X's Bucks Dynasty *WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN*

[Lamrock]

Ersan seemed like a good defender when I saw him. Really tried hard at least. He also has 1.1 defensive win shares on the season, and a solid defensive rating of 101. Hopefully you hang on to Redd. He may not be what he was, but I like it when players stay with a franchise their whole career.

[The X]

Ersan seemed like a good defender when I saw him. Really tried hard at least. He also has 1.1 defensive win shares on the season, and a solid defensive rating of 101. Hopefully you hang on to Redd. He may not be what he was, but I like it when players stay with a franchise their whole career.

As do I, but will see what is out there for him all the same. Ideal thing would be if he did not exercise his option then I re-signed him for half price

As for Ersan, I just saw him get dominated on low post by Kevin Garnett. Then again, Bucks play him at PF when he seems more like a SF. But yes I agree, he always plays hard. Also whose jump shot does he remind you of? I think 2k has his all wrong, just don't know who to change it to.

[Lamrock]

Not too sure about the jump shot. Do you use 2K's rosters? I hear they are pretty brutal. I use Rashidi's rosters, but they are XBox Live only. Ilyasova is a 72 in them, but I think Ersan is in the 60's in 2K...

Free agency is weird in 2K10. I did a test run, in which Anthony Morrow (rated 72 in mine) expressed 100% interest in a 3 year, 2.5M contract, but then declined when I made a 3 year, 20M offer.

[The X]

Ersan was only rated 55 in 2k10 rosters but I updated him so he is now about 62 or 63. But he just doesn't feel right with his wierd looking 2k jumper so I might just change it to something random. Updated Bogut from 72 to 75. Kept Jennings at 77 & Redd at 76.

I was going to use other OS PS3 rosters, but I just felt they played around too much with tendencies & made players drive hardcore all the time. Felt the game played better with 2k rosters.

[The X]

PACERS-PISTONS LINK UP TO MAKE FIRST TRADE OF YOUNG SEASON
By The X

Detroit receives: PG T.J. Ford (1 year, $8.5m owing with 1 year, $8.5m player option)
Indiana receives: SF Tayshaun Prince (2 years, $21.5 million owing)

THE SPIN

Detroit: Joe Dumars has come to the realisation that Rodney Stuckey just isn't ready to quarterback an NBA franchise full-time. With the addition of T.J. Ford, he has essentially acquired a new starting quarterback for the Pistons who should hopefully make things easier for Ben Gordon, Rip Hamilton and Charlie Villanueva and help lead them to another playoff berth.

Indiana: The Pacers' coaching staff didn't feel that the team was any better under T.J. Ford than it would be with Earl Watson running the show. The addition of Tayshaun Prince provides more depth and versatility up front and takes some pressure off Danny Granger at the defensive end as Prince will end up getting the toughest assignments in regards to the other team's best offensive perimeter players.

THE REALITY

Detroit: Maybe Joe Dumars knows something that we don't and expects Ford to not exercise his player option. If he doesn't exercise his player option then this deal will help the Pistons get at least $6m under the salary cap this summer and potentially be able to add another piece to the puzzle. The Pistons definitely didn't swing for any fences with this deal and I would've preferred them sending Prince in a deal that would've netted them a good young prospect and/or draft picks. This deal could potentially be a precursor to further trades, including swingman Rip Hamilton, but only time will tell in that regard.

Projected Lineup: B. Wallace/C. Villanueva/R. Hamilton/B. Gordon/T. Ford/R. Stuckey (6th)

Indiana: This deal does not affect the Pacers' cap situation as they clearly weren't going to be a major player prior to the 2012 off-season. Instead, the Pacers will continue in the short term to develop their young core, whilst adding supplementary pieces via the draft and trades. It must be said that this deal leaves the Pacers quite thin at point guard (Watson/Diener/Price) and paying $30m for its small forwards (Granger/Prince/Dunleavy Jr). Prince is fairly versatile so I'd expect him to play big minutes off the bench at the 3 & 4. Granger can slide to the 2 on occasions, so I can't envision playing time being an issue. I think Prince might help the team slightly, but I don't think it necessarily moves them up the pecking order in the East.

Projected Lineup: R. Hibbert/T. Murphy/D. Granger/B. Rush/E. Watson/T. Prince (6th)

[Lamrock]

Great trade article. The Spin/Reality breakdown is a great idea. As for the trade, I like it for the Pacers, but not for the Pistons. As much as I like TJ and dislike Stuckey, Ford isn't a very good player. Not to mention their best point guard, Will Bynum will continue to rot on the bench.

