The Exiles: A Buffalo Braves Association

[aixelsyD]

The Exiles: A Buffalo Braves Association


Team: Buffalo Braves
Game: NBA 2k12 (PC)
Difficulty/Time: All-Star/11 minutes
Season Length: 82 games
I'll run weekly updates, focusing on key games.
I'm more of a writer than a statistician.
Go Bills.
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Robert Wilmers, CEO of M&T Bank and new owner of the Buffalo Braves.

Toronto Raptors to Buffalo!

ESPN.com
Rich Bucher


The negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement has been a blessing for NBA fans across the nation, but one city's fans will not be enjoying their NBA team this season.

A result of the staggering lack of success of the Toronto Raptors has spurred discussions of whether Canada's only NBA team should move. With low attendance rates and even lower expectations for the next season, the members of the Raptors organization opted to sell the team to the highest bidders and through deliberations, chose Buffalo banking magnate Robert Wilmers as the winning bidder. The Raptors will be relocated to Buffalo, playing at First Niagara Arena for this season. A spokesperson from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment said, “This was the only logical decision for us, bearing in mind that basketball is both a sport and a business. We care very much for the fans of Toronto and giving the team to a die-hard sports town like Buffalo should do this team a service. Toronto fans will still have access to their basketball team across the border. This move benefits both of our cities.”

A key development of the NBA lockout talks was the introduction of an amnesty clause, allowing teams to void one trouble contract to agree with the new standards. During the negotiations, it was revealed that these players will be sent to Buffalo to play and the existing Raptors players will be able to opt out of their contracts and go to other teams.

Buffalo supported a team briefly during the 70s and will be returning to the black and orange of that era. The Buffalo Braves organization fell apart due to a series of below average season and pathetic leadership within the organization. They moved and became the LA Clippers organization.

The city of Buffalo is excited to have an NBA franchise. However, there are worries that Buffalo won't bring in the fans it does for it's other sporting events, or worse, that the NBA team will flop financially in the city.

Only time will tell.

[aixelsyD]

New Buffalo Braves PG Gilbert Arenas arrives in Buffalo with some choice words for the city.

Arenas, Lewis, World Peace among big names banished to Buffalo
buffalonews.com/editorials/

“Man, **** this.” muttered Gilbert Arenas as reporters chased him out of the Orlando Magic facilities. It was clear what he was talking about. He was going to sports hell: Buffalo, NY. Buffalo, NY, a dying city with nothing to do for athletes. Buffalo, NY, a sports city has as many championships as it has seconds of airtime on ESPN. Buffalo, NY, the location of the new NBA franchise, the Buffalo Braves.

Some players, like ex-Washington Wizard Rashard Lewis, are most optimistic, "You know, it's an opportunity for all of us to show the league we deserved what we had. They thought we couldn't play, they thought we weren't worth the money, it's time to prove them wrong. Things happen for a reason."

The amnesty clause fiasco and shake-up of the former Raptors roster has been hard to follow, so here's our cheat-sheet.

Former Raptors:
Wizards C Andrea Bargnani
Cavaliers SG Demar DeRozan
Lakers PG Jose Calderon
Bobcats PF Amir Johnson
Pistons PG Jerryd Bayless

Buffalo Braves Roster
#	NAME	POS
1	Gilbert Arenas	PG
2	James Johnson	SF
4	Antawn Jamison	PF
13	Mehmet Okur	C
15	Metta World Peace	SF
20	Donatas Motiejunas	C
21	Jamaal Magloie	C
22	Rashard Lewis	SF
23	Ben Gordon	SG
25	Anthony Carter	PG
32	Ed Davis	PF
50	Corey Maggette	SG

[aixelsyD]

Former Raptors coach Dwane Casey was retained to start off Buffalo's first season, but his job won't be any easier.

Buffalo Braves Season Predictions
Buffalo News Sports

Buffalo Braves Depth Chart - 2012
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
PG	Gilbert Arenas	Anthony Carter
SG	Corey Maggette	Ben Gordon
SF	Metta World Peace	Rashard Lewis	James Johnson
PF	Antawn Jamison	Ed Davis
C	Mehmet Okur	Donatas Motiejunas	Jamaal Magliore

Top 10 NBA Preseason Power Rankings:

1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. LA Lakers
4. Boston Celtics
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. OKC Thunder
8. Memphis Grizzlies
9. Philadelphia 76ers
10. Orlando Magic

Buffalo Braves Preseason Power Ranking: 30th
Coach Dwane Casey has his hands full. A brand new team, in a brand new city, with the litter of the rest of the NBA as starters. What can we say good about a team full of players who couldn't earn their contracts? These men carry a weight of laziness, legal troubles, and lack of talent (typical for a Buffalo sports team.) At worst, the Braves could be the first defeated NBA team. At best, the Braves get a good lottery pick from this ragtag bunch of exiled NBA players. Nobody expects this Buffalo team to change the culture of losing in this city, so we'll sigh and say, "Maybe next season.."

The upside? The Braves start off the season in the same division as the pathetic Nets, who are battling to take Buffalo's last place in the power rankings.

