Simmed Game
PHX - 19 30 30 26 105
LAL - 18 21 19 21 179
POTG: Devin Booker (30pts, 3reb, 3ast, 2blk)
Record: 11-3
Lamrock wrote:Phil89 wrote:It's actually frustrating how inconsistent his shooting is. Maybe I just don't have the timing down on his release yet.
Have you thought about changing his release? It's kind of daunting because the game has so many of them, but changing his release could make him a completely different player for you.
Nice win - it's early but you look to be headed for a high seed this year.
Valor wrote:10-2 is a fantastic start to the season, and damn Bledsoe beasted in that sim game.
Contract Extensions
01/11/17 - Chicago Bulls re-sign Dwyane Wade (2 years / $20 million)
02/11/17 - Portland Trail Blazers re-sign Ed Davis (3 years / $27 million)
06/11/17 - Houston Rockets re-sign Trevor Ariza (2 years / $16 million)
10/11/17 - Golden State Warriors re-sign Kevin Durant (4 years / $134 million)
16/11/17 - Sacramento Kings re-sign DeMarcus Cousins (4 years / $110 million)
18/11/17 - Boston Celtics re-sign Isaiah Thomas (4 years / $114 million)
Simmed Game
PHX - 16 29 22 30 97
SDE - 19 15 28 29 91
POTG: Devin Booker (33pts, 1reb, 2ast)
Record: 12-4
Simmed Game
PHX - 25 21 24 20 90
MEM - 22 22 26 23 93
POTG: Marc Gasol (24pts, 6reb, 2ast, 2stl, 1blk)
Record: 13-5
Simmed Game
NOP - 26 26 14 17 83
PHX - 22 19 36 19 96
POTG: Devin Booker (23pts, 2reb, 5ast, 1blk)
Record: 15-5
Simmed Game
PHX - 11 16 21 17 65
SAS - 18 20 23 18 79
POTG: Kawhi Leonard (18pts, 11reb, 3ast, 3stl, 1blk)
Record: 16-6
Simmed Game
MEM - 36 26 22 26 110
PHX - 25 18 26 28 198
POTG: Marc Gasol (21pts, 10reb, 6ast, 2stl, 1blk)
Record: 17-7
Simmed Game
PHX - 29 40 18 21 108
GSW - 31 26 22 34 113
POTG: Draymond Green (21pts, 14reb, 10ast, 1stl, 1blk)
Record: 18-8
Simmed Game
MIN - 19 26 22 21 88
PHX - 23 29 21 24 97
POTG: Dragan Bender (14pts, 9reb, 5stl, 4blk)
Record: 19-9
Simmed Game
POR - 18 35 23 25 101
PHX - 25 20 23 32 100
POTG: CJ McCollum (29pts, 3reb, 5ast, 1stl)
Record: 20-10
Contract Extensions
05/12/17 - Miami Heat re-sign Josh Richardson (4 years / $48 million)
16/12/17 - Houston Rockets re-sign Clint Capela (4 years / $70 million)
As the new year approached, several teams around the league took the opportunity to shake things up a bit. In the past fortnight there have been four trades, involving eight teams.
Perhaps the most surprising move of the bunch was made by high-flying Philadelphia, who traded defensive specialist Nerlens Noel to Dallas in exchange for Justin Anderson and Dwight Powell.
Houston moved to solidify their playoff ambitions by acquiring bench-scoring extraordinaire Lou Williams from the LA Lakers. They gave up the expiring contract of Corey Brewer and a top 3 protected 2018 first round pick.
The Rockets currently sit in third place in the western conference with a 22-11 record. They are mainly in this position thanks to the MVP level form of superstar James Harden. The bearded guard has been on a scoring tear to start the season, averaging an impressive 35 points per game so far.
Adding Williams will give them a flexible four-man guard rotation now alongside Harden, Eric Gordon and Patrick Beverley.
It's an interesting move by the Lakers to trade away their best bench player when they are finally back into playoff contention after a few poor seasons. They currently hold the eighth seed after winning eighteen of their first thirty-three games.
Clearly though they had no intention of signing Williams to an extension beyond this season and felt another draft pick would suit their current window better.
The next deal to take place saw Washington acquire Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCollough from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Andrew Nicholson, Johnathan Mosley and a lottery protected 2018 first round pick.
It's a bit of a left-field trade for a team that is in the middle of a rebuild and is currently battling to get close to the playoff race, but the Wizards do need more shooters. They are sitting fourth-from-bottom in their conference after winning only fourteen of their opening thirty-five games.
"Bojan is a very good shooter and a talented overall scorer whose versatility gives us an added dimension as we gear up for the stretch run,'' Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. "He is a proven starter that will provide us an added boost off the bench and allow us to be creative with our lineups."
Brooklyn have failed to improve their fortunes this season despite spending big on Rudy Gay and J.R. Smith over the off-season. Only newcomers Louisville have had a poorer start to the new campaign than the Nets.
With their disastrous trade with Boston from a few seasons ago still affecting their draft fortunes, the Nets must have felt that giving up a bench player like Bogdanovic in order to get back into the first round was a worthwhile venture.
