2008 Mid-Season Top 10

[HornetsGM]

1. Toronto Raptors:
The Raptors are, quite simply, the most dominant team the SSBA has ever seen. They are destroying teams, despite starting a 3 ppg shooting guard. Armed with Yao Ming and one of the best SSBA Gms, my prediction is the team that beats the Raptors in the playoffs (if that's even possible) will win the SSBA title this year.

2. New Jersey Nets:
Now that they're healthy, the Nets are back on track and, in my opinion, are the 2nd best team in the SSBA. They're beating teams by an average of 16ppg, and are looking to separate themselves for that 2nd playoff spot and homecourt advantage. This team's youth and potential has other GMs scared stiff.

3. Dallas Mavericks:
The Mavs are the SSBA's deepest team, with a backup starting 5 that could potentially make the playoffs. However, Lebron's production has not been what the Mavs Gm expected it to be, and, consequently, they have not been the team that he expected them to be. Still, it's hard to be disappointed in a team that's 15 games over .500.

4. Los Angeles Clippers
This is another team that, like the Nets, has outstanding talent combined with youth. The difference is that the Clippers also have good depth at every position. I see the Clippers being one of the best SSBA teams for years to come with their young core and their outstanding GM.

5. Sacramento Kings:
The Kings are very "experienced" (read: "old"), but that has translated to wins this year. I look for them to continue to hold one of the top spots and do some real damage in the playoffs. The window may be closing for this team, so their guys have the desparation factor going for them.

6. Orlando Magic:
Frankly, I am a little surprised that this team is playing so well. They are putting up a ton of points though, and are winning a ton of games as a result. The Magic is another "experienced" team, with 3 of their starting 5 over the age of 30. It remains to be seen whether Kidd will be able to win a championship in his SSBA career.

7. Indiana Pacers:
I like this Pacers team a lot. They are "middle-aged", if you will, and have a bright future for the next 5-7 years at least. They still need a real distributor, but they are doing quite well without one. I am surprised that Redd is no longer a starter, but the Pacers' GM made the decision to be more defensive minded.

8. Utah Jazz:
The Jazz is the defending SSBA champ and its players are playing very well this year. Their early struggles had the Jazz's GM contemplating a blowup, but fortunately he left his team intact and it is now performing as it should. I love Booth as the defensive anchor of this group.

9. Philadelphia 76ers
The 6ers GM made a very nice move this season, jettisoning malcontent Allen Iverson for team players Manu Ginobili and Tanner Houbregs. This made the 6ers a deeper and more consistent team, which has translated to wins.

10. Denver Nuggets / Golden State Warriors
Yes, it's a copout for me to include two teams here, but I am the author.
I really like the Nuggets now that they've added Gadzuric. I think that once they get their chemistry, they'll have a chance for great success in the playoffs.
The Warriors have taken one of the least promising teams and turned it into an overnight sensation. From the beginning they were known as the team where bad contracts came to die... However, some of those "bad" contracts were not so bad afterall. Cardinal turned into a very good scorer, and McDyess was hardly a terrible price to pay for Ben Wallace (now with a different team.) I look forward to seeing more moves from this GM.

[RaptorsGM]

You really need to have your team in there.

And the Nets arent beating teams by 16 ppg, just by 6

And thanks for the kudos

[GoldenStateGM]

Thanks for the kudos as well...  I look forward to some more moves from myself as well...  

With the addition of Brian Cardinal in my starting 5, my team can now oficially be called the Raptors lite..  Tastes pretty good (but not great), but is still less filling

[RaptorsGM]

Thanks for the kudos as well...  I look forward to some more moves from myself as well...  

With the addition of Brian Cardinal in my starting 5, my team can now oficially be called the Raptors lite..  Tastes pretty good (but not great), but is still less filling

LOL

But hey, as a fan of light beers, I consider light to be a better thing - and therefore would have to disagree

[GoldenStateGM]

LOL

But hey, as a fan of light beers, I consider light to be a better thing - and therefore would have to disagree

Well, I could have said tastes pretty good, and is a little bit more filling...

