NBA Playoffs - The Greatest Show on Earth
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- Created: Saturday, 14 April 2018 17:21
- Written by Ax D. WhiteMan
The NBA post season starts today. Or perhaps, the NBA "real season" starts today. In either event, it's become the best sporting event in America. It seems the NBA has either learned how to make it's sport the best entertainment product in the world - or maybe just how to not muck it up.
A few observations as to why...
1. They're just so damn good. It's beyond debate that the NBA is made up of freaks of nature who possess natural physical attributes far beyond the average man. In addition, the level of excellence required to succeed in this craft demands a dedication and work ethic that dwarfs the demands of a normal occupation. The result is a cast of participants that leave us awe struck with their talent - even while we open a beer and say, "That guy sucks." The athleticism and skill in every game is nothing short of spectacular.
2. They've (mostly) avoided politics. Sure, there's the occasional dust up - as in Lebron vs. Ingraham; but largely the virtue signaling is avoided. We've all got plenty of places to go for social and political differences. It's "great" to just watch "greatness."
3. The "Survivor" aspect. The NBA is now a 12 month sport. About 6 months of regular season. 6 - 7 weeks of playoffs / Finals. About 4 months of "Survivor" - which continues at some level throughout the Season and Playoffs. Similar to the Survivor reality show which is based on both physical competition and social game play; NBA players and coaches ALWAYS have a back story running that creates interest and complexity not found in any other sport. This is where the individual personalities emerge instead of the team. With only 5 players on the floor at a time, and post game interviews a requirement - fans actually make a connection with their favorite players; giving depth and feeling to the on going "drama" in each back story. These back stories are usually about free agency plans; but often include which player is creating an "alliance" with another player to make an off season move. Or sometimes it's just which player is ticked off at his team or management. Last year Kyrie, got in a funk in Cleveland and wanted out. James Harden shut down inexplicably in game 6 against the Spurs. This year Kawhi is in a funk and nobody knows whats up with him. A few years ago Rajon Rondo seemingly went on strike - while on the floor - during the playoffs. All of this adds to the level of interest all season - and it builds to a peak as the playoffs begin.
4. The BEST Playoff structure - BY FAR. This is a big one. It starts with a bang. Four games a day, today and tomorrow, all played back to back to back. This is a feast for hard core "binge watchers." But better yet, it doesn't stop. It doesn't fold the tent and go away til next weekend like NFL, or now NCAA. It just keeps going. Every day, every night - early game, late game, prime time game - each series developing its own back story; the action never stops - doesn't even slow down - until The Finals. By the time The Finals start, even if your team isn't participating; you've gotten to know the starting lineups of each contender, and who you might want to see in your teams uniform the next year.
With the opening tip-off only a few hours away, I'm looking forward to my Cavs continued dominance in the East, and hoping for a surprise showing from the Spurs in the West. But even if each makes an early exit - I'll be watching almost as closely to see who finally prevails - and how it all effects the "Survivor" portion to be played out this Summer.
Kudos to the NBA Playoffs - The Greatest Show on Earth
Add a commentPrice Gouging - It's a Good Thing
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- Created: Friday, 01 September 2017 11:12
- Written by Super User
Yesterday morning the Motiva refinery in South East Texas announced a controlled shut down due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey.
By 4:00 pm the same day, several gas stations in Austin posted "No Gas" signs and those that remained open saw lines form while people flocked to get "their share" before all tanks ran dry. At 10:00 pm last night I drove past a line of about 30 cars on the I-35 service road in line to get gas at one of the open stations on the freeway. These scenes played out all over the State.
This is, of course, a media driven self fulfilling prophecy.
There are approximately 10 refineries closed due to Harvey. These closings reduce the refining capacity of the country by about 15%. Of course, there are typically between 5 - 15% of refineries in scheduled "shut down" in the country; and typically refineries run at something less than 100% of capacity.
In short, the possibility of Harvey making a significant impact on the supply of refined oil products in the United States is 0%.
Yet. We're out of gas. All because people feared, we'd run out of gas.
What could cure this insanity?
Some would call it "Price Gouging"
If the price of gas went from $2.00 to $5.00 yesterday, the only people who would be in line would be those that really need gas, and even then, probably only by what they need.
Same thing for water. Last Friday I watched shopping cart after shopping cart loaded with cases of water leaving the HEB. The store was out of water about in about an hour after Harvey was announced as at least a Cat 3 storm - and that was 200 miles inland.
Hell no. When water is scarce, it's value rises. If public water supplies are temporarily shut down, selling a case of life sustaining fluid at an inflated price is not criminal. At least no more a crime than sprinting to the store an hoarding all the water you can carry - despite the fact that you couldn't drink it all in month. To hell with those that would be placed in need during the following week.
In short, what people criminalize as "price gouging" is often just a rational market response required to control the allocation of a scarce resource. No, it's not perfect, but it's rarely a crime; and it's probably the best allocation control we have.
Add a commentTotal Eclipse - of the Truth
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- Created: Monday, 21 August 2017 11:15
- Written by Ax D. WhiteMan
No, I won't be staring skyward this afternoon trusting my vision to pair of $5.99 Chinese "eclipse glasses." By the time the 70% eclipse passes over Austin Texas, I'll have watched countless high quality videos of the event which happened two hours earlier in Portland.
