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Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

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If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

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If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

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When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

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Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

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If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

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The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

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We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

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Rule #10

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Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

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  • #1

    Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

    I know Kstat does not like this guy but I think he might be the best NBA beat reporter out there.

    You have to read through it to get to the trade discussion.


    http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/...4/c07-4511.htm


    Notebook

    Artest is ridiculous, but so was ESPN

    Way too much time was given to Pacer's comment about his musical sentiments

    By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

    SALT LAKE CITY -- Ron Artest is not crazy -- not clinically, anyway. He is a lot of things -- impetuous, immature, selfish, eccentric, restless, temperamental -- but not crazy.

    He does have a real hard time expressing himself. The words seem to come tumbling out of him so fast, they get jumbled up, and before he knows it, he's rambled on for five or 10 minutes and he sounds, well, certifiable.

    But he's not, and the guys who know him best, the players, were the first to recognize what Artest's original intentions probably were last week. "You all aren't buying any of that stuff are you?" the Pistons' Derrick Coleman said, the day after Artest told the world he asked for time off because his musical endeavors had worn him out. "Come on, man. He's playing you all."

    A lot of people believe Artest's original intent was to give his music company some free national exposure.

    "It's something I would never do, but that really could have been a plot to get sales," said Celtics forward Walter McCarty, who also dabbles in the recording industry. "One thing you have to understand is that Ron Artest is not a dumb person. He's a smart person. He obviously knows how to get his name in the paper."

    That's not to say what he did was right. It was ridiculous, as he has as much admitted since. He put his team, his coach and his organization in a horrible position. But the reaction from the media -- when I say media, I really mean the shouting heads on ESPN -- was just as ridiculous.

    Let's keep this in perspective. ESPN gave up the first 15 minutes of "SportsCenter" to Artest and came back to it continuously throughout the show. Meanwhile, on the same day, Milwaukee's Marcus Fizer was busted for carrying a loaded handgun. Did you even know that?

    Which affront is more dangerous? Which one is more crazy? Fizer got a one-game suspension. Artest was benched for two.

    I know the Artest story was more sensational, more conversational. Everybody carries a handgun these days, right? Please.



    Anyway, the fallout is that the Pacers now know for sure they have to trade Artest. They put him back into the lineup (where he scored 29 points Friday). They hope he says the right things to keep his trade value high.

    The Pacers and Kings have been talking about a straight-up Artest for Peja Stojakovic trade. Stojakovic, unhappy and feeling alienated by his teammates in Sacramento, is merely going through the motions, averaging 13 points. The Kings are in the same position as the Pacers. They know they are going to have to trade one of their All-Star players.



    Expect this trade to happen fairly soon.


    And when it does, do the Pacers suddenly become the overwhelming favorites in the East?

    No.

    Stojakovic will no doubt give them a much-needed perimeter scorer. He will be a tremendous boost to their offense. But the Pacers' toughness was suspect with Artest. He is their best and perhaps only perimeter defender. Stojakovic is neither tough nor much interested in defending.

    The Pacers will have to play a much more up-tempo game, and that doesn't really jive with Rick Carlisle's system.

    And, finally, Jamaal Tinsley is still the point guard.

    The Kings, in my humble opinion, would get the bigger short-term boost. The toughness and defensive intensity Artest could bring is an element that team has never had.

    Of course, with Artest, every benefit is short-term. You never know when he might pull a Ricky Williams or a Bison Dele, and just walk away.

    And that doesn't make him crazy, either.

    Just restless.






    Hacking Shaq

    Dallas Coach Don Nelson, with his team leading Miami by double digits, started playing hack-a-Shaq with Shaquille O'Neal.

    No big deal? It was in the second quarter. Naturally, O'Neal was angry.

    "He will never beat me," O'Neal said. "When it's all said and done, I'll have five (championships) and he'll have none."

    Better check the facts, Shaq. Nelson won five rings as a player with the Celtics.

    "Shaq needs to take a lesson in the history of the NBA," Nelson said, laughing. "I already have five rings. I have more than Shaq as a player. We're even as coaches (0-0). He wants to get five. I already have five."

    As for his lame hack-a-Shaq strategy, Nelson said, "I didn't mean to make Shaq angry. I love him to death, but what would he do in my shoes? If someone is shooting 38 percent, wouldn't you foul him, too?"

    Sound bytes

    * Agent Jeff Wechsler, who is trying to convince New Jersey to buy out the contract of his client Alonzo Mourning. "The fans on opening night were chanting Kenyon Martin's name. Now my hope is that the fans will start chanting, 'Let Zo go.' "

    * Orlando General Manager John Weisbrod, dismissing a comparison to Dallas owner Mark Cuban: "Maybe the only common thing about us is that we're unorthodox. But he has his philosophies, and when he says things I don't often find myself agreeing with them."

    * O'Neal, on an entertainer's life: "I know people pay good money for these seats. They work their (tails) off at jobs they don't want to be at. Then at 7:30 on certain nights, they want to come into the arena, grab a few beers, look at the cheerleaders and have a good time. That's where I come in."

