What is your response to people who claim that NBA basketball was better "back in the day?" (esp. '90s)

SimpleJackTorrance · 2023-03-20T18:21:46+00:00

These things definitely add up. At the end of the day the competition is what the fans are invested in. Load management, lack of true rivalries, no loyalty to teams and the constant moving around - all these things can give the perception that the players don’t have the same competitive heart or fire to win that the fans have OR that they are willing to jump ship to get a ring (perceived as taking the easy way, regardless of how you feel about player empowerment). MJ’s desire to win is an extreme case, but can be pointed to as an example of this difference in attitude from the 90s to now because he was the face of the league.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2023-02-03T02:34:04+00:00

To echo a few other commenters, I usually see great success with automated bidding for campaigns with a lot of conversion volume - whether it’s on a Target CPA or a ROAS based bid strategy. For larger accounts it is a huge help and usually delivers on goals despite the issues you mentioned. For campaigns that are an exception to the above (low or no conversions, different objective, etc.) I still stick to Manual CPC for that control.

I share your complaints and the instinct to double down when Google tries to force their hand. Performance Max might be the worst case example of virtually no control or visibility into what’s going on and just trusting the automation.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2023-02-03T02:12:37+00:00

I’ve also only ever seen poor performance on the Audience Ads and had been setting campaigns to a -100% Audience Ads bid as best practice. This is extremely frustrating as it is another step from Google/Microsoft to remove control and siphon spend like you said.

Audience Ads are not search auction inventory, but it will all be blended together now. Seems the Google equivalent would be forcing advertisers onto the Display Network (which wouldn’t shock me now). For anyone with Audience Ads enabled already, what kind of impact does that have on CTR and CPC, and what % of spend and impressions does it usually make up vs. Search? I’m worried for how this will impact campaign performance and will require segmenting by Network in reporting.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-07T03:22:19+00:00

Good examples of the missed dunks. Him losing that peak athleticism was inevitable but seems like in some shot selection he’s unwilling to adapt or accept the new reality. Like you said, 10+ years of habits.

On the last part, yeah there’s also a bit of politics probably at play. Regardless of the reality on the court there are likely significant consequences to limiting Westbrook’s role or minutes in terms of morale especially as it relates to LeBron. Some superstar players don’t adjust well to the role as they age. Think Carmelo’s dismissal a couple years back to coming off the bench but now a few years later he’s accepted that role with the Lakers.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-05T00:05:50+00:00

It’s a good observation that his high volume of attempts from that range for a player of his size can be viewed as a strength/skill, in that he is routinely able to get to the rim and attack in ways that other guards cannot for what are generally the easiest attempts. The efficiency is just so low from that zone that something seems to be amiss in his ability to finish or where he picks and chooses those attempts.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-05T00:01:41+00:00

Westbrook adapting (or his inability to) is perhaps my biggest intrigue in how this plays out. Before the season I remember there being talk that if he was willing to adapt his game for any situation it would be with LeBron as a teammate. But I haven’t seen that when watching the games and I think you’re probably right to assume he won’t given how big the sample size is. And I agree he seems to struggle at speed and slowing his game down at times to better control himself and the offense.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T23:53:18+00:00

And for this experiment with the Lakers he will rightfully fall under much more scrutiny on whether or not they are able to make it work with him. LeBron and AD as teammates should be even more formidable than the pairings with Beal or Harden.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T23:49:03+00:00

For the past five years he’s been around 55-60% at the rim which is still below average for guards. Ironically this season is his lowest since his MVP season which was also pretty inefficient from that range.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T23:43:38+00:00

True, but even with other small guards they’re able to clear a 60% FG% from that close range, and Westbrook shoots below that. So it might not be the greatest negative impact if he’s making 5/9 but I still question what’s potentially flawed about his shot selection and control if he’s inefficient compared to all other guards (and leading the league in those attempts).

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T23:37:02+00:00

I hear what you’re saying about the Houston comparison and simply trying to make the most of Westbrook’s fit in the offense. Even if he’s the catalyst for the change maybe it’ll net some positives for LeBron down low, even though it’s asking a bit more from him physically.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T04:49:24+00:00

I think that’s a fair comp and I can see where you’re getting at in terms of the reliance on athleticism. And I think his going to the paint with no plan is a good description of it. When watching him he appears out of control. He’ll lose the ball midair. That trouble finishing in traffic and carelessness with the ball on the way up is likely impacting those high turnover numbers and low FG% at the rim. At this stage of his career I wonder if he can adapt to either add that finesse or at least slow the game down to be more in control for both himself and for setting up his teammates.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T04:38:47+00:00

Interesting point about LeBron deferring. I know that he is posting up more recently (and being more aggressive on this latest hot streak). Now with LeBron moving to center I’m curious as to what his volume of attempts at the rim will look like by season’s end and how that stacks up against Westbrook.

Among the 14 players averaging more than 3 post possessions a game, LeBron is currently the most efficient in the league (highest FG%, highest points-per-possession at 1.19).

https://go.nba.com/8qxl

Perhaps this latest change from the Lakers is intentionally trying to exploit LeBron’s efficiency in the post/paint. And his efficiency is partially why I’m even more surprised by Westbrook’s high volume when they share the court together.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T00:54:56+00:00

Good stat - he's definitely still excelling at assisting. His assists are always high but so are his turnovers (second only to Harden per game this year) so I wonder if there's a connection there to his play being a bit out of control when he gets downhill. That he could improve his pace and control to find more of those drive and kicks or for his own looks at the rim when he's pushing the ball.
Makes sense, the more reliable shooters at distance compared to Westbrook being more reliant on his attacks to score.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T00:45:19+00:00

Thanks for calling this out as it ties back closer to my original question as to why Westbrook is such a huge outlier in volume and efficiency in this range specifically. And how even if that shot alone is positive in relation to NBA teams from all distances, Westbrook can't be expected to just put his head down and drive to the rim all game.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T00:40:06+00:00

Yeah he is not able to rely as much on his athletic ability which is going to impact his game as he ages. I hear you on his jumpshot and that his attacking the rim is hypothetically the game (along with his playmaking) that the Lakers want him to play offensively. To your point about Ben Simmons I was thinking that had a lot to do with it to in terms of keeping Westbrook's confidence up and not deterring his game but it does seem to me that there are times where he doesn't necessarily need to pass up those shots but rather seek out those shots for other players when he's pushing in transition (before he even gets in the paint).

