51�Թ�

After Wednesday's quarter-final 13-9 win over Si Jiahui there was also an open admission that he has only reached the last four due to the shortcomings of his opponents so far.

And on this evidence he may take some stopping, despite his suggestions that he has been the beneficiary of his opponents' shortcomings.

At this stage of the season, against this particular opponent, their shortcomings are outweighing the strengths, and coach JJ Redick doesn’t sound as if he has any answers.

Only much later do we, and he, come to understand that the absent Soprano progenitor is more to blame for influencing his son’s behavioral shortcomings than Tony first imagines.

There are, of course, shortcomings to the puppets.