Post by mops on Jun 20, 2009 13:11:31 GMT -5
1. What team has been the biggest surprise to this season and why?
Tmac
I'd have to say the Heat, coming into this year they had a lot of talent, but nobody really knew what to expect. They jumped out early to a 10-1 start and haven't looked back. And I don't think anyone expected them to be at the top of the east and battling with the Grizz for the top spot in the league.
DB
I would have to say the knicks this season. To be perfectly honest of the years my teams have underachieved and now we are close to taking the eastern conference. It has bee a crazy season, we started off real slow then I found the right dc and everything seemed to fall in place. The perfect balance was found.
Shaunkol
How about some love for the New York Knicks. Do I think they have a bright future? Absolutely not; they mortgaged a lot of future picks for this old roster, but hey, at least they are trying to win. They have assembled a really stout starting 5, and could be a sleeper in the playoffs in the East. I think the fact that they have underachieved for so many years meant that people didn’t expect a breakout year from them; but a breakout year it has been.
Tiger
Vancouver - they're dominance last season made me think they were going to walk it this season too and have another incredible 70+ win season following their 73-9 record last season. But this season they're nowhere near that level. Same goes for Charlotte actually. Both teams suck ass! They just suck so bad.
Saga
For me it has to be the Hawks, you could make a case for the Heat, but Atlanta has managed to top their division behind the play of their veterans ( Tisdale 19 and 10, Maxwell 24, 4 rebs, 2 stls and Cassell 18 and 10 assts) and the young C who has surprised many with his play. They shoot the ball well, limit their turnovers and rebound the ball. If they stay fit and steal a few games away from home they could make some noise!!!
Brophdog
New York, they didn’t appear to have the pieces to be a 60% team but that’s where they sit currently, third in the East with the 2nd best record in the conference. This team looked to be getting to old to maintain this level of play, but amazingly they seem to have improved. They are the best team in the league when it comes to turnovers, only giving the ball up 10.8 times a game, while scoring the third most points in the league.
CSDude
Miami made some huge trades in the FA and put together a great squad for this season. They went from an average team to a team that is going to contend this year. Now they have a solid center in Benoit, a beast PF in Karl Malone that is capable of dropping 50 points and grabbing 20 rebounds any given night, two young studs at SF(Jalen) and SG(Kobe), and a surprise at PG (Petrovic) who is producing way more assists than his ratings indicate. These guys are definitely the biggest surprise this season.
Don
I don't want to pick a team that traded for a big name guy and is doing well, because to me that isn't a surprise. I will go with DB and his Knicks. They usually aren't a top team even though they have the talent. They have clicked recently and it is working as they are shooting up the standings.
I will also throw my Bullets into the mix there. Look at that team and tell em they will be in the playoffs. Webber has kicked it up a notch and DD has been a blocking machine. Then the two no-name guys in Webster and Starks have been great players.
Mops
Outside of Webber they dont have anyone who could start for every other team in the league. Yet they are right up there in wins and could be a dark horse for the title.
2. What team has been the biggest disappointment this season and why?
Tmac
I'd proabably say the Mavs. They gave a lot of good picks/prospects last year to compete this year, but not much has shown. They're one game under .500 which not many GM's expected with the talent they have(Grant/Kemp/Rice/Richmond/Stockton/Childress). Their future isn't looking as bright as it did before the season started.
DB
I think you could make a case for a few teams but I would go with the Hornets. They are still a winning team and second in the east but right now they only have 44 wins. That is a pretty big change from what they had last season with 70 wins. I think with the loss of a few key players, they are not as strong as they once were and anyone has a shot at the the title.
Shaunkol
Los Angeles Lakers – This team has 2 really really good players in Minor and Payton. That alone should result in at least a playoff spot. I think the GM did a really bad job by not getting any frontcourt help, when so much was available at the deadline. The Lakers have been a doormatt for a long time, and I thought this year would be different. I was wrong
Tiger
Boston - The fall from competitor to lotto has been pretty swift. GM change doesn't help I suppose, but for a team that was stacked with talent, the only real asset that has been brought in imo was Big Z. I expected more, whether it be to bring in more vets to compete, or a full blown rebuild, but they seem stuck at the moment with the likes of Jeff Hornacek still onboard and Terry Porter's awful contract on their books. Vancouver and Charlotte are also disappointing for not having 70 win seasons again. They suck so bad.
