How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

[TheNaturalMVP]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

So Which one of My Superstars should I trade? I was thinking Monta Ellis. He's got Good Trade Value and A Rating of 87. What players Should I try and Get for him? And Lamarcus, R.Patterson Babbit And I think Batum are My remaining Bench. I was actually thinking of this As my Lineup instead:
PGWesley Matthews
SGEllis
SFCarmelo
PFJosh Smith
C Lamarcus Aldridge. Is LA12 Good at Center?

LaMarcus can play center but he'll get overpowered by stronger guys. But you could play an uptempo game that way.

If you want to run LaMarcus at center I'd reccommend getting an uptempo PG and move Wesley to the SG spot. Maybe go after an Aaron Brooks and a backup center for LaMarcus.

[Truthseeker83]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Ok....this will be a long post, so I apologize in advance.

The dilemma I've been having is rebuilding a team realistically. Most of the bad teams (with the exception of Cleveland....whose uniforms are hideous) already have young potential star players. I want to rebuild a team from scratch basically...and it's not realistic that any of those teams would trade the young players they have for different young players.

Then it dawned on me to start an association with the Pistons....and I'm having a blast. They had a terrible record last season, and while they still have a couple pieces who could be valuable to teams looking to contend, the team as a whole has largely become irrelevant. They do have an above average point guard in Stuckey and a young big guy with good potential in Greg Monroe.

Almost immediately, I traded Tayshaun Prince and Will Bynum and got PG Ben Uzoh and PF Yi Jianlian back in a three team trade. Then I traded Rip Hamilton to Boston for a first rounder and and someone else I can't remember now...obviously they weren't a long-term building block lol.

Just before the trade deadline, I unloaded Stuckey because I knew he'd ask for way more than I wanted to pay a guy who didn't have a ton more untapped potential (and couldn't shoot from range at all) if he resigned with me at all. I traded him to Philly for Jrue Holiday (at a much more manageable price for virtually the same skill level....plus some three point shooting ability) and Spencer Hawes (who was ridiculously overpaid but they wouldn't do the trade without me taking on his massive contract).

Going into the off-season between years one and two, I knew I had a huge hole at 2 guard, and I was able to sign Nick Young who was a RFA. They weren't willing to match the offer sheet I signed him to...which was roughly 8 million a year or so with a Team option for the last year (something I always do....even if I have to pay a little more per year....gives me a lot of flexibility). I also signed Marco Bellinelli for shooting on a two year contract.

I got lucky and earned the 1st pick in the draft due to my ridiculously poor record the year prior (I blew the entire thing up and was playing young guys....so it's expected). I drafted a guy who I could build the team around in SF Darius Knight, a 6'9" early entry SF from Michigan State with outstanding potential. So my starting 5 going into year 2 was:

PG - Holiday
SG - Young
SF - Knight
PF- Yi Jianlian
C- Greg Monroe

with Uzoh and Hawes being key backups. I also picked up Marvin Williams in a mid-season trade which didn't cost more than a 2nd round pick and some other spare parts. So that's a fairly solid young group of players right there.

Well, while I still obviously didn't make the playoffs, I made a 17 game improvement while getting some young guys valuable starting experience. Knight won Rookie of the Year by averaging 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and just under a block per game. He also made the All-Star team as a reserve and 3rd team All NBA.....not bad for a rookie.

Going into the second offseason, my needs were becoming pretty clear. While Monroe was solid at center, I felt he was best suited to play PF....and even there, he was only solid offensively....definitely not a big-time threat...though he could be with more development. I wanted to add a C in the draft, and I earned the 5th pick this time. But lucky for me, the top 5 was stacked with talented players, including two high potential Centers and a decent potential athletic PF. So I felt confident I could either draft a good young Center and move Monroe to PF, or draft a PF and keep Monroe at center. I felt confident that a talented big man would fall to me at 5 due to the fact that there were also two talented, high potential wings in the top 5 as well. I never alter the abilities of the generated draftees because it feels like cheating, though I do alter their looks, names, accessories, etc....because some of them look stupid. But this was a great year to have a top 5 pick with all the supremely talented players...that just doesn't happen every year.

