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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:

"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 ___________"

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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.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

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.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

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

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

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:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

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.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

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

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

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.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

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.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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Midterm exam: Questions facing every NBA team (FOX Sports)

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  • Midterm exam: Questions facing every NBA team (FOX Sports)

    http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7709580#

    Midterm exam: Questions facing every NBA team
    By Charley Rosen


    As the NBA season rounds the halfway marker, every team in the league is beset with critical questions and issues that must be addressed, and hopefully resolved, in the next three months. In addition, I couldn't help offering some suggestions.

    Here's a look at the particulars:

    Atlanta Hawks
    • Can the supremely talented Josh Smith play like an All-Star on a consistent basis?
    • When will Acie Law be ready to run the offense?
    • This is Marvin Williams' third season in The League. Do his wildly erratic performances thus far constitute the best that can be expected from him?
    • Can Al Horford ever develop into the banger that the Hawks so desperately need?
    Boston Celtics
    • Is Rajon Rondo a reliable enough shooter and decision-maker to withstand the pressures of the money season?
    • Given that Eddie House is best used as a shooter, which of the several point guards that are expected to be bought out would fit best in the Celtics' game plan?
    • How much can Glen Davis be trusted to play important minutes?
    • Since Scot Pollard continues to be plagued with injuries, should a serviceable (and healthy) back-up big be procured?
    Charlotte Bobcats
    • What can the Bobcats do to minimize the inadequacies of their point guards — Jeff McInnis and Raymond Felton?
    • Is Emeka Okafor ever going to develop a low-post game?
    • How to improve the bigs' defensive rotations?
    • Since none of the bench players can create their own scoring opportunities, is it at all possible for the Bobcats to run crisper offensive sets to create good looks for Matt Carroll?
    Chicago Bulls
    • Is it time to back up the truck? Hell, yeah!!!
    • What can be had in exchange for Ben Wallace? Even a draft choice would be acceptable.
    • Why not go with a three-headed center? Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas and Aaron Gray. After all, how much worse can these guys be than an old, misanthropic, quarrelsome not-so-big Ben?
    • Does Jim Boylan have the charisma to lead this team out of the wilderness?
    Cleveland Cavaliers
    • Why not make a full commitment to Zydrunas Ilguaskas and run more plays through him?
    • Isn't it time to get the ball to LBJ while he's on the move rather than continue to ask that he create something out of nothing from a dead-stop?
    • What's wrong with trading anybody except James, Z and Anderson Varejao for a quality point guard?
    • Will LBJ continue to get the benefit of superstar calls during the playoffs?
    Dallas Mavericks
    • What about hiring a hypnotist to erase the memory of last season's Golden State fiasco?
    Denver Nuggets
    • Can anybody convince Marcus Camby that playing defense encompasses much more than just blocking shots?
    • How to bring in another big man to take Nene's spot?
    • Is J.R. Smith ever going to be a trustworthy player?
    • Given that this roster will never be more than a second-, or even third-tier ball club, what's the next step? Trades? Off-season signing of free agents? A new coach? Or is this team good enough to keep the fans and the management happy?
    Detroit Pistons
    • How can these guys be motivated to play all-out all of the time?
    • Is it possible to demand consistency from Rasheed Wallace?
    • Why not abandon the isos, screen/rolls, and two-man games, and revert to the perpetual motion offense installed by Larry Brown? There's no shame in utilizing a game plan that was so successful in the past. And, despite the numbers he's accumulating, Rip Hamilton is languishing in the Flipster's predictable sets.
    • What can be done to get more out of the bench? What about going to an up-tempo, pressing mode with them?
    Golden State Warriors
    • Are there shots enough in a 48-minute game to keep everybody happy?
    • Do Nelly and Chris Mullin really think they can contend for a championship with an offense that resembles a three-ring circus?
    • Have any of Nelly's teams played above-average defense since John Killilea was his assistant in Milwaukee?
    • Why are the Warriors so resistant to obtaining a pass-first point guard?

