Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

[Rocket32]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

^I have considered that. The only issues being A) the draft classes -- they'd have to be re-engineered and then everyone would have to get to where they need to go and B) the contracts -- depending on what's done with the offseason, we could be looking at vastly different dynamics for team's in terms of evaluating and signing talent (the offseason is one of the parts of MyLeague that needs some work, IMO).

If I were to end this franchise and do one in 2K17, it might not even be with the Sonics ... I don't want to retell the same story, nor do I want to tread over territory that's been covered here. It would be a challenge to do the Sonics again after all that's been done here, but there were multiple different ways this dynasty could have gone at the beginning, so there are other stories to tell with this team.

But with an expansion-team league, there are SO many other stories that could be told. Right now, not enough is known to cement any decisions but the possibilities are very intriguing right now.

Nothing wrong with this franchise, in fact it's great but if you do move on to NBA 2k17 for the expansion mode among other things, how about a Vancouver Grizzlies dynasty next year? That would be intresting I think. It's definately still too early to know if you should move to 2k17 yet though. Who knows maybe we will all be surprised by the addition of carry over saves like The Show has. That would be awesome.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Nothing wrong with this franchise, in fact it's great but if you do move on to NBA 2k17 for the expansion mode among other things, how about a Vancouver Grizzlies dynasty next year? That would be intresting I think. It's definately still too early to know if you should move to 2k17 yet though. Who knows maybe we will all be surprised by the addition of carry over saves like The Show has. That would be awesome.

A Vancouver franchise would be mighty interesting. I feel like another team in Canada is a definite possibility for the NBA -- Toronto currently doesn't really have a rivalry with any team in the NBA and that's a vital component to a franchise, IMO.

[legonerfdude]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Hey trek been trying to catch up to this for two days (on page 32 whew) but I am thinking of starting a my league and relocating a team and doing a fantasy draft. But I don't know to do 30 team control or not it seems time consuming but much more realistic. I'm also a casual so some of its over my head. What do u think I should pick?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Hey trek been trying to catch up to this for two days (on page 32 whew) but I am thinking of starting a my league and relocating a team and doing a fantasy draft. But I don't know to do 30 team control or not it seems time consuming but much more realistic. I'm also a casual so some of its over my head. What do u think I should pick?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, first, thanks for reading! I know it's a slog, but I hope it's kept you entertained.

As to your question, I absolutely recommend 30 team control. The trade logic for the AI in this game isn't good at all, so I recommend you initiate and complete all trades for all teams, and do the same for free agent signings as well. I also do the drafting for all teams in the league.

Other than those three things, you can set everything else to "Auto" (Rotations, training, etc) and let the AI handle it -- they're usually pretty decent about it. You might have to change a few players to their secondary positions so the AI doesn't have a bench full of guards/big men (it does that sometimes, which makes for uneven second units).

In the coach settings, I recommend that bench depth be set to 9, so there's always a starter out on the floor and the top-9 players on the team get minutes. Some of the coaches in the game go 10-deep with their bench, but full-benches are hardly a thing in the NBA now and are generally frowned upon.

You can primarily control one franchise (like I do with the Sonics), leave some settings to manual for all teams, and leave some settings to auto for all teams, and you'll end up with a pretty good depiction of the NBA.

If you do decide to just set everything to auto for all teams other than your primary, make sure you have "CPU Trade Approval" set to ON, so every trade the CPU tries to make has to be approved by you first -- that way you can avoid most dumb CPU trades.

If you decide to take over a team and relocate it, make sure to realign the divisions during the first offseason -- don't do a custom league. Though the custom league allows you to realign the divisions from the start, it also has a weird glitch that undoes all the "Start with real trades" on options (meaning the Nets actually have their picks) and during the offseason the NBA will realign the divisions again, forcing you to redo your alignments -- and again it will move draft picks, this time between teams that got switched in the divisions. One year I had the Pelicans get the Grizzlies 1st rounder because the game decided to switch their divisions, but the Pelicans just missed the playoffs -- the Grizzlies were among the worst teams in the league. The Pelicans ended up with the 2nd overall pick while the Grizzlies picked 13th, when in reality it should have been the other way around and I didn't catch it in time. It's possible they patched that (I started this dynasty last September, so they may have fixed it), but better safe than sorry.

[legonerfdude]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Well, first, thanks for reading! I know it's a slog, but I hope it's kept you entertained.

As to your question, I absolutely recommend 30 team control. The trade logic for the AI in this game isn't good at all, so I recommend you initiate and complete all trades for all teams, and do the same for free agent signings as well. I also do the drafting for all teams in the league.

