Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

Game/System: NBA 2K21 / Xbox Series X
Mode: MyNBA
Rosters: 2021-21 NBA Season by JahM0ment (including my own edits with certain player ratings)
Game Sliders: Superstar default

Quarter Length: 12 minutes
Sim Quarter Length: 12 minutes
Draft Class: Draft classes will vary and may include extra players. Some will be real and others may be 2K’s draft class generator or fictional draft classes.

2021:

Season Length: 82 Games
Regular Season Played Games: All TV games decided by 2K21 will be played, the rest of the season will work in a cycle as such: Win, sim until 3 losses, play next game, if loss play until next win, if win continue cycle.
Playoff Played Games: 2 played and the rest simulated per series. These will be randomly determined from a number generator and one must be in the first four games.
Finals Played Games: 3 played and the rest simulated. These will be the first game, and two randomly generated games which could be 2-7.
Playoff Format: 7-7-7-7

Advanced CBA Rules: All On
Offseason Auto Time Periods: All Off

Automatic League Expansion: On
Protected Players: 8
G League: On
Staff Abilities: On
Progressive Fatigue: On
Team Chemistry: On
Rule Changes: On
Draft Class Quality: 35

Salary Cap: On ($109M Value)
Salary Cap Inflation Rate: 30
Hard Cap: On ($200M Value)

Trade Restrictions: All On
Trade Approval: On
Trade Frequency: 35
Previously Traded Draft Picks: On

Injuries: On
Roster Injuries: On
Injury Severity and Duration: 30
Career-Ending Injury Frequency: 15
Wear and Tear: On

Progression: 46
Regression: 54

Sim Difficulty: 52
Trade Negotiation Difficulty: 65
Contract Negotiation Difficulty: 75
CPU Re-Signing Aggresiveness: 70
Morale and Chemistry Difficulty: 55
Morale and Chemistry Effects: 60
CPU and User Injury Frequency: 45
CPU and User Injury Effects: 40
Player Fatigue Rate: 52
Player Recovery Rate: 48

Alright, hi everyone and welcome back to another attempt of me completing a NBA 2K dynasty. Some of you may have read some of my former threads I started but if not welcome. I'm going to try and keep a lot of this short and sweet and post mainly the key things and use this sort of a base to keep all the history instead of clogging up excel and word files that I eventually can't understand. I've chosen the Pelicans for this dynasty for something different. I've always liked the New Orleans team and now with a good young core including BI and Zion the sky's the limit for this teams' future. I plan on filling this thread with match results and anything else going on in MyNBA with daily updates when I can and will not be doing much story work with this, so it will focus more on the game more than outside the court.

Once again thanks to anyone who follows and I hope I can get a good amount of usage out of this dynasty, any feedback good or bad is welcomed and encouraged. To start this off, here's is a little backstory on the Pelicans.

New Orleans Pelicans backstory: The Pelicans in some people's eyes have been one of the most irrelevant teams in the NBA during their tenure. They first took the name and history of the former Charlotte Hornets before then giving the name back up becoming their own franchise, lead by big man Anthony Davis. Davis had achieved no team success leading up to his final year before being traded to the Lakers, in which the Pels gained former number 2 draft pick Brandon Ingram, a forward with massive potential but only small signs of showing his skill to then. Fast forward 12 months and the Pelicans have unearthed the real BI, almost a 2.0 version of KD as well as seeing their number one pick Zion Williamson come out of his shell following an injury that kept him out of the first half of the 2019-20 season. The Pelicans are looking to take over the future, with only one division championship in their history, the team is now looking to take over the west and eventually win their first chip with a young core full of talent.

So there we go, a bit of backstory on the team I'm using and my goals and aims for this dynasty, let's get this started. Without further or do, I present to you...

Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty

Re: Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

2020-21 Season:




2020-21 Season:

Re: Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

Re: Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

Before we get into the exciting stuff we need to look at the players who will take the court and get the wins on the board for the Pelicans. The Pelicans organisation as a whole have stated this is their best chance as a team to contend so will be collecting key pieces as much as they can, as they already have a very nice core. Expectations are high as they expect playoff runs straight away and some deeper appearances further down some of their young stars' careers. All-in-all the side has no real weakness and is full of key players, with obviously Ingram and Williamson untouchable, as well as solid contributors Lonzo, Bledsoe and Steven Adams.

Point Guards:

Lonzo Ball (77): Lonzo is now entering his fourth season in the league and second with the Pelicans. Although there has been glimpses of excellence it is still under debate whether the oldest Ball brother has the ability to be a quality player on a good side. With his rookie contract ending at the end of the season Ball will be wanting to show his worth and with his great passing ability, he may be able to make scoring easier for the two keys, BI and Zion.

Kira Lewis Jr. (74): The Pelicans youngest player is back up rookie PG Lewis Jr. Depending on his growth Kira could be expected to start by the 2021 season but will be looked at to just grow into the side in his first season.

Shooting Guards:

Eric Bledsoe (82): Bledsoe will play majority of his minutes at the two for New Orleans this season, looking to be a third scoring option and a key passer in the starting lineup. After his trade from Milwaukee, he will take Jrue Holiday's former role and with his experience with another out of this world big man, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bledsoe will look to create another forceful duo with Zion Williamson.

J.J. Redick (77): Arguably the teams biggest three-point threat, 36 year old Redick will once again play in a key sixth man role and be the biggest threat from behind the arc in key moments. Expect JJ to start some games this season at the two when players are out of form or there are certain matchup needs.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (74): Alexander-Walker will continue his career in year two once again being part of the backup brigade, helping out when the starters are tired and playing big minutes in less important times to help his development.

