by Valor on Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:01 pm
Sit wrote:Valor wrote:Poor Golden State, they have to manage the piece of crap that is Stuckey now
Does that mean the Pistons don't have as many pieces of crap? (Or are all Pistons players pieces of crap?)
by Fresh8 on Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:51 am
REWARDS AND POINTS SYSTEMENTER THE DRAFT
Deadline to declare for NBA Draft: Conclusion of first round of NBA PlayoffsPoints updated to make it easier for entry
Enter NBA Draft as a projected undrafted prospect: 2
Enter NBA Draft as a projected second round pick: 5
Enter NBA Draft as a projected first round pick: 8
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
To raise your player’s rating by 5 in a skill based attribute: 3
To raise your player’s rating by 5 in a physical based attribute: 5
PLAYER DEMANDS
Complain about the coach: 1
Complain about a teammate: 2
Demand a trade: 3
Demand a trade and provide a shortlist of destinations: 4
Demand a trade and choose your next destination: 5
WHEN?
You may declare any time before the conclusion of the first round of the Playoffs. You may also withdraw any time before then as well.
I will also allow you to report your intention to declare at any time. This means that I will start writing articles about your player.
HOW?
Post in this thread that you:
- intend to delcare, and/or
- will declare
and I will PM you the details that I need. Once you confirm that you WILL declare, I will deduct your points.
A CHANCE TO EARN POINTS
Every article written by you and PM’ed to me that gets posted will earn points. Give your draftee a backstory and a chance to improve his stock as well.
WHY DECLARE SOONER OR LATER
If you declare sooner, it means your player will make it into the L earlier. However, you may not be as good as a prospect as if you wait and accumulate points. If you declare later, you can have control over whether your player is a first or second round prospect.
Do not be disheartened about being drafted in the second round. The pros are that you can have some choice over your free agency destination/s after just one season! It also makes for a more interesting story.
POINTS LEADERBOARD
These points have been calculated as at 20 February 2013:
Martti – 13
dare – 12
newc – 10.5
Justine. – 10
Dmastawwe –8.5
mrmoves20 – 7.5
Lamrock – 7.5
Valor – 5.5
Mattan – 5
hova – 4.5
Thierry – 4
Woogie98 – 4
Khanwarrior – 4
mpac – 3.5
Houndy – 3
Durant35 – 3
Agent420 – 2
Skith – 2
Phil89 – 2
The X -2
Mark – 1
King Mellow – 1
badreligionau – 1
megarover – 1
Cruzzerr – 0
mp3 – 0
PAST CHALLENGE
Everyone did relatively well – it was easy to know a trade was coming. Not many picked that it would be 2!
NEW CHALLENGE
1. Predict 3 of the top 4 seeds for the Western Conference.
2. Predict 3 of the top 4 seeds for the Eastern Conference.
3. Who will win MVP?
4. Who will win ROTY?
5. Who will win Defensive Player of the Year?
6. Will Shannon Brown win Most Improved Player?
7. Will Chauncey Billups win Sixth Man of the Year?
8. How many wins will the Pistons finish the season with?
Each correct answer gives you a score of 0.5 points!
by Solaris Phase Two on Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:40 am
by Fresh8 on Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:41 pm
by dare on Sat Mar 02, 2013 2:32 pm
by Valor on Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:59 pm
by mpac on Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:39 pm
by mrmoves20 on Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:58 am
by Khanwarrior on Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:21 am
by Martti. on Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:28 am
by SuperHueyNewton on Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:34 am
by Andrew_Wiggins on Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:34 am
by Durant35 on Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:14 pm
by Fresh8 on Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:11 pm
Andrew_Wiggins wrote:Let me just say, sir, this is very well written, and is the best thing I have read on the forums since creating this account.
by Andrew_Wiggins on Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:34 pm
Sit wrote:Andrew_Wiggins wrote:Let me just say, sir, this is very well written, and is the best thing I have read on the forums since creating this account.
Thank you good sir. Welcome to the NLSC.
Hope that you will continue to read this thread!
