Author: Duty Bound Leftist

If there was a perfect case for the overall benefits of government, it would be the USPS. Everyday there's another reason to ignore what's in front of you.

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Uncategorized

Broadway Barrett

On the cusp of 20/6/3 on shooting on 41/35/71 splits RJ Barret, the Duke of York is evolving into a player who can handle the offensive keys coming into the league. Efficiency has been trending up, especially in recent 30 point stretches but it’s not as if he’s had the experience nor the empowerment to be the number one option in NYK.

Now numbers can be bent for any narrative but if you watch the tape RJ has been adding wrinkles to his game. With an unmatched work ethic and more room to grow, his growth he’s already experienced you can expect him to bring a new skill both to start the year and as the year plays through. The thing is with said added offensive responsibilities, he’s having trouble maintaining the defensive player he’s been with less usage. It’s a lot of responsibility and stamina to initiate offense so as a season wears on, there’s going to be missed assignments and lacking effort at times.

This season has been a different than how the large majority of the fan base felt based on the previous seasons. Some of that magic in a bottle qualities the team had wasn’t something that was captured to be tapped into for the variety of changes both in personnel and health. Different talents made it hard to fans and Thibs to be on the same page on where minutes should be aligned and really maligned the fans against Thibs. His arguably worst quality would be in talent evaluation and figuring out creativity in his rigid system. It’s also not to dismiss his talent as a coach and having well more information than any fan would have, it’s more that humans love to point out hypocrisy and offensively, Thibs is limited.

The talent on the roaster needs to learn through experience which could be ugly at times for sure. It’s a lot when there’s conflicting feelings and other politics that could be happening in the locker room as well so it’s far from easy to implement but more than easy to comment. Navigating that is the job of NBA coaches and it’s fair to critique him for lacking or not being as flexible in a tension filled situation of the New York spotlight. With imperfect roaster alignment and a few directions the team being pulled in, my hope is we get a roaster around our best player, RJ Barrett.

This won’t be numbers filled and will work as a primer for the post mortem on the 21-22 season as the post season whirls through. I may not be able to imbed videos, but I’ll link any game tapes and give times for anything I’m transcribing about.

Until the Post Season~

Categories
Scale Measurement Thoughts Thought Blurbs

Tenet’s to Live by

Pretentious as a title can be there’s a few concepts that can guide, not tell one how to navigate life. There’s some universal experiences we all have but don’t take away whatever unique experience one is living through. This can also just be an attempt to define those shared experience by defining what’s important.

Tenets are defined as a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true. It would be despite how disagreeable on a position people are we should still be able to agree that eating regularly to avoid malnutrition is something everyone would agree is good a thing. From thinking about what’s important to everyone, here’s the five most prevalent that can help expand how you think.

  1. Time, it only goes one way
  2. Family, chosen or given
  3. Acceptance of your environment
  4. Kind w/ self and others
  5. Doing your part/purpose

Why are these five tenets so important?

  1. Time: Most people want more of it.
  2. Family: A place anyone can feel accepted, appreciated and loved is essential.
  3. Acceptance: A comfy seat is better than an uncomfortable one.
  4. Kindness: Be ruthless with institutions and systems for yourself and neighbors.
  5. Doing your part: Nothing can be something, sometimes.

How can you begin to implement or add a more thoughtfulness to your actions?

  1. Be concise and have brevity.
  2. Recognition that criticism is neither always constructive or hurtful despite which end you may be on.
  3. If you want to change anyone, it’s always best to try and understand their grievances, expressed or not.
  4. People in a broken system aren’t broken or share in the blame of the wrongs of said systems.
  5. Observation is far from nothing but equally far from learning.

What do you think you’ll walk away with?

Share in the comments or post but I hope some of what was learned was, with a final list, is:

  1. Be respectful with time.
  2. Family you choose in life or are given at birth, and hopefully both, will give you the space to be yourself. It’s absence is fairly detrimental, not deadly, but a “family” will add a real value and support system in life’s ups and downs.
  3. Accept the journey of life is filled with never-ending paths to similar places.
  4. Our responsibility for our conditions matches the agency we had in said conditioned outcomes.
  5. Sometimes doing your part is waiting for the most impactful moment to do whatever it is you need to do. Others times doing your part is simply doing what must be done immediately. Distinguishing what is priority in any given moment is a responsibility we all share; however, that responsibility is best learned through experience.

    What’s important to me and you will differ, but hopefully these five tenets and the levels of rationale baked into them can help guide anyone in their lives.
Categories
Data Knicks Scale Measurement Thoughts Trades

Knicks as I see it

I’m unsure if we’re watching the same thing.

After 23 games last seasons the Knicks were 10-13.

When you compare it to this seasons 11-12 record and it’s just so incredibly Knicks and so incredibly emotional to say, “We’re shit and awful and everyone’s a fraud!” when we stand at in a better place than last season. That is an objective fact.

Addressing the feeling is necessary because I go through it too like during the 3rd quarter, it is known. The bases of my critique is that what we achieved last year was a team coming together along the season. The beginning of any season is always the biggest trap for ANY analysis because you’re just operating off less data. Admitting to be being completely hyperbolic, but I don’t know off the top of my head what in life is ever a true linear progression, so why we expect that from our team?