Sindarius Thornwell (69): Thornwell was signed as a reserve player during the 19-20 season and proved why he was a good signing coming up with some key moments for the Pelicans. Although he showed some promise last season expect Thornwell to only appear during garbage time and further down the rotation when needed.

Small Forwards:

Brandon Ingram (86): The first of the Pelicans' two headed force is Brandon Ingram. The former number two draft pick for the Lakers was traded before last season in the trade for Anthony Davis and proved his worth straight away. Ingram made his first All-Star appearance and also won Most Improved Player in his breakout season. Sometimes referred to as KD 2.0, Ingram looks to only get better in his second year at the Pelicans and will be one to watch on how much he progresses from his massive jump last season.

Josh Hart (75): The final piece of the AD trade is Josh Hart. Hart is also entering his fourth season coming from his best season yet last year and is a key to helping Redick behind the arc. Although he is not looking at big minutes he will be looking to prove his importance to the side to move his way up the depth chart.

Naji Marshall (Two-Way, 68): The first of New Orleans' two-way players is Naji Marshall. Marshall is a good all-around forward who will spend most of the season with the Erie BayHawks to help his progression but could be a good minor signing for the Pelicans system.

Power Forwards:

Zion Williamson (84): The second head to accompany Brandon Ingram is Zion Williamson, who last season was the most talked about rookie since LeBron. Although injury killed his chances for Rookie of the Year, Zion showed why there were such big wraps around him coming out dominating in his limited time for the Pelicans in the 19-20 season. Injury aside, Williamson will be a force to be reckoned with in his second season and a sneaky MVP candidate at that. Expect Zion to lead the PPG tally or share the honours with Ingram.

Wenyen Gabriel (72): Wenyen Gabriel is the only other PF on the Pelicans roster and is currently injured, but is looking for his breakout season with New Orleans. Drafted in 2018, Gabriel didn't play his first game until last season. He has shown glimpses of talent but the jury is out on his current ability, but the Pelicans could look to untap the potential he holds for future seasons.

Centers:

Steven Adams (80): Arguably the strongest man in the NBA, Steven Adams will make his debut for the Pelicans in 2020-21 and looks to be a massive help to the already strong frontcourt of Zion and Ingram. At 26 years of age Adams looks to have plenty in the tank and although he is coming off a not great previous year he will excel having someone there of Williamson's caliber to carry the load with him.

Jaxson Hayes (74): New Orleans' second rate big man is sophomore Jaxson Hayes. Hayes will look to play double figure minutes and only improve moving into his second season and grow with the side. Hayes has shown starter glimpses and if he continues to improve in his second year don't be surprised to see him in the starting five sooner than later.

Nicolo Melli (73): Melli looks to continue his NBA career in his second year with the Pelicans, although some key signings at his positions will cause a decrease in minutes for the Italian. A scoring and three point shooting force in the Euro League, Melli will be looked to create some space inside during his time on the court, although it looks minimal.

Willy Hernangomez (73): The older of the Hernangomez brother, Willy will see his sixth season in the NBA with the Pelicans. Fourth in the depth chart behind some key younger and better player expect Willy to spend most of the season on the sideline.

Will Magnay (Two-Way, 69): The fifth and final center for the Pelicans is Australian Will Magnay. Magnay was signed on a two-way contract due to his breakout season with the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL, winning Most Improved Player honours along the way. Being last of five in the center listing, expect Magnay to spend his time with G-League affiliates Erie for the 20-21 season.

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /><link href="http://dynasties.operationsports.com/css/osdyn.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></head><body><table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" class="osdyn" width="475"><tr class="masthead_alt"><td bgcolor="#002A5C" colspan="7">2020-21 New Orleans Pelicans Roster</td></tr><tr class="stathead"><td align="center" width="6%">#</td><td width="31%">NAME</td><td width="9%">POS</td><td width="9%">AGE</td><td width="9%">HT</td><td width="9%">WT</td><td width="27%">CONTRACT</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">12</td><td>Adams, Steven</td><td class="active">C</td><td>27</td><td>6'11"</td><td>265</td><td>3yr/$62.62M</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">6</td><td>Alexander-Walker, Nickeil</td><td class="active">SG</td><td>22</td><td>6'5"</td><td>205</td><td>1yr/$3.11M</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">2</td><td>Ball, Lonzo</td><td class="active">PG</td><td>23</td><td>6'6"</td><td>190</td><td>1yr/$11.00M</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">5</td><td>Bledsoe, Eric</td><td class="active">SG</td><td>30</td><td>6'1"</td><td>214</td><td>2yr/$35.00M</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">35</td><td>Gabriel, Wenyen</td><td class="active">PF</td><td>23</td><td>6'9"</td><td>205</td><td>1yr/$1.60M</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">3</td><td>Hart, Josh</td><td class="active">SF</td><td>25</td><td>6'5"</td><td>215</td><td>1yr/$3.49M</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">10</td><td>Hayes, Jaxson</td><td class="active">C</td><td>20</td><td>6'11"</td><td>220</td><td>1yr/$5.11M</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">9</td><td>Hernangomez, Willy</td><td class="active">C</td><td>26</td><td>6'11"</td><td>250</td><td>1yr/$1.62M</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">14</td><td>Ingram, Brandon</td><td class="active">SF</td><td>23</td><td>6'7"</td><td>190</td><td>5yr/$158.36M</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">13</td><td>Lewis Jr., Kira</td><td class="active">PG</td><td>19</td><td>6'3"</td><td>165</td><td>2yr/$7.45M</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">25</td><td>Magnay, Will (TW)</td><td class="active">C</td><td>22</td><td>6'10"</td><td>234</td><td>1yr/$897K</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">8</td><td>Marhsall, Naji (TW)</td><td class="active">SF</td><td>22</td><td>6'7"</td><td>220</td><td>1yr/$897K</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">20</td><td>Melli, Nicolo</td><td class="active">C</td><td>29</td><td>6'9"</td><td>236</td><td>1yr/$3.90M</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">4</td><td>Redick, J.J.</td><td class="active">SG</td><td>36</td><td>6'3"</td><td>200</td><td>1yr/$13.01M</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td align="center">15</td><td>Thornwell, Sindarius</td><td class="active">SG</td><td>26</td><td>6'4"</td><td>215</td><td>1yr/$1.62M</td></tr></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td align="center">1</td><td>Williamson, Zion</td><td class="active">PF</td><td>20</td><td>6'6"</td><td>284</td><td>1yr/$10.25M</td></tr></table></body></html>

