The Excuse Machine and the Disappearing Man

[jlprk]

Stephenson is a much better defender and while both are still you I would rather have Stephenson

Here's a 2-pager.
http://dimemag.com/2014/01/whos-better-lance-stephenson-nicolas-batum/

When did Nic say he was the 2nd-best SF? Is that like you saying that Olshey regrets not getting more help at the deadline last year, when he actually said the opposite, because he wanted flexibility last summer to improve the bench?

Of the many things you need to learn, one is to ask more humbly when you have a question that makes you look stupid.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/2...s-batum-wonders-if-hes-second-best-sf-in-west

For example, "I missed the dozens of posts here that discussed this. Could you please link me to what I slept through?"

 

[TBpup]

When did Nic say he was the 2nd-best SF? Is that like you saying that Olshey regrets not getting more help at the deadline last year, when he actually said the opposite, because he wanted flexibility last summer to improve the bench?

There was an article with David Aldridge, one with Chris Haynes and a couple of other mentions. Thought the nitpicking was over...lol. It was right around the time he got outscored something like 80-10 by Durant and Chandler Parson.

 

[THE HCP]

In this day and age, the Blazers manage "The Message" they want you the fan to hear. It in most cases is not correct but rather self-serving. It's not like in the old days when the media controlled "The Message"; back then the media was far more responsible in what they said. Fans today who take what the Blazers say as gospel are in a totally different group then those who don't listen to the blazers and actually look at the team. To keep it short, the Blazers have invaded every part of the media on every level just so they can get out the message they want you to hear and alot of times it's just garbage. As a result, we have arguments from basically two different parties; those who recite what the blazers message contains or those who try and think independently. I would encourage those who take what the blazers say as gospel and try to respect what the independents think because their is value to what they bring.

For example, I have worked with a lot of Doctors and because they are considered an authority when it comes to medical, I have to take what they say as gospel and respect them. I have zero problems reciting what they say because they are well respected in always doing whats right. When it comes to the blazers, they are not an authority nor well respected because they only give out information that is self serving to them. I hope people can see the difference here.

I am not trying to be a troll as this is my opinion and I am giving credit to both sides while also trying to put it in perspective. The blazers are starting to fire-up the excuse machine. I forgot who I heard this from but their is two things that sell in the NBA; you're either selling hope or you're selling championships. With the blazers 0-14 in getting to the second round of the playoffs in the last 14 years, they are clearly selling hope right now.

You own clothing made of tinfoil and live in a bunker huh?

 

[1honestfan]

You own clothing made of tinfoil and live in a bunker huh?

Would you care to be a little more detailed? I made my stance clear with 3 paragraphs and you only have one incomplete sentence that has no supportive sentences.

Are you going to go after anyone that says anything that could be considered derogatory towards the Blazers? Does the message always have to be sunshine and lollipops?

 

[THE HCP]

You claim to be a fan. Yet you show up on here with negative this and negative that. We are enjoying one of our best starts in franchise history and you are putting everybody on blast about how bad everything is. From the players to the president.

I don't mind real takes negative or positive, but can't stand people on here that are all one and not the other.

Take a deep breath, step away from the ledge and try to enjoy an exciting season like a real "fan" would.

 

[1honestfan]

You claim to be a fan. Yet you show up on here with negative this and negative that. We are enjoying one of our best starts in franchise history and you are putting everybody on blast about how bad everything is. From the players to the president.

I don't mind real takes negative or positive, but can't stand people on here that are all one and not the other.

Take a deep breath, step away from the ledge and try to enjoy an exciting season like a real "fan" would.

I think that this is more about you and less about me.

It's not being negative when your views are inline with the current status of the team.

Let's just clear something up right now; it would be hard for you to point out someone that wants this team to get back to their glorious status than me. It's possible but extremely hard.

I remember when the blazers held their championship parade in downtown Portland. I remember when Sean Elliot hit that magical 3-pointer to beat the blazers in a playoff series, I remember when Portland Portland lost a game to the Detroit Pistions when Danny Young hit a 3-pointer as time expired in a championship game, I remember when Billy Ray Bates hit a magical in-bounds ally-hoop for a game winner, I remember when Clyde Drexler stole the inbound pass from the 76'ers and laid it in as time expired from half court, I remember the times when Larry Bird killed the blazers with a last second shot, I remember when Portland beat Boston in Boston for their only home court loss of the season. I was still a fan when I went to the Houston game when Portland broke their 12 game losing streak and Terry Porter threw me his wrist-band.