Another thing to keep in mind is the Knicks played their first 25 games without Derrick Rose.

The Trade Market Thoughts

First rule of the trade market is that it doesn’t really open up until there’s trade eligibility. For anyone signed in the offseason, they can’t be traded until what always ends up being like 25-30 games into the next season.

Second rule is that these players are people and while it may be in your power to just uproot someone, doing so without the consent of the athlete can really paint an organization in a certain kind of light. People want to be respected so that’s the very least you could do if you were operating any organization.

I’d be surprised if you saw an Rose/RJ/IQ/Randle/Obi included in any deal at this point. Some may be for some exceptional star, but I think the organization is invested in those five more than the rest to varying degrees and rationale. Without being able of putting them in numerical order due to being an irrational fan, for some it’s potential growth they see in them where as for others it’s what they bring now as well. Maybe both for one or another.

There’s draft capital and other supplemental players on the roaster that may want to have a change or fresh start. Maybe there’s some other factor or need for a specific person that the Knicks could help. It’s only my conjecture but I think Obi’s growth and what his role is or could be for this team has made a few redundancies no longer palatable. You’d be lying to yourself if you claimed you wouldn’t be surprised if any of the players above were traded, but it also still could happen. We can’t know what’s pretty exclusive information like peoples private lives, let alone wealthy one’s.

Welcome to Copeland

Knicks fan created, Copeland. Larger than life and his numbers will ever tell you, Chris Copeland played forward for the Knicks, Bucks, and Pacers. He had a certain level of fandom and brought joy to this New York Knicks fanbase.

We were introduced to Cope as 28 year old rookie. Beloved by Breen he showcased in his rookie year a 42% 3-point clip and had shown some good rim finishing well on occasion too. He played well enough to secured life changing money on Indiana but he was always cherished in Knicks land. He played 4 years in the league and which during he suffered from a infamous stabbing.

Reality is harsh but if you’re wondering what we’re doing in Copeland, what about the trades or how any of this matters… that is by design. The idea is to build slowly to have a more sound perspective on things that are otherwise emotional or hard to define. With certain foods/meals, it can take a certain pallet to enjoy it as viscously as someone from that culture/region/time, or generally for that matter. The same can be with both the individual words said or unsaid. You can include the overall narrative too.

Fairly and finally before we get to the point or piece that connects all this is all the above and below is my conjecture that can be right or wrong.

The Point

Thibs was COY last year, but it’s not absolvent. He has flaws but there’s no way he’s just throwing shit at the wall to not win. He’s going to try to win with what he knows which can be rigid fundamentally but he does have some nuance with some players he trusts. To the extent he’s even rigid fundamentally is also up for a bit of debate because he’s changed from Chicago to Minnesota and from his time even on the Knicks.

I do believe there’s trades the Knicks could make that could put the players they’re most vested in as advantageous position as possible but to the extent it might be a reality may be the last 8-10 minutes of a game. To change the team around for that short a time, you’ve got to be so precise in your ability to judge talent and how it might complement in alternative situations that it borderlines impossibility. I’m also not terribly creative or have the cap knowledge to facilitate “real trades.” What I do is tweak with numbers to discover more outcomes for better or worse.

The simplest way to I can quantify the concept is to imagine players who qualify the rules of the trade market, your team, and available players as a “piece” in Texas Hold’em.

You’re vested players are the community cards.

Small Blind & Big Blind would be players qualifying for the trade market rules. Your remaining chips or what you bet with separate of obligated money/contract matching, would be your draft capital.

“Winning the Pot” would be acquiring talent that supplements your vested talent. It could be the case there’s no available agreement to be had without including one of those vested players. Maybe there’s a few teams with major draft deficits with unhappy talent that might have other needs. It could also be the case that as the team gets healthy, if that’s possible, you decide to keep you’re current talent and chips and not trade anyone.

In my opinion the ideal 4-5 Rotation game to game would look like:

Randle: 35 Mins
Mitch: 25 Mins
Obi: 25 Mins / 10 minutes w/ Randle
Taj: 16 Minutes / 4 minutes qtr avg

If we’re talking about Sims instead of Taj:

Randle: 35 Mins
Mitch: 25 Mins
Obi: 25 Mins
Sims: 11 Mins

There’s noticeable exceptions but what I want to talk about is Mitch. I’m unsure we can ignore he’s added a lot of weight, and while he’s improved in ways, there’s a glint of freakishness missing and I don’t know if it’s because he hasn’t been 100% this season. It’s just somethings not all the way there and he’s also expressed coming off the bench before. It’s not like Thibs doesn’t trust Taj. What if he just started for 4 minutes? Idk how radical that would be but maybe that’s a way to get Mitch a bit more engaged? I’m spit balling. Until Mitch can play extended minutes for a while, I want his minutes around what his season average is. Also, in Obi’s dream minutes, could he have AT LEAST Copelands usage when he was with us? I’m sure Obi’s better, and as can be inferred above, I hold Copeland in high esteem in Knicks history and lore. Reality never boar it out what he teased he could be in spurts, but Obi seems like real deal and we should lean into that with clearing up some positional overlap.