But I do not think my team is that far behind...

Plus, I doubt Yao and his 7'6" 310 lb butt are drinking light beer...
But Araujo is 6'11", and 290...

Can we arrange a Sumo contest betwen the two of them?
That would be a Battle Royale (with cheese )...

[NetsGM]

Can you imagine Hoffa, Yao and Peja together?

 

Sorry, just had to get that in.

I'm really excited for this free agency.  this is my last year to try to make a run at someone before pettit eats up all my cap room.

Unless, of course, he doesn't re-sign here.  In which case I quit

 

[GoldenStateGM]

Well, considering how you have been stringing Battier along for years...

Nets GM "Oh yeah, Shane.  We will offer you a big contract next year, we just want to be able to sign (insert big name free agent here)  Just accept this one year deal this year, and be assured we will reward you next year.  Oh, of course we will make you an offensive option (chuckle chuckle), whatever takes to bring you back Shane."

You would think after 3 years, he would have figured it out by now...    

With Hoffa and Yao together, you have better have a player like Peja (great outside shooter).  Not any room left in the paint once those two step in  

[RaptorsGM]

Warriors you ought to trade me Hoffa for Mihm so we can find out.

[GoldenStateGM]

Warriors you ought to trade me Hoffa for Mihm so we can find out.

Yeah, I probably should...  Just to see if you could get to 80 wins next season...
Should I send you Hinrich as well?  He and Davis would make a daring duo at the PG and SG spots...

[NetsGM]

Yeah, thank god Shane has an incredible loyalty ratio, and allows me to do that

This will be the year I lock him up longterm though.  After this, it doesn't matter.

[GoldenStateGM]

Yeah, thank god Shane has an incredible loyalty ratio, and allows me to do that

This will be the year I lock him up longterm though.  After this, it doesn't matter.

Oh, but he gets so inspired, always in a contract year.  Lock him up, and watch his defense drop to an A-...  
Last year, I think you came about a Cato signing away from losing him...

[RaptorsGM]

Warriors you ought to trade me Hoffa for Mihm so we can find out.

Yeah, I probably should...  Just to see if you could get to 80 wins next season...
Should I send you Hinrich as well?  He and Davis would make a daring duo at the PG and SG spots...

Naw to the Hinrich part - thought I would see if the Nuggs would send Vince back here.

Really, until this year the moves I had made previously looked outrageously in my favour.

Now Hoffa has exploded. Realistically I traded Hoffa for Mihm and the pick that helped me to get Boozer - who helped me to get Yao/Peja.

I traded Vince for Deng which got me Davis.

[NetsGM]

Actually, the #3 pick (which you used to get Boozer) you got from the Celtics.  You got the 5th pick for Hoffa, I believe.

It's weird, I'm probably going to end up going from a cheapskate these first 3 years to the Mavs in a few more years, lol.

And yeah, I think I was close to losing Battier that first FA.  I didn't even offer him a contract the first day hoping to land yao with my FA room.

[GoldenStateGM]

Kind off fascinating to see what your orginal team would have looked like...
I wold have had Dunleavy, who is now a studly SF...  Would still have Andris Biedrins, who is still developing nicely as a center, and JRich, who is a pretty good SG...
But Fisher at the point and Murphy at PF...  yikes...

I definitely prefer my current combination, I must say...

[RaptorsGM]

Actually, the #3 pick (which you used to get Boozer) you got from the Celtics.  You got the 5th pick for Hoffa, I believe.

It's weird, I'm probably going to end up going from a cheapskate these first 3 years to the Mavs in a few more years, lol.

And yeah, I think I was close to losing Battier that first FA.  I didn't even offer him a contract the first day hoping to land yao with my FA room.

Ah, ok.

So I basically turned Mo Pete into Yao Ming