the balance within their play calling and try to incorporate more running plays in their scheme.

After another disappointing loss, the Arizona Cardinals are 1-2 on the season. The good thing is that its still very early in the year and they have a chance to righten the ship. There are improvements and adjustments that need to be made, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Last season, the Cardinals had one of the top offensive units in the NFL as they were tied for eighth in total touchdowns, 11th in points scored, 11th in points per game and were eighth in total offense. Expectations were much higher for this unit entering the season.

They were expected to improve upon last seasons performance with the new the additions such as WR Marquis Brown, rookie TE Trey McBride, RB Darrel Williams, and rookie RB Keontay Ingram. But the coaches appear to be struggling with finding the right balance within the offensive scheme.

Its noticeable how much the Cardinals pass the ball as opposed to the run, but thats largely a result of falling behind early which forces them to pass the ball as they play from behind. They have been notorious for their slow starts in each of their three games so far and that has had a negative effect on the game plan.

During the first game of 2022against the KC Chiefs, the Cardinals fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter. In their second game they got off to an even worse start as they faced a 20-0 deficit going into halftime but they somehow was able to make a miraculous comeback for their first win of the season.

Last week was the same story as the Arizona Cardinals once again fell behind early to their divisional foe Los Angeles Rams as they were down 10-0 in the 1st quarter. QB Kyler Murray had 58 pass attempts against the Rams. And while he did make a couple of big connections, he only averaged 5.4 yards an attempt.

Kliff Kingsbury must find a way to implement the running game more into his offensive attack in order to keep defenses honest and to make his play calling less predictable. And besides Murray throwing for 314 yards, he had zero TD passes as he set his career highs in attempts and completions.

There has to be a level of concern for Murray dropping back that many times in the pocket (even though the offensive line played exceptionally well against a vaunted Rams defense) and being exposed to the pass rush even with his ability to escape. So why not try to find some balance and put the ball in the hands of the running backs?

Against the Rams the Cardinals RBs only ran the ball 19 times while accumulating 62 yards. James Conner, Eno Benjamin and Willams are too talented to limit their touches because they all have big play ability and are good inside the red zone.

Putting the ball in the hands of the RBs (especially early in games) could open things up in the passing game for Murray and company, especially if they have success because opposing defenses must account for both the run and pass. While comparing discrepancies between the numbers, the Cardinals passing totals prove that they are a pass heavy team as they currently rank second in attempts, third in completions, 18th in completion percentage and 12th in passing yards.

While comparing the rushing stats, its noticeable just how much the Cardinals play callers favor the pass over the run as the Cardinals are currently 21st in attempts, 17th in yards, and 13th in yards per carry. Maybe adding a few plays for their stable of running backs could be the key to unlocking their success as the Cardinals only have 3 TDs through the air.

Everyone knows what the Air Raid offense was designed for. But it may prove to be a genius idea to implement more running plays into the game plan.

(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)

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Arizona Cardinals have zero balance within the offense - Raising Arizona

NBA training camps and the 2022-23 season are right around the corner, and players and coaches are set to preview their team's upcoming campaigns with their respective media days this week.

For some teams, this year's media day will be the first introduction of some of their big offseason additions. These include the Atlanta Hawks' new shooting guard Dejounte Murray, the Cleveland Cavaliers' new shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and the Minnesota Timberwolves' new center Rudy Gobert. Each of which will meet with reporters for the first time as a member of their new respective squads.

This year's rookie class will also make their NBA media day debuts. First overall pick Paolo Banchero will get some facetime with Orlando Magic beat reporters fresh off his Summer League performance as he prepares for his first NBA training camp.

The same goes for Jabari Smith Jr. of the Houston Rockets, Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings and a handful of other coveted rookies that will be expected to help their teams right away this year.

ESPN's countdown of the league's best players returns for its 12th season. See which stars made the cut, which vaulted to the top and which are sliding down the list.

NBArank 1-5: International stars on the rise NBArank 6-10: How far LeBron and KD fell NBArank 11-25: L.A. duo and rising Wolves NBArank 26-100: Russ, Ben and a host of Qs Debate! LeBron's ranking and top-10 tweaks

Then there are some veteran teams that will have some serious questions and concerns to address heading into the season. The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, who bear the pressure of being serious win-now contenders this year, got plenty of the media's attention last year for all the wrong reasons.

LeBron James and Russell Westbrook will have to explain to Lakers reporters why they will bounce back from last year's losing campaign.

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will have to answer for their spree of off-the-court distractions and offseason of near departures in their first media appearances since their first-round playoff exit last season.

Here's what players are talking about as media days kick off across the league:

Did we just become best friends?

Back in November 2019, after years of on-court run-ins, Russell Westbrook attempted to bury Patrick Beverley -- suggesting that his defensive reputation was more branding than actual execution.

"Pat Bev trick y'all, man, like he plays defense," Westbrook said at the time. "He don't guard nobody, man. It's just running around doing nothing."

Beverley later revealed on JJ Redick's podcast that Westbrook's barb "damaged my career."

That's what made Beverley's comments about Westbrook at Lakers media day Monday so jaw-dropping.

"You can't really take everything you do in the game and put it in real life," Beverley told ESPN. "Since I've been here ... if I was to have a best friend on the team right now, for sure it'd be him. We spend the most time together. We've been locked and lift weights together and all that stuff. So I'm super excited."

Whether Beverley and Westbrook have truly let bygones be bygones or if this was just an orchestrated effort by the pair of point guards to throw a wet blanket on their fiery past in front of the media remains to be seen.

During Beverley's news conference, he was asked to elaborate on how his relationship with Westbrook has grown since he was traded to L.A., causing the 11-year veteran to launch into a facetious fairytale.

"We went on this boat ride, you feel me? It was just us two. It was real intimate," Beverley said. "It was 2,000 candles, you feel me? He landed in a helicopter. I came in one of my underwater vessels. We talked three hours over wine. He had a two-Michelin-star chef come pull up, cook some steaks. I had my chef pull up and make the desserts. And that's how we got to where we are now."

Beverley did share a legitimate story with the Lakers' regional television partner that he and Westbrook have spent time together during pregame chapel services over the years and that Westbrook once gifted his sister courtside tickets.

"I look at my sister, she's on the floor, he gave her her seats," Beverley told Spectrum SportsNet. "[Didn't] know me from a can of paint. ... From that point on [the relationship improved]."

The Lakers plan to use Beverley as their primary wing defender and hope he can convert from the outside as a career 37.8% 3-point shooter, sources familiar with the team's thinking told ESPN, rather than use training camp as a battle for the starting point guard spot between him and Westbrook.

However, there will be others on the roster -- namely Dennis Schroder, Kendrick Nunn and Austin Reaves -- that Westbrook will have to separate himself from in order to secure a job with the first unit.

-- Dave McMenamin

Durant, Nets GM address offseason drama

The Brooklyn Nets had an ... eventful summer. But after Kevin Durant's surprising trade request -- and subsequent rescinding of said trade request -- the Nets are whole again and have the roster to contend for an NBA championship.

Durant and Nets general manager Sean Marks addressed their tumultuous offseason during Brooklyn's media day.