Other than those three things, you can set everything else to "Auto" (Rotations, training, etc) and let the AI handle it -- they're usually pretty decent about it. You might have to change a few players to their secondary positions so the AI doesn't have a bench full of guards/big men (it does that sometimes, which makes for uneven second units).

In the coach settings, I recommend that bench depth be set to 9, so there's always a starter out on the floor and the top-9 players on the team get minutes. Some of the coaches in the game go 10-deep with their bench, but full-benches are hardly a thing in the NBA now and are generally frowned upon.

You can primarily control one franchise (like I do with the Sonics), leave some settings to manual for all teams, and leave some settings to auto for all teams, and you'll end up with a pretty good depiction of the NBA.

If you do decide to just set everything to auto for all teams other than your primary, make sure you have "CPU Trade Approval" set to ON, so every trade the CPU tries to make has to be approved by you first -- that way you can avoid most dumb CPU trades.

If you decide to take over a team and relocate it, make sure to realign the divisions during the first offseason -- don't do a custom league. Though the custom league allows you to realign the divisions from the start, it also has a weird glitch that undoes all the "Start with real trades" on options (meaning the Nets actually have their picks) and during the offseason the NBA will realign the divisions again, forcing you to redo your alignments -- and again it will move draft picks, this time between teams that got switched in the divisions. One year I had the Pelicans get the Grizzlies 1st rounder because the game decided to switch their divisions, but the Pelicans just missed the playoffs -- the Grizzlies were among the worst teams in the league. The Pelicans ended up with the 2nd overall pick while the Grizzlies picked 13th, when in reality it should have been the other way around and I didn't catch it in time. It's possible they patched that (I started this dynasty last September, so they may have fixed it), but better safe than sorry.

Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return




The Seattle SuperSonics are now 14-7 after beating the Timberwolves tonight, sending the young squad to 14-9 on the year. The young Wolves and the Sonics engaged in a fun contest, but ultimately the Sonics showed they were the superior team -- or, more importantly, they had the superior superstar.

Things in the 1st quarter were close as the Sonics and Wolves traded baskets and buckets, the scoring done in large part by Westbrook and a barrage of triples the Sonics were taking beyond the arc -- an unfamiliar sight for many Sonics fans over the last three years. Coach Udoka's new offense puts an emphasis on taking those triples, even if they do miss.

The Timberwolves let the Sonics take them and then took a few of their own, which is why the score was so close heading into the 2nd. It was there the T'Wolves showed just how good they could be as they locked down the Sonics outside and inside, forcing Seattle into multiple bad possessions, letting the Timberwolves take a 7-point lead midway through the 2nd.

Udoka took a timeout and inserted some of the bench unit -- specifically Lance and Lin. The dynamic duo cut, passed, drove, dished, and splashed shots from all over the court, mostly in the mid-range. That flustered the Wolves and allowed I55, Isiah Hartenstein, to get warmed up -- I55 didn't miss a shot all night from the field and nailed a big triple just before halftime (from another area code) to give the Sonics a 1-point lead heading into the 3rd.

It was there that the Sonics put the hammer down, feeding Westbrook and Hartenstein, baffling the Wolves. They took an 11-point lead into the 4th, which the Wolves trimmed down to 5 at one point, but Seattle didn't panic -- like a veteran team, they fed their bigs in the post and got the Wolves in foul trouble, effectively letting Minnesota beat themselves through sloppy play.

Westbrook was named player of the game, as if there was any doubt. Go Sonics.







Around the NBA

The Charlotte Hornets are again lighting the NBA on fire in the regular season as they're 17-5, winners of 7 straight, and it's all thanks to their sophomore SG Luke Kennard. Kennard is shooting the lights out from all over the floor, scoring 18.7 PPG on 46% shooting, 44% from deep. The Hornets are positioning themselves extremely well for the future and if he keeps it up, Charlotte could easily be in the running for the 1st seed again out East.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Hawks are sinking faster than anyone could have predicted. Wilson Chandler is still out, suffering yet another injury in rehab that will keep him out for 1-2 months and ATL is 5-16. The team is likely to be blown up and Coach Budeholzer fired before the trade deadline. ATL has the month of December to right the ship or ownership will make a move.

