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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:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

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"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

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We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

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Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

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  • #16
    Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

    I don't care what Bird, Walsh or Carlisle said, I think there will be wholesale changes

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

      Originally posted by Skaut_Ech
      "Are there going to be wholesale changes? No."Larry Bird, May 10, 2006.
      Here's a random thought: Do you think you could dig up any quotes from Riley or the Suns' GM from last summer about their plans for their rosters? Could be interesting to compare them to what's being said here now.

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

        Originally posted by J_2_Da_IzzO
        Hes just not brutal enought o make the changes needed. He has obviously seen Jacksons impact on this team and his negative attitude but seems like hes getting another chance. Tinsleys been given enough chances but hes just no gonna make it. I love him as a player when hes healthy, but he hardly ever is so I just gotta forget bout how good he is when hes healthy.
        Not sure if this is being fair. This offseason (which doesn't even start until after the Finals) is really the first good opportunity Bird is going to get to deal with this post-brawl team. Bird and Walsh rolled the dice on Artest and we all know how that worked out. Fault them for that if you want, but I (and I imagine many of you) was very excited about our chances at the beginning of the year.

        It's pretty evident now that Jax needs to go, and I think Larry knows this and has ever since Artest asked out of Indy and this season imploded. But right now is the first time he's actually really had to address the situation. The drawn-out timeframe of the Artest deal pretty much held the team hostage for months, and by the time of the trade deadline, there was really no reason to trade Jax, especially considering he was the only guy consistently not injured and because it's tough to get fair value midseason when you're "selling" rather than "buying." Better to wait until now when teams are trying to retool for next season instead of trying to just add assets for a Playoff push.

        Originally posted by J_2_Da_IzzO
        Jackson and Tinsley going and adding a starting PG like Andre Miller would be great. I like Freddy aswell but his inability to pass with his feet planted drives me mad so I wont be mad to see him leave. Add another shot blocker or someone that is a threat in that department like Nazr would be good.
        Easier said than done. Tinsley's value is at an all-time low. We're not gonna get much for this guy.

        And I'm pretty sure every other GM in this league saw Stephen Jackson throwing haymakers at the back of some guys head in the stands that night. I think we all over value both Jackson's talent and what we can get for him. He's really a poor man's Ricky Davis at this point, and his "character" issues are--to put it mildly--shady.
        Read my Pacers blog:
        8points9seconds.com

        Follow my twitter:

        @8pts9secs

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        • #19
          Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

          You make great points as always Scott.

          I do think, in spite of what they say in public, the Pacers will definitely move some of their problem children if they get a chance. They are playing a little bit of liar's poker I am sure, but I can't imagine they are fooling anybody. I actually think somebody might take a chance on Tinsley, because he is talented, and because the amount of point guards with his ability are few in the league.

          Jack on the other hand, I think we are stuck with, unless he is packaged with somebody else. Tinsley isn't enough sweet to dilute the bitter of Jack, so sending them together isn't a viable option. You would have to send him with O'neal or Granger, and we aren't going to do that.

          As much as I dislike Jack, I do think he could be valuable coming off of the bench. He is too inconsistent to start IMO. We just need a strong leader and coach to keep him in check. He doesn't seem to respect Carlisle or anybody else on the team, but management and the team should be able to deal with that. If that doesn't work, then you bit the bullet and trade him for whatever scraps you can get, but then you really just replace one problem with another one. If he behaves, then we can either keep him, or his stock value will increase.

          That being said, there are plenty of other guys we can/could move, and we should be able to make this team better. This team has just been tainted by bad attitudes and bad habits. It is possible that coaching, management, and time will take care of this, but I don't think it is likely. We don't need to clean the entire slate, but we do need to purge at least some of our bad apples. This team is diseased, and instead of anti-biotics, it needs some "anti-psychotics." I think it is too fargone to heal on its own.