"No," Durant said when asked if he was surprised he's still a Net. "I know I'm that good that you're not just going to give me away. That's one thing I did appreciate about Sean and [Nets owner] Joe [Tsai]. ...

"I know who I am."

Sitting next to Nets coach Steve Nash, Marks addressed KD's trade request and the adversity facing Brooklyn this season.

"If [Durant] wanted out, and still wanted out, he wouldn't be here," Marks said.

"You want people who have the conviction to be here."

The Lambo is back for the Pels

Zion Williamson is a Lamborghini and needs to treat his body as such.

That was New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance's message to his star teammate as Williamson prepares to return to the court for the 2022-23 season after a long injury layoff.

"You don't put the cheapest gas in a Lambo, you know?" Nance said at Pelicans media day on Monday. "You go to the pump and you put the 93 to 95, whatever that is, you put that in there 'cause you don't want to be on the highway driving and hear your engine. No, you don't want that."

Williamson missed all of last season with a broken right foot. A year ago at Pelicans media day, the Pelicans announced the injury, and it seemed that Williamson wouldn't miss much of the regular season, if any games at all. Instead, Williamson suffered numerous setbacks and never was able to step foot on the court.

This year's media day was different, however. Williamson was all smiles all day.

"I feel like I'm at my best right now," Williamson said. "I feel like I'm moving faster, jumping higher. I feel great."

-- Andrew Lopez

Goran Dragic on the D-Rose dunk: "This is my nightmare"

When a reporter began to bring up the time Goran Dragic, then in only his second season in the NBA, was on the wrong side of a dunk by Derrick Rose, all Dragic could do was smile and laugh.

"This is my nightmare," he joked.

The clip went viral for Rose's ferocious dunk and Bulls commentator Stacey King's animated reaction -- "What are you doing Dragic? Did you not get the memo?" -- but Dragic, now entering his 15th season in the NBA, is able to laugh looking back on it.

"The funny thing is this was the only time somebody dunk on me in my whole NBA career," Dragic said. "It's fine. I even talk to Derrick. We were together in Zagreb when we had an Adidas campaign and I came to him and I said 'You had to do it like that?'

"At least I'm on TV all the time."

-- Jamal Collier

Patrick Williams on training with DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan leaned back in his chair and laughed when asked about putting Patrick Williams through his offseason workout plan.

DeRozan had been plotting for Williams, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft entering his third season in Chicago, to join him in Los Angeles during the offseason ever since the end of last season when he proclaimed at his exit interview that "Pat is my main victim."

"The workout starts at 5 on the dot, not 5:01, not 4:59 -- 5 a.m. You can't be pulling in the parking lot at 5 a.m.," Williams said. "He puts himself through every situation he can possibly be in in the game -- every double-team, triple-team. It's different. One-on-one, one-on-three -- it's just different. Then of course he has a family. He goes home and tends to them, be with them, still be a father. ... Then we go back in the afternoon for more."

After missing most of last season with a wrist injury, Williams' development will be one of the biggest storylines to watch this season in Chicago.

"Even before the season ended last year, I was telling him how important this summer is for him," DeRozan said. "Coming into his third year, so much experience and understanding what needs to be done is gained your first two years. You kind of let it all out going into your third year."

-- Collier

Bulls give an update on Lonzo's knee

The Chicago Bulls did not have a firm timeline for Lonzo Ball's return when they met with the media Monday at the United Center.

Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said the team and Ball's representatives reached a crossroads over the summer with Ball's recovery from a left knee injury suffered in January before electing to have another surgery, which is scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles.

"First of all, we gave him every opportunity to rehab and get back on the court without doing the surgery," Karnisovas said. "So that was our thought process, obviously with the thought in mind of what's best for the player. ... We need to do something else."

Ball is expected to be reevaluated in four to six weeks following the surgery, which will sideline him for training camp and at least the start of the regular season.

Chicago remained optimistic about its chances to compete while noting how improved the Eastern Conference would be this season, pointing to guards Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White, as well as new addition Goran Dragic, as players who will pick up the slack in Ball's absence.

"Anytime you lose a good player, it's always challenging," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. "I think we'll have to see how these guys gel and mesh once training camp starts and we start practicing. I think we have enough back there that we can get the job done."

-- Collier

Clippers take the throne -- the kicks throne

The LA Clippers have several stations where players stop by to take pictures at media day. One is a kicks station, complete with an elevated throne. Paul George stopped by to show off his latest "PG" model and talk about his favorite kicks growing up -- the first shoes he loved were the Nike Huaraches worn by Michigan's Fab Five. Marcus Morris Sr. stopped by to greet George, who saw Morris wearing several gold chains with his uniform and said he should've worn his gold chain as well.

John Wall unloaded a bag of sneakers while Kawhi Leonard stopped by to look at all of Wall's kicks. Wall shouted, "Hey Klaw!" to ask what he thought. Leonard said Wall could use some New Balances -- his shoe sponsor -- but added, "You got some Kobes in there."

-- Ohm Youngmisuk

Jaylen Brown addresses KD trade talks

While the focus of media day in the Boston suburbs was on the suspension of coach Ime Udoka, and the fallout from it, Jaylen Brown also addressed one other lingering storyline from the offseason: his inclusion in trade discussions for Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant.

"Yes and no," Brown said when asked if he'd talked to the front office about the trade discussions. "I've talked to my teammates, I've talked to ownership, organization, etc. I keep those conversations between us. All I can say is that now that I'm here, I'm ready to play basketball. I'm in great shape, probably the best shape of my life, so I'm excited to start the journey. Things have gotten to the start that we wanted it to go, but that's life sometimes, so put our best foot forward and do what we gotta do."

Brown, who will turn 26 next month, has blossomed into one of the NBA's top wing players, and he and Jayson Tatum are among the league's elite wing combinations. But it also isn't the first time his name has come up in such a scenario, as it did when superstars like Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard were available in the past.

Brown alluded to that when asked how it felt to go through that this summer, hinting that it's not the first time he has had to do so.

"I don't know how to answer that," Brown said. "It's been the same since I've been here, so it wasn't surprising or it wasn't not surprising, it didn't make me feel some type of way or whatever.

"It is what it is. I talked to my teammates, organization about it and now I'm just ready to play basketball."

-- Tim Bontemps

Keeping Luka fresh after a busy summer

Luka Doncic will likely get a lot of time off during training camp. The Mavericks want to proceed with caution when it comes to their MVP candidate, who spent his summer starring for the Slovenian national team, including playing in seven EuroBasket games earlier this month.

Unlike the past two years, Doncic reported to training camp this month in game shape. However, he took a beating during EuroBasket, playing through injuries to his shooting wrist, ankle, head and back.

"We're going to start a little light, but as we all know in this room, Luka loves to play basketball," coach Jason Kidd said. "He's ready to go, but we want just to start slow. This is a marathon. He just got done playing, but anytime he sees the practice game plan and sees scrimmage, he's ready to play."

Doncic, Kidd and Mavs director of player health and performance Casey Smith will discuss the superstar's involvement in practice on a daily basis. Doncic, whose EuroBasket run ended prematurely when Poland pulled off a stunning upset over Slovenia in the quarterfinals, said he feels "fine" physically.

"I'm probably not going to do everything, but I'm going to do a lot," Doncic said. "I don't know. We're still trying to figure out a plan."