Perhaps my perspective on the "eclipse of the sun" has been impacted by spending a week staring directly into an almost total "eclipse of the the truth."
This week President Trump made several statements referring to the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, The most controversial being Trumps statement that there were,
"fine people on both sides."
This statement is almost certainly true, and entirely impossible to demonstrate to be false. I watched Faith Goldy ; who seems to be a fine person, give an on-site objective description of the events on the ground. Her description of "dumb white men" being exploited by the "alt-right" while being interviewed by an alt-right podcast; got her fired from her job at Rebel Media.
The statement that there are "fine people on both sides," of any issue - or attending any event seems so obviously true - that it's practically a meaningless statement. I'm fairly confident that their are even "fine people" who belong to ISIS. That is, I'd be willing to stipulate that their are some "fine people" that given the choice of being beheaded - or joining ISIS - would join ISIS.
Granted, it's hard to imagine a "fine person" chanting "Jews will not replace us." (a phrase that makes no sense to anyone but those chanting it - I guess) But that isn't what Trump said. He said there were fine people who showed up to protest the removal of Civil War Statues, and fine people who showed up to support the removal of Civil War Statues.
Unless someone has list of the names and knowledge of the people in attendance, how could such a statement even be questioned?
Yet, in an almost total eclipse of the the truth, much of the media on both the left and the right have gone into spasms insisting that the ONLY good people were those who attended the protest to support removal of Civil War monuments. Oddly, none have made the observation that there are no good people wearing masks and committing violent assault.
In a continuing total eclipse of the truth, the media has Incessantly repeated that Trump equated the counter protesters with NAZI's - when he did no such thing. (even though the ANTIFA may deserve such a comparison) If one states that there are fine players on the New Jersey Nets and the Golden State Warriors - one is making a true statement - but in no way "equating" the two teams.
Many years ago, we coined the phrase, "The Truth is Loud."
The phrase was meant to indicate that "The Truth" has it's own inherent amplification, because people recognize and identify with statements that square with observable reality. What Trump stated about Charlottesville was true, and it resonated with people despite an onslaught of elitist reporting that is dedicated to the eclipse of such truth.
The "Truth" is that here in America, we exist in overwhelmingly racial and cultural harmony. Everyday, there are BILLIONS of inter racial/cultural interactions in this country without the slightest hint of acrimony. The narrative that this country is a seething cauldron of racial hatred is unsupportable by any objective evidence.
This continued effort to stratify people into opposing factions serves no interest other than to empower a Government that encourages both sides to demand protection from the other - implicitly granting more and more power to Government; while diminishing the power of the individual.
Since we coined the phrase, "The Truth is Loud," we've added an addendum to it.
That is, "The Truth is Loud, but it won't tell itself."
Right now, President Trump is one of the few telling the truth. We sincerely hope he continues to do so.
Add a commentTonight The Cavs will make NBA History
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- Created: Friday, 09 June 2017 21:24
- Written by Ax D. WhiteMan
Yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers will become part of NBA history tonight.
Most likely, they will become the team that got swept in Finals to complete the NBA's only 16-0 playoff winning streak.
But, what if they win?
It would also be part of NBA history. It would either be the single blemish on the Warriors 2017 playoff run, or the first game of 4 game winning streak that shocks the world.
Yes it's unlikely, but lets consider a few facts...
1. NBA teams often perform dramatically differently - sometimes in the same game - for no apparent reason. But certainly in a series. This is one of the things that makes NBA basketball so entertaining. Last year the Spurs CRUSHED the Thunder in the first 2 games of their playoff series. Then the Thunder turned it completely around and dominated the Spurs. No big injuries, no lineup changes.
2.The Cavs have now lost to the Warriors 4 straight times. But that immediately followed the Cavs defeating the Warriors 4 straight times. So, for those of you who are saying the Cavs can't win 4 straight - you're wrong - they already have.
How can it be?
Pretty simple really. It's all about making shots. Especially 3 point shots. The NBA is where skill meets the "law of averages." No player can shoot a basketball precisely at 3 point distance every time. The highest skilled players CAN shoot in what we call a "tighter pattern." That is, their shots, over a long period of time, will consistently fall closer to the center of the target. Yet, inexplicably, sometimes the shots will fall either "in" or "out" for extended periods.
The Cavs were a single 3 point shot away from winning game 3 on Wednesday night. What's more, is the Cavs 3 point shooting has been dramatically lower than their playoff average; while the Warriors 3 point shooting has been markedly better than their already high playoff average. Some will call out "defense" makes the difference.
Really?
Kyle Korver didn't have a Warrior within 12 feet when he missed what would have been a game winning 3 point shot. Some defense.
What if the "law of averages" begins to correct itself?
Then the Cavs would start making 3's at well over 40% and the Warriors would be under 30%. If that happens tonight - the Cavs win tonight - and all the talk would be about how the Warriors missed a date with history, but a Warriors Championship is still a foregone conclusion. If it happens again in Game 5, the series will be 3-2 and headed back to Cleveland. Just like that - the talk of dominance and dynasty will be OVER - for at least a couple days. If the Cavs can sink shots in Game 6 and force a Game 7...
The Cavs will definitely make NBA History - and yes - starts tonight.
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