Speaking of moves, Boogie Cousins has to be wishing he had signed somewhere else. Boogie and the Wizards are currently 8-16 and reports out of Washington indicate that not only is he dissatisfied, so is John Wall -- both are reportedly considering demanding trades, a move that would devastate the Wizards as currently constructed and signify a rebuild. Washington, like Atlanta, is hopeful the rest of December is kinder to them, but the Wizards have lost 6 straight (4 of them by double-digits) and it looks bad in DC.

Out West, the Lakers are drowning. Sitting at 9-15, without Julius Randle for at least 2 more weeks, LA isn't doing well at all. The Spurs are also drowning, sitting at 8-15, and LaMarcus Aldridge is trying to carry the team in the absences of Leonard and JR Smith (both have been out for over two weeks and the Spurs have dropped 7 straight). Smith is likely to return at the end of the month while Leonard is due back before the end of next week, but the early deficit may be enough to bury the Spurs this season -- again -- and could cause San Antonio to do something they rarely do: trade a player in the middle of the season.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



Russell Westbrook is a man on fire. After finishing last season in second for MVP (a crime he didn't win), Westbrook has a man on a mission: he wants that trophy, he wants to win, and his superstardom is only growing brighter with each passing game. In the second night of a back-to-back (after a 20-point victory against the T'Wolves in Minnesota), the Sonics came out and put their foot down on Houston.

It wasn't a blowout game by any means as the Rockets, true to their credo, managed to hang around without James Harden as Mike Conley, Brook Lopez, and Rudy Gay took the bulk of the offense on their shoulders and did well but they struggled badly on the boards, which was one of the biggest differences in the game as the Sonics brought in 56 boards to the Rockets measly 41.

At one point the Sonics had a 12-point lead in the third quarter, looking like they were about to put the game away for good and bury the Rockets. Houston had other plans as the Rockets bench, led by Sam Dekker and Montrez Harrell, decimated the Sonics bench on offense and played component enough defense to render that 12-point lead a blip.

Entering the fourth, Houston trailed only by 2-points, 80-78, and the game was threatening to get away from Seattle. Luckily, the Sonics had Westbrook and Westbrook entered the fourth ready to tear the Rockets a new one: he didn't let up as he hunted assists, points, and boards, grabbing another triple-double thanks to his manic play. His passing and scoring helped free up space for Noel to get going and he nearly had a triple-double himself as he had 7 blocks to go along with 19 points and 12 baords. The Rockets fall to 16-9, still second in the conference, as the Sonics now lead the West with a 16-7 record, winner of 6 straight.

Go Sonics.







Around the NBA

The Suns (10-15) are not doing great things: after last season's surprise WCF appearance, the Suns seem to have taken a step back as the team is struggling mightily on the road, posting a 3-8 record away from Arizona. The Suns recently got Ivan Raab back from injury and hope he stays uninjured going forward, but Phoenix may be a one-hit wonder if they don't manage to right the ship.

Speaking of ships, the one in Utah is taking on water, but isn't sinking yet. The Jazz are now 9-14, which is bad but they're on a 4-game winning streak, taking contests against the Celtics, Heat, Knicks, and Blazers ... with only the Knicks having a record over .500, but you have to take your victories where you get them. Coach David Blatt is doing everything he can to make it work and so far it looks like the team is beginning to gel.

The Thunder are the walking wounded as the team sits at 13-13 and are currently down Patty Mills (out for 2-4 months with a broken kneecap) and Cameron Payne (out with a broken finger, 2-4 weeks). Add in the already sidelined Oladipo (still with 1-2 weeks before his ankle is recovered), and things are looking shaky. OKC has signed reliable veteran Ramon Sessions to run the point until the return of Payne, but with little cap space left, OKC is teetering early on in the season.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



The Sonics now are 17-7 as the Hornets fall to 18-7 as Seattle took the buzz out of "Buzz City" and thoroughly dominated the Hornets from the tip. The game didn't look like it would go that way, at least in the early first quarter anyway, as both teams came out and were playing frantic defense.

With nearly four minutes off the clock, the score was tied at 2-2: both teams scored on free throws and no shots. The game looked like it was going to be a defensive affair but then Malik Newman decided to take some shots. Newman scored the next 4 points, helping kickstart the Sonics offense.

With Newman going, Markieff Morris started doing work on the inside, taking advantage of Charlotte's soft interior defense. Kieff helped the Sonics grab a 20-9 lead with over four minutes left in the first quarter, but the Hornets quickly wiped that lead away with a barrage of triples.

Entering the second, the score was 24-22 Sonics. In that quarter Seattle continued to ride Morris and their bigs inside, letting Noel and Gortat get in a rhythm. The Sonics bench played a big role in the quarter as they kept the Hornets at bay and padded the lead a bit.