Re: Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

Power Rankings

Starting 5: Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Montrezl Harrell
Last Season: 52-19 (1st in West), Won in NBA Finals vs Miami 4-2
Star Player: LeBron James. Arguably the greatest of all time heads into his 18th season at the ripe age of 35 and LeBron hasn't missed a beat. There is no doubt this man will average 20+ PPG and dominate another NBA season, looking to lead his Lakers to back to back chips.
Watch out for: Anthony Davis. The Lakers' second in charge will be looking to take over the team as his own and had glimpses of being #1 last season but now can receive the throne from LBJ as he winds down and AD can take this star team into his own hands.

The Lakers were undoubtedly the best team last season and survey says this season we will see a repeat. They have brought in first and second from last seasons' sixth man rankings and didn't give up too much to get them. Although this season won't be easy, it's hard not to see the Lakers once again lifting the title.

Starting 5: Jrue Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Last Season: 56-17 (1st in East), Lost in East Conference Semi-Finals vs Miami 1-4
Star Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo. The best player in the league at the moment is getting better and better every year and there is always something new and amazing he shows us. It's hard to doubt The Greek Freak will get even better this season and challenge for a third MVP.
Watch out for: Jrue Holiday. The Bucks flipped a few pieces for Jrue Holiday in what could be a great turnout for the team. Holiday was a fan favourite in New Orleans and if he can figure it out a connection between himself and Giannis would be deadly.

The Bucks have filled another piece in the puzzle to the NBA Finals trading for Jrue Holiday, and the team arguably looks stronger from that. The best side of the regular season last year lost it in the playoffs as Giannis continues to struggle when he needs help, the question is: is Jrue Holiday enough help to get the Bucks further.

Starting 5: Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre Jr., Draymond Green, James Wiseman
Last Season: 15-50 (15th in West)
Star Player: Stephen Curry. There is no doubts Curry is the star of this side and even after missing some big time last year, Steph will come back better than ever.
Watch out for: James Wiseman. The 2nd overall pick of the 2020 draft Wiseman is the big man that the Warriors need and is one of the more filled out players from his draft class. With lots of ability right now and more potential under the hood, rookie of the year is his for the taking and if he can get better than we think he will be, the sky is the limit.

The worst team from the 2019-20 season, the Golden State Warriors. Definitely not what anyone thought they would of seen following the season but what is done is done and the Warriors have a fresh support cast to bounce back for the 20-21 season. Counting out Klay for the season is a big blow, but nevertheless the Warriors still have to be a big Western Conference contender.

Starting 5: John Wall, James Harden, Danuel House Jr., P.J. Tucker, DeMarcus Cousins
Last Season: 44-28 (4th in West), Lost in West Conference Semi-Finals vs LA Lakers 1-4
Star Player: James Harden. Another one of the best players in the league, Harden has the ability to dominate himself and turn a game on its' head, but there is a massive slope between his best and worst. If Harden can figure it out this season he is a massive MVP contender and could be the best hope the Rockets have had since Hakeem to win a chip.
Watch out for: John Wall. John Wall on the Rockets. Amazing. Wall has been away from the game for some time due to injury but he could come back bigger and stronger as easy as coming back and ending another season. It will be interesting to see what Wall can provide the Rockets but if it is positive it could be the key to helping them progress further in the west.

The Rockets had a disappointing season by their standards last year, finishing 4th in the west and being outted in five games by the Lakers in the west semis. Although the lost Westbrook, he has been replaced by John Wall and with Boogie Cousins to replace Clint Capela, this looks a dangerous team.

Starting 5: Patrick Beverley, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka
Last Season: 49-23 (2nd in West), Lost in West Conference Semi-Finals vs Denver 3-4
Star Player: Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi seems to be getting better and better and team him up with Paul George and you have a deadly duo. Last season they were mixed together and the nearly made the western finals, if they can mould properly this season and Kawhi improves even more the only way is up.
Watch out for: Serge Ibaka. Not much to say about this one. Ibaka in, Harrell out. But there is something exciting about this addition. The last time we saw Kawhi and Serge, they got the Raptors their first chip. Can they do the same for the Clippers?

