Post by Keyser Soze on Apr 25, 2024 22:13:10 GMT -6
Who's Hot
Seven is supposed to be a lucky number, but not for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who started the 2013 season with 7 straight losses. In a much tougher Western Conference, you don't wanna find yourself in an early 0-7 hole. But fortunately, Minnesota has quickly and aggressively dug themselves out of that ditch. As the Wolves have won 14 of their last 17 games. And 8 of their last 9. Making them one of the hottest teams in the ITP. Nick Young has been a scoring machine lately, averaging 34.8 PPG over his last 5. In his most recent game vs Cleveland, Young tied his career high with 44 points. A mark he previously set 4 games ago, when he scored 44 vs Toronto. Two 44 point games in a span of 6 days. Not bad. Young is now up to 27.2 PPG on the season with 49.0/87.1/42.9 shooting splits. While also averaging just 1.0 TPG in 39.3 minutes. Most improved player of the year? Maybe. But Young got some competition with his own teammate Jason Smith. Smith has improved his scoring average from 15.5 to 21.3 this season. But more impressively his FG % has risen from 42.5 % all the way up to 51.1 %. Smith and Young were both apart of the Wolves 2010 draft class. And they might also be apart of the 2013 Western Conferenxe All-Star class if they keep playing this way. As for the Wolves, they are now 14-10 on the season. They have resurrected their season, but they still got alot of work to do being in the same division as the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. Speaking of the Jazz, that's gonna be Minnesota's very next opponent in Sim #6.
Who's Not
While the Twolves began the year 0-7, the Charlotte Hornets were the exact opposite. They started the year off a perfect 7-0. Charlotte was buzzing. But now everybodies fussing, because the Hornets have lost 11 of their last 16 games since the 7-0 start. Defense has been the issue over this stretch. Through the first 7 games they held their opponents under 100 points 3 times. They've only accomplished that feat twice over the last 16 games. They also allowed 120+ points 8 times over that span. Their defense has now dropped to #24 in the league in points allowed. The good news however, is that the Hornets do have a pretty damn good offense. They're 7th in the ITP in scoring (116.3 PPG). Zach Lavine is averaging 35.5 PPG on 52.8 % shooting from field. While Stephon Marbury is adding 25.5 PPG. With a combined 61 points, that's the highest scoring backcourt in the game. Jalen Smith is grabbing a league best 15.7 rebounds a night. Greg Oden is #4 in the league in blocks (3.4 BPG). There's alot of positives for the Hornets. They just gotta get their team defense in order.
Injury Report
Aaron Gordon (47) - Aaron Gordon has sat out the last 12 games for personal reasons. But today the Indiana Pacers officially diagnosed Aaron Gordon with severe depression. Mental health is a serious issue. We wish all the best to Gordon in his recovery process.
Chris Bosh (32) - Another serious situation is the broken leg injury that Chris Bozh of the Orlando Magic is dealing with. Bosh has already missed 16 games. And he's not expected to return until after the all-star break. When healthy, Bksh has averaged a double double this season (11.7 PPG 10.7 RPG).
Nerlens Noel (23) - We told you earlier about the success of the Minnesota Timberwolves. And they've been doing it without Nerlens Noel. Noel was acquired via trade about a month ago. He then proceeded to get hurt in his 3rd game with the team. He has now missed 13 straight games. Noel is averaging 19.0 PPG 9.4 RPG 2.4 BPG in 13 games. He's somebody the Wolves would love to get back on the court.
Antawn Jamison (7) - The Clippers just got Moses Malone back after a lengthy suspension. And now they suffer another blow to their front court. Antawn Jamison, who's in the midst of a breakout season (14.0 PPG 9.2 RPG) will be out for 7 days with a broken wrist.
Mike Bibby (7) - Mike Bibby had to leave last night's Mavs vs Bucks game early in the 2nd quarter. It was determined that he had an inflamed appendix. After the injury , the Mavs replaced Bibby with Alvin Robertson at the Point Guard position. Robertson, last year's #6 overall pick, will finally get an opportunity to play some big minutes.
More News Around The League -
- Shawn Marion is playing big minutes, and producing even bigger numbers. He leads the entire league in scoring (38.0 PPG).
- Chris Hawkins is the top scoring big man in the game. He's up to 33.8 PPG. His previous career high was 22.6 PPG. He's been a mkmater for Philadelphia.
- Speaking of Philly greatness, Warriors guard Allen Iverson is averaging 33.4 PPG and 8.8 APG. He's been the best point guard in the West.
- In the East it's been none other than La...wait actually it's been Steve Nash, who's having a career year with 31.2 PPG 9.3 APG. With some of these great individual performances around the league, Will we be seeing a new ITP MVP this season?
- Who could we see winning defensive player of the year? Is it gonna be Kareem Abdul Jabbars year again? Kareem is top 3 in the league in rebounding (14.1) and shot blocking (3.4).
- Or what about the early GM of the year? Will it be the Denver Nuggets? Last year they won 12 games for the whole season. This year they're already up to 20 wins, with another 55 games to go.
- Speaking of GMs, where the hell did Daboy go? Hawks are 8-18 and Paul Pierce is this close to demanding a trade. The Hawks need some leadership right about now.
- Steve Francis is proving that he is more than qualified to lead the Miami Heat. Francis is averaging 26.8 PPG 10.0 APG and the Heat have the 2nd best record in the Eastern conference (15-8). Francis has also cut his turnovers down to 3.3 per game.
- Jason Williams refuses to cut his turnovers down. I remember last year in the playoffs how his turnovers hurt the Clippers. And here he is doing it again. He's #1 in the league in most turnovers (4.5 TPG).