But it was in the third quarter where Seattle really put the hammer down as Noel and Newman started to really feed into one another, setting up a dynamic two-man game that the Hornets had no counter for. As Charlotte had to bench Luke Kennard (he had four fouls in the third quarter), the Hornets rolled out with Tony Allen -- perennial non-shooter -- and Kemba Walker started jacking up shots to bring the Hornets back.

Kemba ended up burying Charlotte and didn't find his shot again till well into the fourth, which was too late by that point. Westbrook was quiet most of the game but helped close out the Hornets in the fourth, giving the Sonics a good win against a team that had beat them earlier in the month.

Go Sonics.









Around the NBA

The Bucks are winners of four straight and now sit at 11-13, the early adjustment period with Marc Gasol seemingly over. After a rough start it appears that Milwaukee is ready to pick up where it left off last season and contend for a playoff spot.

The Indiana Pacers -- a team many widely believed would be bad this year -- sit at 17-6, new HC Luke Walton looking like a genius with the offense he's running. Indiana is getting incredible production from DeAndre Ayton, the 1st overall pick, with 19.2 PPG and 10.8 RPG, and he's been huge for them. If Ayton continues to perform this well, he could be in-line for ROY.

The best team out East, the 76ers, are a ludicrous 23-3. You read that right, 23-3, and 13-0 at home. Philly currently boasts the best record in the NBA and are being led by Jahill Okafor, who's murdering his opponents with 25.6 PPG and 13.9 RPG. You remember when people were wondering if he or Towns was the better player? Okafor does and he seems ready to put that question to rest once and for all.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

The NBA First Trimester Report: The West

December 27st, 2018

By Vonny Lee



The first third of the NBA regular season is over and this year, like any year, has been full of surprises. Here's a look at the league and where each team stands as 2019 approaches.



1. The Sonics -- are atop their division, a familiar sight for the NBA, but this year has the added wrinkle of actual competition in one of the NBA's weakest divisions. Seattle has the T'Wolves bearing down on them but the veteran team isn't panicking. Seattle's new offense, new head coach, and new starting lineup suffered some early bumps at the start of the season, but things have settled down now. Jae Crowder has missed the last two games with a bruised shoulder, but should return to the starting lineup before the end of the month -- and that represents the only problem Seattle has at the moment.

2. The Timberwolves -- look to finally have found the winning formula. After a disappointing non-playoff appearance last year, Minnesota added in Big Al Jefferson to provide them with another offensive option in the post other than KAT and Big Al has delivered: 15.5 PPG with 7.9 APG on 54% shooting. Jefferson's steady presence in the post has allowed KAT to breathe a little more as a PF and the Wolves are threatening for a playoff spot. The good news just rolls in for Minnesota too as the Wolves announced contract extensions for both Towns (60M over 3yrs) and Tysus Jones (11M over 2yrs).

3. The Trail Blazers -- are hanging on by a thread, mostly due to the return of rookie Michael Porter on December 8th. Since then, Portland has gone
7-4 and their offense is finally flowing freely. Wesley Matthews, the big signing for Portland in the offseason, is doing work with 20.3 PPG on 50% from the field and 51% from deep (not a typo). Matthews is the player Portland was hoping for and the player Mark Cuban wanted when he signed him in 2015.

4. The Nuggets -- are struggling as Emmanuel Mudiay is out, again, with another injury, expected to return in 1-2 weeks time. The team, meanwhile, is suffering from drama thanks to Jeff Nurkic, who wants more minutes and has demanded a trade. Nurkic is likely to be moved in the next few days as the Nuggets are actively seeking to move him ASAP. Between Mudiay's injury and Nurkic's drama, the Nuggets have suffered and a promising early start has fizzled.

5. The Jazz -- were looking okay earlier in the month but the ship is officially sinking as their star PG, Dennis Smith JR, is out 1-2 months with a fractured leg, a serious injury for the young man. Smith was scoring 17.9 PPG with 5.4 APG. His absence has sent the Jazz into a tailspin and Utah has to decide what to do with the team. Ownership was confident this season would be better, a possible playoff one, but with things as they stand Utah may move on from more of its younger players -- like Trey Lyles, who's only scoring 9.6 PPG with 7.6 RPG, a decent drop from his previous year's averages. The Jazz could be active in the trade market as the deadline approaches.