    Houston Rockets
    • Why not ditch T-Mac and get a real point guard, as well as a well-rounded big man to man the power-forward slot until Luis Scola is ready to start? Or else exchange T-Mac for a backcourt scorer who won't throw out his back every time he stumbles over the time-line.
    • While they're at it, it's also past time to either trade Stevie Francis (a doubtful possibility) or else buy him out.
    • What about getting Yao the ball while he's in motion across the lane? This will cut down on the opponents' opportunities to double-team him and also greatly reduce his turnovers.
    • Will Rick Adelman eventually take the hit for this dysfunctional squad?
    Indiana Pacers
    • Will Jermaine O'Neal recover in time to be traded?
    • What about finishing the house-cleaning by sending Jamaal Tinsley out of town?
    • Ditto for David Harrison.
    • Stocking up on draft choices would be a nice change, and a way to rebuild this team.
    Los Angeles Clippers
    • Wouldn't it be noble to put Sam Cassell out of his misery and either buy him out or deal him to a contender?
    • Will Elton Brand return to action this season? And if he does, can the Clips finish strongly enough to provide hope for the future?
    • If Donald Sterling isn't THE Donald, he (along with D. Duck) is certainly A Donald.
    • Could Sterling really be considering canning Elgin Baylor? Why now, after so many years of so many inept decisions?
    Los Angeles Lakers
    • Even with the eventual return of Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza, the Lakers desperately need another creative scorer.
    • Is Lamar Odom ever going to find his niche in the triangle offense?
    • When is Kwame Brown going to realize that his job is rebounding and playing post-defense, and that whatever offense he provides is strictly a bonus?
    • When is Kobe going to stop playing for steals and go back to the awesome straight-up defense he used to play?
    • Why is Phil Jackson so overly fond of Vladimir Radmanovic?
    Memphis Grizzlies
    • Maybe it's me, but I don't see many signs of the Phoenix-type run-and-gun offense that Marc Iavaroni planned to install. If he's still serious about doing this, then his roster has to be shaped accordingly.
    • Why, then, has Memphis been so hesitant to deal Pau Gasol?
    • While they're at it, there are a couple of other guys who need a ticket out of town. Stromile Swift. Damon Stoudamire (who is supposedly about to be bought out). Darko Milicic. And Casey Jacobson.
    • Why does the team still use the nickname that was appropriate in Vancouver but not in Memphis? Instead of the Grizzlies, shouldn't they be called the Presleys? Or perhaps a singular noun, like Jazz or Magic, i.e., the Memphis Elvis.
    Miami Heat
    • Another MRI for Shaq. Supposedly he lives on his endorsement deals and keeps his mitts off his contractual monies. So it can't be the money, right?
    • A 14-game losing streak with no relief in sight. Hmmm. And if D-Wade is playing with an aching post-surgical shoulder, why not shut him down, let him completely heal, and not endanger his future?
    • And why not unload the Big Load?
    Milwaukee Bucks
    • Can't anybody in Cheesetown play defense?
    • Why did the Bucks think they could succeed without an authentic point guard?
    • From now to the end of the season, the Bucks should outfit Yi with a padded muscle suit. Maybe that could get the bad guys to bounce off of him instead of the other way around.
    Minnesota Timberwolves
    • How long before McHale trades Al Jefferson back to the Celtics for a box of green jock straps?
    • Why not force-feed Gerald Green starter's minutes to accelerate his learning curve? Or is he already a lost cause?
    • Is McHale keeping his job only because he has photos of Glen Taylor indulging in some kind of disreputable behavior?