ANYWAY, back on track. As FA came and went, Uzoh accepted my qualifying offer of 500k a year or so, which is outstanding for a backup PG at 70 overall. I also signed Marcus Camby as a backup big for the vet minimum because of his defense and rebounding.

As the 5th pick of the draft arrived, my hunch proved correct. I had my choice between Josh Simmons of Purdue, a Center with A+ potential and Marcus Buchanan from Georgia Tech, a 6'11 PF with A- potential. Although Simmons had the slightly bigger upside, I really wanted to add more athleticism to my front line (since Monroe was only average to slightly above average in the athleticism department). I felt this would definitely show up in rebounding finishing at the rim, and shot blocking. So I pulled the trigger on Buchanan (who has a B rating on athleticism).

Later in the first round, now being crowded at the PF position with Monroe and Yi, I decided to start looking for potential trading partners in order to acquire a starting-caliber two-way 2 guard. Young was outstanding offensively, but he left alot to be desired on the defensive end...and I felt he could better contribute as a heavy-minute sixth man. Well, I went back to the bargaining table with Philadelphia trying to acquire Andre Iguodala. While he's definitely not a pure shooter, he can finish at the rim with the best of them, take defenders off the dribble, hit the open jump shot, and he's an outstanding distributor. His salary is pretty high at around 15 million a year, but he only has two years left on his deal and is still only 27. I sent them Yi, Belinelli, and next year's first rounder. They accepted the deal.

So heading into the pre-season, my roster looked like this:

PG - Jrue Holiday / Ben Uzoh
SG- Iggy / Nick Young / Jrue Holiday
SF- Darius Knight / Marvin Williams
PF - Marcus Buchanan / Darius Knight / Marvin Williams
C - Greg Monroe / Spencer Hawes / Marcus Buchanan / Marcus Camby

I still felt like I was lacking a truly reliable low post scorer though, and I felt like both my starting bigs were still a year or two away from being able to supply that. I was also quite crowded at the center position. So I decided to see what it would take to pry Andrea Bargnani away from Toronto, who of course still has multiple holes to fill. I offered Spencer Hawes, Greg Monroe (who was tied for my highest rated trade chip), and my last future first rounder (I'm totally out of draft picks for the next two years lol). Success! I get a dynamite post scorer in Bargnani, and Toronto gets Hawes to help fill the void left by Bargnani (he's a good shooter and has good potential as well) as well as a top-flight young PF with gobs of potential, as well as another first rounder.

So my final roster to this point is as follows:

PG - Jrue Holiday (79) / Ben Uzoh (72)
SG - Andre Iguodala (88) / Nick Young (77) / Holiday
SF - Darius Knight (88) / Marvin Williams ( 74)
PF - Marcus Buchanan (77) / Knight / Williams
C - Andrea Bargnani (82) / Marcus Camby (71)

I feel like all the pieces are now in place....they just need some time to develop and to grow together as a team.

-On a side note, I love the dynamic of having an athletic, shot blocking power forward with the offensive dynamo, not quite as athletic Bargnani.

I feel like this has been realistically done. No unthinkable trades, I felt like all of my moves benefited each of the teams involved and were something they'd actually consider. What do you guys think?

[Tigers3]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Ok....this will be a long post, so I apologize in advance.

The dilemma I've been having is rebuilding a team realistically. Most of the bad teams (with the exception of Cleveland....whose uniforms are hideous) already have young potential star players. I want to rebuild a team from scratch basically...and it's not realistic that any of those teams would trade the young players they have for different young players.