Saga
For me it has to be the TWolves. A team that boasts, Charles Barkley, DRob, Reggie Lewis and the young star in Jason Kid should be higher up in the standings. Granted they have missed Drob for 20 or so games, they still had 3 capable players and some young players to hold the fort. For me they should be higher than 4th in the West. They have just acquired Patrick Ewing so they could be moving up a whole lot and look like favs to take the title this year!! However they are waiting on the Spurs signature, so we shall see.
Brophdog
Dallas, so much hype by the owner, yet so little production. Kemp is nice, but he is overrated due to his athleticism. If Alejandro Camby is a sim friendly player, Kemp is the antithesis of that. He is kinda like an internet dating profile. The picture of Kemp looks nice, but when you see him in person it just isn’t the same. Horace Grant is nice, and Glen Rice is amazing…until you look at his defense. All in all though, this team should be a 50 win team at least, but it sits at only 33-34, not acceptable.
CSdude
Big D. All the hype has, so far, been for nothing. This team hasn't performed all season and they have a 33-34 record to prove it. The injuries to two of their stars, Glen Rice and Mitch Richmond, have really held this team back. Now that everyone else healthy, maybe this team can make a push and climb the standings in the West and have an impact on the Playoffs.
Don
The Suns. There team really isn't that bad. Causwell and Coleman are an underrated big man duo, Laet is a kinda do it all player, Hawkins is a solid defender and scorer. Gill's 3.7 topg is killing them. Hurley or Mookie would have made this team much, much better.
Mops
Dallas. We heard about how they were going to be world beaters and the like and they are good but are not "wow damn that team is good" good.
3. Pick one player who you feel should be getting more love from FBB and the GMs that isnt. Why?
Tmac
Dee Brown is having a great year, but not much notice has been put into him.
But for real Nick Anderson has been averaging 31ppg/7rpg/2spg and was somehow left out of the all-star game. That should never happen to a player like that, even if he's on a bad team.
I feel that if the Cavs tried to trade Anderson, they wouldn't get the value that he deserves. Reputation as a 20ppg scorer on a bad team(outside of this year) is what gets him.
Shaunkol
150 player of the games. 126 double doubles. 14 triple doubles. 1 conference finals appearance.
That’s quite a resume for Scottie Pippen, yet he only has 1 POTW since UOSLR began. Cmon, FBB, give Scottie a little love. I think the reason he has been overlooked is because he has been overshadowed by MJ, kinda like real life
Tiger
ETIENNE PREIRA! He's a pimp himself and I pimp him up as much as I can. Why? To increase his trade value? No, because he won't be traded. The reason then, is because he is simply the best! Better than all the rest! Come on FBB, make him MVP! Come on GM's, let's all pimp him up together! We should make a shrine to him with the mandatory EPOOMH that should go with his stats. Props to Donatello for getting on board: uoslr.proboards.com/index.cgi?boa....lay&thread=2067 Everyone else, COME ON! Pimp my Preira! Other players just suck so bad.
Saga
For me it has to be Eddie JOnes, the 7th pick in the 93 draft has spent 4 years in the league and has career averages of 10 points 5 rebs and 1 stl a game. Yes he has had a career year but he has only had double doubles and 4 players of the game in his career. This from someone who in real life was 3 time All Star, Defensive teamer and steals leader in the NBA. Cmon FBB give him a break and let him have a breakout TC so us GMs can get all excited over him!!!
Brophdog
I am a bit confused as to the meaning of this question, but I am gonna say Lionel Simmons for the Grizzlies. He is an excellent defender and rebounded at the SF position with very nice offensive capabilities. Yes, he may not have much of an outside game, but he shoots a very good percentage from the field, gets his rebounds and assists and doesn’t turn the ball over much. Looking at the Grizzlies cap situation I am sure that they would listen to offers involving expiring and picks etc…but nothing has come of it. I would bet that you put him on a team as a number 1 or 2 option, he can give you 20 points a game.