1. The Clippers -- are atop the division but their grip is tenuous at best as the Warriors and Kings are trying to catch them. The Clippers have been this good thanks to Blake Griffin, who's having the best year of his career so far: he's scoring 24.3 PPG with 10.5 RPG on 53% from the field. Jeff Teague is also having a bounceback year as he's scoring 13.1 PPG with 8.2 APG on 46% shooting, 43% from deep. The Clippers are playing some good ball, but this division is far from decided at this point.

2. The Warriors -- have returned to their winning ways. After last season's disastrous start, trade of Draymond Green, and then their incredible finish, hopes were high in Golden State that the Warriors would carry that momentum forward and they have. Led by Curry (22.5 PPG with 8.1 APG) and Thompson (25.6 PPG with 4.6 APG), the Warriors are shooting the lights out yet again. Golden State is without Kevin Looney (broken arm, 6-8 weeks), but their bench, led by Branden Wright, has filled in admirably. If the Warriors can continue to get that kind of production from their second-unit, they'll be able to keep pace out West and challenge for a top-4 seed.

3. The Kings -- started out the season so hot they may have bought into their own hype a little too much. After that hot start, the Kings dropped multiple games before getting their heads back on. Brandon Ingram has been out the last two weeks, but the Kings have done well, going 5-2 in that timespan, their most recent win coming against the Sonics. The front office is pleased -- and nervous -- about the play so far, but Sacramento seems to be ready to excel going forward.

4. The Suns -- are disappointing at this point, their record speaking to their up and down play throughout the season. Phoenix hasn't had much luck playing consistently as players have cycled in and out of the lineups with minor injuries, team chemistry being hard to find. Phoenix has to decide what this team -- and this roster -- is about moving forward as Eric Bledsoe has informed the team he's ready to extend his contract. Will Phoenix do that? Extending Bledsoe and trading him has been floated as a possibility as the Suns try to keep in the black and keep from overpaying. If last year's WCF team doesn't show up before the deadline, the Suns may have little choice but to trade Bledsoe, go young, and trust the future to Devon Booker and Ivan Raab.

5. The Lakers -- are realizing just how important Julius Randle is to them. Randle, who was left without a contract extension last season and signed a new contract in free agency with the Lakers after a bit of a wait, has been missing in action for 8 weeks, having only recently returned last week. In that 8 week timespan the Lakers have careened off a cliff and are in desperate need of some wins. The year has been disappointing so far, but the team has agreed to a contract extension with D'Angelo Russel for 3yrs/64M, locking the young gun in till the next decade.



1. The Pelicans -- are without Jrue Holiday, who broke his leg and won't return for another 2-4 weeks, but have played remarkably well in his absence over the course of the last month. Anthony Davis (22.9 PPG with 13.5 RPG), Jayson Tatum (21.9 PPG), and JJ Redick (19.4 PPG) are killing it on the floor and keeping the team above water as the rest of the division struggles. If the Pelicans can keep it up, their chances for securing a good playoff seed are high.

2. The Rockets -- just recently got back James Harden and not a moment too soon: Houston has dropped 6 of 7 and were treading water. Harden's back and so is the Rockets main offensive weapon. Mike Conley and Brook Lopez are both playing well and it appears as if the Rockets have surrounded Harden with the right type of talent for his play-style. Houston isn't sure what Pau Gasol wants to do at the end of the season (rumors swirl that he may retire), but with the depth the team has on its bench, the Rockets aren't worried about what's ahead: only what's happening this season.

3. The Thunder -- are wounded and the rest of the league is showing them no mercy. Down Patty Mills and Cameron Payne, OKC has to rely on Ramon Sessions to guide their team from the PG spot as Durant continues to put up insane numbers (26.6 PPG with 6.6 RPG and 6.5 APG on 50% from the field, 42% from deep). The return of Oladipo on Christmas day has been a good thing for OKC as they've won their last 2, but the team needs more, especially as Kevin Durant ponders signing a contract extension for the Thunder.

4. The Mavericks -- are surprised they aren't worse. Dallas isn't blowing people out but they're getting increased production from their young players, namely Kris Dunn (13.4 PPG) and Thom Makers (15.6 PPG with 7.7 RPG). Dallas is still losing and the tension is palatable between Coach Carlisle and the Mavericks front office. Carlisle wants to win now while the front office is committed to the rebuild and the two sides are tense with one another at best. Carlisle could find himself in need of a job sooner rather than later, despite the wishes of former Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki.