--Tim MacMahon

When will Robert Williams III be ready?

When the NBA Finals came to a close a little more than three months ago, both the Boston Celtics and starting center Robert Williams III said they anticipated rest -- and not surgery -- would be the thing to fix his left knee that caused him problems throughout the playoffs.

But then came last week, when the team announced Williams not only had surgery on that same left knee, but that he wouldn't be able to resume basketball activities for another 8-12 weeks.

"I just feel like it never got back to what it was," Williams said when addressing why he chose to have surgery. "That's the bottom line.

"So, we want to do 100 percent of rehab and do things the right way."

The injury was the second significant blow to Boston's depth in the past few weeks, after free agent signing Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL in a World Cup qualifier for Italy in late August.

But Williams, who had a meniscectomy in late March and came back in less than a month to play in the first round of the playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets -- and ultimately missed seven playoff games as he shuttled in and out of the lineup as the knee flared up -- said repeatedly he had "no regrets" about playing through it.

"I'm solid, for sure," Williams said. "I played in the Finals, homie. You win some, you lose some, but I don't regret my decision at all. I was 24 years old and my dream was to play in the Finals. I don't regret that s---."

-- Bontemps

How do you do, fellow kids?

Mavericks have a plan for newcomer Christian Wood

The Mavericks' plan for Christian Wood, their most prominent offseason addition, is to use him as a sixth man.

Coach Jason Kidd confirmed that during media day, but it might have been news to Wood, who was acquired from the Houston Rockets in June for the No. 26 overall pick and four end-of-bench players.

"This is my first time hearing about it," said Wood, who was straight faced at first and then laughed, somewhat uncomfortably.

Wood averaged 19.1 points and 9.9 rebounds as the starting center for the rebuilding Rockets the past two seasons and is entering the final year of a three-year, $41 million deal. JaVale McGee will start at center for the Mavericks, as the 34-year-old lob threat and rim protector was promised during the free agency recruiting process.

"I'm motivated either way -- off the bench or starting, either way," Wood said, noting this is the first time in his career that he has had an opportunity to contribute to a winning team. "It's something I could figure out. I'm not really worried about who's starting the game, more so concerned about who's finishing the game.

"If people are asking like, 'How would he feel about coming off the bench?' I'm not too worried. It's something that most likely will [be discussed] in talks with extensions and talks with free agency, but during the season, it's not going to get me off of my pivot."

Wood profiles as a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate if he embraces the role. He has proven the ability to score efficiently, is a threat to roll or pop after screening and figures to get a lot of good looks around the rim and at the 3-point line when paired with MVP candidate Luka Doncic.

"I want C. Wood to be himself," Kidd said. "I don't need him to be 'The Microwave.' I just need him to be C. Wood."

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NBA media days - The best quotes from around the league as teams kick off the 2022-23 season - ESPN

Wine & Dine in the D at Westin Book Cadillac Hotel: Explore gourmet food, wine, beer, spirits and more from local restaurants for a good cause. A fundraiser for Cure Multiple Myeloma Corporation and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the evening features food from popular restaurants like SheWolf, Crispellis Bakery, Mootz Pizzeria, the Silver Spoon, Zao Jun and more. Hear live music from Ursula Walker and the Buddy Budson Quintet. 5 p.m. Sept. 29. $195-$295. 1114 Washington, Detroit. (248) 921-1576. Curemultiplemyeloma.org.

Chick-fil-A opens in Southfield: The newest Metro Detroit location for Chick-fil-A is opening Thursday in Southfield. Owned and operated by Southfield-bred Matthew Leverett, this location will be open Mon.-Sat. for dine-in, drive-thru and carryout service, including mobile carryout and mobile drive-thru ordering. 28550 Telegraph, Southfield. chick-fil-a.com.

Taste of Black Spirits at Garden Theater: A celebration of BIPOC-owned spirit brands and companies from across the globe, the Taste of Black Spirits returns to the Garden Theater for a second event, showcasing Black-owned alcohol brands such as Duke & Dame, Anteel Tequila, Tycoon Cognac and Brough Brothers Bourbon. 5-11 p.m. Fri. $55-$100. 3929 Woodward, Detroit. Search for tickets on Eventbrite.com.

The Upright opens Friday: A new underground cocktail bar opens Friday inside popular Detroit restaurant Oak & Reel. The cozy bar serves craft cocktails and small plates like Bolognese arancini and cacio e pepe pasta fritti. The Upright is open 7 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. No reservations needed or taken, except for parties of six or more. 2921 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit. (313) 270-9600.

Go to Italy with PizzaPlex: Southwest Detroit pizzeria PizzaPlex is offering a package trip overseas to Naples, Italy. Happening Dec. 2-7, travelers will get a hands-on cooking class, guided tours, a visit to the Amalfi coast, lodging, transportation and meals. Sign-up deadline is Friday. Learn more at pizzaplex.com/tour-to-naples.

Hazels launches Pacific Coast menu: Next week creative and seafood-forward Birmingham restaurant Hazels will launch their newest menu, this one inspired by the flavors and fruits of the Pacific Coast. Expect a lot of seafood, including additions to the raw bar and menu staples like their lobster rolls, token burger and fried chicken. The Pacific Coast menu starts Oct. 5 and will run through the end of 2022. 1 Peabody, Birmingham. (248) 671-1714. Eatathazels.com.

Detroit Cocktail Classic 2022 at Eastern Market: Hot brands, popular bars and expert bartenders come together for this annual event. 7 p.m. Oct. 7. $50 in advance, $65 day of. VIP tickets also available. Shed 3, 2934 Russell, Detroit. eventbrite.com/e/detroit-cocktail-classic-2022-tickets-320920500857.

Pietrzyk Pierogi celebrates National Pierogi Day: Detroit Polish food company Pietrzyk Pierogi is honoring National Pierogi Day on Oct. 8 with unique flavors. Try their sweet apple annie pierogi with Michigan apples, spices and a graham cracker crumble or the savory fall harvest pierogi with sweet potato, Parmesan cheese and Brussels sprouts. All cooked pierogi will be eight for $8 on that day, too. Patrons who spend $100 or more will get a free T-shirt. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 8. 1429 Gratiot, Suite 109, Detroit. pietrzykpierogi.com.

Melody Baetens

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Dining news and events: Cocktail parties, new menus and more - Detroit News

Texas A&M still has ground to gain to match the No. 1-ranked recruiting class last winter, but the Aggies climb inside the top 20 for the first time this cycle thanks to several key commitments.

They brought back Bravion Rogers into the mix after the speedy athlete (who projects to CB) had decommitted in early August. They also won big over future SEC rival Oklahoma by keeping ESPN 300 DT David Hicks in state. On the heels of signing an outstanding collection of defensive linemen in their 2022 class, Hicks brings impact talent and versatility with his mobility and 6-foot-4, 270-pound size. Texas A&M's class has strong quality (seven ESPN 300 commits), but is low in overall commitment numbers (12 total commits), so it remains a team to watch over the final months.

While the No. 1 spot is far from settled, Alabama has distanced itself a bit from the fierce competition with a pair of ESPN 300 additions, bringing its total to a nation-high 17. In search of their eighth top-ranked overall class under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide scored big pulling two prospects ranked among the top 10 at their positions out of the Lone Star State in Jalen Hale, a lengthy, explosive WR with good body control, and Jordan Renaud, a big man with good quickness and agility who can bring versatility to their defensive front.