Then it dawned on me to start an association with the Pistons....and I'm having a blast. They had a terrible record last season, and while they still have a couple pieces who could be valuable to teams looking to contend, the team as a whole has largely become irrelevant. They do have an above average point guard in Stuckey and a young big guy with good potential in Greg Monroe.

Almost immediately, I traded Tayshaun Prince and Will Bynum and got PG Ben Uzoh and PF Yi Jianlian back in a three team trade. Then I traded Rip Hamilton to Boston for a first rounder and and someone else I can't remember now...obviously they weren't a long-term building block lol.

Just before the trade deadline, I unloaded Stuckey because I knew he'd ask for way more than I wanted to pay a guy who didn't have a ton more untapped potential (and couldn't shoot from range at all) if he resigned with me at all. I traded him to Philly for Jrue Holiday (at a much more manageable price for virtually the same skill level....plus some three point shooting ability) and Spencer Hawes (who was ridiculously overpaid but they wouldn't do the trade without me taking on his massive contract).

Going into the off-season between years one and two, I knew I had a huge hole at 2 guard, and I was able to sign Nick Young who was a RFA. They weren't willing to match the offer sheet I signed him to...which was roughly 8 million a year or so with a Team option for the last year (something I always do....even if I have to pay a little more per year....gives me a lot of flexibility). I also signed Marco Bellinelli for shooting on a two year contract.

I got lucky and earned the 1st pick in the draft due to my ridiculously poor record the year prior (I blew the entire thing up and was playing young guys....so it's expected). I drafted a guy who I could build the team around in SF Darius Knight, a 6'9" early entry SF from Michigan State with outstanding potential. So my starting 5 going into year 2 was:

PG - Holiday
SG - Young
SF - Knight
PF- Yi Jianlian
C- Greg Monroe

with Uzoh and Hawes being key backups. I also picked up Marvin Williams in a mid-season trade which didn't cost more than a 2nd round pick and some other spare parts. So that's a fairly solid young group of players right there.

Well, while I still obviously didn't make the playoffs, I made a 17 game improvement while getting some young guys valuable starting experience. Knight won Rookie of the Year by averaging 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and just under a block per game. He also made the All-Star team as a reserve and 3rd team All NBA.....not bad for a rookie.

Going into the second offseason, my needs were becoming pretty clear. While Monroe was solid at center, I felt he was best suited to play PF....and even there, he was only solid offensively....definitely not a big-time threat...though he could be with more development. I wanted to add a C in the draft, and I earned the 5th pick this time. But lucky for me, the top 5 was stacked with talented players, including two high potential Centers and a decent potential athletic PF. So I felt confident I could either draft a good young Center and move Monroe to PF, or draft a PF and keep Monroe at center. I felt confident that a talented big man would fall to me at 5 due to the fact that there were also two talented, high potential wings in the top 5 as well. I never alter the abilities of the generated draftees because it feels like cheating, though I do alter their looks, names, accessories, etc....because some of them look stupid. But this was a great year to have a top 5 pick with all the supremely talented players...that just doesn't happen every year.

ANYWAY, back on track. As FA came and went, Uzoh accepted my qualifying offer of 500k a year or so, which is outstanding for a backup PG at 70 overall. I also signed Marcus Camby as a backup big for the vet minimum because of his defense and rebounding.

As the 5th pick of the draft arrived, my hunch proved correct. I had my choice between Josh Simmons of Purdue, a Center with A+ potential and Marcus Buchanan from Georgia Tech, a 6'11 PF with A- potential. Although Simmons had the slightly bigger upside, I really wanted to add more athleticism to my front line (since Monroe was only average to slightly above average in the athleticism department). I felt this would definitely show up in rebounding finishing at the rim, and shot blocking. So I pulled the trigger on Buchanan (who has a B rating on athleticism).