    New Jersey Nets
    • Rod Thorn has to make a decision. Whether to accept another dead-end .500 season or make a blockbuster trade.
    • As I suggested a year ago, Carter, Kidd and/or Jefferson should be turned into young bodies and/or primo draft picks.
    • As they are currently constituted, the Nets are arguably the most boring and hard-to-watch team in the league.
    New Orleans Hornets
    • Why not bring Peja off the bench so his up-and-down-play won't be so critical?
    • Is David West the most underrated player in the league?
    • If Chris Paul were just a little stronger, he could challenge guys like Nash, Parker, D. Williams and whomever as the league's premier point guard.
    • How come Byron Scott was such an ego-maniacal, long-winded coach with the Nets, and is now a candidate for Coach of the Year?
    New York Knicks
    • Will Jerome James be the Knicks' savior?
    • If the Knicks have to deal either Eddy Curry or Zach Randolph, the former should be designated to go — if only because the latter (even though he's much more of a pain in the butt) will at least rebound and occasionally pass.
    • The Knicks are a mathematical anomaly — their total is less than the sum of their parts.
    • By hook or by crook (both methods being SOP at MSG), shouldn't the Knicks get a real point guard, play Crawford at the shooting-guard slot, and bring Nate Robinson off the bench?
    • And why doesn't Dippy Dolan heed the vox populi and put Zeke out of his misery?
    Orlando Magic
    • Will Dwight Howard wear down?
    • Who will step up at the point position to lead this team?
    • Could J. J. Redick's defense be that bad?
    • Keith Bogans is the Magic's not-so-secret weapon.
    Philadelphia 76ers
    • Why do they insist on holding on to Andre Miller? Give the guy a break and send him to a contender.
    • Then let Louis Williams learn on the run.
    • Does Samuel Dalembert have the ugliest jumper in captivity?
    • Willie Green will turn out to be a better all-around player than Andre Iguodala.
    Phoenix Suns
    • Will Steve Nash eventually wear down?
    • Will Amare Stoudemire start playing defense, stop worrying about the number of shots he gets, and finally grow up?
    • Where, oh where, will Phoenix get a legit backup point?
    • What's wrong with Marcus Banks?
    Portland Trail Blazers
    • Could even a super-sleuth like Dick Tracy find Channing Frye's lost jumper?
    • Can they keep winning with only one extremely limited power big — Joel Przybilla — and with the leansome duo of Travis Outlaw and LaMarcus Aldridge mostly manning the frontcourt?
    • Why is Martell Webster getting so much playing time?
    • How far can hustle, smarts and excellent coaching take this team?
    Sacramento Kings
    • Have Kevin Martin, Mike Bibby and Ron Artest returned early enough for the Kings to make a serious run at the playoffs?
    • Will Bibby and Artest ever learn to work and play well together?
    • Or are they better off with John Salmons here and Bibby elsewhere?
    • In the long run, will Reggie Theus' imperial manner help or hurt this team?
    • How long before Artest self-destructs — again?
    San Antonio Spurs
    • Are these guys really coasting (relatively speaking of course)? Or are they no longer able to come up with big plays in the clutch?
    • The Spurs absolutely must get into their playoff mindset now.
    • Is the clock moving too quickly (and the legs too slowly) for the Spurs to repeat?
    • How soon before Ime Udoka is ready to become an important player?
    Seattle SuperSonics
    • Will Kevin Durant be worn to a nub by the All-Star game?
    • Can P.J. Carlesimo establish some kind of equanimity among his players? Or will they remain jealous of each other's playing time?
    • In the race for the best chance of winning the Numero Uno draft pick, can the Sonics catch the Wolves?
    Toronto Raptors
    • What happens when T.J. Ford returns to action? Does he start and send Calderon to the bench? Or vice versa?
    • Have the remains of Andrea Bargnani's game ever been located?
    • Will the constant battling against bigger, stronger players wear down Chris Bosh?
    • Why does Sam Mitchell have to call so much attention to himself?
    Utah Jazz
    • Is Carlos Boozer already bone-tired?
    • Shouldn't the team be called the Utah Salts?
    • Is Jerry Sloan having any fun?
    • Can Kyle Korver save the season?
    Washington Wizards
    • What are the chances of Ernie Grunfeld making one of the all-time gutsy moves and trading Agent Zero? That's right, trade the loudmouth, clutchless, selfish Gilbert Arenas for a gifted big man, a playmaker, a high draft pick, and more.
    • Why not?
    • I mean, really?
    This is the darkest timeline.

  • #2
    Re: Midterm exam: Questions facing every NBA team (FOX Sports)

    Originally posted by avoidingtheclowns View Post
    Washington Wizards
    • What are the chances of Ernie Grunfeld making one of the all-time gutsy moves and trading Agent Zero? That's right, trade the loudmouth, clutchless, selfish Gilbert Arenas for a gifted big man (JO?), a playmaker (Tinsley?), a high draft pick (Ours?), and more (Quis, Ike?).
    • Why not?
    • I mean, really?
    I'm not sure that clutchless is an adjective I'd use to describe Arenas.
    "A man with no belly has no appetite for life."

    - Salman Rushdie

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Midterm exam: Questions facing every NBA team (FOX Sports)

      Originally posted by mellifluous View Post
      I'm not sure that clutchless is an adjective I'd use to describe Arenas.

      Worst adjective or worstest adjective ever used to describe Hibachi?

      [yt]RKrcLWSvNrA[/yt]
      Read my Pacers blog:
      8points9seconds.com

      Follow my twitter:

      @8pts9secs

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Midterm exam: Questions facing every NBA team (FOX Sports)

        I could stand to have 2 or 3 1st rounders this year. No way it happens, though.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Midterm exam: Questions facing every NBA team (FOX Sports)

          Originally posted by Charlie Rosen
          New Orleans Hornets
          • If Chris Paul were just a little stronger, he could challenge guys like Nash, Parker, D. Williams and whomever as the league's premier point guard.
          Is this serious? Right now Chris Paul is clearly the front runner for MVP. 21 ppg, 10 apg, 4 rpg and almost 3 steals, great shooting percentages on the team with the 2nd best record in the league.

          Comment

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