While Alabama remains No. 1 on the recruiting trail, the top-ranked team on the field, Georgia, has surged back into the top five of the class rankings. The Bulldogs bolstered their offensive line by adding a third ESPN 300 OT in Monroe Freeling, a tall but flexible OL with an outstanding frame to develop. For the second time this cycle, they have gone into Florida to land an ESPN 300 WR in Tyler Williams, a still-developing but rangy target with big-play speed. Georgia has finished with a top-three class six years in a row and sits in good position to extend that impressive streak.

Oregon and USC are in a tightly contested battle for the top class in the Pac-12. The Ducks reclaimed the lead for now by adding a pair of defensive commits, namely top-10 DT A'Mauri Washington, who has the tools to be a powerful presence in the trenches.

Florida State is off to its best start on the field since 2015 and riding that momentum to rise on the recruiting trail as well. The Seminoles landed one of the nation's elite receiver prospects in Hykeem Williams, who can be dangerous with his blend of length, excellent ball skills and blazing game speed.

ESPN 300 commits: 17 | Previous ranking: 1

SEC rank: 1 of 14Top offensive commit: QB Eli Holstein (No. 13)Top defensive commit: S Caleb Downs (No. 16)

The Crimson Tide are positioning themselves to contend once again for one of the best classes in the nation. They landed some impressive talent to their secondary with in-state pickup Tony Mitchell, who has a nice blend of length, fluidity and speed, as well as Jahlil Hurley, an agile and smooth corner with good length. Downs is the No. 1 safety who can provide a physical presence with his aggressive, hard-hitting style of play. Yhonzae Pierre might not be among the most touted names in this class, but he is a very strong in-state pickup, as he is a quick, flexible defender who can develop into a disruptive edge defender. They landed the top two RB prospects in the nation in Richard Young, an explosive and versatile back out of Florida, and Justice Haynes, who rushed for over 2,000 yards as a junior, out of Georgia. This could very well be Bryce Young's last season in Tuscaloosa, and to prepare, the Tide landed two ESPN 300 QBs. Holstein, a one-time Texas A&M commit, is an accurate passer with good arm strength and mobility for his size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds). Dylan Lonergan, who is also a very talented baseball prospect, is a poised and promising QB as well.

See the article here:
2023 CFB recruiting rankings: Commits lead to top 40 shakeup - ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Changes are coming to the New York Jets' offense.

Nothing too drastic or radical, but Zach Wilson's return as the starting quarterback allows the team to do some things it simply couldn't with Joe Flacco under center.

Certain aspects, for sure, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Thursday. "Zachs a different player than Joe, so obviously the plans going to be a hair different in certain ways.

Not trying to dive into it too far, for obvious reasons, but were going to do what we think is best to help the offense and Zach and all those guys to be successful.

Wilson is fully healthy six weeks after suffering a bone bruise and having arthroscopic surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee. He's expected to start Sunday at Pittsburgh in his season debut, barring any setbacks at practice this week.

That means no restrictions on the 23-year-old quarterback whose athleticism is as much as weapon in the Jets' offense as his arm.

It's what made him so coveted in the draft last year, and had the Jets excited to take him with the No. 2 overall pick. Wilson's mobility should help open some things up for an offense that has held a lead for just 22 seconds this season where the 37-year-old Flacco more of a traditional pocket passer simply wasn't equipped to do. It's a dimension Wilson brings to the offense that has become popular with other teams in maximizing their quarterbacks' abilities.

LaFleur used Cincinnati's Joe Burrow last week's opponent and the Bengals' Super Bowl run last season as an example.

I thought there was times, just in certain situations, he almost just put his head and just found an escape route and tried to go make plays, LaFleur said. Thats not what were asking him to do were just asking Zach to go play his game, whatever hes comfortable with.

Before Wilson's preseason injury, the thought was the influx of playmaking talent the additions of Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, in particular would help make the offense more efficient after Wilson might have had the tendency last season to try to play hero while making plays out of nothing.

On the play during which he was injured in August, Wilson was trying to get extra yards a not-so-wise display of his ultra-competitiveness.

Still, Wilson insists he isn't going to change the way he plays.

Im full go, he said. Im going to be playing ball how I can.

It's an approach if used smartly could help, especially with the state of the Jets' shaky and shuffled offensive line.

Left tackle George Fant went on injured reserve with a knee injury on Tuesday and Duane Brown is still at least a week away from returning from IR with a shoulder injury. That means career backup Conor McDermott is likely to get the start with a responsibility of protecting Wilsons blind side.

The Jets have allowed 37 quarterback pressures in three games, tied for the sixth most in the NFL. Flacco was hit 17 times, tied for the second most in the league, and sacked nine times.

Wilsons ability to make plays off-schedule and scramble out of trouble could come in handy Sunday during his return in Pittsburgh. And LaFleur believes his quarterback learned something from being sidelined the past six weeks.

The game in the NFL is when you have to protect yourself and get down, you have to get down. He knows that, LaFleur said. I have no worry that hes going to make the right decisions, but at the same time, hes going to utilize his skillset."

And Wilson isn't taking the field planning to prove anything after being away so long.

No, thats thinking too much, he said. "In my mind right now, its, Im going to give this everything I have. Im going to have fun with it. Let the result take care of itself.'

If I go out there and I play my game, I do what Im supposed, I have that short-term memory after plays and move on, I think things are going to go well.

NOTES: DL John Franklin-Myers (toe) fully practiced after being limited Wednesday. ... LB Quincy Williams (ankle) did not practice and is expected to be out for the game. ... CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) was limited.

___

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Jets' offense will be 'a hair different' with Wilson back - USA TODAY

Training camp begins this week for the Detroit Pistons. But they will have to wait a few weeks, at least, for one of their key offseason additions to return to from a foot injury.

Alec Burks is rehabbing a navicular fracture and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, the team announced Monday. The Pistons' preseason schedule begins Oct. 4 and they will tip off the regular season Oct. 19, so it remains to be seen if Burks will be cleared in time for the season based on his timeline.

PISTONS MAILBAG:After trading for Bojan Bogdanovic, where do they stand in East?

The Pistons acquired Burks in a June trade that also brought back big man Nerlens Noel, Detroit's own 2023 second-round pick, a 2026 second-roundpickvia Minnesota or New York, and $6 million in cash in exchange for draft rights to Serbian guard Nikola Radicevic and a protected 2025 second-round pick. Burks, a 31-year-old wing, is a career 38% 3-point shooter and will give Detroit a lift on that end of the floor once he's healthy.

Noel and Kevin Knox, who the Pistons signed to a two-year, $6 million contract this summer, are expected to be limited participants in training camp. Noel is dealing with plantar fasciitis (foot), and Knox is recovering from a right gastroc strain (calf).

The team also announced that Kemba Walker, who they acquired in a separate trade with the Knicks that also brought back 13th overall pick Jalen Duren, will not report to training camp. The Pistons and Walker are expected to part ways before the start of the 2022-23 season.

