Post by TimPig on Jun 4, 2018 18:25:39 GMT
Boston Celtics2002 Record: 29-53; 6th in the Atlantic
Key Additions: Juan Keaney, Ricky Davis
Key Losses: Grayson Allen, Sim Boyd
Analysis: It’s the beginning of a new era in Boston as we moved from RV to Jeezy mid-2002. The newest new guy (sorry, Mike) wasn’t afraid to stir things up as he immediately put everyone on his trade block. While he didn’t make any major trades last season, he did make a big move by amnestying Sim Boyd. While Boyd clearly wasn’t worth the contract he was being paid, it does leave Jeezy in a tough spot as he currently has no PG-eligible players on his roster. Not a huge deal though as I think Jeezy knows he’s not contending this year, so trade for a project on the cheap or sign someone from the FA scrap heap.
Doumboya still has +15 and already has stud-level grades. Still just 21, he and lottery pick Ricky Davis, depending on his preseason, look to be this team’s building blocks. Davis has nice inside and defense grades, but we’ll have to see if his lack of outside is truly detrimental. Not to be forgotten, Wendell Carter Jr. went +3 in training camp this year. He was a reach in the first round of the creation draft, but could be showing signs of life. Keaney seems like an adequate replacement for Grayson Allen, but is quite a bit older.
2003 Record Prediction: 27-55
Harlem Globetrotters2002 Record: 61-21; 1st in the Atlantic
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: Lavar Ball, Borat Sagdiyev
Analysis: I fully expect the Globetrotters to once again be the class of the Atlantic and the Eastern Conference despite some hits to their depth this offseason. They have perhaps the best trio of players in the league with Dolph Schayes (and his absurd gradeset), Jock Landale, and Elvis Delle Donne. Those three combined for 86.4 points and 31 rebounds per game last year. All three are in their mid-20s, so as long as they’re in the fold this team will be good for the next 4-5 seasons as is.
Ward’s a slick GM, so I expect him to continue to find ways to flip what other assets he has to fill in around the big three. He gets low volume and solid defense out of Eligin Baylor, who really opens things up for the other guys, so I don’t have a huge issue with him at SG. Jordan McLaughin at PG is a tough decision. The lack of turnovers is nice, but I don’t think he really brings much to the table.
2003 Record Prediction: 60-22
Miami Heat2002 Record: 23-59; 7th in the Atlantic
Key Additions: Benji Wilson, Faye Vincent Reagan
Key Losses: None
Analysis: Benji Wilson chose to take his talents to South Beach rather than Chicago, much like another 6’8 small forward did IRL some years back. Perhaps the prospect of teaming with Zion Williamson to produce a really nice young forward duo was too tempting to pass up, and it’s hard to blame Benji for thinking that way. Despite finishing last place in the Atlantic in 2002, I think this Heat team has a lot to work with.
Benji already went +15 inside and has 10 more upgrade points in the tank. His outside game is already outstanding and the inside bump should raise his efficiency enough to make him one of the league’s better wing scorers. One of the big question marks on this team is Stockton. His volume was surprisingly high as a rookie considering what was a C+ inside grade. That dropped to C this offseason, so we’ll see what kind of effect that has. Love the lack of turnovers he brings, don’t love 42% from the field. If Stockton fixes that, this team has a real nice big three moving forward.
2003 Record Prediction: 34-48
New York Knicks 2002 Record: 54-28; 2nd in the Atlantic
Key Additions: George Kok, Jalek Felton
Key Losses: None
Analysis: This team continues to ride or die with their bigs, Firsto Picko and Stan Haynes. Haynes resigned to a team-friendly contract this offseason, but at 34, it remains to be seen how much he has left in the tank. Unlike the Globetrotters, who lost depth in the offseason, the Knicks added some in George Kok and Jalek Felton, who should both be nice bench options. While Felton isn’t eligible to start at PG, the software will surely give him some time there off the bench. He’s proven himself to be a good scorer and should only post better numbers after a nice training camp.
Firsto went unchanged in training camp but remains the best all-around center in the league. Haynes dropped from B+ to B rebounding, and after only getting 30 mpg last year, may start needing more rest for those old knees, which would mean more minutes for the 37-year-old Kok. Last year’s primary backup big was Dean Cain, who was awful. Quincy McCall has evolved into one of the league’s better point guards, averaging a double-double with good efficiency and low turnovers. With both he and Haynes on the bad side of 30, we’ll see how long this team remains near the top.
2003 Record Prediction: 56-26
Orlando Magic2002 Record: 48-34; 3rd in the Atlantic
Key Additions: Udoka Azubuike, Jon Elmore
Key Losses: None
Analysis: I’m including Azubuike as a key addition as he was acquired mid-season from the Kings last year to return to Orlando, where he started his TMBSL career. Azubuike fairly gets a bad rap due to his awful FT%, but I personally don’t hate him as much as some others. As a third big and with some jumper help, he might be serviceable. If I were Skrouse, I wouldn’t have gone +11 inside and would’ve done anything I can to get that jumper up, but that’s just me. I have Jon Elmore as a key addition primarily because that means Jesse Epstein and his five turnovers per game won’t be starting anymore (hopefully - please Skrouse, put Epstein on IR).
This team’s two bigs, Brandon Griner and Cameron Parker, are nearing 30, so Skrouse needs to get them some help quick to make the most out of their prime years. I think he’s finally figured out that he needs to adjust his gameplan to center around those guys, which should help this team find more success this season. Focus on those two, put Epstein on the bench, and I think this team could finish with a four or five seed in the East.
2003 Record Prediction: 50-32
Washington Bullets2002 Record: 37-45; 4th in the Atlantic
Key Additions: Rashard Lewis
Key Losses: Cracker McCallahan, Troy Brown
Analysis: Unfortunately for Kn88, one of the league’s truly good guys, he’s still in recovery from a haunting creation draft that saw him take Trae Young in round one. Fortunately, he found Simisola Shittu who should be one of the league’s best bigs for a number of years. Kn added Sir Charles last year in the draft and while he was somewhat disappointing as a rookie, he should have the tools to be a good player, especially with some Lab help on his inside scoring and jumper.
Rashard Lewis was very promising in the draft, but like many of the other rookies, didn’t have much of a training camp. Still, he, like Barkley, should have the tools to become a good player. It’ll be interesting to see who plays PF and who plays SF for this team and how Kn distributes minutes to a couple of young but incomplete hybrid forwards. Troy Brown, grabbed by the Raptors in the offseason, had a really nice training camp. It remains to be seen if that’ll come back to haunt the Bullets.
2003 Record Prediction: 39-43
Washington Wizards2002 Record: 35-47; 5th in the Atlantic
Key Additions: Jontay Porter
Key Losses: Goga Bitadze, Rowdy Eavenson
Analysis: Woof, tough offseason for HT and the other team from our nation’s capital. Rowdy retiring puts this team in an even deeper hole, where the unproven Chimp Godbolt will be forced into being the team’s starting point guard. It’s a rough situation for HT, who tried to trade Rowdy perhaps just a bit too late, as he was clearly regressing big time last season. Bitadze, a young center with nice D/R grades but god-awful efficiency, has a new home out West as well.
The situation forced HT to go out and spend on Jontay Porter, an unproven power forward with small forward eligibility who I think can be a good player with some investment. He’s got great size and isn’t afraid to shoot the three ball. Also, credit to HT for putting the work in on Meadowlark Lemon. He had fantastic grades in the creation draft but didn’t get much of a chance in Harlem or Chicago. Last year as a full-time player he put up 23 and 7. This team should be in line for a lotto pick this upcoming draft.
2003 Record Prediction: 20-62
