Around The League: Sim 4 Edition
Mar 9, 2023 8:20:54 GMT -6
klomper24, beatonz, and 1 more like this
Post by New York Knicks on Mar 9, 2023 8:20:54 GMT -6
Who's Hot
After acquiring Bob McAdoo AND Travis Best in the off-season, you kinda figured the Utah Jazz would find themselves in the who's hot section for most of this season. And so far that's been the case, As they have won 16 of their first 18 games this season (best record in the league). They're scoring the ball at will with 115.4 PPG (#1 in the ITP). Reigning MVP Larry Kenon is having another monster season (26.1 PPG 10.5 RPG 3.6 APG 2.3 SPG). But there's less pressure on him to carry the offense like he did last year. Because the newly acquired McAdoo is chipping in 19.4 PPG with 11.1 RPG. John Shumate is averaging 19.5 per game on 48.2 % field goal shooting. Combined, that front court trio is the best in the league. While new point guard Travis Best is doing an excellent job of feeding them the ball, while also providing the Jazz offense with an added outside scoring dimension. Best has been shooting lights out this season (54.5 FG/93.5 FT/39.0 3PT). Blazers and Spurs have won the first two championships. Will it be Utah's time this season?
Who's Not
The Los Angeles Lakers. Or maybe we should call them the Minneapolis Lakers, as theyre replicating the old Minnesota Twolves Wing duo of Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine (Is Karl Anthony Towns next?). Whatever you wanna call them, the Lakers have been dog Shit this season. They got the worst record in the league at 2-14. They got a negative 13.1 scoring differential. They got the worst front court in basketball. Seth Harvey, George Zidek, etc. These guys would be unemployed if it weren't for Klompers generiousity. But while their interior game is weak, they got something cooking on the perimeter. The aforementioned duo of LaVine and Wiggins both look like all rookie 1st teamers this season. Lavine is actually looking like the rookie of the year favorite (20.6 PPG 6.7 RPG 3.9 APG 2.0 SPG). Then you got fellow rookies Vonleh and Daniels honing their craft in the D-league. This 2002 rookie class got the Lakers future looking bright. But like I said, right now they're dog Shit.
Injury News
Armond Hill - Another Laker loss. Armond is expected to miss an additional 2 weeks with his dislocated knee. He's actually been a solid bench guard for LA. But in the grand scheme of things, who cares about Armond Hill? Let's move on to more revelant injuries.
Elvin Hayes - Here's a big one. Big Bad Elvin Hayes has already missed 6 games with his broken collarbone. He's gonna miss at least another 6 as the recovery process continues. Hayes has had a difficulty avoiding injuries ever since he's entered the league. Year 1 he missed 40 games. And now he's missing another significant stretch of games. Maybe he needs to drink more milk.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - That was a pain in the ass to type out. But it's even more painful for the Seattle Supersonics, as they'll be without their second leading scorer for the next 4 games. Seattle is already off to a disappointing 9-11 start. Losing Giannis and Adrian Dantley, who's going to be out the next 2+ weeks, puts the Sonics in an even deeper hole.
More News Around The League
- A Chicago Bulls big man was named rookie of the month...and it WASN'T Nikola Jokic. Who would've predicted that? Instead it was 27th overall pick Dwight Powell who was honored with the award. Powell is averaging 15.2 PPG and 8.9 RPG. Nice steal for Penny.
- The Bulls lost last night to the Sacramento Kings. After back to back lottery seasons, the Kings are looking pretty good this year with their 13-10 record. Rookie Julius Randle and second year man Anthony Edwards have formed a nice young duo. Good for Sacramento. Now we can stop calling them the Sacramento Queens.
- Another young lottery stricken franchise is Minnesota, and they're also playing a little better this year at 9-13. Michael Finley in particular is having his finest season as a pro. After averaging 17+ PPG in each of his first two seasons, Finley has skyrocketed to 24.5 PPG this year. Just recently he set the Wolves franchise record with 45 points in a game.
- Like Finley, Denver Nuggets Center Robert Parish also had an eventful week. First he was placed on the trade block, and then he responded by winning the player of the week award. Parish is averaging 24/10 on the year.
- Speaking of the Nuggets trade block. Parish, Caldwell Jones, Wilkes, Doctor J. That trade block is beautiful. But will the Nuggets actually tear this team apart? Or give it one more run? And wait to rebuild next year when they have their own first round pick?
- The Milwaukee Bucks also just posted a juicy trade block featuring Bill Walton and Paul Westphal. The duo has combined for almost 48 PPG this season. They got the Bucks sitting on top of the Central Division. Granted with a 10-9 record.
- The Young Raptors are tied for the division lead with the same exact 10-9 record. The big 3 of Roy, Hayes, and Embiid have combined to average 60 PPG this season.
- At one point Indiana looked like a team that could have a stronghold on the Central. With a franchise center like Moses Malone leading the way. Malone is actually #1 in the league in scoring this season (28.7 PPG). Problem is the rest of this team sucks. They're 5-18, and chances are they'd be 0-23 If it wasn't for Moses.
