"Ain't gonna let nobody write it, but me" | NBA 2K14 PS4 MyCAREER | Year 6

[Andrew]

It's just the way it goes, unfortunately. We've been around a long time, people come and go, interests change. If everyone's waiting around for someone else to get the ball rolling, then nothing happens.

[Andrew]

January 2019 Recap



Key Events

• 76ers went 17-0 to remain undefeated in 2019; enter February with 47-game winning streak
• Thunder also went 12-0 in January; enter February with 13-game winning streak
• Closed month with a 73-point game to take lead in scoring race
• Also leading league in assists and steals, tied first in blocks, fourth in rebounds
• Averaged 34.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg, and 14.0 apg through January; averaging 30.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 14.9 apg on the year
• Terry Hanson starting in place of injured Carmelo Anthony; averaged 26.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.9 apg through January

Standings

















League Leaders











Players of the Month



Rookie Report

[Andrew]

Ball In 76ers' court, But Thunder Making Noise


Stiff competition may await A-Train and the 76ers in their quest to win their sixth title

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The Philadelphia 76ers entered the 2019 season with two goals: to finally become the first team to go undefeated in the regular season, and to win their sixth-consecutive championship. So far, their bid to do both is looking good, but if they make their way to the NBA Finals once again, they could be facing some tough competition.

Few teams have looked as dominant as Philadelphia has this decade, and to be fair, they're still in a class of their own. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder are shaping up to be a strong competitor for the crown if they make it out of the West. Although they can't match the 76ers' incredible 47-game winning streak, they remain one of the hottest teams in the league right now, winning their last 13 games to enter February with a 33-13 record. Unsurprisingly, Kevin Durant is leading the charge, and the star forward even sat atop the league in scoring before a 73-point game by Andrew Begley pushed the 76ers' guard ahead as January drew to a close.

"We've definitely got our eye on them," said A-Train of the Thunder, who will play host to the defending champions on February 12th. This potential NBA Finals preview right before the All-Star break is generating a ton of buzz, as fans and pundits alike have been wondering if the combination of Durant's dominant scoring, the defensive prowess of Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka, and an unorthodox backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and D.J. Augustin, can actually challenge the might of Philadelphia's dynasty.

Believers have been quick to point out to sceptics that many had written the Thunder off when Russell Westbrook left for Miami in 2017, suggesting that it was only a matter of time before Durant demanded a trade, sending the team into a tailspin towards the lottery for the foreseeable future. Despite going 26-56 last year, Durant's loyalty has remain unshaken however, and now the team appears poised to make a serious run. If they remain healthy and end up facing the 76ers, they may be the defending champions' toughest NBA Finals opponent to date.

A-Train certainly seems to agree. "Obviously, the last five years have given us plenty of confidence, tested our resolve. You can't take anything for granted, though. Kevin's a superstar, he's a threat to drop 40 or 50 on anyone on any given night. We don't take anyone lightly, and they're looking really good this year. Mind you, we're feeling pretty good about where we're at, too."

Philadelphia has every right to be confident, though this year has been challenging despite their record. Terry Hanson is healthy, but his status as a bench player - only stepping into the starting lineup when Carmelo Anthony is unavailable - remains a point of contention between A-Train and head coach Johnny Davis. Although A-Train's numbers are still amazing and he's turned in some incredible performances, he's also looked tired at times, often taking on a more passive role that we haven't seen him in since his rookie season. Melo's injuries are adding up, and Thaddeus Young has been hobbled as well. It undoubtedly sounds strange to say given their winning streak, but they may not be as invincible as they first appear.

It's still been an impressive season for them though, and they remain the favourites to win a sixth-consecutive championship; a feat that only Bill Russell's Boston Celtics have previously achieved. That alone was an intriguing tale entering the 2019 season, but with the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder, we may be in for an epic showdown come June.

