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"Truthiness" as it applies to the GARM and the Rockets

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by bugerking3, Feb 28, 2010.

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  1. bugerking3

    bugerking3 Member

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    With the recent decline of the Rockets record and the trade deadline resulting with us trading away our fan favorite, and swapping one polarizing basketball player for another one, there has been a surge of 2 star knee jerk (positive and negative) reactionary threads with pollutes the GARM, and quality discussions are few and far between.

    However, Carl Herrera thread "The Myth of the Playoff Swallows" is a breath of fresh air because it directly addresses the unsubstantiated but theoretically plausible critique that in the Playoffs, Martin and Lowry will get less free throws.

    I feel there are plenty of beliefs in the GARM that are not based on reality, but actually are based on our assumed belief of reality. So in an effort to question our assumptions about our Rockets to get closer to the truth about our Rockets, here's my Rockets spin of Stephen Colbert's classic Word, truthiness.

    *disclaimer: Some of the examples aren't perfect. They are, however, an adequate representation of what I feel is perception vs. reality of our most polarizing players.

    ----------------------
    <table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/24039/october-17-2005/the-word---truthiness'>The Word - Truthiness<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:24039' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/special/colbert-vancouver-games'>Skate Expectations</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

    And that brings us to tonight's word: Truthiness.

    Now I'm sure some of the word-police, the "wordanistas" over at Websters, are gonna say, "Hey, that's not a word!" Well, anybody who knows me knows that I am no fan of dictionaries or reference books. They're elitist. Constantly telling us what is or isn't true, what did or didn't happen.

    Who's Britannica to tell me that from 2005-2009 Kevin Martin averaged an upward trending 40% from 3 point land and 85% free throws on an upward trending 7 FTA/game? If I want to say Kevin Martin's dismal first 3 rockets games were a collective 13/42 from the field, including 1/5 from three, while ignoring his 19/22 free throws, and that this dismal performance will continue to be the norm, that's my right.

    I don't trust historical data. They're all fact, no heart. And that's exactly what's pulling our GARM apart today. Because face it, folks, we are a divided nation. Not between Shane's haters or apologists, or TMAC haters or apologists, or even the revered and pristine Brian Cook haters or apologists. No, we are divided by those who think with their head, and those who know with their heart.

    Consider Tracy McGrady. If you think about Tracy McGrady, of course his request for more playing time was absurd! But when his request was denied and excommunicated from the team, his supporters didn't say they thought about this disagreement, he said this:

    Tracy only fans: "I know his heart."

    Notice how they said nothing about his brain? Or his health, or stamina, or basketball production, or effort? Nevermind that it's 3 months after this request and he's showing initial signs of poor health in New York, his supporters feel the truth about Tracy Mcgrady. What about our most recent blowout loss against the jazz? Sure, if you use your brain, you would observe that our Inactive starting lineup of 4 could outplay our Active starting lineup of 5, but the truth detector of my gut tells me the sky is falling, and we should fire our coach for allowing such a travesty. And what about Trevor Ariza? If you think about it, there are actually a few areas where he is gifted offensively and defensively. But doesn't criticizing him for not being dominant on offense, even though he's paid like he's supposed to only be the 4th offensive option, _feel_ like the right thing...right here in the gut? Because that's where the truth comes from, ladies and gentlemen...the gut.

    Did you know that you have more nerve endings in your stomach than in your head? Look it up. Now, somebody's gonna say "I did look that up and its wrong." Well, Mister, that's because you looked it up in a book. Next time, try looking it up in your gut. I did. And my gut tells me that's how our nervous system works.

    Now I know some of you may not trust your gut...yet. But with my help you will. The "truthiness" is, anyone can read the historical advanced statistics to you. I promise to feel the one game box score...at you.
     
    #1 bugerking3, Feb 28, 2010
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  2. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Personally I liked this post regarding the Lowry should start minority.




    Aren't there more nerve endings in the penis?

    DD
     
    #2 DaDakota, Feb 28, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2010
  3. krosfyah

    krosfyah Member

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    /thread
     
    #3 krosfyah, Feb 28, 2010
  4. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    Please think of your kids DD!
     
    #4 Ziggy, Feb 28, 2010
  5. Hayden_SFC

    Hayden_SFC Member

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    As far as all the threads go, it's the internet, nothing should be taken to seriously.
     
    #5 Hayden_SFC, Feb 28, 2010
  6. napalm06

    napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

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    So that's how the GARM should rate players? I think a little of that goes on already.
     
    #6 napalm06, Feb 28, 2010
  7. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Member

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    Well, the nerve endings in DD's penis probably have much to do with the very existence of DD's kids. No?
     
    #7 Carl Herrera, Feb 28, 2010
  8. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    There can be no doubt about that.....

    ;)

    DD
     
    #8 DaDakota, Feb 28, 2010
  9. mic

    mic Member

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    More nerve endings in the ****.