Later in the first round, now being crowded at the PF position with Monroe and Yi, I decided to start looking for potential trading partners in order to acquire a starting-caliber two-way 2 guard. Young was outstanding offensively, but he left alot to be desired on the defensive end...and I felt he could better contribute as a heavy-minute sixth man. Well, I went back to the bargaining table with Philadelphia trying to acquire Andre Iguodala. While he's definitely not a pure shooter, he can finish at the rim with the best of them, take defenders off the dribble, hit the open jump shot, and he's an outstanding distributor. His salary is pretty high at around 15 million a year, but he only has two years left on his deal and is still only 27. I sent them Yi, Belinelli, and next year's first rounder. They accepted the deal.

So heading into the pre-season, my roster looked like this:

PG - Jrue Holiday / Ben Uzoh
SG- Iggy / Nick Young / Jrue Holiday
SF- Darius Knight / Marvin Williams
PF - Marcus Buchanan / Darius Knight / Marvin Williams
C - Greg Monroe / Spencer Hawes / Marcus Buchanan / Marcus Camby

I still felt like I was lacking a truly reliable low post scorer though, and I felt like both my starting bigs were still a year or two away from being able to supply that. I was also quite crowded at the center position. So I decided to see what it would take to pry Andrea Bargnani away from Toronto, who of course still has multiple holes to fill. I offered Spencer Hawes, Greg Monroe (who was tied for my highest rated trade chip), and my last future first rounder (I'm totally out of draft picks for the next two years lol). Success! I get a dynamite post scorer in Bargnani, and Toronto gets Hawes to help fill the void left by Bargnani (he's a good shooter and has good potential as well) as well as a top-flight young PF with gobs of potential, as well as another first rounder.

So my final roster to this point is as follows:

PG - Jrue Holiday (79) / Ben Uzoh (72)
SG - Andre Iguodala (88) / Nick Young (77) / Holiday
SF - Darius Knight (88) / Marvin Williams ( 74)
PF - Marcus Buchanan (77) / Knight / Williams
C - Andrea Bargnani (82) / Marcus Camby (71)

I feel like all the pieces are now in place....they just need some time to develop and to grow together as a team.

-On a side note, I love the dynamic of having an athletic, shot blocking power forward with the offensive dynamo, not quite as athletic Bargnani.

I feel like this has been realistically done. No unthinkable trades, I felt like all of my moves benefited each of the teams involved and were something they'd actually consider. What do you guys think?

Just finished reading the entire post. I like what you did. Very talented and athletic starting 5 (except for Bargnani of course) and you have solid depth at every position. I think having the 2 defensive big guys Buchanan and Camby will be a good complement with Bargnani. Should be a fun team to use.

[bobcats55]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Update on my Cavs dynasty

I made a move looking towards the future. I traded Anthony Parker to New York along with a '12 1st round pick, for Toney Douglas and Shawn Williams.

I also signed Sean Singletary( former standout at UVA ) to a 5 year deal starting at 740k, and have worked with him and have his 3pt shooting in the 80s, making this a great signing! I have a whole team of shooters and have broken the 30 threes mark in 3 games this year and have never made less then 23 threes in a game.

My weakness is, I have absolutely no defense. Brook Lopez scored 13 straight times and finished with around 40. However, I have the ability to outscore teams. We ended up winning that game 144-110. Enough offense from behind the arc will prevail.

@NJ

T.Douglas- 31 points, 5 assists, 1 steal
S. Singletary- 26 points
S. Blake- 20 points
Batum- 18 points

Everyone scored atleast 2 points

Sitting at 7-0 right now, 1/2 a game up on the Heat

[tnell]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Had an association running with the Wolves but my ps3 crashed. Got a new one and i think im gonna run with the Raptors and rebuild from scratch

[tnell]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Decided to go with the Cavs instead because it takes years to hire a new coaching staff for the Raptors. Gonna be using a 2011-2012 rookie roster update from 2kshare

[RedSceptile]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Update on my Cavs dynasty

I made a move looking towards the future. I traded Anthony Parker to New York along with a '12 1st round pick, for Toney Douglas and Shawn Williams.

