Posts made by Warma Sheen

@Arkandel I don't know. But nothing normal makes sense. Like @Ganymede said, I also think they thought they could just come back. But how would they do that without 3s? Trading 2s doesn't get it done. It just keeps things even. I kept waiting for the 3s to rain, but they came from the bench, not the starters. The starters, just kept faking 3s then stepping in a few feet and shooting a long 2. It was just weird. I guess I'm just mostly surprised no one else thought something was off.

As for wild conspiracy theories, the only thing I keep thinking about was when the Seattle Seahawks lost to the Patriots with the interception. They could have handed the ball to Marshawn Lynch who the Patriots D could not stop. He was getting 3 yards every carry. But they called a pass and then came the interception.

Afterwards there was a lot of insider talk that they wanted their star QB to win the game, be the hero and help end the rift in the locker room. Russell Wilson, the Super Bowl winning MVP was the future of their franchise - not Marshawn Lynch, the problematic, unpredictable, anti-media thug who was up for contract next year and was already rumored to be planning to hold out for a big contract.

So with Kevin Durant going into free agency, and all the talk that has been going around about how the Warriors can win without him, is ther eany chance, they took themselves down a notch to give KD the opportunity to come back and "win it for them"? It shows everyone that he's not an extra piece the Warriors they don't need, but a crucial part of the team that he should build his legacy around? It sounds like a crazy person talking, but it sounds less crazy than any explanation of why the Warriors stars refuse to shoot 3s in the last quarter of the game.

Stout defense? If they shot a bunch and missed, I might take that answer, but there's no way the defense was so tight they didn't even try to shoot. We've all seen Curry and Thompson drain threes with people molded to their faces. We know they can do it, they know they can do it. Still, I watched the game so I can tell you that was not the case, but even if it was, I refuse to believe they wouldn't still try, even if just to try to draw a foul and get three free throws. That sounds crazier than the Warriors throwing the game to extend the series long enough for KD to come back and be the hero.

P.S. This is the year for the Lions. Guaranteed.

Anyone have any personal experience/opinion on the Oculus Quest? I have it on order and have read plenty of professional reviews, but I'd be interesting in hearing from you guys - on the chance anyone here has it.

Boogie wasn't the only one with rust, and I respect everyone's opinion about him (one I don't share), but the Finals is not the time to come back from months off to try to work back into the team. Great basketball is about rhythm and playing together on both ends of the floor. Cousins does not have that with this team. He hasn't been there long enough, in general and recently. He looked slow and stiff and I hope not to see him again unless they have a huge lead.

Toronto played an amazing game. Siakam was definitely the MVP. But he's got to keep up that pace and production the rest of the series. I'm not sure that he can, but its possible. Kyrie did it against the Warriors. Maybe Siakam can too.

Now, here's what I find curious:

The Warriors, down for pretty much all game, only took 4 3-pointers the entire fourth quarter (one each from Jerebko, McKinnie, Cook, and Curry). Both Thompson and Curry were shooting 50% from 3, well over what is considered 'good'. So how is it that between both Curry and Thompson they take only a single 3 point attempt, their signature shot, in the entire 4th quarter?

They were 3/10 in the first quarter (all makes by Curry), 3/7 in the second quarter, 4/9 in the third quarter. That's 10/26 for the game up to the fourth (not counting a half court throw at the end of the 3rd). That's 38% as a team (their season average behind league leader Spurs at 39%), while both Curry (4-8) and Thompson (3-6) were shooting 50% from behind the arc. All that to say they weren't shooting particularly poorly and had plenty of shot opportunities... so what gives?

Cause if I didn't know better, it would look like they weren't trying very hard to win that game, despite the fact that it looked like they weren't trying very hard to win that game. I've definitely seen them coast on medium through the first half of games, but they've always picked it up in the third through the end. Not here. They repeatedly passed up 3 point shots to drive in and take contested 2 pointers, especially in the fourth. If its an open lane, I can see that, but when you need points, that's not necessarily the best option. Add to that, neither Curry nor Thompson were shooting over 50% from inside the arc. So at the most crucial points of the game, they're passing up 3 point shot selection for shots worth less that they've been making at a lower percentage? Now, I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist, but...

I don't know. Maybe I'm tilting at windmills. Cause the other thing I noticed was that no one else seemed to notice. I haven't heard or read anyone talking about the fact that Curry and Thompson aren't shooting 3s at the end of a losing game in the finals where they are only down between 7 and 10 points. I find that odd. At least worth mentioning. Apparently, no one else does.

I think one of the biggest problems is that people see staff and players as two different species, as though they aren't both the same types of human beings with all the inherent faults and brilliance that come with that.