          I think TPTB know this, and I think they are concerned. I don't think they are concerned about making the changes to win a championship, but I think they are concerend about filling the seats. As is, I don't think this team will do that. They have lost/alienated alot of the fans, and most people aren't going to pay their hard earned money to watch a bunch of whiny underachievers.
          When you're playing against a stacked deck, compete even harder. Show the world how much you'll fight for the winners circle. If you do, someday the cellophane will crackle off a fresh pack, one that belongs to you, and the cards will be stacked in your favor.
          -Pat Riley

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

            Everyone seems to be deciding who the worst of the batch is and then thinking how we could replace that player (or couple of players). It's a 'bad apple' search and replace mission...

            BUT... was that what the other teams did when they went on a mission to 'fix' or 'upgrade' their team? Did they have a bad apple or two to cleanse from the apple barrel? Or were they just looking to make an already good team better? ...Or find a better compliment of players?

            Is just clearing out a bad apple or two really going to 'fix' anything? When you're rotten to the core perhaps the fix goes deeper than what many here are proposing.

            This whole thing is pretty depressing if you ask me.... and it's not something our normal management style will fix if historical patterns are followed. That's why it's so depressing. And now that we need to act quickly and decisively we instead have "GM by committee". A donkey is a horse designed by a committee. We need one voice and one vision.

            -Bball
            Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

            ------

            "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

            -John Wooden

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

              Originally posted by Bball
              Everyone seems to be deciding who the worst of the batch is and then thinking how we could replace that player (or couple of players). It's a 'bad apple' search and replace mission...

              BUT... was that what the other teams did when they went on a mission to 'fix' or 'upgrade' their team? Did they have a bad apple or two to cleanse from the apple barrel? Or were they just looking to make an already good team better? ...Or find a better compliment of players?

              Is just clearing out a bad apple or two really going to 'fix' anything? When you're rotten to the core perhaps the fix goes deeper than what many here are proposing.

              This whole thing is pretty depressing if you ask me.... and it's not something our normal management style will fix if historical patterns are followed. That's why it's so depressing. And now that we need to act quickly and decisively we instead have "GM by committee". A donkey is a horse designed by a committee. We need one voice and one vision.

              -Bball
              Yeah, but how many key guys did the Suns shuffle? I don't know anything about Leonardo, but I'm pretty sure that Nash, Marion, and Stoudamire are the core of the team. Sure, you could send out all of our B players and swap them for somebody elses, but I'm not sure it makes a big difference to our team. And since our team has been so injured, it is almost like we get a new player every night! And alas... one taken away.

              We are also talking about a team with Steve Nash at the point. That is another unique feature of the Suns. He is just one of those guys who is going to play a certain way and make other pieces easy to fit in. Nash is everything the Pacers aren't. He's healthy, a good basketball player with high IQ, unselfish, and he makes others around him better.

              I can't tell you what I want TBTB to do with this team b/c it depends on the day you ask me. Today I'm in a flush the toilet mood. I so crave to see something different that I'd almost not care who they brought in. Wait a minute... I just remembered Isiah Thomas. So, I do care, but some changes for change sake are okay with me. I mean, is this team's championship hopes riding on Jeff Foster or David Harrison? I'm more down on Foster than I've ever been and I'm not sure why. His offensive ineptness just really seems to have been on display this year.

              But, I really don't think we are going to see a JO trade. It will be deemed too risky this year. But if the train gets off track this year, anything could happen.
              “Seventy percent of me talking on the court is personally for me to get me
              motivated and going. Thirty percent is to see if I can get into the opponent’s head.”
              Reggie Miller

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                I don't know why the Suns are being used as the poster child for blowing up a team. They didn't get to the finals. They lost in the WCFs. Same place we were two years ago before Ron "blew this team up."

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                  Originally posted by Anthem
                  Both teams kept the core, made a significant addition, and then re-tooled around what was left.

                  I'd LOVE to see us do that. But it won't happen.


                  Call me cynical, but I don't think that our "core" is as desirable to build around and re-tool around as a Nash/Marion core or a Shaq/Wade core.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                    As long as Jermaine and Danny stay, I'm fine with blowing this team up.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                      I don't think there is anything wrong with blowing it up. It needs to be blown up.
                      The best exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                        Originally posted by Adam1987
                        Call me cynical, but I don't think that our "core" is as desirable to build around and re-tool around as a Nash/Marion core or a Shaq/Wade core.
                        Yeah, I'm with ya. I mean, what IS our core? Granger is a given. Jermaine, obviously. Throw in Peja, of signed. Is that it?

