SSBA

It's gonna be a late one guys.  Like midnight eastern time'ish.

Great, i desperately need some sleep anyway ... ;-)

So, what's to expect?

I have no idea actually. I really like being in that position and have a good feeling because of how my team performed recently, but I'm still at a learning point when it comes to individual series and matchups (what I tend to forget is that this isn't an unproven teams full of youngsters anymore but has some playoff-proven veterans - in Booth' case even champion - leading the way).

So as much as I feel I should be able to win that series against the Bulls I will take whatever I can, just hope that my squad can avoid the injury-bug.


On a sidenote:
With the Bulls and Celtics, two of the hottest teams recently will meet in the first round (#2 and #4 leaguewide since sim #8) and the winner will most likely face the #1 hot team Nets. Call that an "unbalanced" playoff bracket ...

 :wink:

Celts are looking unbeatable at this point, I don't really know what to expect from the series.  Either way, it should go down to the wire

with all due respect to you guys, I still believe the 2nd and 3rd best teams are the Pacers and Hornets, and them being out in the other side of the conference IMO means that the balance is fairly even.

With all respect to the Hornets and Pacers, which I believe are still superior to the Celtics, this is strictly based on the leaguewide record since sim #8:

1. Nets   29-06 (.829)
2. Celtics   30-10 (.750)
3. Sonics   22-08 (.733)
4. Bulls   21-09 (.700)
5. Pacers   21-10 (.677)
6. Warriors   25-13 (.658)
7. Hornets   22-12 (.647)

Doesn't take injuries, opponents strength or other factors into account.

4 of those 10 pacer losses came in the last sim when they were resting people :)

As I said, this is based on record only (btw, Pacers lost to the Sonics, Hornets (twice) and Mavs, apart from the last one hardly a surprise even at full strength).

If i take all the other intangibles into account, the Clippers would be in there as well and probably Grizzlies, Jazz too.

Glad to reperesent the Western Conference here :)  Someone has to.

despite brand's injurie, i'm still shocked that Clips won only 51 games.

Well, technically the Sonics - ranked #3 - belong to the Western SSBA hemisphere too ...

... but I remember someone murmuring "they play like they come from another planet". Was that meant positive or negative ? I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure that must have been said BEFORE the Peja injury.

 :wink:

I love the Peja-Deng matchup after they were traded for each other earlier this year.

Is Peja a chemistry killer?  Kind of like Pau Pierce? That is the big question.  Roberto Dickau played quite well in his place,, with better shooting percentages then Peja.

But I would love to see a Deng/Peja match-up...  Just like the Raps said, two players who were traded for each other facing off.  Classic.

Deng will not start but come from the bench ???



oh how them mighty have fallen ...
 :lol:

Associated Press  -
Rumors have started, that have mentioned Luol Deng coming of the bench in the Golden State/Seattle first round layoff matchup.

The GM of the Warriors has responded to these rumors, calling them completely unfounded. "Both Luol and Iggy are fantastic young players, and we are very happy to have both of them here on the Warriors squad.   But any rumors that Iggy will be starting in the Sonics series are unfounded.  Luol had played incredibly well since coming to Golden State, and will continue to start.  Iggy has found his role as one of the best 6th men in the game, and will continue in that role.  We hope that clears up any confusion."

Not sure what to expect in my matchup with the Grizzlies.  They won the season series 3-1 but all 4 games were played prior to the trades that brought Ray Allen and SAR to San Antonio.  

With Ray Allen out for the playoffs the SG spot falls to a 19 year old rookie.  Schabinger plays well but is very inconsistant.  The key to the series is in the PG & SF matchups where both teams look for leadership.

Podkolzine v. Houbregs
Martin/Swift v. Duncan
Odom v. Terpening
Marion v. Austin
Livingston v. Arroyo

These are the projected matchups based on the last game (strategy may change of course).

I have no confidence whatsoever considering last year's defeat in the 1st round. My team is better than last year, and I don't think the 6ers have improved, so that gives me some hope.

I've never been able to stop Duncan and I don't expect to in this series. However, I expect Marion and Odom to have a big series. It's very possible that the 6ers Gm moves Miller into the starting sg spot; however, I still have to love that matchup.

Should be one of the better series.

As long as I split the first 2 games, I don't think my series gets past 6.  Gooden shouldn't be able to do much against Okafor, and I'll make Vince work for his.  Pettit and Boykins should absolutely abuse their backcourt.  And they weren't exactly the greatest rebounding team in the world, and PG's shot 42% from 3 pt range against chamberlain.

Hmmm...  Just realized that 2 of my starters were on the Sonics last year, Jim Finley and Luol Deng.

Hope they do not try and walk into the wrong locker room.  :D

My goodness. So they know EVERY strategy the Sonics might throw at you tonight. That will give you a HUGE advantage ...

Well i had mediocre seeding before....for this first series I'm just going to stand by the fact that the suns injuries will prove to be too much and it should be enough to get me into the next round. Not too sure if i could count on the Twolves making another upset, but it's looking like I might make an "early" exit from the playoffs this year.

JAZZ, shut up.

 :)

Ouch. Marion really shit the bed.

Wow....just, wow.  It was *almost* the 2nd year in a row a 60 win team was knocked out the first round.  Cavs took both of the games without Pettit and had me down 3-2.  I didn't win a home game until game 7.  

