That sounds like a conversation that wouldn't have many witnesses around it. IF it is true, which, I doubt, personally, what does it say for the source? Someone who seems likely to be either another player or assistant coach, most likely, and you'd run to the media to tell them something like that?
Two different reputations--his on-court rep is irrelevant to this discussion. Many NBA players play even when they're hurting, such as Batum with sore shoulder throughout '09, or Roy 6 days after surgery in last year's playoffs. Most players don't have a rep for not being willing to do so; right or wrong, Camby does. I'm not saying there's any legitimacy to it; what I am saying is that the reputation existed prior to him arriving here. You're the one who stated that "his reputation precedes him" with respect to Lund's statement. Valid or not, that's his.
Where does he get this reputation? Where does it come from? I think a few have made the reputation up and it stuck. When he was on the lowly Clippers he milked injuries, sure. Its what a lot of veterans do on lousy teams.
I don't know where the rep came from, but there's a general notion that reputations exist for a reason. Less than a week ago, it was being speculated that Camby may have been staying out longer than necessary to avoid being traded. Surely that was not the only incident in his long injury history that has contributed to this reputation. As for the notion that a lot of veterans milk injuries while on lousy teams--in my mind, that's a weak excuse. The fact that my coworkers steal office supplies or misuse company assets does not justify me doing the same.
I guess this is where I differ from most posters on this board. I don't believe every talking point that local media guys try and use. I don't really put much merit at all into what guys like Jaynes and Quick want to spin. The analogy between your coworkers and NBA players is lousy. Players sitting out because a team is lousy and management okaying it in favor of playing a younger player is common practice in the NBA. This has been going on for years. Its similar to September call-ups in baseball for horrible teams. Give the young guy playing time.
You're attempting to change the discussion. Management sitting him down is one thing. The player choosing to milk the injury to take extra games off because he is dissatisfied with his team's performance or makeup is another. You said: That's not akin to September call-ups at all. That's getting paid for not doing a job that one is capable of doing. So, make up your mind--do NBA players on shitty teams milk injuries of their own volition or not?
What proof do we have that he is milking this current injury? Maybe he doesn't feel he's ready. I guess its just funny to go up in arms about something that is nothing more than just heresay by a local media blowhard. With Camby's old age, and potential run to the playoffs, you'd think that they would want to take it easy on him. BTW, a lot of times its not a management decision. Its a mutual decision to sit out so a younger player can play.
No proof, and nobody's up in arms (except Lund). However if--which I've already said is a big if--this conversation with Nate actually happened like Lund claimed, then we would have some very compelling evidence to support the rep. And I don't know if you recall, but our discussion began with you saying, "Even if thats the case." So our whole chat has been predicated on the assumption that what Lund said was true. Are you trying to change the discussion again?
Well generally, once an assumption is agreed upon for the purposes of a discussion, then the discussion does proceed based upon that assumption being considered true. If that was not your intention, then you probably shouldn't have gone there.
I will agree with PtldPlatypus: that's the way discussion works. If A, then B. The "then B" part is submitted/argued like it's true, because it presupposes that A is true. Ed O.