5. The Spurs -- aren't supposed to be here. The re-signing of LMA and the addition of JR Smith should have been enough to push San Antonio back into title contention, but injuries to Kawhi Leonard, JR Smith, and key reserve Kyle Anderson have sabotaged the Spurs early season hopes and now San Antonio has to reevaluate. The Spurs could do something they've rarely done in the last 20 years -- make a trade during mid-season. Stay tuned.

Top Ten Out West

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

The NBA First Trimester Report: The East

December 27st, 2018

By Vonny Lee



1. The 76ers -- are demolishing all teams in their path. Jahill Okafor is dominating his opponents on the inside and Ben Simmons has really stepped up his game, scoring 20.4 PPG with 7.1 RPG, and 4.8 APG on 56% shooting and 41% from deep. Simmons is proving to be the perfect compliment to Okafor and the two are going to be major players together for the 76ers going forward as Okafor agreed to a 3yr/65M extension.

2. The Knicks -- are getting the play they expected with the arrival of CP3. Last season was a disappointment as New York dealt with injuries, but this season has been all good as the Knicks are playing some of their best basketball this decade. CP3 is scoring 14.2 PPG with 7.3APG on ultra-efficient numbers form the field while Melo has returned to form, scoring 23.2 PPG with 6.4 RPG and 4.7 APG on 45% shooting from the field (but only 32% from deep). The biggest contribution comes from Porzingis, with 18.7 PPG and 11.9 RPG on 48% from the field, 39% from deep. If the Knicks can avoid the injury bug, their hopes for the postseason look good.

3. The Raptors -- are struggling without Kyle Lowry (out for another 4-6 weeks) but aren't completely dead thanks to DeMar Derozan and Jonas Valanciunas, both players stepping up in his absence. Toronto isn't nearly as desperate as they seemed earlier in the season and if the Raptors are truly better off without Lowry -- distinct possibility -- then Toronto will need to figure out a way to trade the point guard before his return breaks the lineup chemistry they have.

4. The Wizards -- are infuriatingly Washington, through and through. John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are both averaging career lows (15.2 PPG and 14.9 PPG respectively) and both players have told their agents to explore trade opportunities. The reality of playing together wasn't as good as the idea and the Wizards, inept as they are, are very likely to move on from both players before the deadline. Boogie Cousins is seen as a toxic asset at this point and John Wall another victim; Wall ultimately can fetch more if he's moved as he's agreed to extend his contract with whatever team trades for him -- as long as it's one he likes. That puts Washington in a tough position, but teams around the NBA are calling already and the Wizards have time to hunt for the best package.

5. The Celtics -- are at the bottom of the division and word out of Boston is that Brad Stevens and Danny Ainge will not have their contracts renewed at the end of the season -- further, it appears that ownership wishes to trade some players on the roster that Ainge doesn't wish to move. Danny Ainge could be the first causality this season in Boston and his end would truly mark the end of an era for Celtics fans.



1. The Hornets -- are among the league's best teams and, once again, are witnessing a blistering regular season. The success this season for the Hornets is tied to the improvement of two players: Luke Kennard and Frank Kaminsky. Both young players have stepped up this season as Kennard is averaging 18.9 PPG on 45% shooting while Kaminsky is averaging 13.4 PPG on 47% shooting, 39% from deep. The development of these two players has helped offset the underwhelming year from Love (only 17.0 PPG with 9.8 RPG).

2. The Miami Heat -- are here thanks in large part to Justise Winslow's improvement (14.9 PPG), Derrick Favors excelling at the five with 15.6 PPG and 9.5 RPG, and the surprising play of Otto Porter as a starter (10.5 PPG with 5.4 RPG). Add in the deep bench with Collison (12.4 PPG) and Chris McCullough (7.5 PPG with 7.7 RPG) and the Heat are in good position, especially since Chris Bosh still isn't back from injury. Bosh's return to the lineup should be a boon to the Heat as they look to rack up wins before the ASB.

3. The Magic -- were going to be better than this until Aaron Gordon went out on December 17th with a shoulder injury that turned out to be a muscle tear. Gordon won't return for another 6-8 weeks. The Magic have dropped 5 of 6 games and this wasn't what Paul George was promised at all. PG13 has been a good soldier about it to this point, but you better believe the Magic want to make the playoffs this season.

4. The Grizzlies -- aren't as bad as people thought they would be and that's a credit to Frank Vogel, who's continued the Grizzlies organizational dedication to gritty play. The Grizz are witnessing Harry Giles' development as the young big is flourishing, averaging 18.5 PPG with 8.3 RPG on 54% shooting. Giles, combined with Marcus Smart (who's averaging 13.6 PPG with 4.0 RPG and 4.6 APG as a starter) give Grizzlies faithful some hope. The possibility of a possible playoff berth is there, if unlikely.

