What Constitutes 'Victory' in a Phoenix Series?

[hornetsrebirth]

You can race Usain Bolt and tell yourself you are going to win or you can go and say "I am going to give it my best and grow from it!"

The second doesnt make you a loser. But again, whatever makes you happy. Do you not see the irony of telling me that I am wrong for advising others on how they should think and now you have the one and only correct way to think? Everyone who doesnt think that way has a loser mentality!

Pot, kettle, bro. How about you just ignore me and go enjoy the game and root for that victory

If someone is competing in the Olympics with the mentality that they are going to lose to the competition, that is a loser mentality. I would be shocked if any of the top level competitors had that mentality. Its not a recipe for success. Visualizing winning + doing everything to manifest that vision is what winning competitors do. Visualizing winning is also what a healthy fan base does. Its my opinion that this loser attitude makes the vibe of this board suck. Im tired of coming here and seeing people wanting the team to lose and/or expecting the team to lose. I'm not going to ignore it, and its not my concern if you feel insulted when I call it out.

[MichaelMcNamara]

Well, hope that crusade goes well for you. I am sure you will make a real difference. Quite an important cause to advocate for!

[Algiersraised]

Usain is a champ Phoenix isn’t , wouldn’t be the first upset and would not be hard to understand look at our coach he played in the NBA and has coached on several championship teams Brandon Ingram is more experienced with every year McCollum can drop 30 and hit the clutch shot , I’m sure Utah jazz don’t wanna play us in sure the mavs don’t wanna play us I’m sure Phoenix not worried about us but that maybe the kind of flaw we need them to have and we would give Denver problems too look at the second half of the season we are just about as talented as all the other teams add Zion eventually and it’s not a question

[hornetsrebirth]

Well, hope that crusade goes well for you. I am sure you will make a real difference. Quite an important cause to advocate for!

I mean its not nearly as important as your cause of getting everybody on board with losing, but hey its something

[MichaelMcNamara]

Usain is a champ Phoenix isn’t , wouldn’t be the first upset and would not be hard to understand look at our coach he played in the NBA and has coached on several championship teams Brandon Ingram is more experienced with every year McCollum can drop 30 and hit the clutch shot , I’m sure Utah jazz don’t wanna play us in sure the mavs don’t wanna play us I’m sure Phoenix not worried about us but that maybe the kind of flaw we need them to have and we would give Denver problems too look at the second half of the season we are just about as talented as all the other teams add Zion eventually and it’s not a question

We dont like when others disrespect our team. Say that they dont watch our games, dont know us, etc. Yet, we can say Phoenix isnt that good despite knowing that you didnt really watch them much. C'mon, give the same to other teams as you want others to give your team. One day, the Pels will be juggernauts and massive favorites against some team that lucked their way in, and you wont be saying "Yeah, they might be able to beat us. I can see it. We really arent THAT good"

But I wont get sucked into this any more. You guys believe what you want. Get happiness where you can. Just dont turn on this team when they get smacked because you thought they were better than they are. Thats all I ask.

[Algiersraised]

Being favorites Don’t get you nothing ask mike Tyson I didn’t disrespect anybody on they’re team I said we can beat them which they shouldn’t be ashamed of that we literally have one of they’re best coaches now which gives us an inside track on them but hey let’s discuss this stuff after 3 games cause even if we win tonight it won’t convince you we have a legitimate chance

[MichaelMcNamara]

I will always be open to new information. I wont deny truth if it comes along and flies in the face of my past hypothesis. Some people call that "flip flopping" while I think being open to change ones opinion is true strength and intelligence.

That said, it will be a smack down. 4 games, 5 at most. Average margin of defeat between 8-14. And when that most likely outcome happens, I hope people realize this is the beginning of the movie training montage, not the end

[Algiersraised]

We shall see

[MichaelMcNamara]

Trust me, I would rather be on your side of the argument. There is no downside. Pels somehow win and you can come out and say how brilliant you were, how nobody believed, etc etc. They lose, and they are supposed to lose. You werent wrong, you were just trying to be positive but of course they were gonna lose.

My side has zero upside. Pels win, I look like a fool. Pels lose and I cant possibly come and say, "See, I was right" without getting flamed and everyone saying "well, no duh!"

Your position is win-win. Mine is lose-lose. The easiest path to being liked and cheered is switching to the other side

[Algiersraised]

lol you might be getting me mixed with the other guy it was never a me vs you thing I’m of the opinion we can take them you believe otherwise and we shall see as time pass it’s that simple if you right cool if your wrong still cool I’m not going to brag if I’m right I’ll say I believed we could for stated reasons and in to the next

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

No injuries is all I care for deep down.
I've been a NOLA fan too long.
Everything else is gravy.

[hornetsrebirth]

Nobody is going to turn against the Pelicans if they lose this series. That's ridiculous. We weren't even expected to make the playoffs and are now facing the number one seed. Everyone understands that we are facing long odds. But the beauty of being a fan of a team, isn't about only being on board when your team is a massive favorite.