Perhaps the most interesting move involved Philadelphia sending big men Nerlens Noel and Richaun Holmes to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Dwight Powell, Justin Anderson and two future second round picks.
The Sixers have started the new season brilliantly after their roster building over the past twelve months is bearing fruit. Number one pick Ben Simmons won the rookie of the year award and they also acquired all-star John Wall midway through last season.
The off-season addition of sharpshooter JJ Redick and the continued emergence of versatile big man Dario Saric have also added strength to their team. As has the prolonged health of cult figure Joel Embiid.
After a third of the season they are looking like legitimate contenders to the eastern conference throne. They sit in second spot behind the Toronto Raptors after winning eighteen games so far. Trading Noel could be a move aimed at giving Saric more playing time and also landing an athletic wing in Justin Anderson.
Dallas for their part get another defensive anchor to compete with Willie Cauley-Stein for the starting center spot. It's a move more aimed at the future beyond legend Dirk Nowitzki because they are struggling again this season, sitting down in thirteenth place in the western conference.
Things are looking pretty decent for the Mavericks now. They have a youngish core of Harrison Barnes, De'Aaron Fox, Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein, Ben McLemore and Seth Curry to build around once Dirk retires.
Two more teams making a change were Chicago and Oklahoma City. The Bulls acquired Cameron Payne and Joffrey Lauvergne in exchange for Doug McDermott and Jerian Grant.
The Bulls have been looking for a new starting point guard after trading former MVP Derrick Rose in June 2016 and having veteran Rajon Rondo taken in the expansion draft by Louisville over the off-season. Cameron Payne has shown glimpses of promise during his short NBA career, but will he be the answer for Chicago?
They have started the season decently enough and currently hold the sixth seed with a .500 record after thirty-two games.
Oklahoma City do this move simply to add more shooting to their team. Doug McDermott hasn't quite replicated the amazing scoring prowess that he showed in college, but he should still add a perimeter threat that the Thunder sorely lack.
The Thunder are battling away in seventh place in the western conference at the moment and are doing their best to support reigning MVP Russell Westbrook as he tries to guide them deep into the playoffs.
This trade also brings together the Grant brothers, Jerami and Jerian. They are the sons of former player Harvey Grant and nephews of Horace.
Simmed Game
PHX - 24 19 36 27 12 118
DEN - 15 28 27 36 16 112
POTG: Alex Len (17pts, 15reb)
Record: 21-11
Simmed Game
PHX - 25 23 37 20 105
DAL - 22 25 29 27 103
POTG: Devin Booker (19pts, 1reb, 3ast, 1stl)
Record: 22-12
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has been no stranger to creating headlines since he took over the role in 2014. He did so again today by suggesting that he is very much open to the possibility of trading star forward Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline passes on February 22nd.
Jackson confirmed in his press conference today that the New York Knicks will begin rebuilding again over the off-season. They have struggled to make the combination of Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah a competitive one. The playoffs already look out of reach for another season and star man Anthony has become increasingly unsettled.
"It's just frustrating man", said a dejected Anthony after his side suffered a 22 point blowout loss against the Lakers last night. "I came here to win titles and it just hasn't happened, for whatever reason."
Jackson seemingly responded to those comments today, appearing to lay the blame for the lack of success squarely on Anthony's shoulders. "We've not been able to win with him on the court," said Jackson. "I think the direction with our team is that he would be better off somewhere else."
ESPN are reporting that Jackson met with Anthony this morning and had a constructive conversation about what the future may hold. Jackson reportedly asked Anthony for a list of teams that he would be willing to join. The Knicks will need his approval to execute any trade, due to him having a full no-trade clause.
Early reports suggest that there are five teams that Anthony would accept a trade to: Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia and the two Los Angeles teams. It remains to be seen whether any of those teams are actually interested in acquiring the ten-time all-star and can satisfy the Knicks' trade demands.
Lamrock wrote:Some interesting jerseys the Heat are wearing
Potential Roster Depth
C - Joel Embiid, Roy Hibbert, Tibor Pleiss
PF - Carmelo Anthony, Dario Saric, Dwight Powell
SF - Ben Simmons, Justin Anderson, Anthony Morrow
SG - JJ Redick, Nik Stauskas, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
PG - John Wall, TJ McConnell, Shelvin Mack
Potential Roster Depth
C - Festus Ezeli, Timofey Mozgov, Tarik Black
PF - Carmelo Anthony, Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr
SF - Brandon Ingram, Lance Thomas, VJ Beachem
SG - Courtney Lee, Nick Young, Justin Holiday
PG - D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Jennings, Marcelo Huertas
Potential Roster Depth
C - DeAndre Jordan, Marreese Speights, Diamond Stone, Amida Brimah
PF - Blake Griffin, Luc Mbah a Moute, Brandon Bass
SF - Carmelo Anthony, James Johnson, JaKarr Sampson
SG - Lance Stephenson, Alan Anderson, Justin Holiday
PG - Chris Paul, Raymond Felton
Simmed Game
SDE - 29 26 37 26 118
PHX - 22 19 30 34 105
POTG: Dennis Smith Jr (23pts, 9reb, 5ast, 2stl, 2blk)
Record: 23-13
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