History did not start just when YOU started to become a blazer fan.

Don't speak to me of what a "Real Fan" is because I am that real fan. I will praise them when they are good and I will criticize them when they are bad; that my friend is a "Real Fan" and not just one sided that you are proposing.

You arguing from a stand point of "You either hate them or love them" is alienating and weak at best. I have children and grandchildren and I love them with all my heart and support them but I still praise them and call them out higher all the same.

Come'on man, you're better than this.

 

[cmeese47]

Here it is in my opinion, bashing the team when they suck is good for the soul, however, when you cannot take the time to offer a little praise when the team succeeds then it is hard to believe your still cheering for the team you claim to be a fan of.

I love the Blazers and want to see them succeed, I also love myself and tend to believe I know what is best. Thus, when the team goes against my judgement I tend to lash out. I enjoyed being wrong at the start of the season and sitting back while the experts were praised. However, things are not looking so rosy anymore and the team has some major holes. I have an opinion on how to fix them but I watched as they were left alone at the trade deadline.

I am sick of being unhappy so I hope that I am wrong and Portland will win a playoff series or two and convince LA this is where he wants to be.

I am a huge Ravens fan as well and they sucked this year and while it hurt at times you know why it was okay for the most part was because they won the title last year. It shows me that I can have faith in the leadership.

Portland has not won anything since 1977 and have not been competitive in the playoffs since they were screwed in game 7 vs. LA. I have no faith in this teams leadership, I want to but need some results first.

 

[1honestfan]

Here it is in my opinion, bashing the team when they suck is good for the soul, however, when you cannot take the time to offer a little praise when the team succeeds then it is hard to believe your still cheering for the team you claim to be a fan of.

I love the Blazers and want to see them succeed, I also love myself and tend to believe I know what is best. Thus, when the team goes against my judgement I tend to lash out. I enjoyed being wrong at the start of the season and sitting back while the experts were praised. However, things are not looking so rosy anymore and the team has some major holes. I have an opinion on how to fix them but I watched as they were left alone at the trade deadline.

I am sick of being unhappy so I hope that I am wrong and Portland will win a playoff series or two and convince LA this is where he wants to be.

I am a huge Ravens fan as well and they sucked this year and while it hurt at times you know why it was okay for the most part was because they won the title last year. It shows me that I can have faith in the leadership.

Portland has not won anything since 1977 and have not been competitive in the playoffs since they were screwed in game 7 vs. LA. I have no faith in this teams leadership, I want to but need some results first.

I think that is a balanced and fair opinion. I think that when and if Portland makes it to the second round of the playoffs the I think that you will hear even the most staunchest people even admit "Finally".

 

[1honestfan]

Batum was always all potential. He’d look good on 10% of his plays, bad on 10%, and mediocre on 80%. He loved to rove like Mo Williams does, but had none of Mo’s dribbling ability. So he had to quickly unload the ball and pretend to be a good passer.

When the Timberwolves wanted him and he hinted he wanted to go, this board displayed all sides. As the most reasonable person here, I struck a practical compromise. I said, “Yes he’ll be vastly overpaid, yes he has potential but is taking forever to meet it. But if we don’t sign him, we’ll give him away to Minnesota for nothing. There is a good chance that his new salary will cause 1) him to feel that he owes it to us to expand his role, out of guilt, and 2) management to expand his role, to get a return on their investment.

Gifted with the wisdom of Solomon, I continued, “So this contract might cause him to approach his potential. Give it one year. Then trade him if he’s not there. That way we won’t just give him to the Wolves for free.”

The high pay did indeed motivate management to expand his role. Now he boastfully catches and passes with one hand, piling up assists and turnovers in a bad ratio. His conception of what he should do is still all wrong, which is why his potential is still unrealized. As the George Washington of the board, I say, trade him.

Nice....

 

[TBpup]

I think that is a balanced and fair opinion. I think that when and if Portland makes it to the second round of the playoffs the I think that you will hear even the most staunchest people even admit "Finally".

That will be cause for pent up celebration for sure.

 

[PapaG]

Of the many things you need to learn, one is to ask more humbly when you have a question that makes you look stupid.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/2...s-batum-wonders-if-hes-second-best-sf-in-west



For example, "I missed the dozens of posts here that discussed this. Could you please link me to what I slept through?"

Where in that link does Batum claim to be the 2nd-best SF in the NBA?

NOBODY ASKED ME, BUT ...
Is Nicolas Batum the second-best small forward in the Western Conference?