Then there's a different standard put on the two species. And that is exploited by complaining about every little mistake a staffer does because of the higher standard they are held to and trying to get away with every little thing because players have a lower standard.

As people who are people, that shouldn't be. They should have the same standard of being people who are involved in playing on the same game. When that happens, you start to have much fewer excuses and resentment on the issues that do come up.

@Testament How long were you holding out that hope? Didn't that die with the Rockets? If not, you're an optimistic type. I was disappointed the Bucks didn't get farther, but they weren't gonna beat the Warriors. Maybe take a game or two but that's about it. Still, like @Ganymede said, they definitely have more time. Its a process. Now that they've proven themselves, other free agents (better free agents) will be more likely to join a small market team like the Bucks and have a legit shot at competing. It is weird to think about seasons in terms of what it does for you a year or two from now, but its true. This was an excellent audition and an open invitation for someone to come earn their ring. But of the Bucks that are there, I'm sure most if not all would stay on. But I don't think anyone on that team is requirement to keep besides Giannis. Everyone else is replaceable. That was also proven in this run.

I've been rooting for the Raptors for a while. They have the best mascot in the league (no, not Drake) and that's enough to earn my support. Who doesn't love dinosaurs!? I really thought Lowry and DeRozan were gonna be able to get there some day. They seemed to make a good pair. But the swap for Leonard was obviously the thing that put the Raptors over the top (or maybe the new coach?). Still they need better role players. They seem to be filled with people who are slightly above average in most areas. Lowry has been a long time Raptor but continues to show that he just doesn't have the juice needed to win a ring, despite flashes of brilliance where it looks like he might break out. Then he disappears for weeks at a time without a similar showing. He and DeRozan still seem to be on the same level, though - not good enough to win a championship.

Cleveland was unlikely to win in the East last year, and yet they did. I'm still not sure how, but they did. And the end was swift and merciful for them too.

I can't remember the exact specifics, but someone said the Warriors aren't demonstrably better than any other team except in one very important way. They broke it down as a math problem predicated on the Warriors exceptionally high 3 point shooting percentage. Basically the math of shooting 3s at the high rate of something like 40% generates more points than other teams... Something like that. But the Warriors and the Rockets shoot 3s at a much higher percentage than teams in the past and now shoot it much more often. That is what gives them the edge on teams.

It sounds like a pretty simple concept, but players just never had the ability to be able to exploit the 3 as well as they do now. Look at the number of 3s Curry shot each year he played and you see a very obvious connection to their success.

What it came down to was the sharpshooters give them a significant edge on points. Its one reason that the Warriors are "better" without KD, percentage-wise. They've only lost one game (I think) all year without KD playing. It just comes down to math and shot selection. KD hits midrange jumpers and is undoubtedly great getting into the lane. But their percentage of 3s (which they shoot more without KD), beats his higher percentage of 2s, which he takes more of.

Visually, he controls the court and the game and looks impossible to guard, but at the end of the day, the win is about who scores more points. And the winner is... math.

@Ganymede I don't think so either. I'm saying it'll be a fairly solid drubbing of the Raptors. They just don't match up anywhere. I'm not expecting much. Watching them without KD has been fun, but there just isn't much competition (outside of the Rockets) - not just in individual skills and ability but the way they can play together. Its just another level.

@Arkandel Yeah. Its really ridiculous. The talking heads have a very short memory. Its just evidence that they don't know any more than the rest of us.

@Ganymede I agree, the stats don't reflect it at all. Cause the refs aren't calling the fouls. He was getting brutalized (at least he was last game, missed tonight's) and he was barely getting any calls. Its annoying because when only the floppers and complainers get the calls it just encourages that behavior.

Everyone knows Kawhi Leonard as the Raptor offensive juggernaut. But Coach Nurse (yeah, I like them better just for that name) switched Leonard to defend Giannis since game 3 and they've won ever since.

Saw the game by accident today. Now, we all know the Bucks are one dimensional, but damn they are murdering him on fouls. Gasol in particular. And he's just kind of taking it. Someone, even if it isn't Giannis, needs to put one them Raptors on their asses. If the refs aren't going to call the fouls, a swift punch to someone's jaw will force them to ratchet down the overaggressiveness and give Giannis room to breathe (or better yet, play basketball). Using the Hack a Shaq defense on him is a bit of a desperate play and doesn't make Toronto look very good, but it seems to be working. Seems like they just want to get to the finals and don't care how they get there.

Also, Klay Thompson's snub from the All-NBA team is a joke. The fact that it limits the value of his next contract is an even bigger joke.

