Can we have positive threads?

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Einstein famously had 2 definitions of time.

1. Cyclic Time (C), in which the past repeats forever.

2. Firing Some People Time (FU), in which bad things stop repeating.

If I recall my textbook correctly, the equations are

0 = mC²
and
∞ = mC² + FU

where m = deadwood Mass of roster + management, which is yet another equation to solve. Further work is needed (i.e. funding).

A lesser-known formula of which I'm sure you are aware.

Suc 2


Superstars (or perceived superstars) x underachievers x chemistry

We have mostly U in our Suc.

But - x - = + making this post delightful like unicorns on LSD.
 
Positivity is hard to sustain when things aren't going well and negativity is hard to sustain when things are. It's hard to sustain a break from the reality (as one sees it).

Now, the question is--are things going poorly? That's a lot harder to answer, because fan perception is driven by expectations and sports fan expectations have, in my view, amped up over the decades into "contend for a championship or the team is a bunch of losers." I think the internet has played a large part in that, as internet culture in general has led to one-upsmanship. You can see this, e.g., in comments on an article about an accused murderer/rapist/pedophile, where people will fall all over themselves to prove that they'd punish the person the most brutally. In sports fandom, this manifests as ever more extreme expectations, IMO.

Honestly, I thought the last couple of seasons were fun even if I knew they weren't title contenders. Well, the second halves were fun. Over the years, I've tried to pump the brakes on the "I'm only enjoying sports if my favorite team is a serious title contender" mindset because that's a ticket to rarely enjoying your fandom.
 
Positivity is hard to sustain when things aren't going well
Good post....I'd say that I have learned to find something to enjoy in less than stellar Blazer games.....maybe it's just a rookie showing skills or Ed making all his free throws..etc....sort of like enjoying fragments and occasionally great wins....such is the life of a Blazer fan. I see this roster as an unfinished project. I think the front office does too
 
Good post....I'd say that I have learned to find something to enjoy in less than stellar Blazer games.....maybe it's just a rookie showing skills or Ed making all his free throws..etc....sort of like enjoying fragments and occasionally great wins....such is the life of a Blazer fan. I see this roster as an unfinished project. I think the front office does too
How many years of unfinished roster is ok?
 
All rosters are unfinished. Every team is trying to build on what they have, even the Warriors.
 
Positivity is hard to sustain when things aren't going well and negativity is hard to sustain when things are. It's hard to sustain a break from the reality (as one sees it).

Now, the question is--are things going poorly? That's a lot harder to answer, because fan perception is driven by expectations and sports fan expectations have, in my view, amped up over the decades into "contend for a championship or the team is a bunch of losers." I think the internet has played a large part in that, as internet culture in general has led to one-upsmanship. You can see this, e.g., in comments on an article about an accused murder/rapist/pedophile, where people will fall all over themselves to prove that they'd punish the person the most brutally. In sports fandom, this manifests as ever more extreme expectations, IMO.

Honestly, I thought the last couple of seasons were fun even if I knew they weren't title contenders. Well, the second halves were fun. Over the years, I've tried to pump the brakes on the "I'm only enjoying sports if my favorite team is a serious title contender" mindset because that's a ticket to rarely enjoying your fandom.
I was thinking about this "championship or bust" mentality recently, and I realized that I don't really have it. I've tried to espouse it at various points over the past few years, but somehow I'm just not there. I started following the Blazers back in '89, and I enjoyed 15 years of Blazer playoff appearances, with them only escaping the first round 5 times. That fact never really bothered me during that stretch; I just enjoyed rooting for a fun team that won more often than not, and that's basically how I feel about the team now.

So to those who preach that a fan-base mentality that is accepting of "mediocrity" and "purgatory" is part of (if not the majority of) the problem--I apologize, because I unabashedly embody that mindset. I'd love for them to win a title in my lifetime, but even if they never do, as long as they're an organization that makes an effort to win with players I can respect, I'm OK with that.
 
Plus, is it a personal attack if OB says the same thing under his own avatar?

I don't know. I already had to make a rule that you can't insult others in your avatar or signature. Do I really have to make a rule and policing people insulting themselves in their avatar and signatures? I know you're joking but fuck...
 
Is clusterfuck a better word for our roster?

No, there are a number of worse rosters than Portland's, some much worse, based on the results. If your definition of "clusterfuck" is "not championship-caliber," that dovetails well with my original post about fan expectations driving perceptions.
 