CSdude
Shaq. Last season Shaq averaged 27.3 ppg, but FBB is kickin Shaq's ass this season and I don't know why!! I put everything I could into his IT's and such, he has only gotten better inside ratings, but he still averages 24.5 ppg for the season. At first I thought it was a fluke, but his scoring woes have held strong. Shaq has a 58.2% FG percentage in real life which is fantastic. I would love to see him do that for my team here, for whom he is currently shooting 50.4%.
For the second part of the questions, I assume you are asking what GM's aren't getting love?? krupimpski424 has put together a helluva squad for the future: Dyess, Hill, Allen, Iverson should be awesome in the future. You could say they need to add a solid center, but with a lineup like that, if the players develop ideally, they might not need one.
Don
Nick Anderson. He quietly puts up big numbers. He is a good all-around player and could be a beast if the Cavs had the right pieces around him. He doesn't get any love because of the guys ahead of him. MJ is the best when it comes to sg's and you also have preira, maxwell, and reggie who are all solid scoring sg's. Anderson just gets overlooked.
Mops
Scottie Pippen. Go look at his stats. Kid is truely flying under the radar and honestly, if I didn't go through the entire roster I wouldnt have been able to say who he plays for. I've totally forgotten about him in this league. Still pumping out 25 ppg, 7rpg, 5apg, 2spg....
4. Who is the most over-rated player in the game in your opinion?
Tmac
Donyell Marshall. WTF?
How the hell does he average 20ppg and have great ratings?
Marshall making the all-star game, and Nick Anderson not. There is something really wrong with that.
It happens I guess in FBB, mops made a nice pick.
DB
This one was a tough one, I was not sure at first. I think I am going to go with Shawn Kemp. Solid player but does not play real well to his ratings. He is not great in any area he is just a solid big man, I think he is pretty over-rated.
Shaunkol
Hu Weidong – The guy earns 8M a year and averages 12.5/3.5/2.5. My mom could average those numbers. He doesn’t rebound, he doesn’t assist well, and simply doesn’t do enough to warrant consideration as a good player in this league.
Tiger
Michael Jordan - sure, he's aiiight, but come on now, he's no Etienne Preira. He's old, he's bald, and look at his stats, he only blocks the ball 0.4 times per game! Not to mention he's on one of the largest salaries in the league, boy what a drag on your finances. He sucks so bad.
Saga
Most over-rated player in the game has got to be Jerry Stackhouse, had an awesome rookie season where he won rookie of the year and all rookie team, Stackhouse has been suffering from sophmore syndrome with the Spurs. This year, in what was supposed to be a great year for the Spurs has seen Stackhouses numbers plummet from 20 ppg to a woeful 12 pts a game. For a #2 pick, that has got to suck!! So for me, Stackhouse is Mr Over-Rated!!!!
Brophdog
Hmmm… I am gonna have to answer no one. This league wouldn't be fun if everyone did exactly what they were going to do in the NBA, so there have to be changes and randomizations. Yeah Preira is amazing, and it isn't fun to listen to Tiger gloat over and over, but part of the fun is knowing that when you select someone there is a chance that he could do that, turn into an amazing player.I would love for Eddie Jones to be as good as he is in real life, but if it was guaranteed it would be too easy.
CSdude
I looked to the league leaders in PPG to find the most over-rated player b/c I didn't feel like looking through each team and comparing to real-life stats. I'm going with Harold Miner. Guy played four seasons and averaged 9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, .4 spg, .1 bpg, 1.4 topg. Here he is averaging way above that and is 8th in the league in scoring this season. It may be unfair to judge a guy who didn;t play for very long, but for what he produced in the NBA, he is overrated here.
Don
Barkley. I can't stand big men who can't block shots, and Barkley is one of them. Yes he can rebound and steal, but he is a PF who can't block, wtf? At least now with him playing the 3 he doesn't have to block shots but it is a waste when you need shot blocking from your bigs and you have Barkley out there sucking.
Mops
Donyell Marshall on my squad. Ashes said he'd be like Kukoc but a tad better. Well Kukoc is like B- C+ C B- B- C. Marshall blows that away. he was 2nd team all league defense which even surprised me!