The Clippers undoubtedly stole the series of a lifetime away from us in the playoffs last year, losing from 3-1 against Denver. This season, they have learned some lessons and look stronger than before and will be looking to right some wrongs. This is make or break for the side as a whole, because another lacklustre season could see the end of this mini superteam.

Starting 5: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Danny Green, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid
Last Season: 43-30 (6th in East), Lost in East Conference First Round vs Boston 0-4
Star Player: Joel Embiid. Embiid has taken over as the most exciting Sixer, with his potential looking much higher than Ben Simmons'. This could be a massive year for the big African and if it us up to him, Philly might be able to conquer the east.
Watch out for: Dwight Howard. Having one of the best big men in the league is massive for the Sixers, but to have one of the best Center's of the last ten years right next to him in the lineup is huge. Dwight proved he is back in form with his performances in LA getting a rung along the way and with some extra help now at the 5 he could have his best season in years.

Philadelphia haven't really added much to their attack other than the likes of Seth Curry and Dwight Howard, but the 76ers natural improvement is what ranks them so highly on this list. A true top four conference side Philly just need to get the green light and improve their chemistry to conquer the east, add Doc Rivers to the coaching department and this could be the year for the Sixers.

Starting 5: Jeff Teague, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Tristan Thompson
Last Season: 48-24 (3rd in East), Lost in East Conference Finals vs Miami 2-4
Star Player: Jayson Tatum. Tatum is only 22 and has the makings of a star written all over him. Of course the potential and the vision was always there but seeing him actually put it together and do some of the things he does is amazing. If he sticks around, which I'm sure every Boston faithful hopes he does, he looks to be the Larry Bird of his generation.
Watch out for: Jaylen Brown. One of the newer more exciting duos in the league are Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both are under 24 and when they come together it is a sight to see. Tatum may be the younger of the two, but Brown's recent improvement means the pair are on par.

The Celtics' time to shine may just be around the corner. We have already covered how great Tatum and Brown are, add in the talent of Marcus Smart and the star of the backcourt Kemba Walker and this side is near faultless. Although Kemba is currently injured Boston still looks to contend for top of the east and this season looks like the best chance they've had since the big three of KG, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Starting 5: Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge
Last Season: 32-39 (11th in West)
Star Player: DeMar DeRozan. DeMar is not getting any younger but he is still the driving force behind this Spurs team. He is a big key to the growth of a few of the younger Spurs players and if he can keep up his form as well as continuing to let the others grow this is a danger team.
Watch out for: Lonnie Walker IV. One of the most underrated players in the league in my opinion, Lonnie Walker. Walker is entering his third season this year and the big difference to his game will be his amount of minutes. Last season Lonnie averaged 16 mins and 6 PPG, look for him to be 25+ minutes and double digit scoring, turning into one of the keys to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs, rated very highly for some unknown reason, look to get a few more years out of their lifespan before they lose their core. DeRozan, Gay and Aldridge are arguably their three best players but are all on the slope down towards the end of their careers. Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker have the potential to be a dream backcourt but have lots of time to learn. With a few other pieces including new draftee Tre Jones and skilled sixth man Derrick White, the Spurs could have one more playoff berth left in them.

Starting 5: Kyrie Irving, Bruce Brown, Caris LeVert, Kevin Durant, Jarrett Allen
Last Season: 35-37 (7th in East), Lost in East Conference First Round vs Toronto 0-4
Star Player: Kevin Durant. KD is back! Coming off another lengthy tenure on the sidelines we all know what KD is capable of and he still has all of it left in him. A wildcard for MVP in my opinion and Durant will definitely get his fair share of the ball and could definitely take back his coveted Scoring Champion title he has missed for the last few seasons.
Watch out for: Kyrie and KD. It is hard not to watch out for these two men but this has to be the most exciting new duo for the season. Two stars mixing is always great to watch but these two look to have the chemistry to carry Brooklyn all the way to the finals.

To be fair Brooklyn are definitely not worse than San Antonio, but the Nets do need to prove themselves before we get too excited about the hype. This is a dangerous team with two stars, Kyrie and KD, Caris LeVert is a super starter, big man Jarrett Allen and with Spencer Dinwiddie injured they are one piece away from being championship favourite. The Nets have a roster that looks like it could dominate for the next few years and if KD can find his old self, then the rest of the league should be on high alert.

Starting 5: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Aron Baynes
Last Season: 53-19 (2nd in East), Lost in East Conference Semi-Finals vs Boston 3-4
Star Player: Pascal Siakam. With the move of Kawhi Leonard and the emergence of Pascal Siakam, there is no doubt who's team this is now. Siakam is still only 26 and is just entering his prime now, being the driving force to the Raps 2nd place finish in the east last season.
Watch out for: Fred VanVleet. One of the hidden gems of the NBA, Fred VanVleet has to be a must in a show out game squad. Fred can pull off some of the most freakish games known and he is massively underrated at that. Don't be surprised to see VanVleet poll the best stats of the side this season.

The Raptors are not the same team they were when they won the championship in 2019, but there is still glimpses there. Kyle Lowry still has the talent and Fred VanVleet is definitely making up for anything the Lowry has dropped off on. Add Siakam to the mix and a young OG Anunoby and this is a scary side. Although there are no other standout young studs, this side still has a solid core to contend with the top teams.

