Season 64 - Town Hall #4

[LazyTitanSmash]

Which team has a legitimate shot at taking the number 1 seed from either of the current #1 seeds. (the lakers and the bulls) Make your arguments. What trades do different teams need to make to reach their level. Who has the pieces to do it.

[garbageman]

There are two commissioners?

[LazyTitanSmash]

There are two commissioners?

The old commissioner and the new commissioner.

I'll change it though.

[drkavarga]

The only teams beating them in the playoffs are each other barring injuries.

[LazyTitanSmash]

I updated the question. Please ignore the old question and respond to the new question.

Which team has a legitimate shot at taking the number 1 seed from either of the current #1 seeds. (the lakers and the bulls) Make your arguments. What trades do different teams need to make to reach their level. Who has the pieces to do it.

[drkavarga]

None as of now. The only teams that could make trades to accomplish this are the 7 losses or less group (Nets, Suns, Heat, Pacers, Warriors, Pistons). Those six teams are the biggest threats to them currently with the Nets and Pistons or Heat (higher playoff seed at end of the season) being the biggest threats to them currently.

[garbageman]

As we saw last season, you can't really crown anyone based on the regular season. Once the playoffs hit, it's a different animal, so there are teams that could rip through the playoffs even without changes. Injuries could change the game. The Suns beat the Lakers in sim 1, and they haven't faced the Bulls yet. The Pistons have a great team as well that could do some damage. Both of those teams could probably make some trades...while neither is running really high on assets, they can still make minor improvements here and there if they want.

I'm not going to tell any of these teams which trades to make to beat me. That seems like bad strategy right there, but at this point in the season, any team with a winning record should be at least talking to any team that's clearly out of it if the rebuilding team has a player that can improve any spots on the starting lineup or second unit for the competing team.

[LazyTitanSmash]

Sorry for the initial question, I was premature in talking about the playoffs, but there has to be some recognition that there are two behemoths to start this season with a combined 40 wins and 3 losses in 3 sims. I think both will hold on to the #1 Seeds.

That being said and I hate to say it, but if someone could take the #1 seed from either of them, I think it's the Pistons. Vaughn Millsap, Ned Lomax, and Harold Schiff are a legitimate 3 headed monster, and Nicholas Zike is a true point guard.

That still leaves him with Lauri Markkanen and Tony Hinshaw to move if he feels he can create a win-now team. (Also, I'm sure he will find a way to turn Rick Lemley into something valuable.)

The first question for the pistons to answer is: Is this the year to move these pieces and go all in? I would lean toward yes based on his Schiff pick-up in the offseason. The second question is can he get enough back to unseat the #1 Seed - Bulls? I don't know the answer to this one, but if he feels ready to go, my guess is he'll be looking for some perimeter defense, so I would guess he goes looking for someone like Raphael Gordon or, more likely, Matisse Thybulle.

[MexicanMamba]

Barring major injuries (Always an unfortunate possibility), I'm not sure there will be teams that will catch the Bulls and Lakers in the standings. It's only Sim 3, and both teams have had a lot of home games to this point so, some balancing probably does happen, but these starts don't feel flukey at all. Both teams are 5.5 games up on their respective 2 seeds which is a nice cushion with a great roster. That being said, that doesn't mean there aren't teams out there that cant/won't beat them when the playoffs start.

Everyone has mentioned two of the big wild cards already in Phoenix and Detroit. Like Josh, I'm not here to give my main competition exact pointers on how to beat me at this stage in the season, ha, but both of those rosters have key attributes that will be prime for a big playoff run and a few avenues to upgrading around the edges. I think we shouldn't be dismissing the Warriors either who are the defending Champs and could go on another late run. I don't think Jon has as much wiggle room for upgrades due to a lack of assets to move but he's got some great players ready to work.

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[greepleairport]

The reigning, defending champion Golden State Warriors are about to go undefeated for the rest of the season, playoffs included, injuries or no injuries. We are a truly unstoppable force. The second that Fabian Hub locks eyes with ANY other player on the court they turn into stone, or a baby. Then, Alphonse Morelock wipes his butt on the stones and goes "Goo goo Ga ga, B*TCH" to the babies before dunking on them. Markus Ridenhour pulls out his magic wand and says "Pfft!" to Safi and "Zwoop!" to McClung and "Ga ga goo goo B*TCH" to Zike before handling his balls like no one has ever handled balls before. And Antonio Blakeney? Pssh, Antonio WHO?! When was the last time that BUM did anything good?! The whole Golden State Warriors team will mow him down with AK-47s like differently-sized Ja Morants.

No one stands a chance. In fact, the better question is, what team will stop the Golden State Warriors from becoming the #1 in BOTH divisions? HUH?!

WHAT

[K-100]

Indiana Pacers

The Lakers look stronger than ever but speaking from experience a stingy defense will always be the antidote to a high-powered offense. The Pacers are best suited right now to be the team that can acquire the pieces to challenge the Lakers.

Trade Greg Wisner and points for Jean Coss of the Warriors
Trade Elliot Thorpe and points for THT of the Raptors

But, like the others have said it is unlikely anyone displaces the Bulls or Lakers barring some catastrophic injury. It should be an interesting few months though because sim league does love its surprises.

[Black Superman]

It doesn't feel like anyone will catch the Lakers or bulls in the race for the 1 seed. Which is playing out exactly as I predicted It would prior to the season. I think nets pistons and Suns are the teams that should make trades and attempt to make things more interesting. I do think the playoffs are a different beast. 7 game series and you just never know. The Lakers 2 years ago lost to an inferior team on paper. Matchups are huge even without injury potential. I think pistons pose a huge threat to anyone because of their ability to play 2 monsters at the 4&5. Regular season seems meh at this point and until a huge trade happens. I think everyone's content with just coasting to the playoffs. I also think the Lakers bulls start may scare teams into not buying in the trade game. With the fear of it being a wasted move.

[AngryBanana]

My guess is going to be the Nets. If they make a few moves and decide to go full in on this year. Their talent they currently have, combined with how bad the division could potentially be would give him the edge in easy wins compared to the Lakers and Bulls. The main thing the Nets look like they need to do is shore up defense maybe to lower that side of the court. If they do that, the fact that they do not have a Suns/Pistons/Pacers type team in their division helps them a lot. Other teams that may show up as possible answers I think have other flaws that will rear their heads a lot more than the Nets too. Pacers are super thin, and one Herb injury away from lotto territory. The Suns are way too inconsistent and need a better ball handler at PG (plus have to contend with the Lakers). The Pistons are good, and run by a good GM, but an injury to Zike would also hurt their chances as well (plus they have to play the Grizzlies).

[pennpanther1]

I think the Bucks should reach out to teams like the Kings or Mavericks and shop the Moses Moody expiring contract around for a better wing. I'd also have them reach out to a team like the Washington Wizards to try and get a cheap point guard in exchange for points. The Bucks have a great frontcourt so if they can find ways to add talent at guard they can at least maximize Wembanyama/Ware's huge potential.

[LazyTitanSmash]

Not sure how I missed adding up the points here. Sorry.

+1 pennpanther1
+1 AngryBanana
+1 Black Superman
+1 K-100
+1 greepleairport
+1 MexicanMamba
+1 LazyTitanSmash
+1 garbageman
+1 drkavarga