[Andrew]

76ers Complete Incredible Comeback to Remain Undefeated in 2019


A-Train and the 76ers earned their 52nd consecutive win after a furious fourth quarter rally

PHOENIX, AZ -- For three and a half quarters, it appeared as though the Phoenix Suns would put an end to the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers' quest to complete the first ever undefeated regular season, with just over 30 games remaining. However, an incredible fourth quarter performance, led by reigning MVP Andrew Begley, saw the 76ers escape with an unlikely 126-120 victory.

A-Train, who topped the 70-point mark for the second time in as many weeks, scored 55 of his 76 points in the second half as the 76ers rallied to erase a double digit deficit. However, after racing out to a 29-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Suns seemingly had an answer for every 76ers run, maintaining a 14-point lead at the half. After a spirited push by the 76ers cut the lead to 7 at 59-52 early in the third, the Suns pulled away once again, entering the fourth quarter with a comfortable 95-73 lead. As the Suns went up by as many as 26 early in the final stanza, the hometown crowd began to celebrate, believing that their team were about to snap the 76ers' streak in impressive fashion. Indeed, it seems safe to say that everyone in the building saw it as an inevitability at that point.

Well, almost everyone. The Philadelphia 76ers never gave up hope, drawing upon the resolve that has allowed them to become a dominating dynasty these past five years. Led by their MVP, Philadelphia outscored Phoenix 53-25 in the fourth quarter to eke out the win. Terry Hanson finished with nine points in an unusually quiet game, but five of those points came in crunch time as A-Train found his running mate for a three-pointer and a dunk on consecutive plays for a 122-117 lead, all but sealing the comeback for Philly.

In tallying his season-high 76 points, A-Train knocked down 12 three-pointers on an efficient 18 attempts, and was 29-for-39 from the field overall. Known for his assists as much as his scoring outbursts, Begley dished out a modest six assists in the win, as the team leaned heavily on him to carry the scoring load with Hanson and Carmelo Anthony struggling to find their rhythm. Melo finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, and was the only other 76er to score in double digits. Christos Papadopoulous led the way for Phoenix with 25 points, while Jerry Henry scored 18 points and had 13 assists, also knocking down four three-pointers. Eric Bledsoe also added 16 points for the Suns, while Abe Benjamin had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

After the game, an exhausted A-Train gave credit to the Suns for pushing the 76ers to the limit. "They had us on the ropes, it felt like we couldn't stop them. Jerry (Henry) and Eric (Bledsoe) were relentless. When I was too aggressive, they suckered me into the foul. When I slacked off, they took advantage. I won't lie, it felt dire heading into the fourth. But we're a proud team, we're the defending champions, we go out there with the goal of winning every game. It's like the great Bill Russell said. You don't look at it as losing, but time running out on you. There was still time on the clock, so we knew we had to make a run. It's not the way we want to win games night in and night out, but we're riding high right now, no doubt."

On the other side, a more subdued Eric Bledsoe clearly struggled to make sense of the loss. "We thought we had them," he said. "They're the champs and they showed why tonight, but...damn. That final run they made, I've never been in a game like that." Jerry Henry echoed his veteran teammate's sentiments. "This one stings, even if they are the five-time champs. I don't know how we lost this game, except to say they're that damn good. I want to say I'm glad we gave them everything they could handle, but it doesn't mean as much with the loss, not after being up big like that. This one's going to haunt me for a while."

For his part, A-Train made a point of singling out Henry for praise. "He's developing into a real star for them. I really like his game, pushing the ball, finding his teammates, knocking down threes. It was a worry when I got sloppy and picked up my fifth foul and couldn't guard him as tightly. You can't give a guy like that room to operate. They're going to keep getting better as he does."

The 76ers won't have too long to savour their impressive victory, as they travel to Los Angeles to take on LeBron James and the Lakers tomorrow, and then to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday. With A-Train, Melo, and Nerlens Noel all playing for the East in this years All-Star Game, there won't be much rest over the All-Star break. Still, A-Train and company are not about to make excuses. "Wins, championships...they don't get handed to you. We're on a mission, and that's what keeps driving us forward, driving us to wins like the one tonight. We can't rest until June." As the Suns discovered tonight, if anyone is going to challenge the 76ers this year, they better not take their foot off the pedal, either.