Note to everyone still to make predictions. Woody Hannes can help you out with a few of the predictions.
by Mark. on Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:48 am
NEW CHALLENGE
1. Predict 3 of the top 4 seeds for the Western Conference. -> Thunder, Clippers, Lakers
2. Predict 3 of the top 4 seeds for the Eastern Conference. -> Heat, Bulls, Pacers
3. Who will win MVP? -> LeBron James
4. Who will win ROTY? -> Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
5. Who will win Defensive Player of the Year? -> Duh-white Corward
6. Will Shannon Brown win Most Improved Player? -> Absolutely yes
7. Will Chauncey Billups win Sixth Man of the Year? -> Indubitably
8. How many wins will the Pistons finish the season with? -> 39
by Axel The Great on Mon Mar 04, 2013 1:53 pm
Will flip through past pages to catch up on it once I get the time. 
by Fresh8 on Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:52 pm
Axel. wrote:Wow, can't believe I haven't checked this one out before. Definitely looks great just like your past work, Sit.
by Fresh8 on Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:54 pm
Updated: December 6, 2012
2013 Draft Prospects
Woody Hannes’ top five NBA Draft prospects for 2013 and a handful more to keep an eye on!
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By Woody Hannes
ESPN.com Writer
With the NBA season under way, it’s time to look at draft prospects who may declare for the upcoming NBA Draft. I know that these guys are entrenched on most NBA scout’s radars with UConn’s JJ Theus leading the way. The class of 2013 features a lot of swingman talent and should be a coup for teams that don’t have dependable options at their 2-guard spot.
TOP FIVE PROSPECTS TO WATCH
1. JJ Theus, PF 6’8” 21, UConn, Junior: Theus pulled out of the 2012 Draft because of concerns regarding his draft stock dipping due to his arm injury last year. He missed half of the college season and put up average numbers (7.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg compared to 15.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg in his freshman season) in his return whilst the Huskies were knocked out in the second round of the NCAA tourney.
Theus has been phenomenal this season and is averaging 22.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg for a rejuvenated UConn team. Had it not been for his injury problems, Theus could have given Anthony Davis a run for his money for that number one draft position. Theus is a talented inside scorer with good instincts on the glass. It’s hard to pinpoint any weaknesses with him. He is a mature player and ready to play now in the NBA.
2. Malcolm Cole, SG 6’6” 19, Kentucky, Freshman: The next in line in John Calipari’s production line of ‘one and done’ products. Cole is probably the best two-guard that the Wildcats have had in years. I am not kidding when I say this - Cole is the real deal. He is young and brimming with potential. He is already a polished shooter with unlimited range. He is a lockdown defender on the perimeter. Cole was a stud in high school who gained national attention by scoring 50 points in back to back to back games.
Cole does have weaknesses though. He is a volume scorer (averaging the third most shot attempts in the NCAA). He has to have the ball in his hands to succeed (leading to 3.2 turnovers a game). He doesn’t necessarily have the court awareness that you would like. He doesn’t have the aggressiveness to take the ball to the rack and thus always settles for the outside shot. If Cole is to be a bona fide star in the NBA, he will need to develop these intricacies of the game. He is simply too much of a one-dimensional player (albeit an excellent one averaging 19.7 ppg) on the offensive end.
3. Mel Barry, SF 6’7” 19, UMass, Freshman: The other super freshman of this class. Mel Barry is a freak athlete who is lighting up the college circuit by landing himself on Sportscenter every night he plays. Barry is averaging a modest 12.3 ppg for UMass but scouts are looking past the numbers and seeing what kind of player he can be moulded into
Many are calling him a mini Blake Griffin for his leaping ability and furious finishes. Scouts are intrigued as to whether he can learn how to see the game and best use his physical gifts to impact on other areas of his game. He is a confident player who has stated that he thinks he is ready for the Pros.
4. Jevon Augmon, SF 6’7” 20, Alabama, Sophomore: Augmon is an all-around player – a real stat-sheet stuffer. He has also been lauded for his potential to develop into a star. Augmon averaged 12.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.2 apg in his freshman year. This year, he has improved on those averages and is putting up 16.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.6 apg. Many have called him one of the smartest players in college basketball. Augmon can see everything on the court.