Starting 5: Coby White, Zach LaVine, Otto Porter Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr.
Last Season: 22-43 (11th in East)
Star Player: Zach LaVine. LaVine has cemented himself as the Bulls' star player over the last two seasons, putting the team on his back and leading them to some big wins. With the players around him getting better and older expect LaVine to still be the game changer, but have the help he needs to put W's on the board.
Watch out for: Coby White. One of the better young prospects in the league, NBA sophomore Coby White had an above average season last year, but expect even bigger things from him this year. He is the other name in Chicago's deadly backcourt and White has possibly the highest ceiling of any player on the Bulls roster.

A bit of a surprise this high up the list, Chicago have cemented themselves with a quality young roster who can only get better. With a deadly backcourt and some big names up forward the Bulls could be a playoff contender this season if their pieces can align.

Starting 5: Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Rodney Hood, Robert Covington, Jusuf Nurkic
Last Season: 35-39 (8th in West), Lost in West Conference First Round vs LA Lakers 1-4
Star Player: Damian Lillard. Without a doubt one of the best players in the league and one of the most clutch men, Dame has continued to outshine his performances and none of that proved more than in the bubble last year. Expect Lillard to be up there in the MVP race and if the pieces around him put in Portland are a playoff lock.
Watch out for: Derrick Jones Jr. A left field pick here, DJJ had some amazing moments on a stacked Heat roster, and although this Blazers team is full of quality expect more minutes from this underrated SF.

The Blazers turned the bubble on its' head last season, lead by Dame's massive games, but they will need to continue with those efforts if they want to be a contender in the west. C.J. will once again Lillard's right hand man and the addition of RoCo and Nurkic getting better every season, they look like a good chance.

Starting 5: Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert
Last Season: 44-28 (6th in West), Lost in West Conference First Round vs Denver 3-4
Star Player: Donovan Mitchell. The shining light of the Utah roster, 24 year old Mitchell will enter his fourth season on the verge of superstar status, single handedly leading the Jazz to the playoffs and nearly a second round birth last season. Mitchell still has plenty of time to get better so don't be surprised if this is his best season to date.
Watch out for: Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell will steal the show night after night so it is hard to watch out for anyone else. Keep an eye out if the Jazz do make a big trade to get some more help for the star guard.

The Jazz are a tough team to review as they have some quality lineup pieces, but nothing that screams out contender. With the aging Mike Conley and a very up and down Rudy Gobert, the team has a heavy reliance on Donovan Mitchell. All is not lost though as they still have a few under the radar pieces which could prove the big difference.

Starting 5: Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Maurice Harkless, Bam Adebayo
Last Season: 44-29 (5th in East), Lost in NBA Finals to LA Lakers 2-4
Star Player: Jimmy Butler. Butler showed why he is one of the most valuable players in the league, leading the Heat to a shock NBA Finals appearance last season. Butler is still in the middle of his prime so I can't see this Heat side getting any worse.
Watch out for: Tyler Herro and Bam. Two of the youngest Heat players will be soon their best, as they have developed their own. little homegrown big three. Bam continues to dominate at the 5 and Tyler Herro was a rookie sensation last season, taking over in the playoffs. Expect the pair of them to be a massive threat in the east once again.

The Heat are also a surprise in this position but not for the right reasons. Without a doubt one of the best teams in the east, with a stacked roster, this Miami side have to be a NBA Finals threat once again. They will need to prove last season was not a fluke but if they have the ability they could possibly go one better.

Starting 5: Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, Deni Avdija, Davis Bertans, Thomas Bryant
Last Season: 25-47 (9th in East)
Star Player: Russ and Bradley Beal. The addition of Russ to the Wizards backcourt makes the side look deadlier than they were with John Wall and Bradley Beal continues to prove the doubters wrong, getting better as each season comes and goes. If both of these men are up to scratch this season it's hard to see the Wizards not in the playoffs.
Watch out for: Moritz Wagner. Another left field pick Wagner had a steady improvement last season and will now head into his third NBA season, second with the Wizards. Moe has plenty of ability and will look to team up with Thomas Bryant and create a deadly duo in the paint.

The Wizards are another of the more interesting teams this season. With the addition of Russ they look like a sure fire contender, add Thomas Bryant getting better to that and the highly touted Deni Avdija to the starting lineup and you have a quality winning roster. Whether they have what it takes to put it all together remains to be seen, but if there is signs of cohesion expect this Wizards side to be up there with the rest of the contenders.

Starting 5: Luka Doncic, Josh Richardson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Willie Cauley-Stein
Last Season: 43-32 (7th in West), Lost in West Conference First Round vs LA Clippers 2-4
Star Player: Luka Doncic. Doncic is headed towards his third NBA season and is one of the favourites to claim the MVP. After his massive season last year where he was in the race for a maiden MVP, Luka has put the Mavs on his shoulders and looks to be a straight replacement of Dirk Nowitzki. Expect Doncic to amazingly improve on his numbers from last season.
Watch out for: Josh Richardson. Richardson makes an appearance for his third team in three years with the Mavericks, after coming off a slightly worse season with the 76ers. Back in the starting five expect J-Rich to help the offense and lower the load set on Doncic, as well as improve back to his best form when he was with the Heat.

The Mavericks are constantly getting better with the growth of Luka Doncic and the strength of the rest of their lineup. Making a playoff appearance last season was only the start of their expectations and with Doncic getting better and better the team has places to go. The team may still have a few years before the big time but if Porzingis can stay healthy and the Mavs can bolster their front court they will be at the top of the league in no time.

