Post by Erbes on May 20, 2020 10:40:08 GMT -8
Say One Nice Thing! East Addition!
There seems to be a marked uptick in the negativity and shots being thrown around the league early on in season 2 (too early for that guys!). I’m not sure why, but I wanted to take this opportunity to say one nice thing about each team AND general manager. We could all use a little more kindness these days!
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
GM: Brian H.
Team: While it can be said that the Celtics have underperformed the talent on their team, they are not without a few brightspots! Joe Smith is one of the most ignored players in the league and he’s beasting down low. AI and Bibby are also really good! They’re also #2 in steals per game and #4 in o3P%, which makes me believe there’s some defensive ability on the team.
GM: Brian is hands down the most active poster on the boards. I don’t care what you say that’s always good for a league. It also sounds like he helped Spence a lot with setting up the site and whatnot. Back office support is key for a good league! He also helps with ACs and was flexible enough to listen to our (re: my) complaints about locking articles.
Miami Heat
GM: Kobe
Team: The record speaks for itself at this point in the season at 12-5. The Heat are top 5 in scoring, rebounding, and limiting turnovers. That all adds for a tasty concoction! Maybe one of the more well-rounded rotations spearheaded by Ricky Davis, Tracy McGrady, and newly signed Dejan Bodiroga. This team looks poised to compete for a championship as soon as this year!
GM: Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Kobe is talented at upselling his players and getting the best value for them time and time again. The T-Mac trade will be a case study for BBS generations to come. He also did a fantastic job going from tank to compete just 1 season after the creation draft. Not many teams are trying that this year and being successful. Big props.
New Jersey Nets
GM: Greeme
Team: This is a Greeme team through and through. Tough defense built around supporting 1-2 scorers. Adding MJ to a team that lost the championship in 7 almost seems unfair, but the team has gelled and looks poised to not only get back to the ‘ship, but to bring it back to the Garden State this year. While the defense is great (#2 in oPPG), they also boast the 2nd best rebounding crew and best rated blocking crew in the league. They’re tough inside!
GM: I like Greeme a lot. I think he has a dry wit about him that I find very funny. He’s also almost always competitive in BBS. The man just doesn’t like to tank and that’s awesome to me. Always retooling on the fly. The MJ move was obviously very good and I also like that he’s very stingy with players that he likes, ie Ben Wallace. Has inspired me to be more conservative with my moves. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!
New York Knicks
GM: Skillz
Team: This team starts and stops with the ball in Jamal Crawford’s hands. And I think that’s good! Lots of disagreements about this guy in the league right now, but you literally can’t deny 28 ppg, less than 1 topg, and doing it on 46.5% shooting percentage. He’s really good! New addition Kenny Thomas should solidify this team as a top 4 in the East this year. Also, the Knicks are #2 in preventing turnovers, all due to Jamal essentially!
GM: Skillz has been around BBS for as long as I can remember and has a wealth of experience. He also has to be the most active GM in sending out PMs about deals. So important for a league to have someone who wants to actively trade. The offers are always pretty decent too! It’s also quite impressive to essentially turn over an entire roster in 1 season and still be in contention for top seed. Well done!
Orlando Magic
GM: Break/Footy
Team: The Magic have to be one of the early surprises in season 2 lead by oft-dissed Antoine Walker. That dude has improved his scoring by 7 ppg and cut his turnovers by .8 year over year. That’s some serious improvement! And still only 25! Joe Johnson also looks like a real barn burner and was a fantastic pick in this past year’s draft. The Magic may only be 1 really good big away from competing. If they’re able to tank for the rest of this season and get lucky in the lottery a 3-headed monster of Antoine, Joe, and Amar’e would be pretty good!
GM: I’m extremely happy that Break took on Footy as an AGM. There is no harm in admitting that you don’t know something and to ask for help. That seems like a huge improvement for Break since our time in BBSBL together. I’m very glad he seems satisfied with life and everything is going well for him on the homefront.
Philadelphia 76ers
GM: Stevie B.
Team: Man what a 1st year for the 76ers! Trades, injuries, and after all of that hitting 42! Happy for that the 76ers now to get to tank in full and don’t have to rush it. Marbury and Jamison look like a pretty good start to a team that could compete sooner rather than later. I really want Jamison for my inside offense! He looks like he’s popping off this year. Marbs may have flaws, but he still looks like a top 10 PG in the current landscape of the league.
GM: Steve is one of the more reasonable and easy to get along with GMs in the league. Down to earth dude who doesn’t jerk you around in PMs and likes to have a laugh on the boards. My go to guy if I need bench pieces because I know he’ll be reasonable! Good guy and a huge positive for the league.
Washington Wizards
GM: Jahallstar
Team: The Wiz went young in the creation draft and have been slowly developing some really nice looking players. Peja, Redd, and Terry all look to be bonafide starters. So much so that I think they’re ruining another tank year for the Wiz! Jason Collins is also another really intriguing young guy. 9/9/1 at 21 with camps to spare? At a time when rebounding is particularly scarce this dude could be a monster in a few seasons.
GM: Jah is a Bills fan so I couldn’t say something mean even if I wanted to! He’s done a phenomenal job of accumulating very good youth and putting together a team of sharp-shooters. A few deals here or there next year and we could be looking at a top 4 team in the East.