The team announced Monday it has picked up the fourth-year team options in 2023-24 for Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart, who were all first-round draft picks in 2020. The Pistons also picked up the third-year option for the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham, for the same season.

The team also displayed the No. 16 strip on the upper-right section of the jersey to honor Bob Lanier this season. The team will also host a Bob Lanier tribute on Jan. 23 when the Pistons play the Bucks, the other NBA team Lanier played for. Lanier, an eight-time All-Star and 1992 Hall of Fame inductee, died in May.

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Alec Burks will miss start of Pistons' training camp; Kemba Walker not with team - Detroit Free Press

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina Asheville was an afterthought, a last-minute addition at the end of a nearly weeklong trip to neighboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Rookie mistake.

This mountain town in far western North Carolina deserves top billing on its own itinerary, filled with gallery hopping and top-rated restaurants, a quirky drum circle and comedy bus tour.

And did I mention the beer?

The city, population 95,000, is perhaps best known for being home to the Biltmore Estate, the elaborate former home of George and Edith Vanderbilt, the largest private residence in the United States, open daily for touring.

Read more: The Biltmore, Americas most elaborate private residence, is fit for a king

Its best attribute, however, is its location surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, with parkland on all sides.

The regions stunning beauty has made Asheville a long-time magnet for artists and adventurer seekers, who collectively give the town a cool, authentic vibe, all of which also happens to make it a great place to visit.

If youve never been here -- or even if you have -- its worth the trip, all on its own.

Downtown window shopping in Asheville.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Comedic guide Cookie Carter entertains a bus full of tourists on the LaZoom Comedy Bus Tour in Asheville.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Wicked Weed Brewing, one of more than 30 brewpubs in Asheville.Courtesy ExploreAsheville.com

Laughing at the citys past

To get my bearings, I signed up for the LaZoom Comedy Bus Tour, a 90-minute, PG-13 romp through town in a retrofitted school bus that covers much of the citys history, from a frontier outpost in the late 1790s to the arrival of the Vanderbilts a century later to Ashevilles first designation as Beer City USA in 2010.

We motored by downtowns former 75-foot-tall memorial (the erection at the intersection) to Civil War-era governor Zebulon Vance, dismantled last year; and the Asheville Civic Center, where Elvis Presley played three shows in July 1975, including one when he famously exited the stage for seven minutes to use the restroom (Sometimes, the king needs to sit, he reportedly said).

We passed the Asheville Masonic Temple, built in 1915 and used as a hospital for Black residents during the Spanish flu, the worst pandemic in history, according to comedic guide Cookie Carter. (Whoops, she added. I think we need to update the script.)

And we drove by the former Highland Hospital, a psychiatric facility turned wedding venue, where Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald, died in a fire in 1948. An accomplished painter, writer and dancer, Zelda Fitzgerald may have also been the uncredited source of much of her husbands work, according to Carter. Described as schizophrenic and possibly bipolar, Carter said, Maybe she was just an independent woman in the 1920s.

Halfway through the tour, we stopped for an adult beverage at Green Man Brewery, founded in 1997 and among the oldest brewpubs in the citys beer-focused South Slope neighborhood (bro-muda triangle on sunny Saturday afternoons, according to Carter).

We also wheeled through the River Arts District, just southwest of downtown along the French Broad River, where dozens of former factories and warehouses have been turned into galleries, and the Montford historic district, filled with beautiful old homes.

I made a mental note of all the places I wanted to revisit.

Gallery-hopping in Asheville's River Arts District.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Medina County native Kevin Giriunas recently opened a studio in Asheville's River Arts District.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Exploring the neighborhoods

My visit coincided with the River Arts Districts Second Saturday gallery walk, with demonstrations, workshops and entertainment in and around the neighborhoods studios and galleries. My husband and I meandered through a dozen-plus spaces, perusing hundreds of pieces of art whimsical and serene glass, pottery, painting, jewelry and more. Locals (and visitors) can take classes at the studios and watch artists in action.

During my browsing, I met Kevin Giriunas, a Medina County native who recently relocated to Asheville and opened a painting studio on Roberts Street.

Asheville has a vibrant big city feel in a small mountain town, said Giriunas, a former engineer who is now working full-time as an artist. The art scene is awesome.

From River Arts, we headed back downtown, where there are many more galleries to explore including the Woolworth Walk, inside a former F.W. Woolworth Co. store, now filled with mini exhibits featuring the works of more than 100 local artists. Also here: the stores recreated Soda Fountain, featuring ice cream, sandwiches and salads. (One historical note: The actual lunch counter here was the subject of civil rights protests in the 1950s, as high school students in Asheville sought to emulate the college protesters in nearby Greensboro.)

Downtown Asheville features some of the best, most eclectic shopping Ive experienced anywhere terrific stores in a relatively compact, easily walkable space.

Other downtown stops:

* Grove Arcade, a four-story retail and office complex that was built in 1929 and billed as Americas first indoor shopping mall (but we Clevelanders know that our Arcade, which opened in 1890, was, in fact, the first). During World War II, the arcade here was taken over by the federal government for wartime planning.

* French Broad Chocolate Lounge, with exquisite chocolate drinks, pastries and candies to consume on site or take with you (or, even better, both). You can also take a tour of their production facility just north of downtown.

* The Asheville Bee Charmer, a story devoted to honey, with a tasting bar and more; Malaprops Books, Voltage Records; the Center for Craft and many others.

The historic Grove Arcade in Asheville.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

The honey tasting bar at downtown's Asheville Bee Charmer.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Every Friday, April through October, a group gathers at Asheville's Pritchard Park to play drums, dance and hang out.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Dining and drinking

Downtown is also the epicenter of the highly regarded dining scene in Asheville, which is routinely cited among the nations best foodie cities.

On our first night in town, my husband and I headed to Chai Pani, a casual Indian eatery that was recently named Americas most outstanding restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. Prepare to wait an hour or more for a table the place doesnt take reservations and it wasnt accepting any more additions to its waiting list by the time we arrived.

We dined instead at Red Ginger, with terrific small plates and sushi, across from Pritchard Park, home every Friday night (April through October) to the citys quirky drum circle, a feel-good Asheville tradition since 2001.

Other places we ate: The Rhu for brunch, a sister restaurant and bakery to the more upscale Rhubarb; and Nine Mile, with terrific Caribbean fusion fare in the Montford historic district.

We also got a primer on sour beer at Funkatorium, an outpost of Wicked Weed Brewing, where our bartender explained the effects of a longer fermentation period on what we were about to drink. Its like when you let a bottle of wine age, she said. It tastes better.

On our tasting flight: mouth-puckering samples of Silencio, barrel-aged with coffee and vanilla, and Sandiaca, a tasty concoction fermented with watermelon and basil.

Where to stay

We stayed at the Carolina Bed and Breakfast, a large, luxurious inn in the historic Montford neighborhood, just north of downtown. The house, along with numerous others in the neighborhood, was designed by Richard Sharp Smith, who was the supervising architect of the Biltmore Estate following the death in 1895 of primary architect Richard Hunt Morris.

Smith, along with numerous other creative types, stuck around Asheville after the Biltmore was completed and helped the town evolve into the arts-focused community that it is today. We have more culture than a yeast infection, quipped guide Cookie Carter.

Dont take her word for it. Put Asheville at the very top of your next vacation itinerary, and go see for yourself.