[Azzdogs]

Poor Stuckey Fought he got his chance after Billups and Iverson left but now its been snatched away.

[hova-]

I'm not sure if this trade helps Detroit in any way. The thing I don't like about the trade is the fact that Will Bynum will see less minutes now although he is the team's most productive point guard and clutch player (in real life). If Ford declines his option it could be okay though. Further Dumars has made bad decision in the offseason so this is not all too unrealistic. How fun would this team have been to rebuild if he had not signed Gordon and CV? I mean, Austin Daye, Dajuan Summers, Jonas Jerebko are all very gifted players. And on the other side you have Wallace, Hamilton, Prince and Stuckey as well as Bynum.
If the team had remained like that you would now see "Hov's Pistons" instead of the Cats.

For the Pacers, it's a good deal. Prince can still defend three positions. Ford was also taking too many shots. You should look out to decrease Grangers shot tendency now or otherwise he could be at 35 ppg.

For the Ilyasova shot. I find it looks a bit like Nowitzki's shot in the game. Despite being completely off for Nowe, it could fit with Ersan. Or maybe Yi's shot? Maybe I will have a closer look later

Keep it up.

[Fresh8]

Don't like the trade for the Pistons.

[The X]

Not surprised that most people don't like the trade for Detroit's side. It wasn't bad enough of a trade or didn't create enough of a position logjam for me to veto it. When I first saw the trade I thought it was alright as I saw Ford was in the last year of his deal. But when I was writing my piece & took a closer look at the contracts, it revealed that Ford had a player option, which made the trade a winner for the Pacers.

As for Bynum, he's a free agent at end of year so will be interesting to see what happens with his situation. Shame Joe Dumars didn't have as much faith in him

Great trade article. The Spin/Reality breakdown is a great idea.

Cheers. It hadn't actually been my intention to do it that way. It just evolved that way as I was writing it

Poor Stuckey Fought he got his chance after Billups and Iverson left but now its been snatched away.

That's how the NBA works unfortunately. Stuckey just hasn't been performing up to expectations.

For the Ilyasova shot. I find it looks a bit like Nowitzki's shot in the game. Despite being completely off for Nowe, it could fit with Ersan. Or maybe Yi's shot? Maybe I will have a closer look later

Cheers for advice. Does seem a little like Nowitzki's from 3pt land but will also take a look at Yi's. Pumped up Ilyasova to 65 overall but will stop there & hopefully he can develop himself.

Don't like the trade for the Pistons.

Most trades have winners & losers. At keast it's not as lopsided as say the Grizzlies-Lakers deal of a couple of seasons ago though


Aside from the trade, I've got another game played. Follow link to blog below. The team, despite it's 3-4 record is really struggling at the moment. I'm recalling Joe Alexander and Jodie Meeks back from the D-League to see if they can provide something. At the moment I'm just playing poorly & need to be more patient. Might try to deal Ridnour who is crap at moment. Otherwise just let him walk at season's end. Just struggling to find player's niches & getting the consistency from them. I need Jay Gray

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[Mark.]

Cool trade recap. Hey how do I blog boxscores? It says I cant upload at this time, do I have to set it up on the site first?

[dare]

Damn but trade by the Pistons I can see Rip leaving the Pistons soon

[Fresh8]

Maybe you will get Jay Gray in the next Draft.

[mp3]

Cool trade recap. Hey how do I blog boxscores? It says I cant upload at this time, do I have to set it up on the site first?

Yeah i was wondering how it works also.

[The X]

Cool trade recap. Hey how do I blog boxscores? It says I cant upload at this time, do I have to set it up on the site first?

Yeah i was wondering how it works also.

All I had to do was sign up as a member on the 2k Sports website then link my new 2k sports account to my PS3 gamertag.

Once your account is verified, simply log into your account, click on your avatar at the top right of the screen to get to your account home. On the left side click on the "Edit My Account" link. From this new page click on "Link Account" in the blue bar and is pretty straight forward from there.

If you still have problems then I'm thinking it's because PC hasn't received any of the patches yet. I believe the option to use Association blogs for PS3 & Xbox 360 users was only activated after the patches were released, although I could be wrong.

Damn but trade by the Pistons I can see Rip leaving the Pistons soon

Who knows? Just like real life, I've got a feeling that Rip is going nowhere.