As for the positional shake up currently occurring with Kemba’s exclusion removal from the line-up and it’s also likely where we’d see traded talent if trades were to occur. It’s hard to say how the remaining positions might look like. I’ll say that even with the exclusion of all those listed vested players, there’s a lot of various contract matching points the Knicks can make depending on how creative they might need to be. Again, this would be assuming the player is also looking for a change as well but I won’t be listing the various amounts of possibilities, but I count more than 10+ casually.

Who were Randle’s comments for?

Now admittedly, I could be out on a limb here for a branch that doesn’t exist. Caveat out, who I believe drew some of the ire of Randle is actually us, fans generally. I think Randle has been through it and is okay with playing in here, signing his extension for lifechanging money, but also flexibility for New York to build with him validates that.

It’s nothing to be in a tizzy about or think he’s being immature because he should expect that. I just think all he’s really saying is he wants to win, they want to win and part of their success, for better or worse, are the fans which brings them up. Just my two cents, but that’s about as far as I go with conjecture because this devolves into fan policing too quick if we’re not already teetering the line.

We’re better than we were last year. That’s objective if only by a margin so far as wins produced. The team is far from optimized but their not all bad problems to have, just having a few growing pains as the team tweaks with the rotation and potentially the roster as the trade exceptions begin to expire. I also think there’s a bit more of the slide but I try to not count wins or losses before they happen once we’re in the season. Even with my thoughts, I still believe this team has the potential to have good stretches for reasons of past precedence of RJ having a slow start and the team performing well late in the season after working out the kinks. I still hold onto the 50+ win dreams.

-Until Next Time

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How to unpack? Politics Scale Measurement Thoughts

How should we unpack? – This Moment, 9-20-21

When I started this project, my limited knowledge has me in a state of long-term learning while I try to make sure my tone isn’t mixed in with my own feeling.

COVID-19

Here we will be seeing how my stated July theory on COVID-19. I’ve written a few pieces which can be used as other examples to show my interest and care in writing on the virus. The entire thread can be found here but the main hypothesis from analyzing the data was, “The most at risk populations are adults between the ages of 25-60 whom are unvaccinated, as well as children too young to be vaccinated. There’s a exponentially compounding issue here.” The briefest way I could summarize what it is lead me to that thought follows as such:

  • The US has a large group of very vaccine hesitant working age adults
  • Obese adults (42% of all adults) face the highest risk for mortality
  • Children and teenagers are mostly not vaccinated
  • The US was 5 to 6 weeks out behind the U.K. as far as COVID impact w/ greater overall obesity rates at the time (7.21.21/7.26.21)

Given all of this three questions were itching at me which drove myself to feel quite strongly about vaccine mandates.

  1. What’s 5-6 weeks out from 7.21.21, an interview with Michael Osterholm (Director at CIDRAP, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) on the Majority Report?
  2. Are there any potential overlaps between the two most at risk populations? Underlined above for clarity
  3. Are there any looming catalyst/super spreader events or situations happening between July 21st and September 1st

I’m not going to lose everyone with the numbers as there’s a base and foundation we have to accept based on the information we have or had at the time.

The American elderly have fairly good vaccinated rates comparing to the whole population. At the time of the thread on July 26th, four out of five adults of retirement age were fully vaccinated and almost 90% had at least one shot. It would stand that while there’s still 5-6 million unvaccinated elderly people, they’re vaccine rates are greater than younger Americans.

Now there’s going to be a very key thing to grasp here that will require a little mental labor, and good faith to begin to wrestle with. It’s no conspiracy that first time parents are getting older for a multitude of different issues. What causes that isn’t the point to focus on but more than it is happening. Secondly, to my second question, are there potential overlaps between the most at risk populations (children/teens & working age unvaccinated adults)? Here’s a couple things we can say:

  • Average age of first time mothers in 1972 was 21 years old, up to 26 in 2018
  • Average age of first time fathers in 1972 was 27 years old, up to 31 in 2018

There’s no judgement for having children whenever people do. This is to simple illustrate & understand this is the current meta or dynamic for families as they exist and where the behavior is trending.

Speaking generally, while future parents are trending to be older, the larger group of people already alive and living today are under the prior number dynamics. Teenagers born between 2004-2007, on average, have parents in their early to mid 40’s or the prime of their working years. Generally, 40% of those adults are obese which has been linked to poor outcomes irrespective of age. If you isolate for non-obese and obese people in a specific age or population, the obese are going to have worse outcomes with COVID-19.

As we mentioned above, the largest group of unvaccinated people at this point in July, and now, are the working age adults not vaccinated already and children and teenagers. Until very very recently, there was no proper dosage amount that’s been tested for safety. This is currently under FDA review. It would then stand that these groups of unvaccinated populations could potentially compound to create multiplicative issues.

If we can establish this as a general baseline, and not take this as a prescription to individuals upon various approaches for a population can this next part be fruitful. I’ll clarify again that there’s no judgment or approach I’m looking to analyze for this apparent behavior, more that these are things we can take away broadly from the data available to us. Enough qualifiers, there were two consecutive events that occurred in-between the period of time from the formation of the theory to early September, Sturgis Bike Rally and the beginning of the scholastic year for most students around the country.