[aixelsyD]

Week 1: NBA Misfit Braves (3-0) upset highly touted 76ers
ESPN Analyst David Thorpe


Riding the three point shot and stingy defense, the Buffalo Braves opened up the 2011-2012 NBA season with a win. The Braves were noticeably unfamiliar with their offense with leading scorer Gilbert Arenas having some hiccups distributing the ball. Nonetheless, the suspended star played well for the pressure put on him.

The 76ers hype may have gotten ahead of itself. The 9th ranked team in the preseason could not defend the three pointer and rebounded poorly. Andre Iguodala played like a star, but couldn't play well enough to negate the depth of Buffalo. Holiday and Turner were disappointing.

The Braves are showing their veteran savvy. They make up for age and lack of athleticism with skill. Jamison and Maggette look to continue their scoring prowess, while World Peace will continue to rebound and shut down opposing star players. Off the bench, Ben Gordon and Rashard Lewis are explosive.

This Buffalo team might be the story of the NBA this season.

Other Braves headlines:
Braves tackle young Cleveland team in Cleveland, lose 84-80
Minnesota slumps in 4th quarter at home, Braves win 93-91

Philadelphia 76ers at Buffalo Braves
Nov 2, 2011	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Philadelphia (0-1)	23	24	21	28	96
Buffalo (1-0)	23	28	34	23	108

Philadelphia 76ers
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Andre Iguodala	36	13-20	1-1	5-6	13	5	1	0	1	32
Evan Turner	32	4-13	0-0	10-13	3	1	2	0		18
Elton Brand	29	5-7	0-0	0-0	7	1	1	1		10
Jrue Holiday	33	4-13	0-0	1-1	4	9	0	0		9
Spencer Hawes	32	4-9	0-0	0-0	4	0	1	2	1	8

Buffalo Braves
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Gilbert Arenas	41	9-23	2-7	2-2	6	11	1	2	4	22
Corey Maggette	34	6-10	2-7	1-2	7	2	0	0	0	17
Metta World Peace	33	4-5	2-3	2-2	9	1	0	1	1	12
Antawn Jamison	41	8-16	3-7	2-2	6	5	0	3	0	21
Mehmet Okur	27	5-8	0-1	2-3	6	0	1	0	0	12
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Ben Gordon	14	3-5	0-1	1-1	0	1	0	1	0	11
Rashard Lewis	13	4-8	2-5	1-1	5	0	0	0	0	6

[aixelsyD]

Week 2: The defending champions outscore Buffalo at home
DallasNews

The Dallas Mavericks traveled to Buffalo today with conviction, looking to improve from 2-3. They expected to play against a gritty defense and high scoring offense, but got a haphazard effort from the Braves.

Dirk Nowitzki scored at will, but more importantly, drew the Braves defense and opened up opportunities for Shawn Marion and Vince Carter, who scored over 20 points each. The Braves defense gave Shawn Marion 13 points from the free throw line, fouling Marion as he drove to the basket nearly every possession. The Mavericks look to move forward with a great win in an interconference matchup.

The Buffalo Braves face a tough road ahead, with the hype created from a couple clutch Week 1 victories fading fast. At .500, the Braves are better than Buffalonians expected, but not good enough to draw national media attention. Mehmet Okur had an abysmal performance at center once again. SF Metta World Peace suffered a strained back during the game and will sit out two weeks.

The Braves do have talent to build off of, with Gilbert Arenas starting to look like a top 10 point guard and Antawn Jamison and Corey Maggette settling into their roles are scorers. Rumors have been buzzing around Buffalo about roster moves to give this team an opportunity to make a playoff run in it's first year.

Dallas Mavericks at Buffalo Braves
Nov 7, 2011	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Dallas (2-3)	28	28	32	28	116
Buffalo (3-2)	25	28	26	22	101

Dallas Mavericks
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Dirk Nowitzki	34	7-15	0-1	3-3	7	2	3	0	2	17
Shawn Marion	33	5-11	0-2	13-14	9	2	0	1	2	23
Jason Kidd	33	6-10	1-4	3-4	3	4	1	1	3	16
Brendan Haywood	30	1-3	0-1	0-0	5	2	1	2	0	2
Vince Carter	30	10-13	2-2	5-6	7	1	1	0	0	27

Buffalo Braves
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Gilbert Arenas	36	7-18	0-4	3-7	2	12	1	1	2	17
Corey Maggette	35	10-15	2-5	0-0	4	2	0	1	1	22
Metta World Peace	33	4-6	1-3	0-0	5	1	1	0	3	9
Antawn Jamison	32	7-13	3-6	3-4	4	1	2	1	1	20
Mehmet Okur	25	2-5	1-2	1-2	5	0	1	0	2	6
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Ben Gordon	15	3-6	1-3	5-5	4	2	2	0	2	12
Rashard Lewis	14	3-7	1-5	0-0	3	0	0	1	0	7

[aixelsyD]

(having some difficulties with my game, as it always freezes during the 1st quarter game preview. I'm trying to find a way around it, but I'm unsure. I really don't want to make all those trades again..)