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

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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.

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

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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.

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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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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.

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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

Rule #6

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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).

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.

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Rule #10

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West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

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  • #1

    West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

    by Candace Buckner
    In their first practice Tuesday, the Indiana Pacers ran a series of one-man, full-court fast breaks. It's the cruelty of training camp, commanded to sprint near the end of the early afternoon session, already after an hour or so of depositing sweat on the Bankers Life Fieldhouse hardwood. However, the exercise serves a function.

    "Get your summer legs out of you!" coach Frank Vogel shouts to his players."Summertime's over. Got to get your season legs under you."

    David West grits his teeth and growls as he gallops less like a gazelle these days, but more like a rhino. He's 34 years old now, and he has done the math.

    When he was younger, West marked a career goal of playing 10 years in the league. This is his 12th NBA training camp. Call it overtime in a career that has produced 15.9-point scoring and 7.2 rebounding averages, two All-Star appearances and a deserved reputation as one of the last true tough guys in the league.

    Still, as West high-knees it up and down the court, he can see the light at the end of the tunnel shining brighter and brighter.






    INDYSTAR

    Insider: 2014-15 Pacers vow to shut up and play


    "Oh, yeah. Absolutely. You know, that's a part of it. You've got to be prepared for that. I was already close to retiring a couple years ago," West said after practice. "I was telling guys then, if we had won the championship (in 2013), I probably would have walked away."

    There are times when West sounds reflective, the way a gray beard does at the end of his climb.

    "I think about it now. I was thinking about it yesterday some, I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish," West said. "Proud of what we were able to do when I got here, sort of change the direction of this group and help these young guys."

    But in those other moments, West comes across as realistic, the way a willing challenger considers – in the all-important future tense – the obstacles ahead.

    "It'll be one of those years where the older you get, the more you'll have to listen to your body," West said, and offered this assessment on the upcoming Pacers' season: "It's a whole new ball game. We've got to trust Frank. We've got to trust the system. Trust what they're going to teach us and as guys, we've got to buy in. As players, we have to go out and commit ourselves to doing exactly what we talk about doing in our preparation."

    When the team gathered for media day on Monday, West was candid about the Pacers' future, the one shaped by a shattered bone.

    On Aug. 1, West was alone in a room and watched as the championship window slammed shut. His most talented teammate, Paul George, was on the floor, downed during a meaningless exhibition game for USA Basketball. When West finally peeled away from the television, his wife had gathered from his blank expression that something had happened.

    "I'm like, 'Turn on the TV,'" West said to his wife. "'Paul just broke his leg.'"

    Two seasons earlier, when West entertained thoughts of retirement before the team's conference finals exit, he found the motivation to return from the Pacers being so tantalizingly close to competing for an NBA championship. But that changed with George's injury.


    14_PacersMediaDay
    The Indiana Pacers held their media day Monday, September 29, 2014, morning at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Here Luis Scola,left, Roy Hibbert and David West,right, pose for NBA photographer Ronald Hoskins.(Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)


    "At that moment, the light went out," West said. "Even with Lance (Stephenson) gone … before he gets hurt, I'm like, Paul's really going to have a chance to grow. So the light was still there. We'll just ride with Paul and see what happens. When he got hurt, I was sorta like 'damn!'"

    "What we were looking for, obviously what our goals were as a group the last couple years, the light just went out on that," West continued. "I wouldn't necessarily say I was (declaring) I'm not going to play, but I definitely think about it. Like I said, I don't have a lot of time left in this league. I'm just one of those guys that just never intended to play a long time."

    West also never envisioned himself as a ring hunter near the end of his career. The thought of trying to wrangle his way to a title contender just doesn't appeal to him.

    "I'm not going to be one of those guys that's just out here chasing that. I'm not going to be one those guys out here sacrificing who I am, the things that make me me, to go out and get a material goal. That's just not the way I'm wired," West declared. "So, I understand we're not in that space anymore in terms of this group, but that's fine. It's just a reality you have to deal with, but you got to accept it and face it in order to get yourself moving and producing positively."






    INDYSTAR

    Pacers notes: Vogel says front court vets to draw extra duty


    The light, as West describes it, may no longer flicker, and he admits that he doesn't know the source of his motivation to jump back into his 12th season – "Honestly, when I got back here, that's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for some energy from camp and getting to know Rodney (Stuckey) and C.J. (Miles) and some of the new guys we have," West said.

    However, in preparation for the season, West still trained like he has in previous summers and showed up ready for camp like he has every other year.

    West never dogged it during those full-court sprints at the end of Tuesday's practice. And don't expect West to slack off this season. Though the team's chase may have changed, his marathon continues.