On Sturgis, it’s important to understand the impact it had on COVID cases and deaths last August. Cases and deaths function as lagging indicators and understanding that cycle is important to capture shared social events that impacted and propagated the spread of the virus. I would recommend looking back on cases from August through October of last year to see what wild-type COVID’s growth occurred from these events. Hybrid schooling and remote schooling was most often utilized when possible which is distinctly different from last year to today. Back when I wrote as the effects of Sturgis was beginning to be felt (8.30.20) I wrote these ominous statements, “This is going to be very dark. Things are going to get worst.” This was back when the U.S. death toll was still well short of 200,000. We’ve more than tripled the deaths in a year. Even with the introduction of the vaccine, we apparently lost another 2,000 lives to COVID-19 over the weekend, averaging 1,800-1,900 Monday through Friday last week. These growing cases and deaths would substantiate the pieces of the theory relating to the risks of opening up schools with little to no restrictions (unknown, but would seem risky), and Sturgis (certifiably known) could be some of the major factors to this COVID growth today.

I’ll finish this section with a brief statement about the context of the obesity among adults in the country. No one wants to be seen as obese in the current society so I’ll be as clear and direct as possible with this.

Taking all context above into account and remaining general, the largest population of the unvaccinated are working age adults and children and teenagers. Obesity being one of the leading predictors for poor outcomes is empirical. It’s also known that with the overlap of these populations irrespective of obesity. We know Sturgis propagated the virus in the past and while it’s unknown, there’s some early reporting of issues of children and teens getting COVID, likely exposing their households and their working age parent(s). We known adults over the age of 20 are obese at a rate of 42%. Lastly, we understand the delta variant to have the same viral cycle but with a yield is 2-3x the yield of the wild-type variant.

It means we can say with confidence, that given what we know, the at risk populations have a degree of compounding overlap. It poses an extreme risk to those working age adults whom are obese that are still unvaccinated. Looking at where we’ve been just over a year ago to this moment and it feels that very little has changed. Well… except a more concentrated group of at risk people which is incredibly disheartening.

Afghanistan

It’s both good we’ve now ended our 20 year violent engagement in Afghanistan and that there was never going to be an perfect withdrawal process. Often I find a lot of critiques from the right start by making perfection the enemy of the good which is ultimately defeatist and anti-political engagement. It is community destroying and promotes apathy when we should be promoting civic engagement on a much more local level.

Pokémon Unite

Blastoise needs a nerf and Slowbro needs a buff.

Sports

Without basketball, what do we even have? One more month of dread…

Alex Jones

Terrible conspiracy theorist & incredibly harmful entertainer was quite attractive when he was young.

Texas Abortion Law

Generally, I’m not going to be okay with giving the state the power to police what consenting adults do. What an induvial chooses to do with their body is their own business. It’s also quite incredible that while a man assumes none of the actual burden and risk with carrying a child, some feel they have superior input to what a women should or shouldn’t be able to do with their bodies. It sounds like expanding the states power to infringe on the rights of the individual is what occurring in Texas. While it may be abhorrent to yourself or a group, whether or not something is “okay” with any individual group is not a reason for illegality or state sponsored action to curb. Ultimately your individual preferences are not supposed to reflective of federal or even state law as the idea of separation of church and state is pretty important to the founding documents and the development of the state.

Met Gala & A.O.C.

I think it can be tricky to understand the calculus of wearing a dress broad casting your ideas/ideals. While there’s various approaches to growing the civically engaged population, I’m not about to preach efficacy or say one way is better than another. My only point would be if the approach puts a sour taste in your mouth, then extend the possibility that you may not be the audience.

Personally I don’t give a shit about a lot of these events so I don’t care. I’m only making a comment that attempting to limit the avenues for growing a population and starting a conversation is when you also limit the range of a groups political aim.

Brian Laundrie

He did that shit. I’m not a legal professional, and this is just my opinion, but he killed his fiancé.

Border Patrol

Regardless of how righteous you might feel in treating other human beings of different populations and culture, maybe don’t invoke loaded imagery. What’s being reported here is not just the poor imagery, but blaming asylum seekers for doing what is within both international and U.S. law seems to show a complete misunderstanding of issues. My goal is to not be overly inflammatory; however if the behavior and imagery of the border patrol agents does not bother you, please fix the bankruptcy of empathy and take a step back to understand they’re following the law when trying to come here via asylum. You’re sick in the head if you feel the boarder agents are justified in their behavior and treatment of those migrants.

School Shooting – Virginia

Gun violence will continue to be normalized but nothing is normal about the growing threat of shooters on school grounds.

Categories
Knicks

The Knicks are the NBA “Bar” [Honorable Mentions]

Man looking through hole

Now if you’re looking at my like this pieces picture, sometimes you cut the fat to enjoy the meat. To keep a long piece from being longer, the was an omission of three teams, all of which garnished wins last night bringing the group of eight to growing to larger than a third of the league (11). One is within error (Chicago) but there are two shocking underperforming teams in Dallas and Miami. Appearing to have stabilized slightly, all three teams could be poised to execute down the stretch. Lets dive down into the context of their remaining games as All-Star break fast approaches.