The Carolina Bed and Breakfast in Asheville's historic Montford neighborhood.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

If you go: Asheville, North Carolina

Where: Asheville, in far western North Carolina, is about an eight-hour drive from Cleveland, along I-77 south, I-81 south and I-26 south. Asheville Regional Airport, south of town, is the closest airport.

Nearby: The city is adjacent to to Pisgah National Forest, close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is near the southern terminus of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, the scenic drive that connects the Smoky Mountains with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

Where to stay: We stayed at the Carolina Bed and Breakfast in the historic residential Montford neighborhood, just north of downtown. Rates start at about $230 a night. See carolinabb.com

More information: exploreasheville.com

Read more:

Dodging the crowds and clouds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Americas most popular

Overnighting at LeConte Lodge, the only inn inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park (but first, you have to get there)

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Weekend in Asheville: Hip, artsy enclave in the Blue Ridge Mountains beckons visitors with food, beer, browsi - cleveland.com

Its been the longest off-season weve had since 2019. While were all ramping back up, it felt reasonable to ask the staff an easy question to kick off our pre-season roundtables.

Whats your prediction of the Dallas Mavericks record and seed in the West?

Ben: As it stands, the Mavericks just dont have the depth to weather the injuries that are sure to come throughout the year. If Luka Doncic can somehow play 75 games this year, maybe they can pull off a record that gives them home court advantage in the playoffs. But I just dont see that happening. Luka has averaged 66 games per year in his career, and he probably plays something close to that in 2022-23. Instead, I think the Mavericks go 50-32, just barely eking out the sixth seed.

Matthew: There are many reasons to believe this team will be worse next season. They experienced a tremendous defensive turnaround which is part of the Jason Kidd coaching experience. Unfortunately his teams have consistently gotten worse as his tenure has gone along and the integration of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood would not seem to be part of a recipe to stave off that regression.

The team is aging, and they play a methodical style that wears both them and other teams down. They lost Jalen Brunson and Trey Burke (I know that is no great loss, but he would be the third best ball handler on the current team.

All of that being said, they employ Luka Doncic who is coming off his first playoff success in the NBA. I believe that will only motivate him to be even better. There is some truth to his recent statements that he does not need another superstar. The core of Doncic and three-and-D role players should push the Mavericks to 52-30 in a brutally competitive West.

Brent: The start of last season saw several challenges the Mavericks had to overcome in real-time. A new coach, a new defensive system, a rash of early season injuries, and Covid-induced player streaming that felt like Bizarro world fantasy basketball. This year the coaching staff hits the ground running with most of the roster returning. Integrating Christian Wood is the biggest wild card, but his motivation should be bountiful given his contract year status and what will be his first taste of a winning percentage north of .500. The loss of JB is regrettable and leaves this roster with an obvious need at point guard. But this doesnt feel like an unsolvable problem, even if Nico and company are nearing the end of the off-season with only two-thirds of their three-headed point guard monster from last season still intact. Expect a trade before the deadline to solve this problem and heres hoping it can happen before the start of the season.

Losing the WCF is a different vibe than losing the Finals would have been. Dallas clearly had enough to top Boston in a long, grueling series. That would have been a gut punch. Losing to the eventual champion Warriors doesnt feel that way at all. Feeding off hunger for another deep playoff run, the Mavericks get off to a red-hot start.

Every Mavericks fan wants to see the next logical step in this progression, get to and hopefully win the finals. But I see something different in the ole crystal ball. An eventual 5th seed finish, a 51-31 record, and sadly a tough, bitter second-round exit. Gosh, I hope I am wrong. A Luka-led finals squad would be amazing. Given expiring contracts, the impending freedom to make a major trade after the Knicks pick is conveyed, one thing is certain. Expect the team to look very different after this season regardless of the outcome.

Jordan: I dont think the Mavericks will be bad. The hope is Luka Doncic carries some of the fitness he displayed this summer into the season. The offensive potential of a motivated Christian Wood is tantalizing next to Doncic. And the team still has solid complimentary pieces in Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, and Maxi Kleber. If Dinwiddie and Hardaway can put together solid seasons then there is reason for optimism, winning between 50 and 55 games.

If its worse, it wouldnt be because the team is bad it would be from asking Luka Doncic to do too much for too long. And because a handful of Western Conference teams returned to health or got better. But I do think they cross the 50 win threshold and avoid the play-in, somewhere between the four and six seed.

Matt: On its face, it feels a little silly to be too upset at a team for running back a roster that just made a Western Conference Finals run. The decision to essentially swap Jalen Brunson for Christian Wood feels like one that will be very evidently a boom or bust move early on. More scary than Dallas roster decision, though, are the decisions of the moves made by the rest of the conference. The Clippers have Kawhi and Geroge back, Minnesota added Gobert and have a potential star in Anthony Edwards, The Grizzlies are young and getting better, New Orleans had Zion coming back, and the Warriors, coming off a dynasty-extending championship, are going to be as tough as ever. The rumors of the Western Conferences demise have been greatly exaggerated. So, knowing all that, its hard to see where Dallas ekes out more wins than they did a year ago with this roster. Im expecting something like 48 wins and a hard-fought 5th seed.

Doyle: The Mavericks arent a better team than they were last year. They rode the wave of hop shooting and a high-level ball handler looking to secure the bag all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Now, that ball handler is gone and the team twiddled its thumbs and added two big men. Given the state of the West, its easy to see Dallas winning 46 games and either falling into the play-in tournament or narrowly avoiding it. That said, I dont discount Luka Doncics ability to make the team look like overachievers once more.

Clint: Last years Mavericks were such a pleasant surprise, but Im afraid their luck may have run out. Losing Jalen Brunson and not even attempting to replace his role just seems like its not gonna work out, so Im feeling pessimistic. I predict the Mavericks go 0-82 this year. In fact, Ill go even further, and predict the Mavericks wont score their first point until the 10th game.

David: Despite the Mavericks mishap with Jalen Brunson and an overall bad vibe in the off-season after the Christian Wood trade, the Mavericks will be just fine. They have a solid team, they have a good coaching staff, and, most importantly, they have one of the three best players in the world. When you have a generational player like Doncic, it is really hard to regress year-over-year as a team. The Mavericks roster is good enough to be a contender next season, and has the ceiling of a championship team if they can put it together again and/or make one more roster move. Luka Doncics greatness cannot be overstated, and he will lead them to a 50-32 record, good for fifth in the West.

Jack: I actually think that the Mavericks have a chance to be a better regular season team than they were last year, provided Luka Doncic stays healthy. The biggest x-factor is the play of Christian Wood. If he becomes the perfect pick-and-roll partner for Doncic on offense and excels in Jason Kidds defensive scheme, he very well could be a candidate for the All-Star team. I think we have to put trust in the coaching staff to get the most out of Wood; theyve earned that with their performance last year. Losing Brunson obviously hurts a ton, but a full season of Dinwiddie (another year removed from ACL surgery) will do a lot to make up for that. If they add another ball handler at the deadline, this could be a 55 win team. The loss of Brunson will really be felt in the playoffs, where the team as currently constructed has a limited ceiling. But Luka Doncic exists, and I think this is the year he finally wins MVP with a completely dominant showing. I expect a strong regular season, health permitting, and will predict a record of 53-29, good for the 4 seed in the West.