Around the League

[Andrew]

Highlights from Games 41-50!

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[Andrew]

Lob City East vs. Lob City West!

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[Andrew]

Highlights from the fourth quarter of the aforementioned comeback victory over the Suns.

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[Andrew]

2019 All-Star Weekend Results

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[Andrew]

February 2019 Recap



Key Events

• 76ers went 11-0 to remain undefeated in 2019; enter March with 58-game winning streak
• Scored a season-high 76 points (12/18 from downtown) in a 126-120 comeback victory over the Suns on February 9th
• Tallied a triple-double with 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists in the All-Star Game

Standings





















League Leaders











Players of the Month



Rookie Report

[Andrew]

Highlights from Games 51-60.

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[Andrew]

Grizzlies End 76ers' Streak at 66, Prevent Perfect Season


The Grizzlies picked up the biggest win of the 2019 regular season

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- To quote professional wrestling announcer Michael Cole, the streak...is over. Beware the Ides of March, indeed.

With a stunning 111-107 victory, the Memphis Grizzlies ended the Philadelphia 76ers' winning streak at 66, along with their chances of going undefeated in 2019. Mike Conley had 21 points and nine assists, Rob McKenzie added 20 points and nine rebounds, and Ed Davis tallied 18 points and six boards in what may be the biggest victory this year outside of the eventual championship-clinching game.

Of course, at 66-1, the 76ers still remain the favourites to win the ultimate game of the campaign come June, and win their sixth-consecutive title. Nevertheless, the Philadelphia crowd sat in stunned silence as their team floundered in the wake of a late push by the Grizzlies. Reigning MVP Andrew Begley led all scorers with 37 points and had 11 assists and eight steals, but also committed seven turnovers, including a rare three second lane violation late in the fourth quarter. In fact, the entire team looked sluggish throughout the final period, failing to find the extra gear that has helped them dominate once again this season.

At 28-38, the Grizzlies are likely not headed to the postseason. However, for Conley, Davis, McKenzie, and DeMar DeRozan - back in action following a terrible knee injury - the win is a tremendous accomplishment. "Look, they might go undefeated the rest of the way," DeRozan said. "They're that good. But if they only have one blemish on their record this year...well, we gave it to them. We're proud of that." A few teams have come close to defeating Philadelphia this season, including the Phoenix Suns who only fell after a furious rally in which A-Train scored 76 points. By the time the 76ers had their head in this game though, the final buzzer had sounded, sealing a Memphis win.

"No excuses," A-Train insisted after the game. "We had enough time, we had a late lead, and we let it slip. This is the NBA; anyone can beat anyone on any given night. We lost sight of that, and they made us pay, outplayed us down the stretch." Asked if the loss would haunt the team, A-Train shrugged. "Yes, and no. Look, it's no secret that after coming so close the last few years, we wanted that 82-0 record. Once we got rolling this year, it was a goal, for sure. But our ultimate goal is getting back to the Finals and winning another championship. A loss after 66 wins isn't going to make us doubt ourselves. At the same time, it's a wake-up call. Don't ever take anything for granted."

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points for the 76ers and Thaddeus Young added 18 of his own, but the team's offense was completely out of sync during the fourth quarter. Phiadelphia was also outrebounded by Memphis, with A-Train and Nerlens Noel being surprisingly ineffective on the boards. Terry Hanson scored just three points on 1-for-6 shooting, while playing just 13 minutes. Hanson's inconsistent playing time continues to puzzle league insiders and fuel speculation about his future with the team, as well as the job safety of Johnny Davis despite the 76ers' success. A-Train has made it clear that he wants Hanson on the floor more and to play the rest of his career alongside him, perhaps hinting at an eventual ultimatium behind the scenes.

For now, the 76ers will look to avoid beginning a more dubious streak when they face Jackson Ellis and the Detroit Pistons in two days. Speaking about his rival, A-Train mused "This loss stings, but at least it wasn't to Jack. When they broke our big winning streak last year, I didn't hear the end of that for weeks!"