Miami Heat:
With a win last night and five games remaining isn’t a lot of time but could be all Miami needs to prepare for the second half of the season. Filled with early season woes (injuries/COVID) could be the main reason for this, but the concern was warranted. They were having championship fatigue without winning and coming so close and not making it over the hump has doomed team chemistry in the past. They have their fair share of challenges facing the Raptors (similar season story), the Jazz and the improving Pelicans(back half of a double header). Two games against the very beatable Hawks could help even out any potential hard losses, or pile on a bad stretch with the offense they can produce.
Predication: (3-2)

Chicago Bulls:
Chicago and Miami may share similar color schemes and turns out they have a very similar end to the season as Miami. Similar is the worst ways, and differs in more adverse ways. There’s one game against the Timberwolves who just changed their coach which is usually followed by a brief honeymoon regardless or ability. They’re a trap on any schedule at this point and that’s their “best” game. They battle the Suns, Raptors, Nuggets and finish off on the Pelicans. The benefit of the Pelicans game is that it’s the first game of a back to back and they may catch the Pelicans sleeping a game early. Also the last game before All-Star break for a team with playoff ambitions can be a must win for some organizations. Perhaps a bullish prediction coming, it will still have the Bulls seeing red.
Prediction: (2-3)

Dallas Mavericks:
While there’s still more than half the season left, the first game against Boston feels consequential. Two underperforming teams trying to survive to the All-Star break and stop the hemorrhaging coming to head. The problems for Dallas is they could get caught looking ahead for their games later in the week against the 76ers and Brooklyn. Finishing up with OKC and Orlando after the first three games can be a reprieve or leave just enough water to drown in. KP has fallen from grace and the flaws to him game that Knicks fans were blind to, and Dallas minimized in their acquisition have come to bare. They’re glaring and sometimes the fundamentals are more important at a certain size and height than overall skills. Dallas seems a lot more to figure out and their one two punch is more resembling that of a one-armed boxer. Miami or Dallas will be one those penciled in teams poised for success that falls for reasons unseen in the preseason. This prediction should key you in to whom we’re predicting to rise or fall.
Prediction: (1-4)

Categories
Knicks Scale Measurement Thoughts

The Knicks are the NBA “Bar”

Raising the NBA to NYK standard.
Middle of the PackNew York KnicksCharlotte Hornets
Memphis GrizzlesBoston CelticsToronto Raptors
Golden State WarriorsIndiana PacersDenver Nuggets
Teams vying to be on the right side of .500

While they’re not title contenders fans exuberance about their teams play is palpable. Annexed from the scope of relevancy for the better part of two decades, hungry Knicks fans are learning their new place in the league, The Bar.
Referred to by a few different names, the good/bad (bad/good) team, tough playoff out; however in doing this we miss the chance for a more effective title, one of respect. I petition for that team, the one that beats bad teams and catches good teams sleeping and fight ever possession to be the NBA Bar.
Nestled right under .500 having played one of the other hardest schedules, NYK has flipped the Vegas script of being a top five, maybe top three lottery team. Under Coach Thibodeau these young Knicks lead by All-Star Julius Randle are not only playing better but have bulldozed their way to wins and league-wide relevancy. Winning 38 games over the prior two years, they could potentially reach the half way point over the next six. A lot of this rides on the roaster adjusting to play without their defensive anchor for 4-6 weeks (get well Mitch; Feb 13th), but looking to the eight teams between 14-16 wins can provide a bit of context for the next six games before All-Star break.

New York Knicks:
Starting with the primary focus for the Knicks fans, Julius Randle and his All-Star campaign are leading the Knicks potentially to their first post season since 2013. Inspiring play from the rookies and young roaster as they prove week after week, and game after game how together they are as a unit. With Maestro Tom conducting the players to their respective bests, this Knicks team us humming along; the vibes are good. Playing the Pistons twice, they also compete against Sacramento, Golden State, Indiana, and San Antonio. Competitive teams seem to bring the best and help the team reach the fullness of their potential. Champions? Hell no. Top Contenders? Still no but that’s not the point or what Knicks are refereeing too as far as bucking expectations and the trends. From Vegas and from any basketball media outlet, it seemed a forgone conclusion the Knicks were headed to another lottery mosh posh of a season filled with more losing than winning; more ridicule than praise. While it was slow and fraught with defensive denial, the team they’ve reached a point where old narratives have begun to wash away. Old habits are hard to rid and this (almost) half season of respectable Basketball can be an outlier, but this isn’t something new for Tom as he always maximize the roasters he gets for success.
Predication: (4-2)

