SBNation.com User Blog: Sonic Phantom

Keep Blazer's Edge Weird (and functional)!!

Sonic Phantom — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 03:39:38 -0000

I have some strong opinions on the site 'revamp,' and in the spirit of trying to maintain the open discussion that has always made BEDGE a special place, i thought I'd share them with the community... if anybody can actually manage to find this post amid the slickness of SB Nation corporate web design. As you've guessed by now, I'm not on the whole too impressed with the makeover of our beloved blog. Some of my concerns may be ameliorated or wholly resolved in the new 'system,' (last time I use irony quotes, promise) but there are some fundamental problems which lead me to be skeptical the site will ever again be as rich as useful as it has been. I know Dave, Ben, and Tim have put a lot of effort into this, and am not trying to diminish their efforts, but nevertheless want to share some candid thoughts. Here they are, in no particular order.

1) The new site is designed around categories and groupings, with content that is deemed interesting or useful bundled together with similar stories that are thought to be appropriate and relevant. These decisions--the deeming and thinking--are made by the site editors, perhaps with SB input, and serve to increase the editorial influence behind content and hinder individual users from quickly and easily reviewing the breadth of material available and determining what is most interesting to us (this may not have been the intent, but it is nonetheless the reality). Systemitizing and bundling are enforced at the expense of simple chronology. The beauty of chronology, though it may be boring and unsightly, is that it gives us a clear path to pick up where we've left off, and to easily discover or revisit the content that is most interesting for us as readers. In short, the new site takes a step toward telling us what we should be reading instead of simply posting the latest news/editorials/reports, whatever, and allowing us to decide what is most interesting. Which leads to point two.

2) New site or news site? A useful blog has two traits, to my mind: it should foster a highly active user community that generates most of the content, supplemented by features and news gathered by the editors, and presented in a take-it or leave-it format. Blazer's Edge has been an exceptionally healthy and well functioning blog on these or any other criteria, and has really been a model for sports blogs everywhere. Why risk diminishing something that has been so strong? The only significant 'improvements' (sorry, couldn't resist) with the new format are in the realm of the aesthetic, and these are overwhelmed by the marginalization of the blog's substance--the robustness of the community and the freedom of the user. The most popular and effective blogs have been notoriously frumpy: people are drawn to blogs (especially fan blogs) for substance, not style. Once style starts getting in the way of substance, I think any blogging community worth its salt will start to fear the debasement of 'news site' influences.

3) Top down or bottom up? We're an active bunch, an informed bunch, and heck, we are the core of the blog. A blog is by nature highly democratic, with the users also being the primary content generators. It's the web at its absolute best. So if our site is going to change materially, shouldn't we have some say, if not an actual vote? Why does this process have to take place without our consent? The fact that everything changed overnight without much discussion and little notice, without polling, questioning, debating, seems a little...forgive me, Orwellian. Any calls for 'input' were weak and limited--'Comment on the new logo' or 'Consider helping us with a graphic or two.' Why wasn't there a thorough communal discussion of the overall concept for the reorg? Clearly SB Nation will drive the decisions, but at least we could have organized, as a community, 5 or 10 useful suggestions for their consideration. A 'What do you like best about BEDGE?' post would've been much more useful (and relevant) than that "What do you like best about the Blazers" stuff.

4) The mobile slte is really slow and difficult to navigate. Speed was a bit better this eve than this morning--and I know it's just day one and some things will be ironed out--but seriously, the whole notion of a superior mobile experience is a joke. The speed could improve 5x and it would still be slower than the old site. My mobile browser has crashed multiple times on the site already. Yes, there a a few bells and whistles for mobile users in the posting department, but overall it's a much less pleasant exercise to access the site than it used to be. And for those of us who used our phones as the main point of connection w/ the blog... well, we're not better off. Honestly, I expect to visit once to twice a week instead of once to twice a day.

Anyway, I hate to be a Negative Nelly, but I felt strongly about these things, and wanted to air my thoughts in the open. Thanks again to Dave, Ben and Tim for your hard work. Hopefully we can all band together to make the best of this SB mandated change.