I didn't come up with the question this week. It was posed to me recently by one Nicolas Batum, of Portland, Ore. It's a fair question.
Kevin Durant is obviously the premier three in the West -- and in the league, on those nights LeBron James plays power forward in Miami. But is the 24-year-old Batum next in line, at least in the West?

"I don't know," Batum says with a smile. He doesn't state it outright, but he doesn't have to.

He doesn't know if he was the second-best PF in the West last January. Hardly the same as him claiming to be the 2nd-best SF in the NBA. Yet I'm the stupid one...

 

[PapaG]

"I was with him when I signed," Batum said. "He said, 'Don't put pressure on yourself. You can play. You play. The trust you. You don't have pressure now.' And he's right. He did it. It works. When I see him play, he doesn't have pressure. And he's been a three, four-time All-Star. So, who's the second-best small forward in the West?"

Batum asks a question, never answers it, yet I get called stupid. I also had to link to another article from the one posted by jlprk to even find the interview. Some people like shiny objects. Others like to actual read past the headline.

 

[jlprk]

The word for Batum is "coy" or "a tease." That describes his career. It also describes his asking a leading national reporter, David Aldridge, whether Batum is the 2nd-best SF, then with a sparkle in his eyes, smiling and refusing to say any more when David Aldridge asks him to answer his own question. Batum planted this story strategically.

Coy. A tease. As usual. Now you say it's an illusion because he only asked the question, he didn't come out and say it.

By the way, before posting that link, I read the relevant parts of the David Aldridge article. I had read past the Blazersedge headline, and nothing contradicted it in the Aldridge article.

 

[riverman]

and so....is this Nic's trial for his intentions or his sense of humor? Is he under oath for an interview? I fail to see how it defines his career. Fact is, Nic is a really special talent and an important part of the team. Wouldn't it really just be easier to say you don't like Nic? That's what I'm getting from this.

 

[PapaG]

The word for Batum is "coy" or "a tease." That describes his career. It also describes his asking a leading national reporter, David Aldridge, whether Batum is the 2nd-best SF, then with a sparkle in his eyes, smiling and refusing to say any more when David Aldridge asks him to answer his own question. Batum planted this story strategically.

Coy. A tease. As usual. Now you say it's an illusion because he only asked the question, he didn't come out and say it.

By the way, before posting that link, I read the relevant parts of the David Aldridge article. I had read past the Blazersedge headline, and nothing contradicted it in the Aldridge article.

So, the quoted parts of Nic, in response to your claims against him, as the "2nd best SF" show you to be wrong quite literally, don't matter? You called me stupid, yet you didn't prove the point that was put forward when you decided to call me stupid. OK

You posted a link. It didn't back up your point. Onto the semantics...

 

[jlprk]

PapaG loves to get off track and confuse the issue.

You apparently missed the board discussion about Batum spreading the idea that he's 2nd-best SF. Now you pretend I'm the only one, and there's only one article. Below is where you learned what the rest of us who read that thread (I didn't post to it, but you pretend I'm the big wheel in bringing out the information) already know, that there were several articles.

There was an article with David Aldridge, one with Chris Haynes and a couple of other mentions. Thought the nitpicking was over...lol. It was right around the time he got outscored something like 80-10 by Durant and Chandler Parson.

So maybe next time you'll hold down the sarcasm while you say something stupid.

 

[PapaG]

PapaG loves to get off track and confuse the issue.

You apparently missed the board discussion about Batum spreading the idea that he's 2nd-best SF. Now you pretend I'm the only one, and there's only one article. Below is where you learned what the rest of us who read that thread (I didn't post to it, but you pretend I'm the big wheel in bringing out the information) already know, that there were several articles.



So maybe next time you'll hold down the sarcasm while you say something stupid.

Oh, so you saying I looked stupid, when I was actually right, is now me getting too far into details. Aren't you the guy who rails against the Oregonian for extrapolating on all things Blazers in order to make a negative story? Seems like you're posting as a hypocrite.

I actually read the entire interview. You took the Oregonian approach, and let someone else define the issue for you.

 

[jlprk]

I'm not expecting him to be LeBron or Durant but when he starts yapping his gums about being the 2nd best SF, that sounds like he things he has arrived. 12 ppg with 33% shooting from '3' isn't cutting it. And his nonchalant way he approaches the game makes it worse. Even when he does have a good game, it is often a blow up quarter surrounded by 3 other quarters of invisible-man like disappearance.