Charlotte Hornets:
Despite some apprehension dollar figure on the Hayward deal and early season adjustments from the youngest Ball brother with a color commentary to excite, the Hornets are a great watch, and the Knicks direct competition for title of NBA Bar. They can score in so many different ways, the ball is on a string and Hayward is showing the contract may have been judged too harshly, even if the the production falls off as the end of contract approaches. He’s a past All-Star with All-Star considerations this year, played through adversity and injury, and has the skills to optimize good play and develop a confidence with their young players. Luckily, they face some harder teams approaching the break with games against some of the best teams of the West (UTA, PHX, POR). Games against Golden State and media favorite Kings could be coin flips and they end with a HUGE trap game against league worst Timberwolves.
Prediction (2-4)

Memphis Grizzles:
Infected with the injury bug the squad led by Superstar Ja Morant continues to utilize their depth and mix of skills to fill the gaps as to stay afloat. Miami lottery pick, current day Grizzly Justice Winslow is slated for return at the end of the month and Morant’s partner scheduled back sometimes next month if there’s no reassessment needed. Games against the drowning Wizards and reeling Mavericks are a repreive against the other three teams they face. Two against the Clippers, a game verse Houston and finishing up verse the lacking Bucks could leave them going 3-3, but the Bucks are going to be facing pressure to win, and Houston’s been playing hard. For those same reasons, you expect Dallas to be feeling the pressure to preform so they’re facing five hungry teams.
Prediction (2-4)

Boston Celtics:
If you have a Celtics fan in your life, they’re currently experiencing the exact opposite of Knicks joys. Scary Terry (Rozier) is putting together a career stretch and the capacity to play in a offense with multiple creators in the Hornets rotation. This is buyers remorse and seller dread and we’re only talking about one aspect of the tumultuous season, incomplete roaster, and suboptimal/disappointing play from Kemba Walker. All isn’t over with a lighter schedule, but Boston has proven as of late, no lead is too safe that they can hold. Their first four should be “easier” on paper but without their engine and hear in Marcus Smart, even those games seem bleak. Also if your team cannot function with just the removal of one player, unless their a superstar, how well positioned is that team to win. Auspicious horizon for the Celtics unless they can get Kemba right, fast.
Prediction (3-3)

Toronto Raptors:
Playing four teams with playoff hopes would make this seem more difficult then the opponents records would suggest. Games against 76ers are followed by Miami who appear to have (maybe) found themselves, the persistent Rockets, and the first guy in line outside looking in Bulls. The last two are verse the careening Celtics and the Odd Pistons. Odd in that they rise to the good teams but can’t put it together a decent stretch of games. Detroit is currently the worst team in the league and likely the one catching teams sleeping and maintaining their leads and energy. Raptors season was off the road to start the season and have recently rounded back into form behind the creative platoons. They play like Raptors, opportune pack hunters who will work it around to make opposing teams feel there’s too many leaks to fix. Defensively they’re no the same they’ve been, but with such a well rounded roaster and good coaching will lead them to success down this stretch.
Prediction (4-2)

Golden State Warriors:
Steph is leading this team with MVP numbers. While the team has a limited ceiling without Klay and the player he is, they’re causing anguish to people who claim to watch basketball and hate Steph Curry. Small Point guards have limitation, but we’re talking about the greatest shooter of all time when shooting is at an absolute premium. They play against our Knicks, the Pacers, and Charlotte first and finish off on three Western playoff teams (LAL, POR, & PHX). While they’re not the same lottery bound team as they were last year, facing the hardest schedule of the group leaves them facing the most adversity heading into All-Star break.
Prediction: (2-4)

Indiana Pacers:
The Pacers have been up and down. They’ve got some of the best defenders at the anchor of the paint. The awkward fit is offensively with Sabonis and Turner and the bench being hit or miss in their production has them a bit lower, but overall meeting expectations. Facing five playoff hopeful teams and the one team more on the outs has shown out against Brooklyn (Cleveland). They’re not world beaters, but if a team walks in thinking it’s going to be a walk in the park are in for a bit of surprise. I don’t think they go winless but they’ve got the best chance of the eight to see a donut in the win column.
Prediction (1-5)

Denver Nuggets:
Nikola Jokić putting together his best campaign to date for MVP, the team as a whole is a bit of a disappointment. Believed to be in the top half of the West after their inspiring bubble play, that overall team success is appearing more of lighting in a bottle than a standard to hold them to. Murray is back down on Earth and Jerami Grant wanting to take his talent elsewhere has definitely been cited for the disappointment. It would be a shame if that success lead to lax preparation for one of the better teams we saw last year. Keeping the more recent play as the standard, it’s most likely they go even despite being against lesser competition.
Predication: (3-3)

Until Next Time~

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Thought Blurbs

Allow me to indulge in some gratitude…

As someone who’s always felt a bit out of place both in the physical social spaces and at times in my own mental space, it means a lot to have a following here. I’m a mess of contradictions trying to rid myself of those flaws as I grow. Whether you’re here for the politics, the sports, or just the random incomplete thoughts or pictures, I hope to continue to provide that content. I also hope we can grow to appreciate all of these different aspects of interest, but most of all, I hope to foster the idea it’s okay to share what you think. Starting off was the hardest part but sharing our thoughts and being inclusive is how we get to a place of social empathy. Also, don’t be afraid to comment, shoot me an email on anything with Knicks, pics, or politics and I’ll look into and maybe you can see how your voices matter to me. We’re at the start of a journey I hope to continue along with all of you readers on a path towards a more accepting and honest world.