Why not beat Dork Elvis at his own game?

Sonic Phantom — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:13:19 -0000

Why not beat Dork Elvis at his own game?

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8104029/source-houston-rockets-make-trade-milwaukee-bucks-move-12

Aren't we in a much better position than Houston to implement this strategy, and make a run at Howard? I know in a vacuum Dwill wouldn't want to come to portland, but if we pull this off, wouldn't he need to? Even if Orlando doesn't take the bait, not like it's an all or nothing strategy: trading up for a second top 10 pick would not be a bad decision under any circumstance. And if it pays off? Even if Dwill didn't want to join the party, an Aldridge Howard front court would put us into immediate contention, no question. Keep Batum and fill the rest of the team w/ role players....count me in for this every day and twice on sunday. And if Dwill makes the smart decision, we're the 2013 NBA champions. I hope Olshey is at least rolling this around in the back of his skull.

Thoughts?

Blazers' best option in the clutch? (Poll)

Sonic Phantom — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:44:47 -0000

In shock at the absurdity of Portland's decision making in the final stages of the Houston game (late Q4 and OT)--particularly after a Nate-designed set play out of a timeout ended in a contested long j by felton--I started thinking about what PDX's best crunch time options actually are. Even though Aldridge was generally off his game in Houston, he was reasonably successful the few times he dared to actually challenge in the paint. As Dave has noted, he seems to be most successful when he posts up low and makes a quick move to the hoop with one or no dribbles. When PDX desperately needs a basket at the end of a game, i claim posting Aldridge low is by far the best route, as it opens up several attractive scoring possibilities for the team. In any case, would be curious to hear the opinions of BEdgers on this.... Please vote below, and just let me know if I've left out an obvious alternative.

Poll

what is the best scoring option for the Blazers in a late-game clutch situation?

going to LMA in the low post

55 votes

going to LMA in the high post or outside

28 votes

iso with Jamal

26 votes

let felton make a play

2 votes

get the ball to crash or nico

29 votes

other (please discuss below)

5 votes

145 votes | Poll has closed

LMA's legs or heart?

Sonic Phantom — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:05:46 -0000

Is anybody else concerned that LMA's difficulty in getting his 'legs' back may have something to do with his heart (as in the literal organ: I'm not questioning his commitment). I think his procedure got swept under the rug far too easily... Did we ever get a definitive answer/details on what exactly the procedure entailed? Can anybody truly believe that a heart condition of any kind can be 100% asymptomatic? Am I completely missing something?

Poll: What was most important determinant of game 1 loss?

Sonic Phantom — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:54:00 -0000

I think we can all agree that Nate's rotations, crunch-time execution, and poor officiating all played a role in our game 1 loss. Curious to know what B-edgers think was the single MOST important element of our loss last night. For my part, I think while Nate and our guys should definitely shoulder a fair amount of the blame, the officiating conservatively cost us 8-10 points between tic-tac calls for Dirk and non-calls on blatant fouls to Miller/Wallace/LMA on the other end.

Vote below...

Poll

What was the primary determinant of our inability to close out game 1?

Nate's coaching

60 votes

Poor execution from our guys in crunch time

71 votes

a few classic superstar calls for Dirk

28 votes

systematic officiating bias on both ends of the floor

86 votes

other (explain in comments)

8 votes

253 votes | Poll has closed

Backup PG ideas/critiques welcome

Sonic Phantom — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:56:27 -0000

Can someone pls explain why we didn't pick up Antonio Daniels from the D-League before Philly got him? AD made a career out of being an ultra-reliable, no TO point guard (plus he knows the San Antonio system inside out). Watched him help the sonics to a fantastic playoff run in 05 and a close series against the spurs in the second round. He would've been IDEAL paired with Miller as a savvy, veteran PG platoon. I'm all for giving the young guys opportunities (and for getting roy extra mins), I just don't happen to think we can do much in the playoffs with patty/armon the only pure pg options after miller.

Anyway, curious to hear folks' views/ideas on the backup PG dilemma heading into the playoffs.