5. Vladimir Toroman, SF 6’10” 21, Serbia, International: He popped up on the NBA radar after impressing at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit by finishing with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks. His moves were smooth in the post and he was very vocal on both ends of the floor. He became a member of Serbia’s senior national team last year and is best known for a 20 point, 15 rebound performance against Spain in an exhibition game. Apart from that, Toroman has barely played for his country except for in junior competition. He currently plays in the Spanish League for Barcelona and has been there for four years. Interestingly, he was discovered at the age of 16 by current Detroit Pistons’ front office member Robert Jones.
KEEP AN EYE ON THESE GUYS
Vince Bellamy, PG 6’6” 21, Gonzaga, Junior: An athletic defender and creative playmaker who was forced into playing point guard for Gonzaga in his sophomore season. Bellamy thrived when he got the call to do so and averaged 7.6 apg last year. This season, he is putting up 10.2 ppg, 6.4 apg for Gonzaga and presents as an interesting prospect for NBA teams who will need to decide whether they are drafting him as a shooting guard or a point guard.
Dorrell Blackwell, SG 6’8” 20, Syracuse, Sophomore: Blackwell formed a strong one-two punch with teammate Chris Dixon (below) in his freshman year. He averaged 14.5 ppg on accurate percentages thanks to the double teams that Dixon demanded. Blackwell has been compared to Tracy MacGrady for his size, athleticism, and scoring ability. This season, he has proven himself to be a handful for defenders as his scoring average has bumped up to 17.9 ppg.
Chris Dixon, C 7’2” 22, Syracuse, Senior: Dixon struggled in his first two years of college but bloomed as he gained the spotlight on this Cuse team. He had a breakout junior season in which he averaged 21.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg. This year, he is dominating an leading the nation in scoring at a clip of 24.5 ppg. He is second in the nation in rebounding at a rate of 10.4 rpg. Many have attributed his performance to his size and experience – simply manhandling his opposition. Scouts have noted that he would not be as successful in the NBA because he doesn’t have a polished inside game. You cannot ignore Dixon though – he could be a real prospect for NBA teams looking for size and someone who is aggressive every time he touches the ball.
Stuart Gooden,C 7’1” 22, UCLA, Senior: He is the nation’s number one rebounding player and leading the NCAA at a ridiculous 13.5 rpg. As one scout recently stated, “I didn’t think there were enough rebounds to go around for Gooden to average 13 a game.” Gooden has a knack for being in the right places to grab boards. It goes down to his technique as well as his hustle. Gooden is also an above average shot blocker but there are concerns about his offensive game.
Jay Connor, SG 6’4” 20, Michigan, Sophomore: Michigan have surprisingly started off their season undefeated and that is thanks to the hot play of Jay Connor. Connor is averaging 19.5 ppg, 6.7 apg, 1.8 spg this season and has really lifted his team with his leadership and energy. If Connor continues to perform so strongly, he may be a sleeper to be selected as a lottery pick. This is impressive given that he was seen as a fringe first round pick at the end of last season.
by Lamrock on Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:46 am
by Mark. on Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:19 am
by Solaris Phase Two on Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:02 am
by kurotsugi on Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:55 pm
by Fresh8 on Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:33 pm
Mark. wrote:I think you could do with a good swingman. Depends where you are picking or if you manage to move up. If drafting mid to late I think Blackwell. If you trade up then maybe Augmon.
Dmastawwe wrote:I declare for the draft
by Fresh8 on Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:34 pm
Updated: March 1, 2013
Who Are This Season’s Contenders?
Woody gives you all an idea of the most likely teams from each conference to contend for the Larry O’Brien trophy as the season enters its home stretch.
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By Woody Hannes
ESPN.com Writer
And it comes down to six more weeks before the real season starts! This is always the best part of the season for me. I love the playoff race and the playoffs itself. Now let’s talk about the best teams in the East and the West!