- But they're not worse than the Charlotte Hornets (3-14 record), who once again look terrible this season. Charlotte won 10 games year 1. 18 games year 2. Can they finally crack 20 this year?
After acquiring Bob McAdoo AND Travis Best in the off-season, you kinda figured the Utah Jazz would find themselves in the who's hot section for most of this season. And so far that's been the case, As they have won 16 of their first 18 games this season (best record in the league). They're scoring the ball at will with 115.4 PPG (#1 in the ITP). Reigning MVP Larry Kenon is having another monster season (26.1 PPG 10.5 RPG 3.6 APG 2.3 SPG). But there's less pressure on him to carry the offense like he did last year. Because the newly acquired McAdoo is chipping in 19.4 PPG with 11.1 RPG. John Shumate is averaging 19.5 per game on 48.2 % field goal shooting. Combined, that front court trio is the best in the league. While new point guard Travis Best is doing an excellent job of feeding them the ball, while also providing the Jazz offense with an added outside scoring dimension. Best has been shooting lights out this season (54.5 FG/93.5 FT/39.0 3PT). Blazers and Spurs have won the first two championships. Will it be Utah's time this season?
Who's Not
The Los Angeles Lakers. Or maybe we should call them the Minneapolis Lakers, as theyre replicating the old Minnesota Twolves Wing duo of Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine (Is Karl Anthony Towns next?). Whatever you wanna call them, the Lakers have been dog Shit this season. They got the worst record in the league at 2-14. They got a negative 13.1 scoring differential. They got the worst front court in basketball. Seth Harvey, George Zidek, etc. These guys would be unemployed if it weren't for Klompers generiousity. But while their interior game is weak, they got something cooking on the perimeter. The aforementioned duo of LaVine and Wiggins both look like all rookie 1st teamers this season. Lavine is actually looking like the rookie of the year favorite (20.6 PPG 6.7 RPG 3.9 APG 2.0 SPG). Then you got fellow rookies Vonleh and Daniels honing their craft in the D-league. This 2002 rookie class got the Lakers future looking bright. But like I said, right now they're dog Shit.
Injury News
Armond Hill - Another Laker loss. Armond is expected to miss an additional 2 weeks with his dislocated knee. He's actually been a solid bench guard for LA. But in the grand scheme of things, who cares about Armond Hill? Let's move on to more revelant injuries.
Elvin Hayes - Here's a big one. Big Bad Elvin Hayes has already missed 6 games with his broken collarbone. He's gonna miss at least another 6 as the recovery process continues. Hayes has had a difficulty avoiding injuries ever since he's entered the league. Year 1 he missed 40 games. And now he's missing another significant stretch of games. Maybe he needs to drink more milk.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - That was a pain in the ass to type out. But it's even more painful for the Seattle Supersonics, as they'll be without their second leading scorer for the next 4 games. Seattle is already off to a disappointing 9-11 start. Losing Giannis and Adrian Dantley, who's going to be out the next 2+ weeks, puts the Sonics in an even deeper hole.
More News Around The League
- A Chicago Bulls big man was named rookie of the month...and it WASN'T Nikola Jokic. Who would've predicted that? Instead it was 27th overall pick Dwight Powell who was honored with the award. Powell is averaging 15.2 PPG and 8.9 RPG. Nice steal for Penny.
- The Bulls lost last night to the Sacramento Kings. After back to back lottery seasons, the Kings are looking pretty good this year with their 13-10 record. Rookie Julius Randle and second year man Anthony Edwards have formed a nice young duo. Good for Sacramento. Now we can stop calling them the Sacramento Queens.
- Another young lottery stricken franchise is Minnesota, and they're also playing a little better this year at 9-13. Michael Finley in particular is having his finest season as a pro. After averaging 17+ PPG in each of his first two seasons, Finley has skyrocketed to 24.5 PPG this year. Just recently he set the Wolves franchise record with 45 points in a game.
- Like Finley, Denver Nuggets Center Robert Parish also had an eventful week. First he was placed on the trade block, and then he responded by winning the player of the week award. Parish is averaging 24/10 on the year.
- Speaking of the Nuggets trade block. Parish, Caldwell Jones, Wilkes, Doctor J. That trade block is beautiful. But will the Nuggets actually tear this team apart? Or give it one more run? And wait to rebuild next year when they have their own first round pick?
- The Milwaukee Bucks also just posted a juicy trade block featuring Bill Walton and Paul Westphal. The duo has combined for almost 48 PPG this season. They got the Bucks sitting on top of the Central Division. Granted with a 10-9 record.
- The Young Raptors are tied for the division lead with the same exact 10-9 record. The big 3 of Roy, Hayes, and Embiid have combined to average 60 PPG this season.
- At one point Indiana looked like a team that could have a stronghold on the Central. With a franchise center like Moses Malone leading the way. Malone is actually #1 in the league in scoring this season (28.7 PPG). Problem is the rest of this team sucks. They're 5-18, and chances are they'd be 0-23 If it wasn't for Moses.
- But they're not worse than the Charlotte Hornets (3-14 record), who once again look terrible this season. Charlotte won 10 games year 1. 18 games year 2. Can they finally crack 20 this year?