    "I'll focus on the work that we have, the task that we have here and the thing, we have to do here to get ourselves rolling and get ourselves in a good position. See what types of groups we can put on the floor, particularly early, and see what sort of team we are. We've got to develop an identity," West said. "Again, it's just a part of it. I don't think anybody's backing away from it. We've got to face what our reality is."
    http://www.indystar.com/story/sports...lity/16506641/
    Kind of depressing, but "it is what it is". Makes me respect West even more.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

    I think this is the headline

    Oh, yeah. Absolutely. You know, that's a part of it. You've got to be prepared for that. I was already close to retiring a couple years ago," West said after practice. "I was telling guys then, if we had won the championship (in 2013), I probably would have walked away."


    Makes me think this will be his last season​. And makes me think it is more likely that he gets traded near the deadline, unless a miracle happens here.
    Last edited by Unclebuck; 10-01-2014, 08:10 AM.

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    • #3
      Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

      Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
      [/I]Makes me think this will be his last season​. And makes me think it is more likely that he gets traded near the deadline, unless a miracle happens here. [/COLOR]
      I think if the young guys treat him like a locker room leader and listen to him, he'll stick around. He makes it pretty clear that mentoring players is something he really loves.
      BillS

      A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
      Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

        Glad he wants to retire a Pacer. He has two more years on his contract, so he'll get one more shot to play with PG. If he tells Larry that 2015-16 is his last year, I could see us going all in during the summer trying to get a few pieces for another title run
        Smothered Chicken!

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        • #5
          Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

          We should trade him. Making a last-ditch effort in 2015-2016 for a title which we won't even come close to contending for isn't worth mortgaging a potentially bright future. This is a wasted year for him. He deserves to play for a contender.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

            He's the best quote I've ever seen from the Pacers. Unpredictable guys like Artest aren't worthy. West thinks like a leader and is as genuine as they come. I'm already missing him. He'd be a hell of a coach.

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

              Certainly a "man's man". I respect him not looking to be a ring chaser and accepting the current state of the Pacers. I personally would love to see him traded to a contender so that he can compete for that ring, but if he's fine with playing out the rest of his career here, I have no issues watching him stay here and retire a Pacer.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
                I think this is the headline

                Oh, yeah. Absolutely. You know, that's a part of it. You've got to be prepared for that. I was already close to retiring a couple years ago," West said after practice. "I was telling guys then, if we had won the championship (in 2013), I probably would have walked away."


                Makes me think this will be his last season​. And makes me think it is more likely that he gets traded near the deadline, unless a miracle happens here.
                I don't think that tells us he's retiring at the end of this season. If that were the case I think he'd retire now, not after Paul returns. He may want to make this his last contract though but I'd even doubt that if he's still playing at a high level.
                Why do teams tank? Ask a Spurs fan.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                  Originally posted by BillS View Post
                  I think if the young guys treat him like a locker room leader and listen to him, he'll stick around. He makes it pretty clear that mentoring players is something he really loves.

                  I see your point and I agree with you. But if the pacers are 22-28 at the trade deadline and a true contender is making the pacers a good offer, and West is likely to retire at the end of the season. I see no reason why a trade like that doesn't happen.

                  West has moved up onto my short list of all-time favorite Pacers players

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                    Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
                    I see your point and I agree with you. But if the pacers are 22-28 at the trade deadline and a true contender is making the pacers a good offer, and West is likely to retire at the end of the season. I see no reason why a trade like that doesn't happen
                    I'd be okay with a trade as long as we get a good young PF for the future obviously
                    Smothered Chicken!

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                      Originally posted by Coopdog23 View Post
                      I'd be okay with a trade as long as we get a good young PF for the future obviously
                      What young PFs are you looking at? I've been looking myself and can't find much that looks appealing. I'd like Thomas Robinson, but I don't know that he'll pan out.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                        Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
                        I see your point and I agree with you. But if the pacers are 22-28 at the trade deadline and a true contender is making the pacers a good offer, and West is likely to retire at the end of the season. I see no reason why a trade like that doesn't happen.

                        West has moved up onto my short list of all-time favorite Pacers players
                        I think the Pacers aren't going to do it unless West wants it. It would be a huge risk to toss out a guy who is clearly a locker room anchor for anything other than a no-brainer that he also agrees is a good move for him.
                        BillS

                        A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
                        Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                          Originally posted by BillS View Post
                          I think the Pacers aren't going to do it unless West wants it. It would be a huge risk to toss out a guy who is clearly a locker room anchor for anything other than a no-brainer that he also agrees is a good move for him.
                          It's not like there isn't precedent for this though. Look to last year as an example


                          Basketball isn't played with computers, spreadsheets, and simulations. ChicagoJ 4/21/13

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                            Originally posted by Peck View Post
                            It's not like there isn't precedent for this though. Look to last year as an example
                            This is a little different Danny was not talking about retiring, we had a shot (until we traded Danny anyway) and it was the dumbest move of the year. I could see us trading West to a contender as a favor not as a lets try and win it all this year so its a different trade.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: West on retirement, PG and Ring-chasing

                              Originally posted by Peck View Post
                              It's not like there isn't precedent for this though. Look to last year as an example
                              Unless you think it's impossible for the FO to learn from their mistakes, things aren't quite the same.
                              BillS

                              A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
                              Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...

                              Comment

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