With Duncan, Parker, Leonard and Aldridge out, there were still 12 players in that game that scored more points than Batum....12! When they needed him most, he stepped up like a wet noodle. It makes me appreciate the heart that Dame has that much more.

When did Nic say he was the 2nd-best SF? Is that like you saying that Olshey regrets not getting more help at the deadline last year, when he actually said the opposite, because he wanted flexibility last summer to improve the bench?

Okay, I'll play your coy game. Where did TBpup say that Batum said that he's 2nd-best SF? By strategically planting the idea in the head of NBA.com's leading writer, Batum "yapped his gums" about it. Now you say that you made no error because you changed what TBpup said before denying what he said.

But your sidestep move is good. I've seen you zigzag for hours. Carry on.

 

[PapaG]

Okay, I'll play your coy game. Where did TBpup say that Batum said that he's 2nd-best SF?

Hmm. don't know...

Originally Posted by TBpup View Post
I'm not expecting him to be LeBron or Durant but when he starts yapping his gums about being the 2nd best SF

I have no idea where you're going with this journey, but I'm along for your insane ride.

 

[jlprk]

I already answered your boldfaced part. "Yapping his gums" = raising the question. In this case it does not = coming out and saying he's 2nd-best.

By strategically planting the idea in the head of NBA.com's leading writer, Batum "yapped his gums" about it.

On the subject of yapping ones gums, you probably have many creative ideas for how to define the term.

 

[PapaG]

I already answered your boldfaced part. "Yapping his gums" = raising the question. In this case it does not = coming out and saying he's 2nd-best.



On the subject of yapping ones gums, you probably have many creative ideas for how to define the term.

Yet you posted an article from BlazersEdge.com in which you defended the "2nd-best SF" argument. Or, was the idea of posting that to show me that I was right in that Batum didn't say he was the 2nd-best SF?

 

[jlprk]

You were wrong in denying that Batum yapped his gums about it, when you were an obvious novice to the fact that Batum had said anything at all. I do have to give you credit, however, for pushing forward human progress by illuminating light bulbs above the heads of all readers of this thread, concerning the creative redefinition of the phrase "yapping ones gums." It has made us all exercise our noggins.

 

[PapaG]

You were wrong in denying that Batum yapped his gums about it, when you were an obvious novice to the fact that Batum had said anything at all. I do have to give you credit, however, for pushing forward human progress by illuminating light bulbs above the heads of all readers of this thread, concerning the creative redefinition of the phrase "yapping ones gums." It has made us all exercise our noggins.

Batum didn't "yap his gums" about it. That's already been proven. Thanks for acknowledging you didn't have a clue what you were trying to defend, though. This is the time in the debate where you get so confused that you do a 180. I'm used to it after over a decade of posting with you.

Oh, this won't make your signature moments.

 

[jlprk]

You were shown several articles, and now you say it's been proven they don't exist. Maybe they're a mirage, and you're stumbling around in the desert, hallucinating that you're a star in a basketball game.

 

[PapaG]

You were shown several articles, and now you say it's been proven they don't exist. Maybe they're a mirage, and you're stumbling around in the desert, hallucinating that you're a star in a basketball game.

The articles exist. They don't say what you thought they said. Go to bed.

 

[jlprk]

You know, I actually love you.

That's why I have to discipline you.

Now where's my belt.

 

[jlprk]

The articles say that Batum initiated the idea with David Aldridge that Batum is 2nd-best SF.

Now you deny that he yapped his gums about his being 2nd-best SF.

I'm still waiting for your only out, a creative definition of yapping ones gums.

 

[PapaG]

The articles say that Batum initiated the idea with David Aldridge that Batum is 2nd-best SF.

Now you deny that he yapped his gums about his being 2nd-best SF.

I'm still waiting for your only out, a creative definition of yapping ones gums.

No, that article asks who is the 2nd-best SF in the West. It was a question. Batum says "I don't know," and Aldridge editorializes the "knowing smile." Isn't this the same yellow journalism that you rail against in terms of local media coverage of the Blazers?

 

[PapaG]

Reading the actual original interview, not once is Nic "yapping" about being the 2nd-best SF in the NBA. I realize it hurts you to rep people, but I pointed out a fallacy that was created by the media.

Rep me, or you're a fraud, jlprk.

 

[jlprk]

It wasn't Aldridge's question. Batum asked Aldridge the question. Batum initiated it.

I see I'm going to need ammo for this all-nighter. I just put 2 beers into the freezer.

You'll get a rep if you earn it.