Kirk: Im in my optimist phase of the off-season and Im tying the Dallas Mavericks season directly to a Luka Doncic MVP season. Luka Doncic is going to win the award this season and Dallas is going to finish with a top 3 seed in the Western conference. So lets get nuts and predicted a 55-27 season.

Brian: Its always more fun to be the hunter rather than the hunted. With 29 national tv games, lets see if the Mavericks can adjust to the bigger spotlight. Before the new year last season, the Dallas Mavericks were 17-18. With 31 games on their schedule in November and December, we should know where this team stands seeding-wise by then. Given that the Western Conference will be a gauntlet this season, I predict the Mavericks will win 46 games and finish as the 6th seed. Spoiler, the Mavericks, will face a familiar foe as their first-round opponent in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Logan: On one hand, I was unhappy with the Mavs off-season. The Brunson fiasco was bad enough, but many corresponding moves and reactions from team brass, seemed like the work of an organization failing to learn from both past mistakes AND from success.

Was our biggest problem really Kevon Looney, or was it being out-gunned on talent to the point we were stretched so thin that Kevon Looney did that? The latter seemed obvious, and some of the modern principles that gave us our successwing centrism, running centers off the floor, multiple ball handlersdidnt seem to resonate. On the other hand, some principles I think will remain. I believe in the coaching and defensive infrastructure, and so often in last years second half we all wondered how we were winning so much.

Maybe thats how it feels again as we follow a formula of Luka and scrappiness to a top 4 seed. Luka is that good, and only getting better. But regression seems more likely, and its as much to do with the West getting better than anything else. Last year the general vibes were a marked improvement over the years before, and I havent lost faith in all the reasons that was true, from the defense to the chemistry. Still, hovering just under 50 wins, fighting to avoid the play-in, and a feeling of the dreaded take our medicine year seems most likely, and I think the question will become how the team and Luka responds to that for the sake of the future contention.

Josh: If theres one thing Ive learned about the Luka Doncic era, its that everything usually works out and things are OK. When the Mavericks had a disappointing offseason in 2019, they still had a great regular season. When Doncic missed 10 games last season with an ankle injury and team went through a COVID outbreak at the same time, the Mavericks went 5-5 in those games playing a lot of guys they literally signed off the street. So yes, the Mavericks 2022 offseason was not good losing your second best player for nothing and your only two major additions being at a position that seems to matter less and less as years go by is not ideal. But the Mavericks still have Luka and they still have the formula Luka plus another ball handler plus shooting usually equals success. Despite the Mavericks losing Jalen Brunson, they still have that secondary ball handler in Spencer Dinwiddie. The team still has shooting in Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, Christian Wood, and Tim Hardaway Jr. They still have the pieces of their improved defense, with the added rim protection of JaVale McGee. The main concern seems to be the Mavericks are screwed if Doncic gets hurt, but you could argue no matter how the roster looks, theyd be screwed if their superstar gets injured. Dallas seemed to handle it fine enough last season, so at this point Im just a believer in the Mavericks handling these kinds of things.

In reality, my only main concern about this upcoming season isnt about the offseason moves the Mavericks did or didnt make, but what the rest of the Western Conference is up to. There were five teams that finished below the Mavericks in the standings last season that all expect to be better this upcoming season, with different ranges for how much better. The Timberwolves, Nuggets, Clippers, Pelicans, and Lakers should all be much more competitive this season, with only the Jazz being a team that significantly downgraded. The Suns, Warriors, and Grizzlies should all still be good. Theres a decent chance the Mavericks play well and still finish seventh or eighth, because the Western Conference is just that loaded. Having said that, Luka is still Luka and the Mavericks formula is awfully reliable. Despite the challenges in the conference and losing Brunson, I still expect the Mavericks to finish in that 48-52 win range. Officially put me down for 49-33, with the Mavericks in the hunt for home court advantage again.

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Predicting the Maverick record and seed for the 2022-23 - Mavs Moneyball

Across the Obelisk is a chaotic genre mash-up that melds Dominion, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic the Gathering into a frenetic, satisfying mlange. This deck-building PC game offers rich character variety, but lacks focus, and bogs down the card-acquisition thrills with minutiae. Still, developer Dreamsite Games consistently taps the joy of conquering monsters with iterative math, making it worth your $19.99.

(Credit: Dreamsite Games)

Leveraging the well-trod array of champion roles, you start with a standard cleric, mage, rogue, and warrior in this deck-building RPG. You can control all four characters or invite up to three other people to split the party responsibility. Regardless, you journey through medieval-inspired villages, ice fields, and flaming pits. The goal is to uncover the mysteries surrounding the long-dormant, eponymous obelisk, and the disappearance of the Kingdom of Senethias princess and court magician.

During each campaign run, you undertake quests, meet NPCs, and battle a menagerie of monsters. The story's outset and finale are set, but otherwise you have many narrative options to explore as you play. Parties start in a town, with a few different ways to kit out the team before your trek. From there, each biome gradually builds story and character arcs from the dozens of choices you make along the way. These choices may be as unassuming as selecting a travel route or as bombastic as sending your pre-Industrial automaton to shield the party from a crumbling tower.

In some cases, such as when your group attempts to sneak past pig-men or elemental beings, you must draw a skill card (as opposed to an attack). Outcomes are determined by many factors, such as the characters in your party, equipped items, and the cards youve placed in your deck. Collectively, your decisions unlock other cards, characters, and even more potential outcomes when you revisit areas.

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(Credit: Dreamsite Games)

Stitching all this together is Across the Obelisks heart: deck-building combat. Most individual map scenarios, which are connected by their many branching paths, have a battle attached to them. Your characters and enemies roll to determine the turn order (helpfully displayed in the center of the interface). Each player draws and plays out their turn, with their abilities nicely feeding into one anothers systems. The teams rogue screens others decks for potential hazards, while the mage invigorates the team tank to make additional attacks. The potential interactions are staggering, and the many pieces move together like intricate choreography when play finds its stride.

Across the Obelisk's many gameplay elements also lead to a key flaw: juggling four decks (one for each character) is a lot to ask of new players going at it alone. In addition, this delicate dance doesnt quite work in two ways. The first is the heavy focus on customization in the game's earliest stages. Between the altar, armory, and forge, its not clear how all these choices impacts play. Successive runs yield selection fatigue, too. Still, there are clear advantages to this system, so its hard to discount it completely. For example, you can import cash from prior campaigns to spend in the town, which results in beefy decks.

The second major issue crops up in the latter stages. Status effects on both sides stack, which sometimes makes it feel as though you're tiptoeing through a minefield filled with Bleeding, Burning, Chilling, Poison, and other hazards. You can lose half of your HP at the top of a turn, and another half at the bottom (not to mention dealing with debuff effects). It can bring play to a crawl, and diverts your efforts to countering massive bursts of complex, stacking status effects. You can plan around this in the early game, but the effects are consistent enough that it still feels like a limiting factor in deck-building freedom.