5. Since the start of the league, what GM has had the most breaks and his team's overall record is more so lucky than skill? Why?
Tmac
Porbably the best GM here, but Spence probably got a little lucky getting the #1 and #2 picks in the same draft. Although he did a good job getting them in the first place, getting the 2 top picks in the draft requires SOME luck. That's a part of why his team has been so dominate in the last 3 years.
DB
Saga over the years has built a solid team surrounded by MJ. If he did not get MJ who knows what he would have done but having the luck to land a superstar made a lot of his success over the years and gave him that ring. I think he got a lot of breaks but is still proving to be a good gm with trades and being able to build around Jordan. Saga in other versions of UOSL was not that great, this version he is a new gm.
Shaunkol
No doubts here. Spencer. My Magic had the worst record in the 1992 draft and was in prime position to get Alonzo Mourning. Spencer single handedly screwed my rebuild by jumping up into the #1 and #2 spots. Im not saying he hasn’t done a good job, because he has done a great job actually, but luck did play a part.
Tiger
I haven't been here since the start of the league so I'm not sure what to say on this one. Whichever team it is though, they really should suck so bad.
Saga
I would have to go with ME, I managed to draft Jordan and that has pretty much been the reason of our success thus far in UOSLR.. Jordan has been the main reason for our success and to surround him with roles players hasnt been too hard to do. Doesnt take much skill But hey he has won me a championship and you never know, could win me another if we get lucky in the playoffs.
Brophdog
Csdude. Yeah he has been very skilled at trading etc…but he was lucky that Spence decided to trade him his pick. Without that pick, who knows what happens for the Grizzlies. They probably don’t end up making some of the trades they do, and maybe they end up getting a pick and selecting a Michael Finley, or a Eddie Jones rather than Houston. Then they managed to sign an underrated Lionel Simmons who I mentioned earlier in FA. Now, if they Spencer doesn’t decide to get generous with all his picks, and that pick doesn’t then end up #1 or maybe #2 he’s screwed, cause that team blew. That’s not to say that it didn’t take skill for him to rebuild, but it was extremely lucky for him to win the lottery(as it typically is).
CSdude
Hornets. They jumped from the 5th and 6th picks in the 92 draft to the 1st and 2nd. This scored them Mourning and Mashburn and we know the rest of the story.
Don
I will say me. I got Dream handed to me, was able to pick steals in Maxwell and AJ, and was a very good team just based of of Dream's ability. Then when I traded him I got webber and dd, both of whom have turned into equally impressive player themselves.
I think Spencer is lucky as hell too. He got 2 #1 picks handed to him, as able to trade for Malone because of Atlanta want to rebuild, and with that they won their titles.
Mops
Spencer. WHen you win two #1 picks you are lucky as hell. Then one year he got #1 and #2....God is on his side
6. What GM has had the worst amount of hard luck and hasn't shown his true colors? Why?
Tmac
I don't if jah's a great GM, but his team on paper looks like top 10 in the league. Every position is filled with good starter/backup(except SF), and somehow they are 22-32. FBB must hate them, I guess that's bad luck.
DB
I would have to say myself. I have had the worst luck in this league, I built a good squad over the years but we were so inconsistent. We never made it past the first round and we were just awful at times. This seasons things look different.
Shaunkol
MEEEEEE. My rebuild and strong years coincided exactly with Spencer’s. He beat us in game 7 in Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals when he had his crazy good team. I think we win a couple of rings if not for the Hornets, as I wouldn’t have rebuilded so soon after becoming good. I guess we will never know
Tiger
Outlawz - generally in sim leagues he builds instant Championship contenders, but this hasn't been the case so far! He's been here for more than a week and he hasn't built a Championship contending team?! He sucks... so bad
Saga
Crazymike had the bad luck of totally sucking last season and not having his pick and missing out on some very nice players in the draft. This year he has his own pick and that of the Pacers (Which could still end up in the lottery) and looks to surround Brunson and GRob with a few nice prospects ( thats if he doesnt slip in the lottery). Two 1sts, and some cash to spend on a decent FA could see Mike not seem so Crazy!!