Congrats to the Spurs and Celtics, first time playoff contestants who both advanced to the 2nd round.  And congrats to the Bulls and Cavs for making incredible series, as well as the Timberwolves nearly pulling the upset AGAIN.

Emeka with 25.6 ppg, 18.6 rpg, 3.9 bpg in that first series.

Yeah, you read that right.  Look at that rebounding.

Hornets have got to HATE TD right now.

How does a C defender shut down Shawn Marion?

Well, I am disheartened to say the least. Nice job Sixers again, but for the 2nd year in a row, I feel robbed.

I couldn't tell you want went wrong.

Quick sweep at the hands of the Warriors.  Next up..the Spurs.

I'll predict Sonics in Six once again!

great series against the pistons..
very close i almost have to admit that i have been outcoached by the pistonsgm..

thanks to JO i survived the series.

JO with 29.2 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 3 bpg and 5asspg in that first series

next on my list TD  :shock:
that is a matchup...
two of the best PFs of SSBA will battle each other.
i still believe that JO is the better allaround player and TD the better offensive player
If i can attack TD at the defensive end i should have an advantage in this series if not it will be a very tough and long series

Damn, I lost in 7 :( Congrats to the Celtics

I'm feeling very good about my team though, I'm aiming for 50 wins next season.  I'll have Griffin and Mercer on board as well

Congratulations to the Sonics.


The series makes absolutely zero sense to me.  Completely the opposite of the games we played during the regular season.

Dirk averaged 13.5 rpg? as a C rebounder?
Dickau held Deng to 39% and 28% shooting, as a B defender, when during the regular season Deng averaged 52% against him?

How did English shoot 47% and 52%, when during the regular season against Hinrich, he averaged 43% and 25%?

I can only shake my head, because it makes zero sense.

Kobe played brilliantly, with 25 ppg, 6.5 rg, 3.5 apg, 2.5 spg, on 49% and 45% shooting.

Hinrich did well offensively, 17 ppg, 11 apg, 7.3 rpg  :shock: , 2.0 spg on 47% and 46% shooting.

Deng was terrible, 14 ppg, 6.8 rpg, on 39% and 27% shooting.

Finley did well against Camby, and held his own.

Fuck. So close, oh so close. I'm going game by game, thinking to myself, holy crap I could take the series. First when I'm up 2-0, and then again when I'm up 3-2. But when push came to shove, the Nets offense was just to great, and my defense too poor. My guys fought hard though. Gotta be proud...

Unbelievable. The dream season goes on ...

The Bulls gave me one helluva series with pure drama. Losing the first game convincingly gave me some reality check, then winning the next two did restore inner peace. Before the drama unfolded.

After failing to convert my first match point (which would have given me a 3-1 series lead) AND my second matchpoint (losing game 6 at home) I was sure that's it. And then that game 7.

Lenard still couldn't buy a bucket, shooting just 40%, way below his season average. But the whole team played their trademark defense holding the Bulls to 40% (39.7% for the series) and forcing 27 giveaways. By outscoring the 4th seed by 22 in the second half, we finally took control.


Not to sound too cocky, but it was way closer than expected. The Bulls are really a great team and who knows what happens if I got the homecourt disadvantage (as i statet earlier, it's a pity one of us had to lose). Lenard, Chauncey and Ginobili had monster series, held Drew relatively quiet and Mercer at least somewhat in check.


What's next: The Nets.
Favourite: Celtics.
Why?


Because we have 4 road games.
 :wink:

For those who didn't follow the action:

Nets home: 1-3  road: 3-0
Celts home: 1-2  road: 3-1



And I LOVE quoting myself, too
 :lol:

Unbeleivable....without Ray Allen I was hoping to win 2 games.  The fact that I won twice on the road with my young team is great.  I have been struggling all year on the road.

Two keys that jump out looking at the box scores....I out rebounded them by an average of +6 and I held their 3 pt shooting in check.

I predict Sonics-Jazz and Celtics-Sixers conference finals  :D

Well, I just couldn't find an answer for Jermaine O'Neal...  It looks as if my team did good against the rest of the Pacers...  I'm thinking it would have helped quite a bit if I had Theo Ratliff, but the bastard had to break his skull...  The Pistons will be back next year...

Eastern Conference
 W L Win % L 10 Home GB
*New Jersey Nets 66 16 .805 7-3 34-7 -
*Indiana Pacers 58 24 .707 6-4 31-10 8.0
*New Orleans Hornets 55 27 .671 6-4 29-12 11.0
*Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 5-5 27-14 19.0
*Boston Celtics 46 36 .561 7-3 23-18 20.0
*Philadelphia 76ers 43 39 .524 7-3 25-16 23.0
*Detroit Pistons 41 41 .500 3-7 21-20 25.0
*Cleveland Cavs 41 41 .500 5-5 21-20 25.0
Toronto Raptors 40 42 .488 4-6 25-16 26.0

:?:

What this? I guess most of us do know the standings ...

hmmm....actually, I have no idea why I did that. :oops:

:cheers:

Just a few...but I'm sure it was supposed to serve a purpose.

now you just have to recall the purpose of it. :)

I honestly have no idea :) Maybe a few beers just makes me bitter again  8)