(Credit: Dreamsite Games)

Across the Obelisk isn't a demanding game; it will easily run on just about any PC released in the past decade. According to the game's Steam page, your PC needs at least a single-core, 2GHz CPU; 2GB of RAM; 1GB available video memory (though integrated laptop GPUs are just fine); 1GB of storage; and the Windows XP operating system (it's also available for macOS and SteamOS). Our testbeda gaming PC with an Intel 5820K CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GPU, and 32GB of DDR4 RAMhad no trouble moving the game at 120 frames per second (at 1440p resolution).

The scant system requirements bely a sharp-looking adventure, though.Vibrant, surrealist art brings Senethias monsters and locales to life. There are countless monsters, each with smooth idle, attack, or spell animations to keep the screen lively as you mull your card decisions. Many creatures are refreshing interpretations of fantastical beasts. Whether youre squaring against an eerie, possessed sheep or a dryad with a log-hammer for a hand, the designs are crisp. The best art, and indeed the most interesting creatures throughout the game, end up in your party as valuable additions.

Across the Obelisk falls just shy of the modern deck-building genres defining hits, but holds its own in an increasingly crowded field. It can struggle to keep pace with itself at times, but you should check it out if Dungeons & Dragons meets Slay the Spire sounds at all appealing. Coming to understand and master the gameplay is great fun, particularly as you tweak your creations and internalize the games nuances. Just be prepared to deal with its many systems and status effects.

For more PC game reviews and previews, check outPCMag's Steam Curator(Opens in a new window) page. And for in-depth video game talk, visitPCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel(Opens in a new window).

Across the Obelisk (for PC)

The Bottom Line

Across the Obelisk is an exciting deck-building RPG that combines a magical fantasy setting with a charming art style and occasionally frustrating combat systems.

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Across the Obelisk (for PC) Review - PCMag

Never mind the art gallery, how about the six bars and eight fireplaces?

Anyone whos been paying attention will be quick to tell you that times are getting tough in the real estate market. Interest rates have more than doubled since the beginning of the year, putting a squeeze on buyers who are increasingly hesitant to pay sellers sky-high listing prices. And down on the normal human end of the scale, growing families are finding themselves trapped by their old sub-3% rates and so unable to move up to bigger houses with dramatically higher mortgage payments. That leaves would-be first time buyers stuck in a rental market that is itself spiraling out of control.

For Unreal-caliber houses and the type of people who own them, the solution appears to be simply standing pat and waiting for the market to improve. A scant 14 houses in San Diego County hit the market over the last month that featured an asking price of $8 million or more, and close to half of those are re-listings of old inventory that weve already visited at some point. But if youre a house flipper who happened to take on an incredibly ambitious project that happened to wrap up right as the market began to turn, what choice do you have but to sell? That brings us to Grand Blanc, a modern Art Deco masterpiece, as the Zillow listing remarks by way of introducing us to the 11,300-square-foot mansion at 2034 Arenal Road in Carlsbad. The home, which features six bedrooms and a whopping 12 baths, has every amenity of modern living imaginable including an art gallery, home gym, wellness room, elevator, guard house, full smart home capabilities, game room, home theater, multiple kitchens [and] laundry rooms.

Our tour begins at the semicircular stone-paved (or is that just stamped-and-dyed concrete?) driveway with a port cochere at the main entrance. There, the black glass pivot entry door leads you into a grand foyer and gallery reminiscent of a boutique hotel. Inside, weve got a pleasant circular chandelier that does pretty well at pulling off a candlelit aesthetic, but Im not sure I like all the fake plants stuffed into the ceiling above it.

The living area off the foyer has 18 exposed wood ceilings, and the walls are painted in what the listing calls Rolex green, which is a much bolder choice than Gentrification gray. I think it works well, and some orange crushed velvet chairs and throw pillows add further pop the home is being offered furnished, so if youre flush with cash, I hope you enjoy some of these weird choices as much as I do.

A large black-and-white room follows. Mirrors line the walls, a black fireplace (one of eight!) occupies one end, and a green-canopied bar (one of six, possibly more impressive than the eight fireplaces!) is situated at the center. A cozy-for-1100-square-feet dining area follows, with more velvet-look armchairs surrounding the table; they look comfortable, but that might not be the best choice of material for a zone dedicated to the consumption of food. The kitchen (one of the kitchens?) boasts a center island (with sink and dishwasher) that appears to be bigger than my entire kitchen as its defining feature. The requisite commercial grade appliances are all here, and the ceiling cutouts for the skylights are nicely done, but this room doesnt stand out as much as some of the others weve seen.

What I assume is the main bedroom comes next. Its plenty spacious, and has a full wall of glass that Im sure opens onto the garden beyond. Theres another bar with what looks like a wine fridge in here, but why is the television sitting on a table in commoner fashion, instead of being affixed to the wall with some sort of fancy backlit mounting hardware?

Dig the Chanel logo chandeliers!

Another small living room follows; given the order of the photos, Im going to assume this is a private sitting area off the main suite, because we move from there straight into a closet that looks like a mall boutique, complete glass display cabinets, fancy chandeliers, and its own stone-topped center island. The bathroom that follows is modern but basic, though I do like the glass blocks that afford both light and privacy to whomever is spending time in the soaking tub at one end. Now its time for a quick glance at an outdoor patio, which is filled with expensive-looking lounge furniture and flanked by a handful of mature palm trees. I see the glass blocks from the bathroom here, so maybe this is an outdoor retreat, accessible only from the main bedroom?

Back inside, were headed down a winding wood-and-wrought-iron staircase to what I assume is the art gallery, which has a glass atrium ceiling that allows light to stream through the house to view a myriad of custom paintings and sculptures. It also looks like there may be a koi pond of some sort at the bottom of the staircase. If the art is included, I hope you like giant paintings of Slash, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis, interspersed with some black and gray squiggles and splotches on canvas. Moving on, we get another sitting area outfitted with gas fireplace topped by green stone, a second kitchen, and another living area where the couches focus half on a giant TV and half on a wall of wine bottles backed by yellow marble. Then theres the home theater, yet another living room with yet another fireplace and bar, and phew, were back outside on a rolling grass lawn that the listing says occupies fully one of the nearly two acres of property, which is adjacent to the Omni La Costa resorts golf course. A covered patio out back houses outdoor lounge seating and, yes, another bar, this one looking out toward the Roman-style lap pool and cauldron-like black spa perched above.

This newly remodeled and furnished trophy estate is offered for sale for the first time, the listing concludes, which is close enough to the truth, given the homes current appearance. Originally built in 1985 (according to public records) or 1992 (per the listing), Grand Blanc last sold in April 2021 for a reported $3.5 million, a full $500,000 more than the asking price at the time. The buyer was Method Development Holdings LLC, billed as a full-service design, planning, and remodeling company that specializes in high-end residential projects. Following an extensive remodel that appears to have involved the removal of copious amounts of purple and black carpet among many other things, the home was re-listed in late June with an asking price of $14,950,000. After that listing failed to attract a buyer, Grand Blanc went back up for sale in mid-September with an asking price of $11,950,000 that remains unchanged to date.

2034 Arenal Road| Carlsbad, 92009

Current owner: Method Development Holdings LLC | Listing price: $11,950,000 | Beds: 6 | baths: 12 | House size: 11,300

Read more:
Carlsbad's Grand Blanc: a modern masterpiece with giant paintings of Slash, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis - San Diego Reader