Brophdog
Jahallstar. His team looked like it was gonna be good, Augmon looked nice when he was drafted, Laettner was nice #5 pick so it seemed, he had Coleman, life is good. Then Augmon is drafted, he tanks, Laettner starts out looking nice, signs an extension, and blurgh, nothing good, Coleman isn’t an amazing player, and things fall apart. Heck, he even drafted Walt Williams. He too sucks. Training Camp has not been kind to Phoenix. Here are the players the Suns have drafted in the first round.
Stacey Augmon, Walt Williams, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Leonard White, Clifford Rozier, Bryant Reeves, Darvin Ham
CSdude
The Magic going from contenders to average in one offseason without any major roster changes must have sucked for shaun. That team had a chance to do some damage but it just didn't happen and I don't know why.
Don
DB. He is a good Gm but until recently, his team just didn't work well together. He has had the talent, just not the right strategies and such.
Mops
DB. It always seemed like he had his star player hurt,sick, or sand in his vage. That and he could never get a good feel for his team which has always been solid because someone or some players have been out/.
7. Rebuild or mortgage the future? Why
Tmac
Rebuild.
DB
In general? I mortgage the future all the time in UOSL and it has worked out pretty shitty so far, but usually it works, lol. I hate rebuilding but that was because I did not like the drafts in the past UOSL. I say rebuild I guess, it can be fun if it is a good draft.
Shaunkol
Rebuild. Gotto get lucky with some lottery picks, but my team wasn’t positioned for the long term. Preferred to get some value for Pippen and Mutombo now, rather than wait until they are undealable.
Tiger
I generally tend to mortgage the future in sim leagues and just collect a load of wheelchair ballers to compete and never bother with reuilding, but had I done that in this league, I'd never have managed to land the Pimp in FA. Then again, I did try to rebuild and ended up with shitty draftees that have done fuck all so far, like J.R. Rider and Rasheed Wallace (although watch him blow up now... sigh...). I could've had Garnett if he decided to declare that year, or if I won the lotto the following year could've had Kobe, or Iverson, or Garnett if he decided to declare THAT year. Fuck Garnett! I hate him... WHY DIDN'T HE DECLARE IN THE WEAK-ASS RASHEED WALLACE DRAFT! Asshole. I hate Garnett. He sucks so bad! What was the question again?
Saga
Rebuild, Mortgagee sales are a killer!!
Brophdog
Rebuild, my team is not set up to win a title anytime soon, and since that’s the ultimate goal, I need to rebuild. I made the playoffs last year with the goal of continuing to develop into a contender, but that hasn’t worked out. It is best for me to try and rebuild. By rebuilding I can give myself a shot at winning in the future, rather than sitting in mediocrity for the near future.
CSdude
Go for it all right now!! My team isn't as dominant as last season but I've still got a great shot at winning this season. So far through the seaosn I have the best record and I hope to finish that way.
Don
Mortgage the future. Rebuilding takes too damn long and it is decided by luck. If you get screwed in the lotto you have to delay building your team for a year, then you may strike out in fa. When you mortgage the future you know who is good and who isn't, and you can use people's love of youth and rebuilding to your advantage. Look at the Rockets from the past couple of seasons and the T-wolves now.
Mops
I like to rebuild. Hell if I could take 5 years of rebuilding and not be fired I'd do it.
8. Who is the best GM when it comes to Trades? And Why?
Tmac
Probably Spence. Just because it seems like every deal he does, makes sense. I can't say that about any other GM. LOL
DB
Not really sure. I would say spencer has been pretty good trading wise over the years. He acquired some big names and gave himself two rings to show for it. He has built solid teams and has done one of the best jobs here.
Shaunkol
Grizzlies GM is pretty good. He doesn’t make many, but he seems to come out well in most of them. I also think Spencer and Tiger are good traders
Tiger
Eh, hard to say really. I like what the Heat have done. Acquiring Malone was the key to their success this season but we can't underestimate the rest of their team as it's fully loaded with vets AND youth. I like what they've done. Everyone else sucks so bad.
Saga
I would have to say the best GM at trading this season would have to be would be Shmaranz, hes taken his team from the lottery to the best team in the East. He drafted Kobe and managed to surround him with some very good players who could win him a title with his 1st year in the league. Drazen, Jalen Rose, Karl Malone and Benoit Benjamin are all new to the team this season and have the lead the East in the race to the Eastern Conference #1 seed!!! Overall I would have to say Spence and Trunks, they are always trading and their teams always compete and have legitimate shots at the playoffs.
