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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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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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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.

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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.

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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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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).

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Rule #10

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Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

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  • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

    Originally posted by mattie View Post

    That doesn't mean half the board has to argue he's a great athlete when it simply isn't true. Or that he's a great shooter, or the number of other things people say.
    Where did anyone say he's a great shooter OR a great athlete? I mentioned his FG% which is a fact. I mentioned the fact "he can get up", which he has. But in no way if you look at the context of posts am I saying that he's a great shooter OR a great athlete. I stress his passing, rebounding, defense, toughness, drive to the rack...his overall game.

    Comment


    • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

      BTW, the reason why Lance is special is due to the things he brings this particular starting lineup:

      1) Puts pressure on the D because at any moment he could drive to the rack. Paul is a threat as well, but Lance is important here too.

      2) Allows Paul George to play his natural position, which is SF.

      3) Sees the floor and can feed the post and pass better than any other starter, possibly with the exception of West. This is HUGE and makes our other players better. I would argue that he doesn't have as many assists as he should have because last year they had him spotting up for threes instead of using his best talents. Honestly, I think they were forcing him to play off the ball to improve his shooting.

      4) Toughness. Other than West, our starters cannot be described as being tough guys.

      5) Edgy. Unlike our other guys, he's got an edge that gets under the skin of the opposition. He is no Reggie Miller, but that's what I'm talking about.

      6) Runs the fast break very, very well.

      7) Now this one is potential. I foresee that he will develop a consistent mid range shot that he will be able to get off any time because he can move so well with the ball. This is a HUGE deal and will open up the rest of his game. He will use that to draw the defender then drive by...go to the rack or dish. It will be huge if and when he gets this down. I'm already seeing that he's worked on it...

      Comment


      • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

        Originally posted by BlueNGold View Post
        Rodney Stuckey is not a bad comparison and isn't a slap in the face to Lance supporters...or shouldn't be. Stuckey is a notch below all-star caliber which is where Lance is trying to prove himself. But Lance has more potential. Lance blows away Stuckey on rebounds. Lance is 25 lbs heavier people...a lot more physical. He's a better shooter. Look at Stuckey's FG% historically. Lance may never shoot that bad. Yet Stuckey is a very good NBA player. Again, there are a few seats left on the bus.
        I don't think Stuckey is anywhere near Lance's court vision, and that is the part of Lance that separates him from the pack.
        "Look, it's up to me to put a team around ... Lance right now." —Kevin Pritchard press conference

        Comment


        • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

          Originally posted by Ace E.Anderson View Post
          Anytime a player who has yet to average double figures for an entire season
          This is the crux.

          Lance proponents (at least speaking for myself) see that he has not been given the long leash that PG and others have been given. We're convinced he will break out this year if he gets it.

          It could be that "freeing Lance" earlier or in the future is a bad idea. But no one can win the debate until he gets that chance. If he does, nobody on either side will be upset if our side wins.
          "Look, it's up to me to put a team around ... Lance right now." —Kevin Pritchard press conference

          Comment


          • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

            I'd like to point out that Stuckey's contract pays him over $8m per year. And that he signed his big contract at age 25, i.e. a year older than Lance would be next season. In fairness, he'd already have a couple of seasons of 15+ ppg at that point. On Lance's side, he can't equal Stuckey's production (yet), but on the other hand being a contributor on a much better team should work in his favor. From a market value perspective, I think Stuckey's deal seems like a reasonable benchmark.

            Comment


            • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

              Originally posted by McKeyFan View Post
              This is the crux.

              Lance proponents (at least speaking for myself) see that he has not been given the long leash that PG and others have been given. We're convinced he will break out this year if he gets it.

              It could be that "freeing Lance" earlier or in the future is a bad idea. But no one can win the debate until he gets that chance. If he does, nobody on either side will be upset if our side wins.
              I think the Pacers knew Orlando's potential last year and they knew Lance's. But Orlando wasn't given any minutes and Lance was given minutes but placed into a role that required him to develop a more disciplined game. I can't argue with that approach.

              What I'm saying is that where you see a short leash, I see a choker. Not to compare him to a dog, but Lance needed trained. They knew all along he has a lot of potential but he's untamed and they wanted to push him to the corner to work on his shot. I think it's paying off some right now...and that choker has been taken off. IOW, Lance has basically been freed. Let's see how the game goes tonight. It does appear that they are letting him play his game this year...where they did not last year.

              Comment


              • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                Originally posted by BlueNGold View Post
                I think the Pacers knew Orlando's potential last year and they knew Lance's. But Orlando wasn't given any minutes and Lance was given minutes but placed into a role that required him to develop a more disciplined game. I can't argue with that approach.

                What I'm saying is that where you see a short leash, I see a choker. Not to compare him to a dog, but Lance needed trained. They knew all along he has a lot of potential but he's untamed and they wanted to push him to the corner to work on his shot. I think it's paying off some right now...and that choker has been taken off. IOW, Lance has basically been freed. Let's see how the game goes tonight. It does appear that they are letting him play his game this year...where they did not last year.
                I hope you're right.

                Lance hasn't missed two shots in a row yet this year. Much less three or four or a couple of turnovers in a row. We'll see if he gets the same long leash others seem to get.
                "Look, it's up to me to put a team around ... Lance right now." —Kevin Pritchard press conference

                Comment


                • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                  Originally posted by BlueNGold View Post
                  I think the Pacers knew Orlando's potential last year and they knew Lance's. But Orlando wasn't given any minutes and Lance was given minutes but placed into a role that required him to develop a more disciplined game. I can't argue with that approach.