Central Division
Atlanta Hawks
GM: Losanglife
Team: The Hawks are in year 2 of their rebuild and it’s looking pretty good so far! They have a young, highly efficient Steve Francis, and an equally impressive Stephen Jackson to build around going into the future. Dalembert and Bagaric are also very interesting big man that could develop into above average guys based on what’s out there in the rest of the league. They’re also doing a good job of losing this year! If they can get into the top 2, pairing Yao/Amar’e with Jackson and Francis would be pretty nice!
GM: Losanglife is a consistent presence in the trade blocks. He puts up new blocks every few days and responds to all posts and PMs. You can’t ask for much more out of a GM these days.
New Orleans Hornets
GM: Pig
Team: The Hornets live and die with Zo, and you know what? That seems to be working out a-okay at this point! 25/12/4!?! Unreal. Such a monster. New additions Sam Cassell and Charles Oakley seem to be fitting in nicely. While the Hornets are off to a slower start this year I imagine that should turn around pretty quickly since they boast top 7 ranks for both oFG% and o3P% in the league.
EDIT: They just traded Zo so let the tank begin!!
GM: I’m pretty sure Pig has hung out with every single celeb/sports star ever. Just feels like every single story he tells he’s hanging out with someone famous. Besides his celeb connections, Pig seems like a really relaxed, go with the flow kind of guy that you could shoot the shit with on your porch for hours on end.
Chicago Bulls
GM: Play/Insane
Team: It looks to me like the Bulls have just been unlucky this year with injuries and poor starts from a few players. But the one guy who is clicking? Mike Finley. Wow. Seems rare to find guys who can score and play defense right now, but this dude is doing 25 ppg and 1 spg. Those are nice numbers! Add in a Moiso/Camby frontcourt, and yeah, it seems weird that the Bulls are struggling. I don’t think those struggles will last much longer as the Bulls only turn the ball over 10.8 times per game, good for 3rd in the league. They just need to get healthy!
GM: Play and Insane are both knowledgeable guys who have years (decades?) of BBS experience. They’re easy to deal with as Play let’s you know straight up what’s good and what’s not. They both have impeccable tastes in tv shows and books, and I’m pumped to talk with them about a new Game of Thrones book… if it ever comes out!
Cleveland Cavaliers
GM: Svedda
Team: I went to look at the standings and was pleasantly surprised to see the Cavs so high! I feel like no one is talking about them?? Why?? Super well balanced team behind KG, KVH, GP, and Hill. Maybe one of the few teams in the league with 4 bonafide starter talents? The Cavs are top 3 in ppg, rpg, and bpg. Truly a recipe to win. This team could make serious waves in the playoffs now that most the East has decided to re-tool/rebuild seemingly overnight.
GM: Another super active GM on the boards. Lots of posts and trade talks. He also had the foresight to see that Webber wasn’t going to work in his system and went out to get a player that would. That was a good deal all around. Sved also still has ammunition (‘04 pick, decent expirings) to trade for upgrades, which is not something a lot of competing teams can say at this point.
Detroit Pistons
GM: Galo
Team: I love this roster. Mostly because I really, really like C-Webb. Like a lot. 26/14/2.5 lawd have mercy! Eric Snow is a sneaky great addition that I miss more and more every day. He has to have super high perimeter defense because all of a sudden I’m super leaky around other PGs! The Pistons get after it on the boards (#2 overall) and are a great defensive team (#2 in oPPG). With assets to move the Pistons look to be a top contender in the East.
GM: Galo is active, easy to deal with, and posts good articles! We’ve made several deals and it’s been easy peasy. I also like that Galo doesn’t bite on some of the more ‘dramatic’ conversations in the league. Plays it cool and helps keep the league at an even keel. Very much appreciated.
Indiana Pacers
GM: Sargo
Team: The tank is on and it’s going well! Maggette and Shard look to be two young solid building blocks for the next time the Pacers want to compete. Possible diamonds in the rough Amin and Thomas look like they could also have a place on a future competing team. The Pacers also have an astounding 10 1st round picks over the next 3 drafts. That feels like a lot?? There could be a massive wave of youth coming in Indiana!
GM: Have to say this about the guy: Sargo is not afraid to trade! Maybe the most barn burning trades since the start of the league? We’re not here to judge return, but I love it when guys aren’t afraid to take their swings. On top of that he’s a top notch poster and really drives activity in the league. Good addition to the BBS crew!
Milwaukee Bucks
GM: Chipper
Team: The first of two teams to go through a GM change in our short time in BBS already. The Bucks are tanking their balls off and doing it well. Currently sitting in the 3rd seed. They’d probably be lower if it weren’t for potential budding superstar Rasheed Wallace. He’s putting up 23/12/2 and single handedly winning games for the Bucks.
GM: Chipper seems like a good guy! He seems to be actively shopping Sheed, which is good, and more importantly isn’t taking the first crap offers he gets, which is better! The smart play might be the slow play here and I’m glad he’s being patient. He’s also a good poster! Always active in the sim threads. Love to see it.
Toronto Raptors
GM: Game
Team: And finally the Raptors. The 2nd team to go through a GM change after their last forgot about the salary cap. That was a shame only because the Raptors have a really good roster. Led by Ray Allen and Raef LaFrentz, the Raptors could potentially win a playoff series or two this year. There is good depth in Shawn Bradley (3 bpg!), Mobley and Richardson on the wings, and Olowakandi at center. Add in the fact that the Raptors have all their picks and they could potentially make a move or two to put themselves over the top in a weaker East.
GM: Game is game is game. Loveable dude with a tenacious mindset of making sure he gets the best deal possible for his dudes. Gotta respect it! Game is active and easily a positive for the league. Hope he’s around for a long time!