Brophdog
Minnesota. He has done an excellent job of picking up elite talent for next to nothing. He got D-Rob for Jermaine O’Neal and a pretty crappy first, and just picked up Patrick Ewing for Robert Horry and a first. Now obviously everybody makes a bad trade now and then, but apparently Minnesota knows how to work voodoo magic and get things fixed, as he was able to reacquire Barkley from the Warriors following the GM change, for pretty cheap. He robbed the Spurs of Reggie Lewis to, for Jerry Stackhouse, who is good, but Lewis is amazing, and shouldn’t have gone for that cheap
CSdude
Very difficult question to answer since teams have countless motives for doing trades and giving up players and picks. I will say that gotrunks has demolished teams and put them back together in no time, so I guess I'll go with him.
Don
Spencer. He got Malone for basically trash.
Mops
Spencer. He traded a ton of his creation draft picks and loaded up on futures which then turned into money. He got those the first two picks in one of the first drafts and IMO that is what put him in prime position to fuck everyone. Malone was dirty cheap too.
9. Who is the worst GM when it comes to FA? and Why?
Tmac
FA? I really don't know.
DB
CrazyMike needs to do a better job. He has nothing to show for lately and needs to step it up. He needs to get expiring contracts and build throw the draft and FA and start to sign some players. It is sad to look at the team. At least he has his picks. Now deal for expirings!
Shaunkol
Martinez. A MAX contract for Terry Porter in his 30’s when you already have Jason Kidd? Are you kidding me?
Tiger
Whoever gave Terry Porter that contract. Wow it sucks so bad.
Saga
Any GM thats goes over the hard cap, the previous offseason it was myself, Knicks, and Kings. We managed to get under so that avoided embarassment. That and the FA period when the Clippers signed 4 PGs, Thurl Bailey and Charles Oakley to lengthy but small contracts lol. Dont ya hate it when you sign someone hoping they will have a good TC then they bomb, its happene to me a couple of times
Brophdog
Martinez, if only for the fact that he signed Terry Porter to that massive contract, then had to trade two firsts to get rid of him. That contract has now screwed over more than one GM, so that is how Martinez earns this title. There is no way Terry Porter deserved that kind of money, you can hear him laughing all the way to the bank.
CSdude
Gonna have to go with crazymike for signing all of those average players 2 FA's ago when he had all that money.
Don
Chipper. He gave up malone for trash.
Mops
I'd have to say Martinez or Crazymike. Martinez way more because he gave Porter that awful contract.
10. What player are you waiting for in the upcoming drafts the most?
Tmac
Dirk. A favorite of mine. When can you ever get a 7 footer he shoots lights out? out of story
DB
Lebron draft is always fun. You have a lot of talent and studs coming out, should be the best draft we ever see here. Who ends up with the beast? well see.
Shaunkol
I need some big timers like Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady to come my way.
Tiger
Kevin Garnett - so I can watch him bust. I really hope he uh, kinda sucks.
Saga
I hear theres a Russian Kid thats tearing up the courts in europe, Andrei Kirilenko. Thats who Id be after!!!
Thanks for the questions, man that took alot out of me, some very thought provoking questions, Im mentally drained zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]
Brophdog
Tim Duncan, I have always been a fan of Duncan. How he has come into the league and been so great so is amazing. He entered the league putting up 21.1 points his rookie season with 11.9 rebounds 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks. That’s amazing for a rookie. He has the versatility to cover PF’s and C’s, and some range too. He has been one of the best players in the NBA but isn’t flashy, and rarely is amazing outside of his consistency, but he gets it done night in and night out.
CSdude
Tim Duncan
Don
The Kandi man. Because he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good.
He was such a bust that to have him become a star will not be expected.
Mops
I would have to say right now either Timmy Duncan or T-Mac. I loved T-Mac when he was with the raptors. Then when Vince came into the league and they were together...they were sooo promising and then TMac had to go screw it up asking for a shit ton of money.