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Data Knicks

RJ Barrett for Most Improved Player [W]

To anyone is Knick’s world the RJ Barrett snub of either all-rookie team was caused by the changing goal posts the media likes to hit to fit their new numbers on judging rookies against each other without comparing their teams & situations like all their opportunities is equal. Him not being on that team doesn’t change the reality of him being one of the 10 best rookies last year. He’s still at least the 3rd best player in that draft and I will touch on the stretch RJ was putting together before the shut down, and the added parts to his game we see already in the preseason.
This isn’t MVP numbers by any means but just to give the full context and my opinion having watched all his tape from his rookie year and his early preseason games. During his last month of play (12 games) RJ averaged 17/4.5/2.8 on 44% (6.33/14.42) from the field, 28% (1.25/4.17) from distance, and 64% (3.16/4.75) from the line. Due to the shutdown and subsequent outcomes of COVID, it was the longest offseason for non-playoff teams in a non-lockout year, obsessive basketball players are likely to see larger than usual improvements in their games. It’s also important to understand his position and the archetype of his growth to the modern game is that of Lebron-Lite.
To what degree and to what people would actually accept that is one thing but moving forward to Lebron’s 19 year-old season, he posted higher numbers (because he’s Lebron), but there are noticeable similarities to their game and their percentages. Lebron’s rookie numbers are 21/5.5/5.9 on 44% (7.9/18.9) from the field, 29% (.8/2.7) from three, and 75% (4.4/5.8) from the line. Cleveland also went 35-47 his rookie year as well. It’s also important that Mike Miller (an actual coach) the Knicks were playing at a 33 win-pace. That would be more reflective of the Knicks teams play since we’re removing Fizdale’s “coaching.” If you believe other wise you must not have been watching. Fiz aside, the percentages are very similar and the numbers for that stretch are Lebron-like on less production and usage. Lebron could handle that usage and is a better creator and player but he was also given the keys to the offense where in RJ’s case, he’s not able to run the offense with Payton in tow.

Now to look at RJ’s first two preseason games, there’s even a further context to those numbers since he missed his first six shots. He finished his first game on 7/10 and then put up 10/17 the following game. He showed an improved decision making, cleaned up his mid-game pull-back and hit 5 of his first 7 free throw attempts (71%). I cannot imagine Payton being on the team past the trade deadline with how he and RJ are players that clash on the floor. When and if he’s traded will greatly impact RJ’s ability to produce and have more of an opportunity to create and learn how to better facilitate. Part of his growth will be in opportunity given, but with enough caveats, RJ can seriously surprise the league coming. My prediction is he’ll average 20/6/4 shooting 47% (9/19) from the field, 33% (1.4/4.2) from beyond the arc. If he can average 6 free throw attempts, which he averaged in college, and convert 68-70% from the line, he could even push his points total closer to 22/23 a game. Comparing that against his actual rookie averages of 14.3/5/2.6 and what he seems capable of if given the additional responsibility with his visible improvements it would be hard to ignore the possibility for the most improved player. Adding in the chip on his shoulder being left off the All-Rookie teams meaning most of NBA discourse is down on RJ. Flipping that perspective would also give those same minds a narrative to go along with the numbers for Most Improved Player.

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Uncategorized

The WAY TOO EARLY Playoff Predictions [Knicks] [W]

I find some enjoyment getting into the weeds about things; however, I want to put as much into this as it may deserve since we’ve not seen any of these teams play yet and there’s been quite a bit of turnover. First we’ll touch on the West before we bring it back home and cover the Knicks and their place in the East.

**- League Pass Team

Western Conference 2020/2021 Playoff Standings
1. Los Angeles Lakers- They won last year, and got better. Early finals favorite
2. Denver Nuggets**- They beat the Clippers last year & they’re better than last year
3. Dallas Mavericks**- KP injury may bring them down, but they’ve re-tooled to give Luka an environment to spawn forth an MVP season
4. Phoenix Suns**- With CP3, the ascension to superstardom in Booker, and how underrated Ayton is, they’re poised to surprise
5. Portland Trailblazers- They’ve retooled and got healthier, could look like a more fluid Houston Offense
6. Los Angeles Clippers- Two MVP caliber players, and while they’re worse, one or both can lead them to close out close games
7. Utah Jazz- All eyes are on Donovan after signing the max extension, no reason he won’t lead another playoff birth
8. Truth be told, I could see any team in the west outside of OKC competing for this 8th seed, but my 3 most likely would be the Grizzlies**, Pelicans**, and the Warriors**.