@Arkandel ***=Theon... Ugh. Theon...***

@Ganymede said in The Basketball Thread:

That's because Giannis, like LeBron, thought that he had to carry the team, being its best player.

Kawhi knows otherwise.

Game 5 is in Milwaukee. We'll see what happens there. A loss for the Bucks would be a death knell.

Yeah, the Raptors really stepped it up, especially with Leonard hobbled. He had some leg issue that they wouldn't specify but you could see it was obvious. And everyone else seemed to bring their A game.

Honestly, I thought the Bucks were better, but I hadn't watched them much during the season. I became a big Giannis fan just based on what I heard about him as a person and the non-diva personality he has despite his talent. So I might have had rose-colored glasses on how good they were and got caught up in the hype.

But watching them in the playoffs, they've got a long way to go. No one can do it by themselves and his help is lackluster. The NBA isn't built like that anymore. But even one top talent will make the Bucks a real contender. If either team in the East gets to the finals, I'll be surprised if they don't get swept, especially if KD comes back.

I've heard a lot about this thing, but I don't trust yet that it is anything other than a different version of the same old meat replacement. Are they just trying to cash in on a retrending fad by trying to convince people this is a whole new thing?

I'd love to be able to switch, but I don't think it will be comparable. I think it is aptly named as impossible. I definitely don't believe it has the same protein as actual meat. And most people don't need much protein, but I do, so for me, its likely not something I'd get into.

Whaaaat... 2-2? Home wins for errybody.

The Raptors stepped up and laid it to the Bucks. Drake as assistant coach/team mascot is key. Giannis seemed out of sorts trying to do it all, but imagine what they could do if they had someone to play with him. Reminds me of LeBron's first go with the Cavs way back in the day.

Does anyone else find the chatter around the Warriors hilarious? Maybe it is home team bias/familiarity. People are suddenly talking about Steph Curry being back in the conversation about being the leagues' best player, saying they might not need KD to win a championship. How is any of this a question? Is 3 and 4 years ago too long for sports talking heads to remember? Warriors are winning more than any team in history and being led by Steph Curry the whole way, blowing by KD's Thunder each and every year? Now people are talking like this is some new revelation. What's up with that? Is it just that they don't have anything else to talk about, or is this a legit realization that people are pondering?

@Killer-Klown ***= I agree with the poor pacing of that story even though that was my favorite character. It was wonky.***

@Kestrel said in Game of Thrones:

***Why this season was awful, viewed through a lens of real world understanding of war, politics and violence.***

click to show

Also to everyone saying that "mass slaughter of innocents has always been in her character", were we watching the same show?

She conquered a city by catapulting them with the chains of freed men in order to inspire them to be the agents of their own uprising.

She burned down a tent of men in power who were threatening to gang rape her, and thus won the support of everyone standing outside the tent, who was left unharmed.

She executed two enemy soldiers who quite literally asked for it, the leaders of their troop, after offering them a way out which they didn't take, and thus conquered the remaining army without further violence.

She crucified the masters of a slave city as punishment for crucifying little slave children.

She executed traitors which is exactly the same thing Robb Stark, Ned Stark and Jon Snow, our "protagonists" have done, except when she does it it's framed as a doom and gloom act of pure evil. Frankly, this is nothing but a sexist double standard. This is the world they live in. What Ned did was worse; he executed a frightened young man who fled the Wall from certain death in literally the first episode. Where's the outrage over his madness and murderous intent?

She locked up her own dragons, her most powerful weapons, after they accidentally killed one child.

She has never been a person who hurts and tortures innocents for the hell of it. The setting of GoT is a harsh world of dog-eat-dog. She's done what it takes and never more than necessary.

***I'm definitely not the biggest of GoT fans so these are pretty flexible observations and I'm likely forgetting plenty of stuff ***

click to show

But please don't try to make this a sexist thing. Its a character thing. Whether it was a man or a woman, it goes the same way. There's no double standard. She spent a good deal of time considering her choice in that moment. They showed it and focused on it. Even she knew she was wrong and she did it anyway. It wasn't some crazy outburst. It was a decision. She made it deliberately. And the fact that she was a woman had nothing to do with it.

She definitely has her murder-meter stuck on incinerate for a while, it just kept going up and up and up. She started off on a righteous quest for freedom, but got buckled under the weight of her own power where the ends justified the means. A lot of your examples are perfect examples of things that didn't have to be solved with murder, but were. Killing became easier and easier for her as she went along. That's her story.

Remember, Thanos was just trying to help too.