Starting 5: Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic
Last Season: 46-27 (3rd in West), Lost in West Conference Finals vs LA Lakers 1-4
Star Player: Nikola Jokic. Jokic continues to prove why he is one of the best current day big men, improving each and every year. With the back court help of Jamal Murray and Gary Harris expect to continue to see Denver in the W column and Jokic's stats continue to rise.
Watch out for: Michael Porter Jr. One of the most talked about players in the NBA is MPJ, an outright favourite for the Most Improved Player award this season. Porter had a stellar start to his career in the bubble and looks to only get better coming off the bench for this strong Nuggets side, but expect him to burst his way into the starting five sooner rather than later.

A bit of disrespect of the Nuggets behalf holding them at 17th in the rankings, with Denver improving each year with the progression of their young stars. The deadly duo of Murray and Jokic will seemingly only improve and with some other young players beginning to shine, there is no doubt that the Nuggets should be higher up this list, and should continue a winning record trend.

Starting 5: Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo, T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner
Last Season: 45-28 (4th in East), Lost in East Conference First Round vs Miami 0-4
Star Player: Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis is continuing to prove why he is the biggest name on the Pacers roster, having by far his best season last year and looking only stronger to start this season. In only his fifth year it looks as if Domantas will be the key piece of the Pacers' offense.
Watch out for: Malcolm Brogdon. Another fifth year player, Malcolm Brogdon looks to have settled nicely into the PG position in Indiana, also having a career best season. Expectations of the team will be high for the 20-21 season and with their time together as a side Brogdon should link nicely with the rest of the starters.

One of the most well rounded teams in the league, the Pacers are full of quality players at each position. With above average guards, an improving T.J. Warren and their two bigs both stars of the team, it is hard to expect less than a playoff finish for Indiana.

Starting 5: Lonzo Ball, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Steven Adams
Last Season: 30-42 (13th in West)
Star Player: Brandon Ingram. Ingram last season showed what the hype was about, having a career best year and winning Most Improved honours, leading a below average Pelicans to 30 wins in the season. With more trust in him and a better group around him expect Ingram to improve and have his strongest season to date.
Watch out for: Zion Williamson. The most talked about rookie prospect in over 15 years, Zion proved why he was consensus #1 pick in the 2019 draft in limited time last year. Williamson will start the season fully healthy and have all 82 games ahead of him to star in, which could also soon place him as the best player on the New Orleans roster.

New Orleans had one of the best offseasons from the lower rated teams. Losing Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans gained a straight replacement for him in Eric Bledsoe as well as Thunder tough nut Steven Adams. The Pelicans must be respected this season and expect them to hold out a few other sides and gain a low playoff seed.

Starting 5: Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
Last Season: 20-47 (14th in East)
Star Player: Trae Young. Trae has gone under the radar a bit this offseason, with everyone counting out his great season last year due to the Hawks' poor performance. Young must be included in MVP talks and if he can get control of the side and run the offense his way he will be not only the Hawks', but the NBA's biggest scoring threat.
Watch out for: Trae Young. The Hawks are a quality side but it's hard to look for more than Trae Young. After his first All-Star appearance last year expect Young to continue to improve this season.

The Hawks are not a top tier side, but have had some good additions to help their three young stars make the playoffs. Big man Clint Capela and gun scorer Bogdan Bogdanovic will share the load with the youngsters and add the Hawks' first rounder from this years draft, Onyeka Okongwu, and this is a much scarier team than people think.

Starting 5: Markelle Fultz, Evan Fournier, Dwayne Bacon, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic
Last Season: 33-40 (8th in East), Lost in East Conference First Round vs Milwaukee 1-4
Star Player: Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic is now in the prime of his career at age 30, leading the Magic to the 8 seed last season. Expect a slow decline from the big man, but this season could be one of his best if he is used the right way.
Watch out for: Markelle Fultz. Injuries have ruined the start of Fultz's career but he is a dark horse for Most Improved this season. Markelle has shown glimpses of what he is made of and a starting gig may just finally make him realise what he is made of, this will be his best season yet.

The Magic have a good roster, but not the quality of some of the better teams in the east. While Fultz, Gordon and Vucevic all have promise to their game they like the firepower a team needs to make the next step and they may now be looking to the future with Cole Anthony and the recovery of Jon Isaac.

Starting 5: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, DeAndre Ayton
Last Season: 34-39 (10th in West)
Star Player: Devin Booker. D Book is by far the best player on this side, and apart from some of the more notorious shooters in the league, he has to be one of the best. Still only 24, Booker is coming off a career high in points and FG% and expect that to be the case this season too.
Watch out for: CP3. The Suns have done great here to get Chris Paul to help Devin Booker in the backcourt. Although Paul is getting towards the end of his career there is no doubt the ability is there, and his skill of dishing some of the best passes in the league will no doubt be on show in Phoenix.

The Suns were unlucky in the bubble last season, just missing the playoffs. Expect an improved record this year as Paul will link up with Booker and DeAndre Ayton to improve the teams offense. The Suns have a few other pieces together to make a quality side but will need some luck and some massive performances if they expect to be up there with the best of the west.

Starting 5: De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III, Hassan Whiteside
Last Season: 31-41 (12th in West)
Star Player: De’Aaron Fox. Fox showed last season why he is the man in Sacramento, and expect more of the same this season. Now in his fourth year the Point Guard will begin to enter his prime and with some keys around him, expect Fox to average a Double Double on the year.
Watch out for: Marvin Bagley III. Although he has not proven much yet, Bagley has shown the signs of being a force to be reckoned with. He may not have superstar written all over him but he has what it takes to be the partner De'Aaron Fox needs to lead the Kings to success.