[MichaelMcNamara]

lol you might be getting me mixed with the other guy it was never a me vs you thing I’m of the opinion we can take them you believe otherwise and we shall see as time pass it’s that simple if you right cool if your wrong still cool I’m not going to brag if I’m right I’ll say I believed we could for stated reasons and in to the next

I didnt mean you as in YOU. I am saying people on your side. Its all upside.

[redboy0125]

Well...I'd say tonight was a HUGE victory, literally and figuratively.

Even when Booker was on fire, we were answering every time and even countered with a run of our own. BI has the killer instinct. CJ and Val played much better. Nance has been great. Our rookies are stepping up and playing well against elite competition.

Depending on the severity of the Booker injury, expectations for this series may need to be readjusted.

[hornetsrebirth]

I will always be open to new information. I wont deny truth if it comes along and flies in the face of my past hypothesis.

go on...

[PaKwAn]

It's only 2 games in and i call it a victory already! We can get greedy though and get some more!

[MichaelMcNamara]

At this point, with Booker out, put Zion back out there and go win this series!

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

At this point, with Booker out, put Zion back out there and go win this series!

You honestly think if the team thought he could play they wouldn't have done this already, or are you just being sarcastic?

[MichaelMcNamara]

You honestly think if the team thought he could play they wouldn't have done this already, or are you just being sarcastic?

He can play. They just dont think the risk is worth the reward. With Booker possibly out and the Jazz/Mavs winner being mid at best, I say the reward could be the WCF.

The dude aint injured. There is nothing wrong with him. Its just a risk/reward thing, which made sense when it didnt look like they'd make the playoffs. And then it was clear they would make it but probably get smoked. But now you have home court and the opponents top scorer is hurt. There is a massive reward out there.

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

He can play. They just dont think the risk is worth the reward. With Booker possibly out and the Jazz/Mavs winner being mid at best, I say the reward could be the WCF.

The dude aint injured. There is nothing wrong with him. Its just a risk/reward thing, which made sense when it didnt look like they'd make the playoffs. And then it was clear they would make it but probably get smoked. But now you have home court and the opponents top scorer is hurt. There is a massive reward out there.

Yeah I'm not one of those who is going to call him fat, but from the snippets I have seen he doesn't look like he is in shape. I'd love him to play 4-5 minute bursts against their bench though.
If there is no injury, then they are being too cautious and if they do plan on paying him this off season, better to see how he goes with some games.

[MichaelMcNamara]

He has been working out with specialists solely focused on rehabbing him for nearly half a year now.

Do we think him not playing and then going away during the offseason is going to result in him being in better shape when camp starts. This dude will always look out of shape and playing basketball will get him back into shape. How it works with Luka, Jokic, and others.

Again, I understood the risk reward thing when it looked like playoffs was a pipe dream or making a dent in said playoffs was a pipe dream. But right now, this is a WCF team if you add Zion off the bench. And then you get to that point and who knows. Maybe you get Memphis and Curry goes down. You just cant pass up chances like this because you are scared, IMO. Especially if the player is dying to play. You dont force the player, but this kid is begging to play.

Anyway, they wont because they are cowards. But its the wrong call IMO

[Brian]

A win would have been a huge benefit before Booker got hurt and I didn't think we could steal one if they were at full health, but we were going punch for punch with them in the first half when Devin was lit. I don't think we can win this series but the playoff experience alone and having this team gain confidence in themselves and in this staff is immeasurably beneficial.

So focus on doing everything the right way as we have and then maybe you luck into a series you might somehow have a chance to steal. Hope Booker is okay.

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

He has been working out with specialists solely focused on rehabbing him for nearly half a year now.

Do we think him not playing and then going away during the offseason is going to result in him being in better shape when camp starts. This dude will always look out of shape and playing basketball will get him back into shape. How it works with Luka, Jokic, and others.

Again, I understood the risk reward thing when it looked like playoffs was a pipe dream or making a dent in said playoffs was a pipe dream. But right now, this is a WCF team if you add Zion off the bench. And then you get to that point and who knows. Maybe you get Memphis and Curry goes down. You just cant pass up chances like this because you are scared, IMO. Especially if the player is dying to play. You dont force the player, but this kid is begging to play.

Anyway, they wont because they are cowards. But its the wrong call IMO

Or Booker isn't that injured and will only miss game 3.

[Sovereign]

He has been working out with specialists solely focused on rehabbing him for nearly half a year now.

Do we think him not playing and then going away during the offseason is going to result in him being in better shape when camp starts. This dude will always look out of shape and playing basketball will get him back into shape. How it works with Luka, Jokic, and others.

Again, I understood the risk reward thing when it looked like playoffs was a pipe dream or making a dent in said playoffs was a pipe dream. But right now, this is a WCF team if you add Zion off the bench. And then you get to that point and who knows. Maybe you get Memphis and Curry goes down. You just cant pass up chances like this because you are scared, IMO. Especially if the player is dying to play. You dont force the player, but this kid is begging to play.

Anyway, they wont because they are cowards. But its the wrong call IMO

Hoping this is a reverse jinx

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

The Sporting News: Chris Paul has now lost 14 consecutive playoff games officiated by Scott Foster �� – via Twitter

LOL