5. The Hawks -- winners of the year's biggest disappointment, the Hawks have fallen apart and the culling has already begin. Mike Budenholzer was fired yesterday morning after ATL's most recent loss and the roster is likely to be completely torn down by the time the trade deadline passes. Atlanta is already putting out feelers for Derrick Rose, Rudy Gobert, and veteran Al Horford -- whom has stated his desire to stay in Atlanta but is likely to be moved for younger players and picks. It's a tough time to be a Hawks fan, but from the ashes a better team could rise.



1. The Pacers -- are the team no one expected to be at the top of this division. Indiana is getting stellar performances from 1st overall pick D'Andre Ayton and veteran Tyreke Evans, who's lighting it up with 14.5 PPG on 46% from the field, 42% from deep: number that are right around where he was at the height of his popularity in Sacramento. Luke Walton's offense has been a fascinating mix of Warrior's ball and old-school game, and the Pacers may be a dark-horse contender for a berth in the ECF at this rate.

2. The Pistons -- have benefited so far from the addition of Paul Millsap. Millsap is making defenses pay for paying too much attention to Drummond, scoring 15.8 PPG, nabbing 8.8 RPG, and shooting 52% from the field, 43% from deep. The partnership between these two players has been incredibly beneficial to both and they'll need to keep up their play since Stanley Johnson's won't return from injury for another 1-2 weeks. Adding Johnson back into this team will only improve the Pistons, who absolutely could be competing for a title in June if they play this well in the postseason.

3. The Bulls -- have been treading water since their defensive stud, Bobby Portis, went down in early November but Bobby returned last night to a roaring United Center crowd, delivered a solid double-double of 11 points and 10 boards, and got the Bulls a nice win. Chicago is going to need more of that as they fight for a playoff spot in the competitive Easter Conference.

4. The Bucks -- are wishing to high-heaven that the Greek Freak can stay uninjured going forward. Giannis went down on Christmas Eve in the third quarter with an injury and was helped off the court -- turns out he broke his toe and will miss the next 1-2 weeks as the Bucks try to survive his absence. Milwaukee is hopeful the rest of the team can step up, especially with Marc Gasol now manning the middle, but Gasol has been less than impressive (12.1 PPG with 6.6 RPG on 43% shooting) in his time with the Bucks.

5. The Cavaliers -- are as dumbfounded to be at the bottom of this division as they are confused. Cleveland's offense has been abysmal, especially their second-unit, and the team is carried on the shoulders of Irving and James -- both hitting their usual shots but less-efficiently. The Cavs aren't out of it yet and Cleveland could be a potential landing spot for multiple players as the deadline approaches, but it very much appears that the Cavs have their toughest challenge ahead of them as the rest of the conference jockeys for position.

Top Ten Out East

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return


December 28th, 2018

The season was going better than he could have hoped for. The team was winning, its record was good, the team's chemistry was high, and Udoka was working out better as a coach than he could have hoped for. As he surveyed the empty arena below him, the court darkened and the banners above in shadows, he felt a sense of pride.



But it vanished almost as soon as he remembered who wasn't here to enjoy this with him: Abby. The months since her departure had been filled with basketball … in the past, that would have been enough. It would have consumed him, it would have inhabited his thoughts, and he would have lived it. But he hadn't lived it since she left in July. It became something he never thought it would: work.



This felt like just a job now and he went to work, every morning, decisions to make and things to plan, but he felt disconnected from it. Away from it. His mind – his thoughts – kept drifting back to Abby and where she was. What she was doing. When she would be back.



He didn't know. She hadn't told him. He'd gotten postcards – literal postcards – in the mail from her as she traveled the world. One from Spain. Another from Japan. Any locale you could name, she visited and sent a postcard, with just a little blurb on it about how she was, signed at the bottom with her name. No “Love, Abby” just her name.



There was every indication that this was over. She seemed more than happy to fly around the world and be away from him … from them. From what could have been, from a child that never got a chance. It was a cruel world that did this, but it was out of his control and out of hers. Life had dictated the terms and they had to adjust to it.



He just wasn't sure if he could adjust to a life without her. She had been a revelation and now she was a phantom, a memory that hovered at the edges of his mind and made him long for her embrace, for her scent, for the way she would look at him when he said something especially stupid. He missed all the little things. All the annoying things. Hell, he missed all the things.



