Author: whodeanny

Indiana Pacers Draft Strategy

Chad Ford (via Mike Wells) on the Indiana Pacers draft strategy:

The Pacers are willing to give up their pick – No. 10 – in next week's draft to get a player that will help them immediately.

The Pacers wouldn't be searching for a point guard if they had taken [Ty] Lawson instead of Tyler Hansbrough last year. Lawson, who was the Pacers' second option, averaged 8.3 points and 3.1 assists last season.

Lawson, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague, Darren Collison and Eric Maynor were all still available when the Pacers picked at No. 13.

That’s what I’ve been saying! There are two conventional methods for making draft choices in the NBA. One is 'Talent'. Identifying the best available player and choosing that guy regardless of external circumstances. The second is 'Need'. This means determining what your team needs in order to fill a gap or serve a particular purpose.

Last year, the Pacers were in position to choose either method. They were a bad team with low expectations. Two positions, center and point guard, were obvious holes that needed to be filled. More broadly, they lacked high level NBA talent and had only a few players who were well suited for the style of Coach Jim O'Brien.

With their lottery pick, Larry Bird drafted Tyler Hansborough, a superstar collegian who was clearly not the most talented player on the board. Most of the folks who were excited about his selection were not convinced about his NBA potential but instead raved about his NBA readiness. This presumes then that the Pacers were trying to fill an immediate need with Hansborough. Except that power forward, Hansborough's only viable NBA position, was a position of strength for the Pacers! Troy Murphy was one of the league's few double-double (double figures in points and rebounds) guys AND he fits perfectly into O'Brien's offense as a top level 3 point shooter.

Instead of choosing for talent or need, Bird seemed to be choosing the guy he liked the most. Whether that affinity is about personality, style, work ethic or some other factor, it was a silly choice. For a team that has virtually no chance at improving itself through free agency, making smart trades and excellent draft selections is paramount. Next week, the Pacers have a chance to begin making good on the progress the team showed at the end of the year. They can't afford another miss.

FDO

 

 

Presentation Struggles…

I’m presenting at an education conference next week. While I’m expecting to enjoy it, I’ve discovered an interesting challenge. My dual topics are the utility of horrific images and the value of exploring controversial issues.

 

In my upper level elective classes, we often watch very disturbing movies, look at disquieting pictures, read challenging articles, discuss uncomfortable propaganda and ask unanswerable questions. My brain understands the connections involved and the value of using material that sparks discomfort. During the course of a semester, my students understand what we’re accomplishing. They get it. Most of them give strong feedback and feel as though the grow from the way class is organized.

 

Even though I’ll be using some material from classes to demonstrate what I try to do and why we use material others shy away from, it’s going to be hard to translate a semester’s worth of resources, relationships and experiences into a half hour presentation. Challenge!

 

FDO

Thoughts on Beinart on Reagan and Obama

Peter Beinart provides numerous interesting reflections on President Reagan and how his administration has been (mis)characterized in the past twenty years. One line stood out to me as having critical current implications.

 

“If Obama does not want to be Jimmy Carter, if he does not want Americans to equate his restraint with their humiliation, he must be as aggressive as Reagan in finding symbolic ways to soothe Americans' wounded pride.”

 

This is a great quote because it suggests one of the ways in which the ultimate in soft power (words) can serve some of the same functions as the ultimate in hard power (war): making us feel better. In the America of September 12th, our national belief in the comfort, safety and invulnerability of our society were fractured.

 

Perhaps as important, the images we held of ourselves were in jeopardy. Arching our collective back and clenching the national fist felt necessary and urgent. Ultimately, our invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were much more about vengeance than self-defense.

 

At this point, though, it’s clear we aren’t ‘winning’ these wars. Acknowledging that reality, while boosting national confidence in who we are, will require President Obama’s greatest rhetorical efforts yet. He’ll be doing something that hurts while saying something that heals.

 

 

FDO

Not Quite the Jetsons…

… but now our trash pickup service now seems ultra modern. We have a driver who moves the trash truck into position, releases a mechanism and grasps the trash can. It looks fast, efficient and safe. It also looks like there will be less need for sanitation workers. The down side of progress.

Here’s the closest visual I could find (in 45 seconds of searching).

 

FDO

Suds Ahoy!

I'm just finished with an interesting documentary about the history of beer brewing in the US. I know many of the broad outlines but lots of the specific details are fascinating. For instance, it wasn't until the 1970s that beer was consumed at pre-Prohibition levels. It took 40 years!

Hmmm, I think all this new information means I need to head to Oaken Barrel sometime soon.

FDO

Red ball. Blue ball. Baseball.

The obviously blown call that stole a perfect game from Armando Galarraga should push Bud Selig and the rest of baseball’s elite to create a strong, consistent replay system of some sort. I strongly believe that in a game struggling to maintain the interest of young people, instituting instant replay could be an opportunity to make baseball seem more a 21st and less a 20th century game. Baseball’s challenge system should be fun.

 

Here’s my idea. A manager can consult with the umpires on the field and decide to challenge a ruling (or non-ruling). The manager gives the umpire a red ball. If the manager wins the challenge, the umpire returns the red ball. If not, the umpire keeps it. The manager can continue to use the red ball until he loses a challenge (and the ball).

 

After the red ball has been taken, the manager will still have a blue ball. This ball serves the same function as the red ball except that the blue ball, once taken, will not be returned until the end of the series. Baseball series are usually three games but not always. In some ways, two and four game series may play out a bit differently relative to challenge strategy.

 

The entire process will add intrigue, drama, strategy and hopefully fairness to individual baseball games. These are the elements that will help ensure folks are talking about baseball for all the right reasons.

 

FDO

Love in Springtime



Winter’s storms have faded

With the new Spring of our love

Being scheduled

For just about now

 

How is it then

That no mood has shifted

No surprise unveiled

 

What new plan can be established

To change the artifice of love

Into the real thing for us

Can a promise never made

Still somehow be broken


 

© Gayle
Force Press 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wine Drunk Conversation

Tonight is warm, starry and welcoming. That combination reminds me of this poem. God bless parks, swings and romance.

Wine Drunk Conversation

 

 

 

I grew to love

Her favorite summer dress

On the day we shared strawberries

So sweet they were nearly rotten

 

Some days I still quiver

From the soft tickle

Of her almost wet hair

Waving along

The crest of my ear

And through all the rest of me

 

Wine drunk conversation

Under a star stoned moon

Led me inside her door

And made the morning’s dismissal

That much easier

But sadder just the same

© Gayle Force Press 2009