The Kings have become a let down factory as such, holding players like Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley, Hassan Whiteside and even Jabari Parker. All player who have showed the signs of stardom but never delivered. With the addition of well rounded rookie Tyrese Haliburton and some improvements from the mentioned players, the next few seasons have to begin the upward spiral for Sacramento.

Starting 5: D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Josh Okogie, Juan Hernangomez, Karl-Anthony Towns
Last Season: 19-45 (14th in West)
Star Player: Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT is coming off a career best 26PPG last season and is slowly but surely making a bigger name for himself in Minnesota. Now entering his sixth year, Towns is not going to hit the heights once expected of him, but he is still a great starter who teamed with a few key pieces, can help the Wolves get places sooner rather than later.
Watch out for: D’Angelo Russell. The Wolves now have both the first and second picks of the 2015 draft and with Russell there is still a lot of excitement to be unleashed. As his usage is increased expect more and more from D-Lo and there is still the chance that if he remains healthy he can be a quality All-NBA player.

The Timberwolves are stuck in a tough situation. They have two great mid-25 players and the number one pick from 2020, but these pieces still don't look enough for them to contend with the big guns. Give them a few years and Anthony Edwards could be a sure fire MVP candidate but for this season I'm to just watch and see the side work together and build up the wins on the board.

Starting 5: Frank Ntilikina, R.J. Barrett, Reggie Bullock, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson
Last Season: 21-45 (12th in East)
Star Player: Julius Randle. Not really a name you think of when you say star player, but Randle has to be the star of the Knicks. Averaging nearly 20 and 10 last season the former top 10 pick has now started to shine with more minutes and in his second season in NY expect the same.
Watch out for: R.J. Barrett. One of the best players from the 2019 draft is RJ Barrett, who enters his sophomore season as probably the most promising player on the Knicks roster. More of a scoring responsibility will be on RJ in his second season so a 20 PPG season is definitely not out of the question.

The Knicks once again didn't have much luck with the lottery, but for the first time in a few years there are some big upsides to their roster. With a massive minutes increase more will be expected from Frank Ntilikina but R.J. Barrett has shown he could be the future of the team and steady improvements by both Julius Randle and Mitch robinson have the front court in good hands. Add in two quality first round picks by the names of Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley and the Knicks have some potential on their hands.

Starting 5: Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Kevin Love, Andre Drummond
Last Season: 19-46 (15th in East)
Star Player: Andre Drummond. Drummond isn't someone you want as a star player on your side but he has added a lot of depth to frontcourt of the Cavs. Now at age 27, and the peak of his powers, Drummond will ease the strain on Kevin Love who is not a natural inside scorer and will be a good target for the young stars of the backcourt to pass to.
Watch out for: Sexland. A bit of backcourt rivalry never hurt a young team and that is exactly what we have here in Cleveland. The debate of which of these two young guards is better is adding to the intrigue and the duo might well be the two best under 25 guard pairing in the league.

The Cavs were the worst team in the east last season, capping off a rapid decline after losing LeBron and Kyrie. All is not lost in terms of the future, but for now it seems as the lottery will be the home for Cleveland. In terms of the future though, there are some big watches on this side including Sexton, Garland, Isaac Okoro and Kevin Porter.

Starting 5: Killian Hayes, Delon Wright, Jerami Grant, Blake Griffin, Mason Plumlee
Last Season: 20-46 (13th in East)
Star Player: Blake Griffin. Not the man he once was, Blake Griffin has now started to slowly decline in Detroit and will soon be handing over the reigns of the team. For now though, Griffin is still expecting to be a presence inside and out and continue to be a key on offense to open up opportunities for some of the Pistons younger players.
Watch out for: Killian Hayes. The French rookie is looking to start his career off with a bang in Detroit, being handed the PG starting role over D Rose for day 1. Hayes is a great passer and quality scorer who has previous pro experience in France so expect to see him up there with the top rookies by the end of the season.

The Pistons are another team in no mans land, having a small amount of promising youth and some better older players. Griffin and D Rose are the two expected to do the majority of major scoring, but a few under the radar players could have big seasons. Expect the eyes to be on some of the younger Pistons, including Hayes, Sekou Doumbouya and Isaiah Stewart.

Starting 5: Terry Rozier III, LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, P.J. Washington, Cody Zeller
Last Season: 23-42 (10th in East)
Star Player: Gordon Hayward. Being a star player on a mediocre team isn't hard to come by and this is not Hayward's first rodeo. During his time in Utah he had become the teams top scorer and although his time in Boston didn't showcase him as well as some thought, Hayward is only 30 and looks to have a lot of endurance left in his body to continue with the Hornets towards a playoff run in future seasons.
Watch out for: TR3 and LaMelo. Although Rozier isn't the most promising player, at 26 he still has lots of time left in him and after his career year last year he has shown that there is a lot more room to grow. Add in one of the best passing rookies in the 2020 class, LaMelo Ball and there is a lot to like about this Charlotte backcourt.

The Hornets are a team who continue to not totally disappoint but not achieve at the same time and it looks as if there bad fortune may come to an end soon. With Rozier coming out of his shell and now the help of former teammate Gordon Hayward has arrived, the Hornets look like they are a minor playoff contender. Depending on how LaMelo adjusts to the league and the progression of some of their youngsters, it may be sooner rather than later.