Rubbing the only ring on his finger that meant anything at this point – his wedding ring – he sat back down in his chair, staring at the empty walls of the owners suite he never used. His phone vibrated and he gave it a glance, expecting a message from his brother or mother or Ray.



Instead, it was an alert from one of the sports sites he followed. He leaned forward, read the text eagerly, and the gears in his mind began to turn. He flipped on the TV and ESPN was reporting the same thing.



Danny Ainge had been fired, effective immediately. The Boston Celtics legend and executive extraordinaire was relieved of his duties and it was expected Brad Stevens would be let go soon as well. Boston was preparing for a full-blown rebuild.



Max leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the screen as his brain worked out the math. With Boston in turmoil, anything they had could be on the table. An opportunity was here to improve the Sonics, if he wanted it … and he desperately wanted it. Boston had made a critical error in doing this now, but if he pounced, he could give the team an asset that would be hugely useful going forward.



He flashed a grin. “Thank you, Boston.”

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



The Sonics now sit at 21-9 as the Blazers fall to 17-15 after a close win out in Portland. Seattle entered the game after winning two-straight, with less than stellar performances from Russell Westbrook (who averaged only 15 points in those two wins). Westbrook has been getting questions from the media about his apparent slump.

Put those questions to bed after tonight. The game started out close between the rival squads as both Westbrook and Lillard tried to warm up, but neither found a ton of success. While Lillard and Westbrook were, effectively, cancelling one another out, Westbrook was finding other ways to contribute -- namely, with his passing and defense.

That was in stark contrast to Lillard, who continued to trust his shot and made some inadvisable passes as he tried to get his team in it. At the end of the first, the Sonics led the Blazers 26-17 and would maintain their play heading into the second, where the second-unit of the Sonics continued to perform exceptionally.

Heading into halftime, the score was 51-43, Seattle with a commanding lead. In the third quarter it looked like the Sonics were about to rip "Rip City" a new one as they took a 16-point lead and silenced the enemy crowd. But that lead would was established too early -- midway through the third -- and the Blazers fought back, hard, to get into the game, shutting down the Sonics offense in epic fashion and storming back.

Entering the fourth, the Sonics led 77-72, and their offensive woes would continue as Lillard got hot and started draining shots from anywhere on the court. Seattle quickly brought Westbrook back in and he didn't leave for the rest of the game as the Sonics let him and Lillard engage in a back and forth duel.

Lillard got the Blazers past the Sonics and gave them a brief 2-point lead midway through the fourth, but Westbrook was far from done. Russell relentlessly attacked the rim, passed out, and trusted his teammates to make shots -- and make them they did. Seattle swatted away the Blazers in a high scoring final frame as they let Westbrook be Westbrook, nabbing an essential win in a division that's not nearly as easy as it was just a year ago.

Go Sonics.










Around the NBA

The MVP race is heating up. Jahill Okafor leads current polls, with Durant, Westbrook, Harden, and Griffin rounding out the top-five. After last year's close finish, lobbying for the various candidates has already begun. Durant is trying for his third-straight MVP, something not even Michael Jordan could accomplish, while Westbrook and Harden are both eager to score a victory over their former teammate. Griffin is the dark horse candidate and, depending on how the Clipper season goes (19-14, third out West), he could go higher.

All-Star voting is well-underway and it looks like James Harden and Russell Westbrook will be the starting backcourt for the West. Both players have over 1.2 million votes, but Westbrook could get taken over by Curry or Lillard (both with close to 1.2 million). Durant is leading all players out West with 1.5 million votes. Out East, John Wall and Chris Paul are leading the guards with nearly a million votes, while LeBron leads all East players with 1.4 million votes.

[jonnycakes12]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Just finished reading this entire thing. Awesome job! Miss my Sonics, so I'm liking this a lot. Looking forward to the updates.

He flashed a grin. “Thank you, Boston.”

Avery Bradley coming home?

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Just finished reading this entire thing. Awesome job! Miss my Sonics, so I'm liking this a lot. Looking forward to the updates.



Avery Bradley coming home?

Much thanks! Yes, there are plans for SOMEONE to make their way back to the Pacific Northwest, but is it Bradley?

Stay tuned. Should have a story post ready for tomorrow that will explain what Max has up his sleeve.

[Nitro742]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

I've really enjoyed catching up on your dynasty. The off-season recaps for each team were great, and a good way to keep everyone up to speed. Keep up the amazing work.