Post by csdude07 on Apr 11, 2009 2:26:41 GMT -5
The Vancouver Sun
It has been an extremely busy and exciting year for Vancouver basketball fans. Grizzlies GM, csdude07, has made good on his promise to bring a winning team to the loyal fans here. The Grizzlies are currently ranked 1st in the West with a 41-22 record and a 27-7 home record. This team still has to prove itself in this year's playoffs, but let's take a look at how the Grizzlies got to where they are now.
The Grizzlies were favored by the draft lotto and were granted the #1 overall pick in the draft. With this pick, the Grizzlies chose a player who had immense talent and potential, yet would help them win soon: Shaquille O'Neal.
Shaq was the most talented player in the draft, and with several intense, offensive training sessions added on the the regular offseaon training camp, Shaq entered the UOSLR season with excellent ratings for a rookie: A- D C A- B+ A.
He is a big body in the paint who will pound the opponent with a variety of moves in the low post using his 304 pound, 7'1" body. He also has the ability to dish the ball and is a solid defender and rebounder. Using these abilities, he has led the Grizzlies with 21 ppg and 10 rpg in 31.5 mpg.
"It's amazing having a guy that talented at such a young age," says GM csdude07. "He is going to be one of the most dominant big men in the league in a few years."
He is already giving teams a lot of trouble since he is almost unstoppable in the low post. To counter this, coaches have started employing a strategy called "Hack-a-Shaq" where they instruct their players to purposely foul Shaq so that he must earn his points from the free throw line, one of his game's weak spots.
After acquiring Shaq in the draft, the Grizzlies made two trades with the Milwaukee Bucks. Overall, the Grizzlies sent the 1995 Lakers 1st and 1996 Clippers 1st for the 1993 Bucks 1st, 1993 Wolves 2nd, and Mark Macon.
The 1993 Bucks 1st allowed the Grizzlies to draft sharpshooter Allan Houston. Allan Houston was the most talented player in the draft at the time and the Grizzlies were very happy to have landed him along with Shaq. Although Houston hasn't been able to succeed in the Grizzlies' inside game this season, the organization is confident that he will make an impact in the short future. His stats are C A C C+ C- A and he is averaging 10/5/3 in 35 mpg.
Macon has been a great addition as well. His defense and smart scoring off the bench has solidified the Grizzlies' gameplan throughout the season. He also has bird years and is only 24 years old (still on his rookie contract). His stats are C+ C+ C A- C B and he is averaging 8/3 off the bench in 21 mpg.
The Grizzlies wasted no time after this. The immediately traded 3 future 1sts and a 93 2nd for PG Rod Strickland. Hot Rot has played excellent this season. He is a veteran leader on the floor and controls the tempo of the game with his great handles and aggressive defense. He is able to get the ball to the team's leading scorers, which makes the Vancouver offense very fluid and effective. His ratings this season are C B A+ A C- C with 11/5/9/2 averages in 39 mpg.
With solid starters and the PG, SG, and C positions, the Grizzlies looked to fortify themselves at the forward positions. They had a huge free agency, using the leftover cap room to sign two big time free agents. The first is Lionel Simmons.
Simmons has had an excellent season so far for Vancouver. His dominant inside game, suffocating defense, and talented rebounding skills have really helped the Grizzlies have a balanced team. Simmons has proved to be a go to guy throughout the season. As a second option, he has averaged 19/8 in 35 mpg with 1.5 spg.
For the PF position, the Grizzlies looked to add a veteran who would help Shaq in the post. They used their remaining cap room to sign the rugged Charles Oakley. Little did the team know that Oak Tree would have such an impact on the team. He has come to play and show his skills as a big man, averaging 18/11 in 33 mpg this season. With him on the boards, the Grizzlies are one of the top defensive and rebounding teams. His stats this season are B C- C B- A- C.
After filling out their rosters with these players, the Grizzlies added a rookie, Ervin Johnson, into the mix. Ervin has provided even more rebounding and defensive power off the bench and the Grizzlies are thrilled that they were able to get him before the season started. He has filled in behind Shaq and Oak Tree, averaging 6/8 with 1.3 bpg in 25 mpg.
The Grizzlies have a completely new team this season and they are certainly playing like a new team. With 3 of their starters being 24 years old or younger, the Grizzlies look to be a team that will be winning for many years to come. Led by Shaq, the sky is the limit and the goal is certainly a championship every season from now on.