    * Let's start a petition to get old friend Cliff Robinson out of Golden State. After 14 straight playoff seasons, it seems cruel for him to finish his career on one of the worst teams in NBA history. And it's clearly affecting his disposition. Uncle Cliff sent Memphis' Pau Gasol to the floor with a flagrant forearm Friday night. "There are some guys I like playing against, especially the ones who are the so-called top players in the league," said Robinson, emphasizing the "so-called." Robinson also got into it with a fan seated behind the Warriors bench. The Warriors have shopped Robinson and Dale Davis around the league -- to New Jersey for Jason Kidd, for one -- but they might be better off waiting until the end of the season and clearing the $20 million of salary-cap space.







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  • #2
    Re: Article: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

    The Warriors are shopping Dale, eh?

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

      Man I dont want this deal. Peja just does not play any D. And he disappeared in the playoffs for Sactown last year.

      I know Artest is crazy but I think we should try it for the rest of the year unless Jermaine is demanding that he go. Even then Jermaine wanted Isiah so I am not sure I would give him final say.

      Artest is just to good on both ends of the floor. If there is any way possible to salvage him I would rather it happen here.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

        Ewww no Peja..
        Don't ask Marvin Harrison what he did during the bye week. "Batman never told where the Bat Cave is," he explained.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

          ugh I don't like this trade.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

            Please don't do this trade.
            Super Bowl XLI Champions
            2000 Eastern Conference Champions




            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

              It would be a very, very sad day. I don't see Peja helping the Pacers that much. I asked a question last week about whether the great play of Fred Jones made Artest more expendable. I certainly don't think so, but I do think that it makes Peja less valuable to the Pacers.

              If, if, I say if the Pacers just must trade Artest, then I hope they get a low post player in return.

              If this trade for Peja does take place the Pacers will become everything I hate in an NBA basketball team, "soft".
              [edit=24=1100484874][/edit]

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                You guys obviously are forgetting we have LB and DW as our GMs. They wouldn't do this trade.

                And you guys are definitely under-rating Peja in terms of defense. You're forgetting he has been with the all-offense no-defense kings for the past couple of years. They can take great defensive players IE Doug Christie and turn them into 1 wayed offensive players. Peja is a decent defender and he had a few major defensive stops in last years playoffs.

                I don't want the trade to happen, But if Artest plans on retiring after this year if we win..Then by all means..lets do it.

                But you have to remember, The chances of this trade happening are less then 5%.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                  Never going to happen

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                    Bad trade. Bad Bad Bad.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                      not goin for it. Ron may be "special", but he is too valuable to the success of the Pacers for this trade. It's funny though, in June so many people wanted this trade to happen. Now, even after all the controversy, nobody likes this trade.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                        Please...this CANNOT happen...I'm not listening!

                        ing:

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                          Peja's a decent defender - not great but OK.

                          But I think he fits better with the Kings and Artest fits better with Indy. I actually think Stephen Jackson makes Artest more expendable than Jones because he can play SF and, while he isn't in Ron's class he is a solid defender.

                          But if you could, and if DW and LB could do some interviews and make sure they'd work out, I'd deal him for a post player. You won't get a current all-star, but if Paxson would take him back you could get Michael Curry. You might also be able to get Kwame Brown though he'd be less valuable because his game mirrors JO's (at a lower level).

                          I just don't see the Pacers pulling the string on this one - I think they'd wait for the summer unless something really good comes along or trade him for cap relief somewhere.
                          The poster formerly known as Rimfire

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                            Obviously I am a fan of Ron's but please don't take my post as a defense of his actions. Having said that...

                            This franchise has put themselves in a position where success is based on the performance of Ron and J.O. Period. Take either of those guys away and you're essentially writing off any chance at a championship for the next couple of years.

                            And I would argue that this is even MORE the case for Ron than J.O. Why?

                            Ron is not a better player than J.O. But he is more valuable and much harder to trade. He's more valuable because the set of abilities he brings are UNIQUE to the NBA. Yes, unique. J.O. at least has peers in Duncan and Garnett. But there is NOBODY in the league that can play the 2 and 3, play incredible perimeter defense AND rack up 25 points per game the way Ron does. Not to mention the fact that he's built like a 20-year-old Mike Tyson. On top of that he is grossly underpaid compared to guys in the league with equal talent.

                            You just CAN'T trade this guy even if you want to, unless you're willing to tank your team's championship hopes. There is no one else on the team that we can package him with and, straight up, you won't get anywhere near equal value. Trading for Peja is a joke IMO, and the fact that this is the only peotential trade anyone is discussing should be a red flag.

                            A final comment: any team to trade Ron to immediately gets much better. Imagine if we had Peja, but had to face Sacramento, Detroit, Miami, the Lakers, or San Antonio in the playoffs with Ron on their roster. Sorry but I wouldn't like our chances.

                            Because of Ron's salary situation, I would actually BENCH the guy for the whole season before I would trade him (assuming a worst-case scenario where he was so distracting we couldn't play him), just to keep other teams from getting him. When his contract runs out, THEN you let him go.

                            My

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                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Peja for Artest: expect it to happen

                              Excellent post rabid.

                              I'm watching the Kings game right now...Peja just jacks 3 after 3. I don't think I could handle it.

                              I really can't believe that Bird and Walsh will pull the trigger on this one...I'll keep my fingers crossed.

                              Like rabid said - Artest is one of those unique players in the league...the offensive combo of Artest/JO and the defensive combo of Artest/JO is just scary. It is, like UB said earlier today, the best combination in the league.

                              Comment

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