Take the example of inspiring the uprising? Was that uprising done with wagging of fingers and an orderly peace march from the city? No. How many innocents died as they rampaged knowing they had an army of support outside their walls? Who knows. Who cares. Not Dany. To her, if the people in that city were living and working in that system, they weren't innocent and they deserved what they got. The people in King's Landing? Same thing.

Take the example of burning down the tent. There wasn't anyone innocent in the tent? They all threatened to gang rape her? (I don't actually remember the specifics, I was just happy to watch them all die.) There were no servants or other workers who suffered the same fate? Sure, all the people outside the tent were spared, but are we to believe that if any of them were inside the tent that she wouldn't have done the exact same thing? Nah. They'd have died too. The only reason they lived was cause they weren't invited to the party.

As for Ned, it was back on the first season, but they established quickly that the joining the Night's Watch was a death sentence. That's part of its purpose. You got to live until you died for the Watch. And if you left, you forfeited your life. That's the agreement. And he knew it when he ran. But that's exactly what Varys got. There was no double standard unless you wanted to see one. Many people, Tyrion included, stood by and watched him die because they all knew the deal. He betrayed her and he got dead. They didn't necessarily like it and Tyrion felt guilty as hell, but they all knew the deal and not one of them was surprised by it. Tyrion even said to Varys that this would be the result if he intended to move forward. There was no framing of doom and gloom act of pure evil. It was sad in that it was happening to a character that we knew, but that's it.

Now, King's Landing: There's certain things that happen in GoT that are established and acceptable punishments. Death fills a wide range of those punishments. And sometimes reactions to events result in murder. But what happened at King's Landing was not that. Dany gave her word that she would stop when the city surrendered by the ringing of the bells. That was the order she gave. That's how it was supposed to go down. Tyrion knew it, Jon knew it, Greyworm knew it, presumably the whole army knew it (since that's exactly what they did). Then she went back on her word.

That's what was different here. She heard the bells. She knew what they meant. She knew she should stop. Then she decided she wouldn't. She changed her mind and made a conscious decision that everyone would die instead. And most of her followers were more than happy to follow. It was open season on King's Landing and anyone in it. She crossed a line and did so willingly and they focused on her struggling with the decision enough to make that known. But it wasn't some huge leap to some unforseen character choice. She had wanted to do that from the beginning. She specifically said that it would prevent anyone from ever trying to use human shields against her again. She talked with Jon about being loved or feared and settled pretty firmly on fear. She had reasons. It wasn't some psychotic break.

So I think it was very much in her character, but I definitely don't think there was some sexist double standard. If anyone framed it that way it is because they see what they want to see, for good or ill.

Edit: I also just realized, Missandei, the one person who I thought might temper Dany's murderous vengeance basically gave her blessing to her Queen to burn them all, right before she was executed. So... there's that.

I was pretty harsh about the show, but since last week, I think I've changed my opinion a little.

***=Having had some time removed from the episode that really pissed people off...***

Holy crap. The Raptors won a game, by the power of Drake! It took double overtime with Giannis on the bench (Lopez and Ilyasova did not step up), but still. Hoorah for them.

In other news, Lillard apparently has a rib injury, probably from when someone fell on him in a loose ball scramble last game. I can believe it (since I saw it). But damn, that sucks for Portland, even if they didn't have much of a shot before.

After watching the 3 games I can confidently say the Warriors aren't even playing at 100% until the middle of the third. They're basically tanking the first half off each game of this series. Its kind of ridiculous to watch. They focus on defense, and play loose on offense, like they're scrimmaging at practice. Then halfway through the third they flip the switch and play full. They came back from 18 like it was nothing. 12 the last game. I feel bad for the Blazers, too. They have no offense without Damian Lillard and it is easily exploited by a great defensive team. Also, it was weirdly pathetic to watch the Blazer big men lumbering around like treants while trying to play defense.

Now its up to the Raptors to see if they can put something together on their home court. I doubt it... but two conference finals sweeps just seem like bad business. I don't think anyone wants to see that.

@SG said in Game of Thrones:

Anyways, my expectations for next episode are so low now, that it's likely I'll enjoy it.

And thus, their plan succeeded brilliantly. Tricky bastards.

I don't think there's anything wrong with recycling characters so long as you own everything that comes with that. If people remember your recycled character and don't want anything more to do with them, you might find your RP limited. But that's on you. If you're cool with that, why not? You don't owe anything to anyone.

I have reused characters before if I feel like there is still story to tell with them. If that's where you get your enjoyment, do what makes you happy. I haven't played a MU* for quite some time and if I did come back, I'm probably going to recycle a character I'm familiar with to get back into things more easily.

You do you. Have fun and don't overthink it.