It has been an extremely busy and exciting year for Vancouver basketball fans. Grizzlies GM, csdude07, has made good on his promise to bring a winning team to the loyal fans here. The Grizzlies are currently ranked 1st in the West with a 41-22 record and a 27-7 home record. This team still has to prove itself in this year's playoffs, but let's take a look at how the Grizzlies got to where they are now.
The Grizzlies were favored by the draft lotto and were granted the #1 overall pick in the draft. With this pick, the Grizzlies chose a player who had immense talent and potential, yet would help them win soon: Shaquille O'Neal.
Shaq was the most talented player in the draft, and with several intense, offensive training sessions added on the the regular offseaon training camp, Shaq entered the UOSLR season with excellent ratings for a rookie: A- D C A- B+ A.
He is a big body in the paint who will pound the opponent with a variety of moves in the low post using his 304 pound, 7'1" body. He also has the ability to dish the ball and is a solid defender and rebounder. Using these abilities, he has led the Grizzlies with 21 ppg and 10 rpg in 31.5 mpg.
"It's amazing having a guy that talented at such a young age," says GM csdude07. "He is going to be one of the most dominant big men in the league in a few years."
He is already giving teams a lot of trouble since he is almost unstoppable in the low post. To counter this, coaches have started employing a strategy called "Hack-a-Shaq" where they instruct their players to purposely foul Shaq so that he must earn his points from the free throw line, one of his game's weak spots.
After acquiring Shaq in the draft, the Grizzlies made two trades with the Milwaukee Bucks. Overall, the Grizzlies sent the 1995 Lakers 1st and 1996 Clippers 1st for the 1993 Bucks 1st, 1993 Wolves 2nd, and Mark Macon.
The 1993 Bucks 1st allowed the Grizzlies to draft sharpshooter Allan Houston. Allan Houston was the most talented player in the draft at the time and the Grizzlies were very happy to have landed him along with Shaq. Although Houston hasn't been able to succeed in the Grizzlies' inside game this season, the organization is confident that he will make an impact in the short future. His stats are C A C C+ C- A and he is averaging 10/5/3 in 35 mpg.
Macon has been a great addition as well. His defense and smart scoring off the bench has solidified the Grizzlies' gameplan throughout the season. He also has bird years and is only 24 years old (still on his rookie contract). His stats are C+ C+ C A- C B and he is averaging 8/3 off the bench in 21 mpg.
The Grizzlies wasted no time after this. The immediately traded 3 future 1sts and a 93 2nd for PG Rod Strickland. Hot Rot has played excellent this season. He is a veteran leader on the floor and controls the tempo of the game with his great handles and aggressive defense. He is able to get the ball to the team's leading scorers, which makes the Vancouver offense very fluid and effective. His ratings this season are C B A+ A C- C with 11/5/9/2 averages in 39 mpg.
With solid starters and the PG, SG, and C positions, the Grizzlies looked to fortify themselves at the forward positions. They had a huge free agency, using the leftover cap room to sign two big time free agents. The first is Lionel Simmons.
Simmons has had an excellent season so far for Vancouver. His dominant inside game, suffocating defense, and talented rebounding skills have really helped the Grizzlies have a balanced team. Simmons has proved to be a go to guy throughout the season. As a second option, he has averaged 19/8 in 35 mpg with 1.5 spg.
For the PF position, the Grizzlies looked to add a veteran who would help Shaq in the post. They used their remaining cap room to sign the rugged Charles Oakley. Little did the team know that Oak Tree would have such an impact on the team. He has come to play and show his skills as a big man, averaging 18/11 in 33 mpg this season. With him on the boards, the Grizzlies are one of the top defensive and rebounding teams. His stats this season are B C- C B- A- C.
After filling out their rosters with these players, the Grizzlies added a rookie, Ervin Johnson, into the mix. Ervin has provided even more rebounding and defensive power off the bench and the Grizzlies are thrilled that they were able to get him before the season started. He has filled in behind Shaq and Oak Tree, averaging 6/8 with 1.3 bpg in 25 mpg.
The Grizzlies have a completely new team this season and they are certainly playing like a new team. With 3 of their starters being 24 years old or younger, the Grizzlies look to be a team that will be winning for many years to come. Led by Shaq, the sky is the limit and the goal is certainly a championship every season from now on.
