Here's a 2-pager. http://dimemag.com/2014/01/whos-better-lance-stephenson-nicolas-batum/ 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?"
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.
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?
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.
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".
Where in that link does Batum claim to be the 2nd-best SF in the NBA? 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...
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
Hmm. don't know... I have no idea where you're going with this journey, but I'm along for your insane ride.
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.