Eastern Conference 2020-2021 Playoff Standings
1. Philadelphia 76ers**- Doc’s 1st year, with Daryl in a new home and a newly remodeled car team that excel both their stars’ skill
2. Milwaukee Bucks**- The Bucks are better but so is the top of the East
3. Miami Heat**- Moves at the margin but they were just the Eastern Conference winners. Assuming their rookies continue their growth, as competitive as any roaster in the NBA
4. Boston Celtics- Kemba injury news along with Hayward leaving for Charlotte leave them being a bit worse off, but match up against all the teams below them well
5. Brooklyn Nets**- Kyrie and KD. They will be equal parts amazing and underwhelming w/ how many games they’re going to play together or not
6. Charlotte Hornets**- Hayward’s impact is very much role/team dependent but if you look at the Utah teams he lead, and this one, CHA is better and more cohesive
7. Indiana Pacers- The Oladipo drama wasn’t faux and while he may be closer to 100%, thus making their team better, that drama will fester in season downturns
8. Similar to the West, I can see few teams there, although for not the same reasons as the West. The west has more good teams, and the East has more finals contenders, and it’s fair share of bad teams, but not many distinguished “good” teams. My top three choices for making the 8th seed are Orlando, Washington, and Atlanta.

Now these opinions are made with the roasters as they are on December 1st, 2020. My three surprises are Phoenix as a 4-seed, Houston reduced to regulation, and Charlotte showing out with Hayward. As a Knicks fan in the extremes of the eastern conference at the top and bottom, the vacuum for the latter playoff seeds should be more up in the air. There’s also a chance of higher draft odds with so many teams wanting to compete.

Knicks Notes:
Cleveland & OKC are in full rebuilds, Houston maybe to follow if they trade their stars. Knicks and Detroit’s decisions seem to indicate they’re suggestable to change. They both said they were competing last season too. It amounts to an ability to have a top 5 pick if you don’t have the talent to close out games tank. The issues is this ignores the damage it does to a team psyche. Compete and let the chips fall where they may, especially with the new draft odds. With the Knicks staff, I see them believing, “Why can’t we walk and chew gum at the same time?” Especially with a young man like RJ Barrett who’s upset and motivated by his All-Rookie team snub. Noted gym rat, his love for basketball can seem to border on obsessive, and just how strong he is. His body is NBA ready and he’s not done growing into it yet. My excitement is greatly tempered by fit Obi and Payton. Baring a trade, and the tension between him and RJ, this would greatly dampen the potential for our young players to grow.

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Data Pictures Politics Thought Blurbs

COVID-19 Factors for Pause

COVID-19 cases per Month
COVID-19 deaths per Month

Let’s ignore the possibility of weather making the virus weaker or stronger because the biggest danger, I pose, is within our control. First lets look at the cases which are seemingly beginning their launch into the imaginary atmosphere. March was our discover, and April brought a temporary understanding but there’s a large degree of change that begins as a simmer in June, coming to boil in July. Another similar trend occurred from October to November where cases more than double month to month. My fear is that the recipe for this kind of situation is preparation for, and subsequent celebration of America’s most participated traditions. July 4th and Halloween would fit those bills and that’s where the feeling of dread seeps in.
We’ve entered a season of mass habitual celebration that our society has already shown are more important than the greater social empathy needed to combat the unimaginable death coming.

The lack of a basic understanding the Coronavirus will be the largest damnation on American culture since the shame brought to the forefront of civil rights movement. To define more clearly, the wrongs done to black people in a “just” nation points to the abject failure to identify our inner bigotries. In its most compact definition as we understand COVID-19, limiting your exposure to other people, wearing masks and maintain social distance when in public places are the best ways to combat the spread of this virus. This is more a measure of expectations because the time to prepare for this has past with Thanksgiving behind us.
We’ve hit the highest deaths since April just in November, which may be surpassed overall in the coming Winter months. The point to take away is that deaths are a lagging indicator of at least a month. Deaths were falling until July, when they begun feel the effects from July 4th, surging in the following Month. August shows how after an event of high participation that the ability to fight the drug of normalcy is harder to resist. You crave that attention after being socially deprived for so long. From some unaffected individuals and families, they’re experience makes them feel suppressed instead of protected. It isn’t just the day itself but the few weeks prior and the weekend through the event.

I’ll end it with a few things on my mind, all in the form of questions, some with general answers. Some may have no answer and a few will be my opinion and the context for that opinion.
1. What’s the percentage of people who have COVID-19 without symptoms?
Over 40%
2. Why should we worry about deaths when the death rate is falling?
The death rate is falling because we have a better understanding of the virus on one level; however, the more responsible factor for the drop is now over 40% of all COVID-19 cases are outstanding which is only growing. The larger that percentage grows, the more active demand is on the medical system already taking on water in certain states. The more those are strained and some begin to break, localized death hotspots are a likely phenomena to follow.
3. How would you rank event’s by the great participation in American culture?
4 Fourth of July
5 Halloween
3 Thanksgiving
2 Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa
1 New Years
My thought’s aren’t an overall ranking or personal preference, but on how many people celebrate these events with gatherings of people for extended periods of time. Those gatherings can have different adjectives and obligations to attend but these events are still effecting you indirectly by the sheer participation by society at large in these events. Certain eateries and stores close or have shorter hours, some jobs are offering timely bonus, or more likely, having workers ask for advances on their pay. I hope that while it is rough to look at our failings of society, ignoring them allows those to fester and debilitate other functions of society indirectly. Lets look into the adversity people are stuck in and achieve solutions with people, not profit, at the center of our problem solving logos.