Starting 5: Tyus Jones, De’Anthony Melton, Justise Winslow, Brandon Clarke, Jonas Valanciunas
Last Season: 34-39 (9th in West)
Star Player: Ja Morant. If this man isn't a wildcard contender for MVP in your books, he needs to be. Following an outstanding rookie season the NBA is now on notice and this man nearly has to be an All-NBA lock.
Watch out for: Ja Morant. Not much more to be said about him as he is a star in the making and still only so young, but it'll be hard to miss Ja this upcoming season, but just watch the way this man makes the Grizzlies team his own.

The Grizzlies have to be a top eight contender but their position on this list is because of the obvious, the current injuries to their two stars, Morant and JJJ. If things go to plan both men could be pairing together by mid Jan and if that is the case there will still be a lot of games for the duo to dominate. In the meantime if some of the Grizzlies' second rate players can put up a fight and get a winning record, playoffs will be assured.

Starting 5: George Hill, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trevor Ariza, Darius Bazley, Al Horford
Last Season: 44-28 (5th in West), Lost in West Conference First Round vs Houston 3-4
Star Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Not only is Shai the best player on this OKC roster, he is by a fair way. SGA will be the key to any of the Thunder's wins and management of the team will want all offense run through him as he continues to progress into a quality player.
Watch out for: Aleksej Pokusevski. Pokusevski looks to be a future gun and has all the keys to be the future of this Thunder team. An outlandish prediction but Aleksej could be the next Giannis with the right training and if he is anywhere close, then the NBA needs to watch out.

Not much to be excited about looking at this OKC side in terms of current performance, but this team is in rebuild mode and all eyes are looking to the future with SGA, Aleksej, Lu Dort, Darius Bazley and Theo Maledon. Add in the amount of first rounders they have and this side is all but for the future. Expect OKC to be hanging around the bottom of the west for at least the next few years.

League Best Players

League Predictions

East #1 Seed: Milwaukee Bucks. The East is definitely harder to gauge than the West but this does look like another regular season show for The Greek Freak and his Bucks. Expect a 59-23 record or something similar.
West #1 Seed: Los Angeles Lakers. I think this Lakers really did well in this whole LeBron process and now have the West in their hands. The Clippers, Warriors and Rockets are all threats but LeBron and AD will have them handled once again. Expect a 66-16 record or something similar.
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yes, for the third year in a row Giannis is your MVP. It's not hard to predict a previous years winner to win again but it will get harder and harder for Giannis to regain his coveted trophy and this would be his biggest challenge yet.
ROY: James Wiseman. The most polished of the lottery picks, Wiseman looks like a pick and play type and expect his addition to the Warriors to be a key to their success this season.
6MOY: Derrick Rose. D Rose has been handed the sixth man spot behind Killian Hayes, and expect the former MVP to excel in this rose. As we have seen in the last two seasons, Rose definitely still has it in him and he could top the Pistons in a lot of stats coming off the bench.
DPOY: Anthony Davis. AD was stiff to miss out on the award last year, which will make him hungrier this season. I have no doubts in AD becoming even more of a defensive threat this year and his power on both ends of the court will help the Lakers to top the West in addition to gaining Davis a few individual honours along the way.
MIP: Michael Porter Jr. Another one of my more confident picks, MPJ looks to have it all ready to go this season, which he will start and continue to push himself up the order in Denver. This Most Improved award will be only the beginning.
COTY: Frank Vogel. It is hard to claim the best team of the season won't have the best coach, but the Lakers and Vogel will be the stars of the season and bar a few minor challengers this is Vogel's to lose.
NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers. After the Lakers dominate in the regular season and finish of the West, I can assure you they will breeze past what the East has to offer and go back to back. My prediction is it will be a Lakers vs Bucks finals, where LeBron and AD will prevail 4-2.

So there you have it, the offseason and our season preview is all complete and we are days away from Opening Night. Up next will be our complimentary pre-season injury report before we get into the action packed start of the 2020-21 season, I hope you are looking forward to it because I can't wait. What shocks, thrills, spills and amazing performances will the next NBA season have in store? You will have to tune in to find out. I'll see you Opening Night and throughout the the next drama filled season!

Re: Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

Please note: All teams not listed in the injury report have no current injuries to be noted.

Re: Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

Author's Note: Just a note before I start posting games and results. Matches will be bunched into the week they are played in, with the following included for different games:

• Fully Played Games: Will include pictures from the game (not the first two played), a full box score and a full game recap.
• Simwcast w/ final quarter played: Will include starting five box score with a recap of the last quarter.
• Simmed games: All simmed games will not include a recap but a box score summary with the top three scorers.

Let's get this show on the road and into all the exciting stuff!

Re: Won't Bow Down | A New Orleans Pelicans Dynasty (NBA 2K21)
 

Game Recap: Both teams started off strong in the opening match of the NBA season as baskets were traded back and forth for majority of the first quarter. Brandon Ingram came out firing with eight points in the first six minutes before Pascal Siakam began taking over for the Raptors. Toronto had a one point lead at the half with Siakam already with 18 points and 11 boards. The third was when the Pelicans really began to take over as Zion, who only had eight at the half, took off scoring buckets galore and grabbing massive rebounds. For the rest of the game Zion had Pascal's measure as Kyle Lowry started to fire up late in the 4th but it was too late, as the Pelicans defense locked down the Raps and finished with a nine point win to start their season.

Up Next: Charlotte Hornets @ New Orleans Pelicans, December 3 2020


Up Next: Dallas Mavericks @ New Orleans Pelicans, December 8 2020