    /thread
     
    #9 mic, Feb 28, 2010
  10. mic

    mic Member

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    * in the cl*t.
     
    #10 mic, Feb 28, 2010
  11. Williamson

    Williamson JOSH CHRISTOPHER ONLY FAN

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    I enjoyed this.
     
    #11 Williamson, Feb 28, 2010
  12. T_Man

    T_Man Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #12 T_Man, Feb 28, 2010
  13. albuster

    albuster Member

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    How did you know there is even such a thing as a "nervous system", a gut, nerve endings or a brain? Maybe from some serious analysis of bball stats? Or maybe books do have some stories to tell too. Books, and yes, dictionaries too, may not be all that useless after all.

    You are right, historical data, per se, have no heart. But real students of history know, yes, from reading lots of books and from empirical analysis too, that history is a dynamic process and that there are so many variables when it is studied properly. Statistics, like bball ones which is familiar to all of the posters here, are like historical data, flat and they only tell one side of a whole slew of stories. For instance, American history books tell of the Texas Revolutionary War against Mexico. If properly analyzed though, and from a more rigid study, it was pure and simple landgrab by gringo landowners and cattle barons. This is the same as analyzing the stats of last years game by Lowry with Yao. If one just looks at the stats, yeah, he scored less per minute played with Yao rather than without him. If you look at it deeper though, one could infer too that, while that assumption is born out by the hard data, the fact should also be considered that Yao was the primary option and that a lot of other players around Yao and Lowry were consistently open due to the attention on Yao by the defense, and this allowed the other players to shoot more. In other words, there are many variables to consider when analyzing stats and data.

    Which leads me to my opinion on the thread. Well thought out thread but let us lighten up a little bit. "Truthiness" is so subjective and relative. Let us just agree on some truths:

    1. This is just basketball. For owners, this is their way to make money, and so do the players. For players and fans, this is our way to enjoy ourselves, and as a way to break the doldrums from our daily cares;

    2. Basketball is just a game and we do not need to be too serious and philosophical about it. Now, the real suffering of real people in Haiti, Chile, Iraq and Afghanistan, those are the things we need to get serious about;

    3. Our healthcare system in America is broken. More than 47,000 Americans die every year because they did not have the proper insurance is something that demands our serious attention. And so on....

    Let us not try to overly police the GARM. This is a fun place to express opinions, good, bad or indifferent, and it is not a place for so much serious thought. Let us just enjoy each other and the Rockets shall we?
     
    #13 albuster, Feb 28, 2010
  14. Wilford_Knows

    Wilford_Knows Member

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    this is sexy...
     
    #14 Wilford_Knows, Feb 28, 2010
  15. solid

    solid Member

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    And God knows how many 12 and under posters we have on this board! DD, the least you could do is take them into account! On the other hand, many posters are in bed right now after a warm glass of milk and cookies. Probably nobody left in debate and discussion. ;)
     
    #15 solid, Feb 28, 2010
  16. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Sorry I banned this site from their computer all gloves are off, you guys are just lucky I used the generic term.

    ;)

    DD
     
    #16 DaDakota, Feb 28, 2010
  17. sammy

    sammy Member

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    You're so selfish. What about the other kids? :(
     
    #17 sammy, Feb 28, 2010
  18. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Hey, I was shouted down, if you can't beat em... **** em.

    Well that and I am tired of trying to explain to them why Brooks is better than Lowry.

    ;)

    DD
     
    #18 DaDakota, Feb 28, 2010
  19. sirbaihu

    sirbaihu Member

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    This thread started off being too intelligent for reality, quickly veered back to some people's real reality, then got intelligent again for a second.

    OP: yes.
    Response, that this is just a place for fun etc.: yes.

    Although I wish it were otherwise, this is mainly a place for irrational fun/venting/whatever. At least it is a pretty harmless outlet for some people's stress. I do think it is too much to ask that everyone have a brain.

    To "truthiness" I would add the term "board muscles," describing people who say things here that would make them get bizzitch slapped in the real world. There are two version: 1) withering comments directed at other posters; 2) withering comments about players. I admit I am guilty of both, more the later. "X is soft," for example, as if X would not kick my ass to the moon and back if I tested him in the real world.
     
    #19 sirbaihu, Feb 28, 2010
  20. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Member

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    Depends on the identify of X. Don't know about you, but I do outweigh Kevin Martin by quite a bit and he is recovering from a wrist injury-- though he's much quicker than I am so I might not even see where the punch is coming from. I should have a decent chance agaisnt McGrady if his knee and back are having a bad day.

    Would not even want to risk fighting Hayes or Scola with a 10-foot pole. Battier would probably just murder you in your sleep if you piss him off. He seems to be that kind of guy.
     
    #20 Carl Herrera, Feb 28, 2010
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