From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

SUNS WIN WCF 4-1, HEAD TO FINALS TO FACE RAPTORS













Random Number Generator has assigned me Game 3 and Game 6. LET'S GO.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Rapid Reaction: Suns 146, Raptors 105

By Sam Gray

The Phoenix Suns are up 3-0 on the Toronto Raptors after a second-straight dominant performance. Phoenix decidedly beat Toronto 130-91 in Game 2, and repeated that effort tonight — blowing away any hopes the Raptors had at getting back in the series this night. After a close Game 1 win (86-81), many experts predicted the Suns had met a defense that could keep up with its offense.

The Suns players heard those words

“We absolutely heard the mutterings,” said veteran Blake Griffin. “We talked about it some after the first game and we wanted to put that to rest. When you have a group of guys like us, when we set out minds to it, we can smash people.”

The Suns started out the game feeding Griffin, who had 13 points at the end of the first and helped the Suns to a big 34-23 lead in Toronto. Phoenix rode Omar Pope in the second, who exploded for 13 points of his own and the Suns were up huge at halftime — the Toronto defense was nonexistent as the Raptors were shellshocked, too slow to rotate and too late to contest.

The third quarter was another laugher and the Suns cruised in the fourth, pouring it on as the Toronto crowd booed after every made Phoenix basket — and they booed a lot.

“I get to embarrass these guys almost every year,” said JR Smith. “I feel like Canada should give me citizenship for free or something.”

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

League Update: The Finals

By Sam Gray

The Winners:

The Finals have concluded and the Phoenix Suns — two years removed from one of the worst sports tragedies imaginable — have swept the Toronto Raptors 4-0 and won the organization’s first NBA title. Game 4, in Toronto, was nothing short of a master execution of a gameplan as the Suns came out and focused their energies not on offense, but defense. The Raptors, clearly expecting a shootout, were not prepared for the ferocity of the Suns defensive efforts and managed only 8 points — 8! — in the first quarter. The embarrassing play of the Raptors in the Finals has been blatant and Toronto, long known for collapsing when it mattered most in the playoffs, must live with that reputation another season.

The Suns, however, can bask in the light of a championship for the first time in their history. Led by Pope, Griffin, and Brogdon (with big helpings from Hezonja and JR Smith) in Game 4, the Suns head into the offseason victors unlike any other in NBA history.

“This is for all the Suns fans,” said Finals MVP Omar Pope. “But this is especially for those families of the team that came before us … this is for you guys more than anyone else!”

Emotions were high for Phoenix after the game as Griffin broken into tears talking to reporters about what the win meant for him.

“It’s been … such a long journey, man. So long, so long … I thought my window was closed. I thought it was really closed,” said Griffin.

Head Coach Jason Kidd was exuberant, proclaiming his team “the best in the NBA and one of the best champions in its history.”

Owner Regina Culver was all smiles, telling the press that the “players, coaches, and front office all deserve maximum praise for this.”

For the second straight-year, a Western Conference team has won after making bold moves in free agency and in the trade market in the offseason. Expect other teams across the league to try to replicate that formula as multiple star veterans look to be on the trade block as the summer begins.

“It’s going to be wacky,” said one respected executive.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

AUTHOR'S NOTE:


I picked up 2K19 last night (hey, I resisted the urge for almost a week, give me credit ) and I'm IN LOVE with the player DNA feature. Super-stoked to use it.


I think 2K has finally reached the point where I can do a story I've been wanting to explore for a few years now, so I'm going to call this one done (seems appropriate as I've won the title) and begin prep work on the next one.


I haven't decided on a team yet, so if you have an thoughts, feel free to offer them up.

[georgiafan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Good to see you close this out with a ring. I’m glad you caved and got 2k19 so far I’m loving it as well. I think I’m closing in on the team I want to use also and need to post some stuff on it. I’ll prob wait a few weeks at least for Bugs and sliders and all that stuff

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Good to see you close this out with a ring. I’m glad you caved and got 2k19 so far I’m loving it as well. I think I’m closing in on the team I want to use also and need to post some stuff on it. I’ll prob wait a few weeks at least for Bugs and sliders and all that stuff

Yeah, I'm enjoying the Player DNA feature and I'm aiming for a fantasy MyLeague. Don't know if I can wait a few weeks ... running a test ML now, trying to iron out the new things and see what they do.


I've already encountered one bug where the alternate uniform in the expansion team design uniform set doesn't show up when I apply it on my team -- that seems to be a problem for a lot of people, I think the most recent patch did it (as those designs uploaded earlier in the week have a third uniform, but they don't apply all the way either).