I also signed Sean Singletary( former standout at UVA ) to a 5 year deal starting at 740k, and have worked with him and have his 3pt shooting in the 80s, making this a great signing! I have a whole team of shooters and have broken the 30 threes mark in 3 games this year and have never made less then 23 threes in a game.

My weakness is, I have absolutely no defense. Brook Lopez scored 13 straight times and finished with around 40. However, I have the ability to outscore teams. We ended up winning that game 144-110. Enough offense from behind the arc will prevail.

@NJ

T.Douglas- 31 points, 5 assists, 1 steal
S. Singletary- 26 points
S. Blake- 20 points
Batum- 18 points

Everyone scored atleast 2 points

Sitting at 7-0 right now, 1/2 a game up on the Heat

The thing is you might have a dynamic offense but as youve said your defense leaves something to be desired. In the playoffs that becomes even more evident. Batum can develop into a decent defensive player as well as 3 PT shooter. I think Spencer Hawes also starts out with decent range you can develop him as well.

[tnell]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Finished my 1st season with the Cavs 40-42 and ended up with the 7th seed and faced the Bulls in the 1st round. Lost Kyrie Irving after Game 1 with a torn menicus and lost the series 4-2. About to head into the off-season. Gonna be picking 11th and 16th in the draft.

[lolercopter]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

So, here's my dilemma. In my control-all-teams association, I'm trying to keep Howard in Orlando, but I'm stuck on how to do it. They can't do much with the draft, and they've little to no cap space to land a major free agent, so the best way to entice him to stay is with another big-time trade. And that's where I am right now. What can they even pull off?

I see Nelson and Bass as their most tradable assets, though Reddick isn't off the table, either. I don't see Arenas going anywhere (he'd have to play like Kobe to move that contract), and Turkoglu has a fairly hefty contract given his age, so... yep, still stuck.

As for who they're going after, I think Josh Smith is the best-case aim, and... yeah, I don't really have a secondary option, yet. But I'm not sure how I could make this work. (Is it too early for the Hawks to try and move Johnson's monster contract? In my association, the Hawks tanked and didn't even make the playoffs.) It'd probably have to be part of a three-team deal, right?

Anyway, was just wondering if anyone had any ideas.

[TomZeWolf]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Try some sort of 3 team deal to bring CP3 to Orlando?

[Lunatic_DeaGold]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

I actually play with my team Maryland Sharks in an 58 matchs association. It replace Toronto Raptors. I have 11 won for 10 lost !

PG : Ben Uzoh
SG : Wesley Johnson (trade vs Xavier Henry + 1st pick 2011)
SF : Cartier Martin
PF : Anthony Randolph (trade vs Jason Smith + 1st pick 2012)
C : Sean Williams

[Rhyster95]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Alright simmed With My Trailblazer Squad, And I'm Now In the Western Conference Finals! I'm Kind of Losing though 3-2 To Lakers. These are the Matchups, So How Am I Losing?

PG Stephen Curry(Me)Vs. Steve Blake
Backups P.Mills Vs D.Fish
SG M.Ellis(me)VS Kobe
SF Carmelo Vs. Artest
PF Josh Smith Vs. P.Gasol
C M.Camby Vs. A. Bynum

I HAVE Changed my lineup a bit since I first put it up. For one, I traded away Wesley Matthews and Armon Johnson and a Pick I think for Steph Curry.. And I didn't Get rid of LA12. I have Good Scorers off the Bench like Damion James(or Jones) And LA12. I think one flaw is the PF battle, Pau can rebound and is a little bit better in my opinion. What do you think my flaw is and how can I come back in the series????

[RedSceptile]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Alright simmed With My Trailblazer Squad, And I'm Now In the Western Conference Finals! I'm Kind of Losing though 3-2 To Lakers. These are the Matchups, So How Am I Losing?