No, there are a number of worse rosters than Portland's, some much worse, based on the results. If your definition of "clusterfuck" is "not championship-caliber," that dovetails well with my original post about fan expectations driving perceptions.
Not at all. Philly is not a championship caliber roster and it's nowhere near a clusterfuck.

To me, clusterfuck means not contending, yet we have one of the highest payrolls in the league, and no real movable assets for an upgrade.
 
To me, clusterfuck means not contending, yet we have one of the highest payrolls in the league, and no real movable assets for an upgrade.

Fair enough. To me, a clusterfuck is a team that's not in contention for the playoffs and no clear roadmap to get there.
 
hate to say that @HCP was right, when he warned against unrealistic expectations before the season, but he was right.
You “HATE” to say? C’Mon FAMS! I’m glad some are coming around to see what I was trying to say and was getting blasted for.
As far as all the negative vibes on here, it has definitely gotten worse.
 
I wonder if at one point it gets so negative on here people will want to “quit” S2 or “not even join”. Hope not!
 
You “HATE” to say? C’Mon FAMS! I’m glad some are coming around to see what I was trying to say and was getting blasted for.
As far as all the negative vibes on here, it has definitely gotten worse.
I still disagree with your basis for your claim of validity in your preseason prognostication, because nobody, yourself included, predicted or expected the level of offensive ineptitude the Blazers have shown this season. If their offense were performing at anywhere near the level it has any other year of Dame's career, the team record would be where the majority expected.
 
No, the Blazers are #7 in the West. Hard not to be in contention for a playoff spot if you're in a playoff position.
Our diffetence is you are fine with playoff contention, while I want championship contention.

We think about the same. Just satisfied with different levels.

Over the tax threshold with no real assets to improve....we don't like. You, however, are ok because we might make the playoffs. I would be ok if we were real contenders
 
I still disagree with your basis for your claim of validity in your preseason prognostication, because nobody, yourself included, predicted or expected the level of offensive ineptitude the Blazers have shown this season. If their offense were performing at anywhere near the level it has any other year of Dame's career, the team record would be where the majority expected.
With that way of thinking, I could say that NOBODY on here predicted that our defense would be so good, right? I make my yearly predictions based solely on the talent of the roster and that of other teams. Not how I think their offense will pan out.
Two seasons ago when we lost like what, 7 of our best 9 players, I predicted a nosedive as did many others. Luckily I was wrong and our guys gelled and came together to have a fantastic season.
Then last season, I said the league would kind of figure us out and we stay around the same and I nailed it and we did.
This season, I just think the fact that we stood pat and other divisional teams got better in my opinion we would be around .500. We are actually ahead of my 40 win prediction, thus you don’t see me freaking out every game thread. We have .500 talent on this roster, why get mad about a loss or to hyped over a win we should have got?
 
Our diffetence is you are fine with playoff contention, while I want championship contention.

Yeah, I like to enjoy my hobby. True championship contention is rare, for almost every franchise. If that's the only time I enjoyed following the game and my team, sports wouldn't be an enjoyable hobby.

Also, we're defining "clusterfuck," which is a bit more than "non-ideal."
 
Yeah, I like to enjoy my hobby. True championship contention is rare, for almost every franchise. If that's the only time I enjoyed following the game and my team, sports wouldn't be an enjoyable hobby.

Also, we're defining "clusterfuck," which is a bit more than "non-ideal."
Probably the most significant discussion in this forums history.
 
With that way of thinking, I could say that NOBODY on here predicted that our defense would be so good, right?
Actually, a lot of people accurately predicted that the defense would improve significantly based on the impact Nurkic had on the defense over the 20 games he played last season. So, yes you could say that, but you'd be wrong.
 
Actually, a lot of people accurately predicted that the defense would improve significantly based on the impact Nurkic had on the defense over the 20 games he played last season. So, yes you could say that, but you'd be wrong.
I’ll accept that, but I don’t remember reading about how we’d have one of the best Ds in the league. I’ll accept being wrong if you accept I’m going to be right with my win prediction of 40 regardless of HOW I came to that conclusion.
 
I’ll accept that, but I don’t remember reading about how we’d have one of the best Ds in the league. I’ll accept being wrong if you accept I’m going to be right with my win prediction of 40 regardless of HOW I came to that conclusion.
I'll stipulate to the possibility that you might end up correct, but considering that we're still less than halfway through the season, and that we haven't yet reached the trade deadline, I think it's a little early for you to be claiming victory on that one.
 

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