                        Nash/Amare/Marion

                        vs

                        Peja/Jermaine/Granger?

                        And bulletproof, I'd still use them as a model seeing as how they did it this year minus Amare and Bell for a bit. Pretty impressive.

                        BTW, folks, I was kinda curious about our injury thing. You realize Jermaine has only played 95 games in the past 2 seasons?

                        By way of comparision, Tracy McGrady, a guy we tend to diss for being too injury prone, played 125 games past 2 seasons. Weird and scary, huh?

                        The Heat only kept two guys who mattered, Wade and Shaq, then pretty much scattered the rest of the roster and look where they are.

                        That's the gist of what made me start this thread. I don't see our "core" stacking up with the contenders. So we build on what ain't working? That's what I'm afriad management will do.
                        Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                          Blow it up, draft Oden! Hooha!
                          You, Never? Did the Kenosha Kid?

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                            Originally posted by Skaut_Ech

                            BTW, folks, I was kinda curious about our injury thing. You realize Jermaine has only played 95 games in the past 2 seasons?

                            By way of comparision, Tracy McGrady, a guy we tend to diss for being too injury prone, played 125 games past 2 seasons. Weird and scary, huh?
                            Somebody will point out that JO missed some games for some other reason... something about November 2004...

                            But wasn't that 15 games in the end? So that would mean JO should've played 120 games if the league would've let him. Hmmmm... that's still less than McGrady... And JO ended up injured even with a nice little league imposed vacation in the season.

                            The Heat only kept two guys who mattered, Wade and Shaq, then pretty much scattered the rest of the roster and look where they are.

                            That's the gist of what made me start this thread. I don't see our "core" stacking up with the contenders. So we build on what ain't working? That's what I'm afriad management will do.
                            Apparently, being patient isn't the only way to win a title. Has anyone ever won a title being patient?

                            -Bball
                            Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

                            ------

                            "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

                            -John Wooden

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                              Originally posted by Bball
                              Somebody will point out that JO missed some games for some other reason... something about November 1994...
                              1994? Was he suspended 15 days in High School?

                              Originally posted by Bball
                              But wasn't that 15 games in the end? So that would mean JO should've played 120 games if the league would've let him. Hmmmm... that's still less than McGrady... And JO ended up injured even with a nice little league imposed vacation in the season.
                              Actually 95 + 15 = 110, but your point stands.


                              Originally posted by Bball
                              Apparently, being patient isn't the only way to win a title. Has anyone ever won a title being patient?
                              I'm not enough of an NBA historian to tell you that one. I'd like to know. If we'd beaten in 2000 we'd have been at least 1 of course. Past that... I'm trying to think of a team that was together for years before winning a title. How long were the late 80's Pistons together before '89? What about the Bulls that won in '91?

                              If you want to be cute, you can recall that the Celtics were patient (ironically more than the Indiana Pacers) and drafted Larry Bird a year "in advance."

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: Who says "blowing a team up" is a bad thing?

                                I've been watching my team get blown up for the past two years. Webber - gone. Christie - gone. Peja - gone. Bobby Jackson - gone. Unfortunately, we still have a flock of albatross left over from some of those explosions.

                                I used to be one who thought you simply couldn't blow up a team. We didn't blow up in one big explosion. We've done it over time and I strongly suspect some MAJOR movement of players this off-season, too, as Petrie works with Muss to refine the team into something for the new Musselman era.

                                As far as your Pacers go, I suspect you may be seeing pretty significant changes. I think you should keep Granger if at all possible. I think O'Neal is the real deal, and just needs more support around him AND a better point guard.

                                I'm almost as interested in watching what happens with the Pacers as I am with the Kings. Could get very, very interesting.

                                Should be some pretty eye-opening trades coming down. The draft isn't that strong. There's not a LeBron James in there. Petrie has alluded to some European talent entering the mix, but I'm predicting the best moves this year will be made via the trades.

                                If you have to blow up a team, blow it up. Let the pieces fall where they may. But, much like making sourdough bread, just make sure you keep some "starter."

                                NBA basketball - taking my breath away since 1963.

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