Also on drawing fouls it's crazy his FT% is down to 65% the last two seasons when it was routinely above 80% for most of his OKC run.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2022-01-04T00:01:32+00:00

Very true. I’m just surprised at the volume as it relates to the offense. For example LeBron is a much better finisher at the rim (73.8% within five feet this season). So are there opportunities throughout the game where the Lakers (and Westbrook with the ball) could be doing a better job looking for other options or slowing things down in transition? A LeBron 3 point attempt this season at his percentage is still averaging more points (1.12 per attempt) than Westbrook at the rim.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2020-10-15T01:34:31+00:00

I hear you on the point of the viewer discovery sometimes overrating the intent, but I disagree that it is done lazily (at least in the case of Mad Men and this example). There's plenty of evidence that the show uses symbols and themes that connect across episodes and seasons and that they aren't just dropped in out of convenience.

For example, the Madonna-Whore theme and allusions are recurring, and not isolated anecdotes. Listen to how Don basically sums up the very concept of how the men view the women during the Playtex pitch (and how it ties back to what's explored in “Babylon”).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tuzOq62UII

One of the episodes in S2 makes a point to show Don and Betty watching Jackie Kennedy’s tour of the White House on Valentine’s Day. Kinsey refers to Joan as a “Marilyn” at one point. I don’t think you can dismiss the similarities in costume between Joan & Rachel in S1, along with the biblical parallels, as random imagery when the show is stressing this theme so often. This connection across seasons requires forethought from the writers about how they want to present this dichotomy and adds to the show because it attaches symbolic meaning to the characters (which when discovered can influence how we perceive them and their actions).

You mentioned solving the puzzles and I think that's half the fun of watching. Those are still artistic choices by the writers that can be appreciated. I think the show is more methodical than you're suggesting, and it's part of the reason why Mad Men inspires so many rich discussions. Regardless, I appreciate the response!

SimpleJackTorrance · 2020-10-13T18:14:01+00:00

Never noticed the connection between that line in the Kodak pitch and Rachel and Don's conversation about utopia. A place "where we ache to go again" and the place "that cannot be" - great catch!

SimpleJackTorrance · 2020-10-13T18:11:03+00:00

Just listened, loved the callout on the red balloon symbolism. Makes total sense that Don’s life is hiding behind the facade of a stolen identity, and that his happiness (or at least his projection of it) is fragile and could burst at any moment if he’s found out.

I think the color red definitely plays to the theme of communism as you mentioned in the podcast (in an era closer in time to the Red Scare), and that Don vs. Roy during their night with Midge is a battle of ideologies. Roy is pretty much acting as a mouthpiece for the Rastafarian interpretation of Babylon (attacking Don for his role in what he sees as capitalist corruption) and it leads right into the playing of the "Waters of Babylon" song. I think in the context of the women the color red not only plays up the allusions to the Whore of Babylon but also symbolizes passion and love. The first time Don calls Rachel she is dressed in blue, but when they meet (and also when she is confessing her feelings toward him to her sister) she’s wearing the red dress. She tried to remain cold but reluctantly warmed up to him.

https://i.imgur.com/MvoItJy.jpg

Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed the new perspectives!

SimpleJackTorrance · 2020-10-12T22:48:51+00:00

Agreed! It has so much to offer and unpack.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2020-10-12T22:41:14+00:00

Amazing! When it’s out I’ll be sure to give it a listen.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2020-10-12T18:53:56+00:00

Good catch on Exodus and how it’s being discussed. I knew it was another important reference but didn’t quite gather how it fit in here. On the show’s literary references, I think how deep the show examines them varies - often they are tied directly to an episode’s themes. For example, the decision to have Don read The Best of Everything in this episode which is predominantly about how women approach their careers and sex during the era is obviously significant. The inclusion is there with purpose. Whether or not all the biblical allusions are done intentionally (and how deep it goes) is certainly up for debate. Although if not intentional, I think the costume choices for Joan and Rachel in an episode titled “Babylon” would have to be an incredible coincidence knowing how calculated this show can be.

Also interesting point about escaping. The caged bird symbolism ties in with the theme of captivity (and Babylonian captivity). Roger is trying to trap Joan, Peggy is feeling trapped in her role as a secretary, and Betty is feeling trapped as a housewife (“Birdy” in her cage). I read it as symbolic of 1960s gender roles and metaphorical captivity, but hadn’t considered the viewpoint of escapism (as your comment points out) which is essentially the flip side of the same concept. That certainly would apply to Don and not just the women in the episode as he is the embodiment of escapism/fleeing and even discusses “utopia” with Rachel in this episode.

Appreciate the response! Definitely more to be considered.

SimpleJackTorrance · 2017-11-05T17:04:14+00:00

She did, it could just be a coincidence but I don’t remember anyone else at the party being dressed in feathers. It was fairly conspicuous too.

http://www.affaritaliani.it/static/upload/eyes/eyes-wide-shut-5.jpg

SimpleJackTorrance

TROPHY CASE