PG Stephen Curry(Me)Vs. Steve Blake
Backups P.Mills Vs D.Fish
SG M.Ellis(me)VS Kobe
SF Carmelo Vs. Artest
PF Josh Smith Vs. P.Gasol
C M.Camby Vs. A. Bynum

I HAVE Changed my lineup a bit since I first put it up. For one, I traded away Wesley Matthews and Armon Johnson and a Pick I think for Steph Curry.. And I didn't Get rid of LA12. I have Good Scorers off the Bench like Damion James(or Jones) And LA12. I think one flaw is the PF battle, Pau can rebound and is a little bit better in my opinion. What do you think my flaw is and how can I come back in the series????

Monta Ellis can't D Kobe. Gasol shuts down Smith. Artest can shut down Melo.

Your problem is you have basically a replica of the old Pheonix Suns team all offense no defense. You traded away decent defensive guard-forward in Johnson and now youre getting abused for it. Only good defenders in your starting line up is Smith and Camby. Smith is undersized and Camby is old and slow. You'd be better of starting Aldridge(why'd you get Josh Smith when you already have Aldridge already blows my mind).

[Rhyster95]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Monta Ellis can't D Kobe. Gasol shuts down Smith. Artest can shut down Melo.

Your problem is you have basically a replica of the old Pheonix Suns team all offense no defense. You traded away decent defensive guard-forward in Johnson and now youre getting abused for it. Only good defenders in your starting line up is Smith and Camby. Smith is undersized and Camby is old and slow. You'd be better of starting Aldridge(why'd you get Josh Smith when you already have Aldridge already blows my mind).

Well these are Basically the Scores (All Played)
Blazers 89-104 Lakers Kobe:34 Points(Definetly Cant be stopped)
Blazers 81-92 Lakers. Overall, outplayed on Offense and Defense
Lakers 97-100 Blazers. Last Second Shot by Kobe. Got Lucky On This One.
Lakers 84-93 Blazers Held Kobe to 15 And He Had low FG %
Blazers 87-94 Lakers Couldn't Continue a Good Run in the 4th.

So overall, it's a good series, only 1 close game. Oh and to let you know, Camby STARTS, but LA12 gets more minutes at center.
Do you think Lakers win in 6? Or can I tie it 3-3 And lose? Lol

[RedSceptile]

Re: How's Your Association Going? (2K11)

Well these are Basically the Scores (All Played)
Blazers 89-104 Lakers Kobe:34 Points(Definetly Cant be stopped)
Blazers 81-92 Lakers. Overall, outplayed on Offense and Defense
Lakers 97-100 Blazers. Last Second Shot by Kobe. Got Lucky On This One.
Lakers 84-93 Blazers Held Kobe to 15 And He Had low FG %
Blazers 87-94 Lakers Couldn't Continue a Good Run in the 4th.

So overall, it's a good series, only 1 close game. Oh and to let you know, Camby STARTS, but LA12 gets more minutes at center.
Do you think Lakers win in 6? Or can I tie it 3-3 And lose? Lol

Judging by the way you're explaining this series you're being drastically outplayed right now. Unless you get a full out effort on Kobe your blazers seem to be biting of more than they can chew.
If you do lose I suggest you addressing this defensive issue in the off season and unloading either Monta or Curry (they're both undersized two small back court guards who play spotty defense at best doesn't make a good championship team) and try and get either a big point guard or big shooting guard that can play defense. I developed Courtney Lee into an All Defense team and Defensive player of the year with him being able to shut down anything from 1-3. I think what you did is go for big names and not realize that developing certain players can pay off in the long run. Get rid of either Josh Smith or Aldridge and get a legitimate Center for once Camby retires (he's ancient and with Injuries his durability will make you suffer)

A good starting lineup could be Curry a big good defender 2 guard someone other than Melo (he like never resigns) Aldridge/Smith (I prefer Aldridge his post offense is too legit and Josh Smith can be really erratic) and a decent Center. The key here is to develop guys with inseason work not just hope on potential to do the work.