[76lsjumb]

Maybe. But do you want to lay a bet on whether, if the team makes the NCAA tournament, Dawkins gets fired? It would give you a chance to win back all the money you would have lost if you'd bet with me about Dawkins' future performance back in the days when you were, let's say, insanely deluded.

Actually, my fear is that you're right.  That is what has made this season so agonizing, given the way it has unfolded.  Your earlier sentiment -- "But I don't see how anybody, anytime, can root against players with a block S on their chests" -- is one that I share uneqivocally.  Thus, the agony.

With every rudderless offensive possession, every head-scratching substitution, and every blown lead against seemingly less-talented opposition, I find myself rooting for a defensive stop, followed by a Randle 3, just to get that lead back and win this thing... all the while realizing that doing so greatly increases the chances that such scenarios will continue for yet another season [or more].

As for my earlier position, I don't think it was an insane delusion to insist that Dawkins be given at least a couple of seasons to prove he could do a good job as a head coach, even if he ultimately [or at least so far] has not done so.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I'm going to win Warren Buffett's Bracket Challenge this year, so there's that...

[76lsjumb]

Maybe. But do you want to lay a bet on whether, if the team makes the NCAA tournament, Dawkins gets fired? It would give you a chance to win back all the money you would have lost if you'd bet with me about Dawkins' future performance back in the days when you were, let's say, insanely deluded.

Actually, my fear is that you're right.  That is what has made this season so agonizing, given the way it has unfolded.  Your earlier sentiment -- "But I don't see how anybody, anytime, can root against players with a block S on their chests" -- is one that I share uneqivocally.  Thus, the agony.

With every rudderless offensive possession, every head-scratching substitution, and every blown lead against seemingly less-talented opposition, I find myself rooting for a defensive stop, followed by a Randle 3, just to get that lead back and win this thing... all the while realizing that doing so greatly increases the chances that such scenarios will continue for yet another season [or more].

As for my earlier position, I don't think it was an insane delusion to insist that Dawkins be given at least a couple of seasons to prove he could do a good job as a head coach, even if he ultimately [or at least so far] has not done so.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I'm going to win Warren Buffett's Bracket Challenge this year, so there's that...