Maybe you will get Jay Gray in the next Draft.

Unlikely considering I've got real classes for next four drafts. Although there are a few good PF prospects in 2010 Draft including Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech, Ed Davis of North Carolina, Patrick Patterson of Kentucky, Donatas Motiejunas of Lithuania and so on. So I should be able to definitely get some help from this draft. Maybe I should try & snap up a second pick to get two young big men

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[mp3]

Cheers X iam now signed up and thinking maybe Wizards or Knicks association ? hhmmmm

[The X]

Cheers X iam now signed up and thinking maybe Wizards or Knicks association ? hhmmmm

Judging by your avatar, it could be both

[The X]

LINE OF THE NIGHT
By The X

Joe Alexander: 18mins, 13pts, 5-13 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT, 1reb, 2blk, 2TO

In his first game since being called back from the D-League, 2nd year forward Joe Alexander looked like he was back playing in the Big East for the West Virginia Mountaineers, as he was instant offense off the bench for the Bucks in a surprising win over the San Antonio Spurs.

After drafting him at number 8 overall last year and bypassing quality prospects such as Brook Lopez and Jerryd Bayless, it must provide a glimmer of hopes for Bucks' fans who thought the pick had been thrown up. Let's see if Alexander can continue to provide solid play off the bench for the Bucks.

To check out the blog for the Spurs' game, please use the following link:

[hova-]

Good win. Ersan played very well. For simmed games it's difficult to judge. You can definitely have an impact by editing shot tendencies and rotation, but still it's often like "I'm in a slump/on a 3 game loss steak playing myself and then I sim and win against the best team of the league". Good to see a win anyway.
Alexander will see some more minutes now I guess.

[Fresh8]

Good win against the Spurs.

[Mark.]

Good win for your team, cool to see Alexander playing well

[The X]

Good win. Ersan played very well. For simmed games it's difficult to judge. You can definitely have an impact by editing shot tendencies and rotation, but still it's often like "I'm in a slump/on a 3 game loss steak playing myself and then I sim and win against the best team of the league". Good to see a win anyway.
Alexander will see some more minutes now I guess.

Yes, after seeing the stats I was definitely going to increase shot tendencies for Bogut & Ersan to get them both more shots.

Question, do you use Sim option or Sim by Hoopscast/Gamecast? I find the former means you're more likely to win "against best team in the league" & the latter is more likely you'll lose again. I've been using the former. Just looking for a different opinion.

Btw, I wouldn't call the Spurs the best team in the league, especially the way they are playing IRL, barely above .500, which is coincidentally enough exactly what they are in my Association

Good win against the Spurs.

Good to finally beat somebody good, even if it is only by sim Had lost all my previous tough games (Heat, Blazers, Lakers & Celtics).

Good win for your team, cool to see Alexander playing well

Ahh, another closet Joe Alexander fan like me

[Mark.]

Ahh, another closet Joe Alexander fan like me

Yeah its hard to resist, not a die hard one though, its not like he's JJ Redick or anything.....

[The X]

Ahh, another closet Joe Alexander fan like me

Yeah its hard to resist, not a die hard one though, its not like he's JJ Redick or anything.....

Yep, I'm a big JJ fan too

Shame Adam Morrison is letting me down

[hova-]

Good win. Ersan played very well. For simmed games it's difficult to judge. You can definitely have an impact by editing shot tendencies and rotation, but still it's often like "I'm in a slump/on a 3 game loss steak playing myself and then I sim and win against the best team of the league". Good to see a win anyway.
Alexander will see some more minutes now I guess.

Yes, after seeing the stats I was definitely going to increase shot tendencies for Bogut & Ersan to get them both more shots.

Question, do you use Sim option or Sim by Hoopscast/Gamecast? I find the former means you're more likely to win "against best team in the league" & the latter is more likely you'll lose again. I've been using the former. Just looking for a different opinion.

Btw, I wouldn't call the Spurs the best team in the league, especially the way they are playing IRL, barely above .500, which is coincidentally enough exactly what they are in my Association

Well, that was just an example with the best team. Still, it often happens that you turn things around quickly when simming.
I use hoopcast, just because I want to see who's hot in which quarter for my recaps. I don't watch the whole game but rather push the button steadily and write down the best guys per quarter. Takes me 5 minutes I guess. Could be that you loose more often with hoopcast, but I also upset the Cavs using it.