Eastern Conference
The defending champions once again top the Eastern Conference standings but only barely. They have not been the best team in the league this season. That crown belongs to a particular squad in the West. The Heat surely look beatable this season but all of that would be out the window as soon as LeBron James decides to step up and dominate like he should.
These guys are my favourites to get out of the East but I wouldn’t call them a sure pick. They will have trouble against Chicago, Indiana and Brooklyn.
The Bulls were lucky to have Derrick Rose for the whole season healthy. He is putting up a MVP-esque season. The Bulls aren’t the team I think that are likely to finish off the Heat in a 7-game series. I still think that they need a better starter at the 2-guard position than Rip Hamilton. I was actually hoping that they would make a move for someone like Tony Allen or Avery Bradley at the deadline. That would have made things interesting for the Eastern Conference Finals. Alas, we will need to wait until the summer to see if the Bulls can get that starting 2-guard that I really want them to have.
I looked down the standings and went straight to the Indiana Pacers. What about the Wizards you may ask? Too young and inexperienced. And what about the Sixers? Never place a bet on Andrew Bynum’s knees to hold together.
The Pacers have the right combination of players and play the right style of basketball to really give the East a run for their money. The best part is that the Pacers are starting to really pick up steam for the playoffs. This is the best Pacers squad since 2003 – you know… the one that the player formerly known as Ron Artest destroyed.
My dark horse to…. win the title.
You read that right. The Nets have the right players and the right spirit to take out the title. If all goes well for them, I think they have what it takes to go all the way. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson has fit in seamlessly together and they have made Brook Lopez into an All-Star big man this season. I cannot harp on enough about a team that makes G-Money an afterthought when I am talking about the most important players on the team. The Nets are great.
(Note to Carmelo Anthony: If you want to be the MVP, your team needs to be the best team in the Borough first!)
Western Conference
The Thunder are the best team in the NBA. There is no disputing that. Kevin Martin has replaced James Harden so well that no one remembers him anymore. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have dominated in such fashion that they have overtaken James-Wade as the most dynamic duo in the league.
And these guys are on a mission to get revenge for last season. Oh yes they are.
The Lakers got off to a slow start and on a bad day, this team is admittedly horrendous. Steve Nash is looking… well… his age. Kobe Bryant has been quiet all season. Pau Gasol doesn’t seem comfortable. Metta World Peace and Antawn Jamison aren’t exactly efficient when sharing court time. The only bright thing has been Dwight Howard’s rapid recovery from back surgery.
As this team gelled though, the wins started to pile up again and the team is not so bad anymore. That brings me to describing the Lakers on a good day. They are championship contenders.
Will the Hallway series eventuate this season? I hope so.
The Clippers are one of the most entertaining teams to watch. They are also deep with former All-Star Chauncey Billups coming off the bench for them. The other LA team has a very experienced group of players and not to mention, a lot of ex-Lakers (Lamar Odom, Matt Barnes, Ronny Turiaf, Caron Butler and don’t forget Paul).
Iggy looked great as an addition on paper for the Nuggets. George Karl has been a genius and made it work. The Nuggets are a deep team as well with no star that they solely depend on. Even lone All-Star Iggy said, “I don’t care who takes the last shot. Everyone can score on this team.” This team is just so well assembled and so well coached. It’s a pleasure to watch them. I just don’t think they have what it takes to get past the three teams above but you never know!
I just put these guys in for fun because I think they are slightly underrated. There is just something about the Wolves that makes me really think that they could put together a special run as a lower seed. That one thing may be Ricky Rubio who is a truly unappreciated ball handling maestro who brings out the best of everyone the floor. Rubio is the reason why Kevin Love has not demanded a trade. Rubio is the reason why Brandon Roy is looking solid despite looking clearly lost on the floor after his comeback. I do believe that Rubio has something up his sleeve. He has a lot more experience playing in important games than most players around the traps. Credit that to playing pro ball since 15 years of age and being a member of the Spain national team when they reached the 2008 gold medal match.
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