Seven is supposed to be a lucky number, but not for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who started the 2013 season with 7 straight losses. In a much tougher Western Conference, you don't wanna find yourself in an early 0-7 hole. But fortunately, Minnesota has quickly and aggressively dug themselves out of that ditch. As the Wolves have won 14 of their last 17 games. And 8 of their last 9. Making them one of the hottest teams in the ITP. Nick Young has been a scoring machine lately, averaging 34.8 PPG over his last 5. In his most recent game vs Cleveland, Young tied his career high with 44 points. A mark he previously set 4 games ago, when he scored 44 vs Toronto. Two 44 point games in a span of 6 days. Not bad. Young is now up to 27.2 PPG on the season with 49.0/87.1/42.9 shooting splits. While also averaging just 1.0 TPG in 39.3 minutes. Most improved player of the year? Maybe. But Young got some competition with his own teammate Jason Smith. Smith has improved his scoring average from 15.5 to 21.3 this season. But more impressively his FG % has risen from 42.5 % all the way up to 51.1 %. Smith and Young were both apart of the Wolves 2010 draft class. And they might also be apart of the 2013 Western Conferenxe All-Star class if they keep playing this way. As for the Wolves, they are now 14-10 on the season. They have resurrected their season, but they still got alot of work to do being in the same division as the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. Speaking of the Jazz, that's gonna be Minnesota's very next opponent in Sim #6.
Who's Not
While the Twolves began the year 0-7, the Charlotte Hornets were the exact opposite. They started the year off a perfect 7-0. Charlotte was buzzing. But now everybodies fussing, because the Hornets have lost 11 of their last 16 games since the 7-0 start. Defense has been the issue over this stretch. Through the first 7 games they held their opponents under 100 points 3 times. They've only accomplished that feat twice over the last 16 games. They also allowed 120+ points 8 times over that span. Their defense has now dropped to #24 in the league in points allowed. The good news however, is that the Hornets do have a pretty damn good offense. They're 7th in the ITP in scoring (116.3 PPG). Zach Lavine is averaging 35.5 PPG on 52.8 % shooting from field. While Stephon Marbury is adding 25.5 PPG. With a combined 61 points, that's the highest scoring backcourt in the game. Jalen Smith is grabbing a league best 15.7 rebounds a night. Greg Oden is #4 in the league in blocks (3.4 BPG). There's alot of positives for the Hornets. They just gotta get their team defense in order.
Injury Report
Aaron Gordon (47) - Aaron Gordon has sat out the last 12 games for personal reasons. But today the Indiana Pacers officially diagnosed Aaron Gordon with severe depression. Mental health is a serious issue. We wish all the best to Gordon in his recovery process.
Chris Bosh (32) - Another serious situation is the broken leg injury that Chris Bozh of the Orlando Magic is dealing with. Bosh has already missed 16 games. And he's not expected to return until after the all-star break. When healthy, Bksh has averaged a double double this season (11.7 PPG 10.7 RPG).
Nerlens Noel (23) - We told you earlier about the success of the Minnesota Timberwolves. And they've been doing it without Nerlens Noel. Noel was acquired via trade about a month ago. He then proceeded to get hurt in his 3rd game with the team. He has now missed 13 straight games. Noel is averaging 19.0 PPG 9.4 RPG 2.4 BPG in 13 games. He's somebody the Wolves would love to get back on the court.
Antawn Jamison (7) - The Clippers just got Moses Malone back after a lengthy suspension. And now they suffer another blow to their front court. Antawn Jamison, who's in the midst of a breakout season (14.0 PPG 9.2 RPG) will be out for 7 days with a broken wrist.
Mike Bibby (7) - Mike Bibby had to leave last night's Mavs vs Bucks game early in the 2nd quarter. It was determined that he had an inflamed appendix. After the injury , the Mavs replaced Bibby with Alvin Robertson at the Point Guard position. Robertson, last year's #6 overall pick, will finally get an opportunity to play some big minutes.
More News Around The League -
- Shawn Marion is playing big minutes, and producing even bigger numbers. He leads the entire league in scoring (38.0 PPG).
- Chris Hawkins is the top scoring big man in the game. He's up to 33.8 PPG. His previous career high was 22.6 PPG. He's been a mkmater for Philadelphia.
- Speaking of Philly greatness, Warriors guard Allen Iverson is averaging 33.4 PPG and 8.8 APG. He's been the best point guard in the West.
- In the East it's been none other than La...wait actually it's been Steve Nash, who's having a career year with 31.2 PPG 9.3 APG. With some of these great individual performances around the league, Will we be seeing a new ITP MVP this season?
- Who could we see winning defensive player of the year? Is it gonna be Kareem Abdul Jabbars year again? Kareem is top 3 in the league in rebounding (14.1) and shot blocking (3.4).
- Or what about the early GM of the year? Will it be the Denver Nuggets? Last year they won 12 games for the whole season. This year they're already up to 20 wins, with another 55 games to go.
- Speaking of GMs, where the hell did Daboy go? Hawks are 8-18 and Paul Pierce is this close to demanding a trade. The Hawks need some leadership right about now.
- Steve Francis is proving that he is more than qualified to lead the Miami Heat. Francis is averaging 26.8 PPG 10.0 APG and the Heat have the 2nd best record in the Eastern conference (15-8). Francis has also cut his turnovers down to 3.3 per game.
- Jason Williams refuses to cut his turnovers down. I remember last year in the playoffs how his turnovers hurt the Clippers. And here he is doing it again. He's #1 in the league in most turnovers (4.5 TPG).