Around the League: Week 6 11/19-11-25

[INFORMER]

Do you mean Western conference #1 seed Portland?

No, I mean the Portland Trail Blazers that got swept in the 2nd round of the playoffs by a lower seed. But if you want to "crown them" after 18 games, be my guest.

Sorry. I often forget that your measure of success is a championship, period. If you're not contending you're rebuilding.

Nice oversimplification.

[carey]

Sorry. I often forget that your measure of success is a championship, period. If you're not contending you're rebuilding.

Nice oversimplification.

I mean you've only been preaching it for the last 3 or 4 years, but sure?

[n4th4n]

There is a distinct chance that Portland ends up missing the playoffs honestly.

[INFORMER]

Sorry. I often forget that your measure of success is a championship, period. If you're not contending you're rebuilding.

Nice oversimplification.

I mean you've only been preaching it for the last 3 or 4 years, but sure?

You're way off, carey. First, your initial premise was contradictory; you can contend without winning a championship; contending means you have a legitimate shot at winning a championship/playing far into the playoffs. I'm not here telling Houston or Boston to blow it up because they can't beat the Warriors. The only thing that I have said is that I have no interest to spending considerable assets to assemble a team whose ceiling is a fringe playoff team. Nor do I believe in keeping a team together that has proven to be nothing more than mediocre year after year; if you're going to lose in the 1st round every year or do not have a shot at winning in the 2nd round, with no substantive way to dramatically improve your team, then yes, I would prefer to rebuild.

But I don't think any of those views approaches your perception of how I value teams or define success. That was a random and inaccurate assertion. Weird.

[carey]

But I don't think any of those views approaches your perception of how I value teams or define success. That was a random and inaccurate assertion. Weird.

I don't think you're aware of how you're perceived here then.

[Indy]

I have never got the impression that it is conference finals or bust for INF. I get the impression it is:

A) If you are continuing to build on last year, and getting better, keep going
B) If you have peaked and it is a top 3-5 seed in your conference, make some win now moves
C) If you have peaked and it is anything below that, probably time to cut bait

[Mori Chu]

Over the last several years, INF talks a ton about young players, draft prospects, D/G-League guys, FA guys we could sign cheap, etc. And that can come across as if all he cares about is tanking, asset acquisition, Hinkie-style team management. But I think a lot of that is because we've been really bad for the past several years, so that sort of thinking is what we've needed. Way back when we had Nash and were good, I don't think INF was advocating tanking or breaking apart the team or things like that. It depends on the context.

[Indy]

Over the last several years, INF talks a ton about young players, draft prospects, D/G-League guys, FA guys we could sign cheap, etc. And that can come across as if all he cares about is tanking, asset acquisition, Hinkie-style team management. But I think a lot of that is because we've been really bad for the past several years, so that sort of thinking is what we've needed. Way back when we had Nash and were good, I don't think INF was advocating tanking or breaking apart the team or things like that. It depends on the context.

I think he did advocate for trading Nash a year or so earlier

[Charlie Smithy!]

Yeah, Carey, not sure if I would assume that the majority of the board feels a certain way about INF.

[iLLmatic]

I wish INF would post more to be fair, I value his talent evaluation above anyone I've ever talked to about basketball.

[iLLmatic]

I'm an INF believer..











Matt Janning!

[Mori Chu]

To INFORMER and beyond!!!

[Mori Chu]

That said, I would not want to take any side in a carey-INF dispute. carey is a board MVP who posts tons of great content every week and offers great insight into the team. And he's a good guy to boot. And INF is a savvy evaluator of talent and I would love to see him post here even more.

[INFORMER]

Over the last several years, INF talks a ton about young players, draft prospects, D/G-League guys, FA guys we could sign cheap, etc. And that can come across as if all he cares about is tanking, asset acquisition, Hinkie-style team management. But I think a lot of that is because we've been really bad for the past several years, so that sort of thinking is what we've needed. Way back when we had Nash and were good, I don't think INF was advocating tanking or breaking apart the team or things like that. It depends on the context.

I think he did advocate for trading Nash a year or so earlier

Yep.

[INFORMER]

I have never got the impression that it is conference finals or bust for INF. I get the impression it is:

A) If you are continuing to build on last year, and getting better, keep going
B) If you have peaked and it is a top 3-5 seed in your conference, make some win now moves
C) If you have peaked and it is anything below that, probably time to cut bait

Exactly.

[INFORMER]

That said, I would not want to take any side in a carey-INF dispute.

There is no reason for a dispute. Once a year carey feels the need to complain about my posting. He does, we exchange a few responses, and then it's over. Life goes on. Other than that, I don't have any issues with him.