                  What I'm saying is that where you see a short leash, I see a choker. Not to compare him to a dog, but Lance needed trained. They knew all along he has a lot of potential but he's untamed and they wanted to push him to the corner to work on his shot. I think it's paying off some right now...and that choker has been taken off. IOW, Lance has basically been freed. Let's see how the game goes tonight. It does appear that they are letting him play his game this year...where they did not last year.
                  Of course that's what they did. That's what every contending team does with a player who isn't currently skilled enough to be given a more prominent role. Orlando got plenty of minutes for a rookie. He wasn't given starter minutes because he wasn't as good or as experienced as Lance. It wasn't some special design to specifically develop Lance Stephenson, it was your typical, run-of-the-mill team development strategy. Remember that at the start of last season Lance's potential was obvious. But the team still tried out Gerald Green and Sam Young in the starting lineup before they turned to Lance.
                  Time for a new sig.

                  Comment


                  • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                    How we can keep both lance and Danny beyond this year seems just about impossible. If Danny is through we likely don't sign him and if Danny is any good we can't afford him.

                    Comment


                    • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                      Originally posted by McKeyFan View Post
                      I hope you're right.

                      Lance hasn't missed two shots in a row yet this year. Much less three or four or a couple of turnovers in a row. We'll see if he gets the same long leash others seem to get.

                      He won't. And as much as you want it to happen, this is not Lance's team. He is not getting the ISO play to win it all. He isn't going to be the DWayne Wade to Paul George's Lebron. If you want that then you don't want West. You really don't want Hibbert. Lance can be unleashed to grab the ball off of the rim and run with it. And it doesn't seem to be enough. He can get the 12 fga and that won't be enough.

                      When player successes come at the cost of the team being completely different than they have been. And been good at. Then your desire for that player successes is unwarranted.

                      And that goes for anyone. I don't want Hibbert shooting more than 12fga. I don't want George flinging up 6 3pointers. I don't want West playing over 35mpg. I don't want Hill being a traditional point. I don't want Granger coming back and taking over. I don't want Lance to be the man that has a role that only Paul George deserves to have.

                      Comment


                      • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                        Nobody is saying they want this to be Lance's team. It's Paul George's team and that's not up for debate. But this thread is about whether Lance should be the starting PG...although IMO the real question is if Lance will be given the opportunity to initiate the offense. That's not to say he's Batman on this team. That title belongs to Paul and nobody is taking it away.

                        ...and Lance "getting his" is not about getting his points. It's about freeing him to use his talents. It's about assists. It's about rebounds. It's about good defense. It's about good FG%. It's about solidifying his mid range game. It's about going to the rack. It's about his moxy and his toughness. It's about the fast break.

                        It's about a changing of the guards with Miami...powering through Chalmers for an And-One... shutting down an aging DWade (eventually)...and rubbing the man's nose in it.

                        Comment


                        • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                          Love's a a quicker basketball player than Lance, and Danny's better at taking the ball to the rack even though once he gets there he can't make the shot or set his teammates up? Gotcha mattie

                          Comment


                          • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                            I like Stephenson, but I like him as an off guard at SG. I think having him next to Hill, actually masks Hill's shortcomings...lack of creative passing and playmaking ability for others. However, I don't like Stephenson as my everyday point guard, I think it forces him to run the offense and take care of the ball (a job that Hill can easily do and do efficiently), whereas I think Lance is at his best when he's looking to attack and make plays, and not worry about the other things. Just because he COULD play PG, doesn't mean we need to put him there. I remember when LeBron was a rookie, everyone said he'd be a point guard...because he COULD play point guard; however, fast forwarding to today, he's much better as a 2, 3, or 4.

                            Comment


                            • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                              My prediction: Lance Stephenson finishes the year #2 in the league in FG% for SGs only behind D. Wade.

                              Comment


                              • Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                                Originally posted by Major Cold View Post
                                He won't. And as much as you want it to happen, this is not Lance's team. He is not getting the ISO play to win it all. He isn't going to be the DWayne Wade to Paul George's Lebron. If you want that then you don't want West. You really don't want Hibbert. Lance can be unleashed to grab the ball off of the rim and run with it. And it doesn't seem to be enough. He can get the 12 fga and that won't be enough.

                                When player successes come at the cost of the team being completely different than they have been. And been good at. Then your desire for that player successes is unwarranted.

                                And that goes for anyone. I don't want Hibbert shooting more than 12fga. I don't want George flinging up 6 3pointers. I don't want West playing over 35mpg. I don't want Hill being a traditional point. I don't want Granger coming back and taking over. I don't want Lance to be the man that has a role that only Paul George deserves to have.
                                Asking Lance to have the same size leash as the other starters isn't the same as asking for it to be "his" team only.

                                I'm asking that he have the same leash Paul George had two years ago, when Danny and West were the key go to players. Paul got to make mistakes without constant fear of getting jerked to the pine. Granted, if Lance continues to make mistakes ongoing it must be addressed. But we haven't found out if one of our most efficient players will stay just as efficient if his shots and touches are significantly increased.

                                Now, if you don't care whether or not he's a James Harden type and prefer we not find out because you are attached to everyone else, that's another issue.
                                "Look, it's up to me to put a team around ... Lance right now." —Kevin Pritchard press conference

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