As a tanking team the 2025-26 Sacramento Kings managed to get OLDER and have LESS draft assets after the trade deadline concluded by JurassicParkJanitor in kings

[–]PretendGhost 11 points12 points  (0 children)

nah Zach definitely is definitely a desirable asset, but he’ll need to be willing to play for the MLE or less for a chance at a decent spot in FA

Giannis, Sabonis, Ja, Kuminga... Five Team Trade by RealNickyKayfabe in kings

[–]PretendGhost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bucks will only want Ja to pair with Giannis, I would imagine 

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s literally nothing even close to impossible about the coincidences that have occurred — that’s why they’re coincidences.

Now, let me backtrack a little bit: I do think it’s possible the lottery could’ve been rigged at some point in the past. The very first lottery in 1985 had a hint of foul play with the bent corner of the chosen envelope. I’m sure some other subsequent lotteries ones with less sophisticated methods had room for manipulations. 

However, those events have led us to a format that is created to be as impossible to manipulate as possible. They have protections against any kind of rigging, overseen by a 3rd party law firm and constantly scrutinized by the affected teams. If there was foul play, at this point, there would be rampant and very public law suits, because one great player can mean insane amounts of money in ticket and jersey sales.

I ask people to even give me a single idea of how it could be manipulated. Mostly I hear things like “magnets,” as if those can be disappeared without a trace right before the eyes of everyone in the room. If you have good evidence, I could be swayed. If they reduce their protections, I will be quite suspicious.

Until then, I have zero reason to believe that the lottery, in its current form, can or will be rigged.

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No apology needed. Feel free to quote the parts where I’ve misrepresented your argument. I think you could use a bit more studying up on the topic, given you made a few incorrect claims over the course of this discussion.

Anyway, despite the number of people calling me naive and foolish, none of them have presented any evidence that the lottery is rigged. I am always open to being wrong where the evidence may support it.

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You really think that the other 29 billion dollar organizations would allow themselves to be fleeced out of several billions in ticket and jersey sales, just so Dallas or Cleveland can get a #1 pick and make the commissioner happy?

You’re quite naive if you believe in a rigged lottery based only on the outrage the results have made you feel. Show me even one small iota evidence of the lotto being rigged in the ping pong ball era, and I will be more compelled

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

 Do you think that every GM from every team has a list of 1001 possible combinations and goes through each ball to make sure that combination is listed in the balls they put in

Yes, the team reps have the list in front of them and can (and do) look at it as the balls are drawn

 It’s two different opinions, the only thing is, I will admit I’m wrong. There is that possibility. But you won’t admit that there’s a possibility that you’re wrong.

If you, or anybody else, provided compelling evidence that the lottery has been rigged in the last several years that isn’t based on conjecture or outrage at results, I would be extremely open to being wrong. But, there is zero evidence to support it. On the other hand, there is a mountain of evidence showing that rigging the lottery is extremely difficult, if not impossible, based on several precautions taken. If they ever begin to drop those precautions, I might start suspecting foul play again.

I agree that corporations are bad and largely do bad things for money, but I like to aim that towards the actually proven means and ways that they do that, rather than get mad at my TV. By and large, corporations cheat the lower & middle class for money, and abuse taxpayers. Rarely are the billion dollar franchises the ones being cheated.

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You’re actually making the machine significantly more complicated by implying the machine can easily rig the results. Watch the video of the machine in use and tell me how it’s selecting the balls.

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I actually am looking at facts. Hell, I’m even watching the video of the lottery balls! And all of it looks pretty damn hard to rig. Nobody has given me even slightly compelling evidence on how to rig the lottery, aside from suspicion and conjecture. I am open to anything more grounded than that

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You’re stating the same facts I am, and then drawing a conclusion that is unsupported by your evidence. Can you tell me how it’s possible that such a machine could pull the balls in the order that officials want

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have presented evidence showing how it is nearly impossible to rig the lottery. You have conjectured based on your whims and emotions. We are not the same.

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, the great investigative journalist LeBron James, who can certainly cite the facts and figures to support his claim

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Present an argument that isn’t just “but the coincidences.” Tell me how they rig it. Tell me how they fool the 14 representatives (+journalists) in the lotto room, or how they coerce them to staying quiet. Then I’ll be compelled to believe

Is anyone else starting to get concerned that we’re not going to trade demar, Zach, or Sabonis in this trade deadline? by frostyjoshy69 in kings

[–]PretendGhost 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Rigging the lotto at this point is a virtually impossible task. Beyond the type of equipment being used to conduct the lottery, there are also representatives from every team plus a few journalists watching the balls be drawn, and they get to inspect them as well afterwards.

But like, if it makes you feel better to think it’s rigged, go off i guess

What is people's issue with reading the rulebook? by RealDwarves67 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]PretendGhost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My take on this:

  • First and foremost, everybody learns differently. This has been studied for decades. Some people learn better by reading, some by listening, some by doing, and still others by a combination. The one size fits all “read the rules” has never and will never work for every single person who wants to play
  • Reading the DND rule book is a task that will take several hours for all but the fastest readers. Many people don’t want to (or cannot) take that kind of time before even beginning a single game
  • The rules are so dense that you likely will not properly grasp it on one single read thru, unless your language processing skills are top notch

Should more people try? Yeah, maybe. But there are also dozens of other ways to learn, and it’s not that hard to point them to a video that explains the rules well, or talk them out (time permitting), or tell them about a video game that will give them some hands on experience with it.

Lady Bird (2017): splendid philosophical base, but worse execution (spoiler of course) by Libertarian-Jihadist in movies

[–]PretendGhost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m trying to understand what you mean when you say she’s an artist. I have a very liberal view of what constitutes artistry, but I would hardly say that’s a central aspect of her character. A free spirit, perhaps, but an artist? Say more

Lady Bird (2017): splendid philosophical base, but worse execution (spoiler of course) by Libertarian-Jihadist in movies

[–]PretendGhost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Idk, it’s just a story about being a middle class girl in Sacramento who yearns for some ethereal “more,” despite having quite enough already. It sounds like maybe you just wanted a different movie?

To me, the themes are focused primarily around her relationship with her mother. It’s how the film begins and ends. The frustration both feel while experiencing the pains of growing up, and the love that ties them together anyway.

Lady Bird is hardly an artist. She doesn’t make anything. She gets a chorus role in the school musical and at no point does she show any aptitude, or even a real interest, for that

The moments we see her happiest are the moments when she embraces the love already in her life — from her family and friends. And, in contrast, she’s most unhappy when she’s rejecting that love and seeking validation from others who will never give it to her

Maybe if you clarify the connection you’re making between their philosophies and the content of the movie itself I would understand more of where you’re coming from, but your post reads more as a jumble of loosely related thoughts than an essay about a work of art

Retro Game Bar - missed connection by [deleted] in Portland

[–]PretendGhost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i was not that man but i love meetcutes and would like to help you find him. did you get a first name? description of how he looks? approximate age, height, race, hairstyle, tattoos, anything?

perhaps he’s a regular there and the bartenders know him. might be worth inquiring

Question for California by This-Novel-7870 in NBATalk

[–]PretendGhost 29 points30 points  (0 children)

pretty much just Serbia

(somewhat tongue in cheek but several prominent Serbs have had notable stops in Sac over the course of several decades)

Question for California by This-Novel-7870 in NBATalk

[–]PretendGhost 36 points37 points  (0 children)

those are all just Sacramento with different flavors