S88 Town Hall 5

[Mike Lowry]

A few teams are off to pretty hot starts.
Are any of them actually that good?
Will any team win 65 games this season?
Why, or why not?

Rules: 1 point if you give thoughtful answers, which I will award after the timer ends for responses. The timer ends for responses at the moment the corresponding week's Sim is run.

Note: Use approximately 5 sentences as your bare minimum for 1 point. If you write 3 long, complex sentences, you'll still get a point. If you write 5, 3 word sentences, you will not get a point. Don't @ me.

Due: Deadline for Sim 5.

[K-100]

Are any of them actually that good?
Yes Milwaukee is for real. The Pistons are well-rounded and the Trailblazers are long and athletic. These teams are all legitimate contenders.

Will any team win 65 games this season?
Yes, Milwaukee and Portland

Why, or why not?
They both know how to maximize talents from their rosters and both lineups are deep enough to withstand the occasional freak injury. They both are well-oiled machines at this point and 65 wins is definitely possible.

[Mike Lowry]

I certainly agree that the front runners are the real deal.
Not only do they have star power that is balanced in their lineup, but they also have the right depth pieces to give their rotation the kick that is needed.
I think the Bucks and Blazers definitely get to 65 and the Pistons will approach, but if they make it will depend greatly on whether they are ready to pay that tax bill.
I would also point out that the likelihood appears to be impacted by the lack of a viable upper middle class.
I think teams like the Warriors and Hawks posed as threats to steal wins here and there before they turned for the tank, and now the realistic opportunities for upsets have lessened very early in the season.
We'll see if teams like the Hornets and Kings, who are continuing to build will step up to those roles.
Maybe the Bulls and Sonics can gain enough ground to be dangerous, or the Nets, Suns, or 6ers actualize the puncher's chance that comes with the talent they're carrying.

[WigNosy]

A few teams are off to pretty hot starts.
Are any of them actually that good?
Will any team win 65 games this season?
Why, or why not?

65 games is a pretty lofty threshold. Milwaukee won 61 games last year, and they basically brought that squad back this season - but they're a year older and a year better... and several teams that tried to compete last year have decided to get into the tank this season, so they're probably going to find some easier wins. I think 65 games is a real possibility there.

The Spurs' addition of Tom Chambers mostly closes the hole left by Mike Gminski - Chambers isn't the defender Gminski is, but he can certainly replace the offense - and the rest of the Spurs are also getting better, not worse, as they age. After winning 67 games last season I see no reason the Spurs can't win 65.

The Pistons won 59 games last year and replaced Larry Nance with Kurt Rambis (rebounding) and Jeff Malone (scoring). Malone off the bench has been insane for them! I think that gives them a shot at 65 wins, though they might have to move a piece to avoid a big tax bill and I like the Bucks' and Spurs' chances a little better anyway.

The Trailblazers are on a hot streak now, but I have my doubts about reaching 65 wins; last season we only won 53 games and James Donaldson averaged 25 and 10 for us while AC Green added 15 and 9 - swapping out Donaldson for McHale and Green for Buck is really what we've done. Knowing that it's harder to add 10 wins to a 50-win squad than a 40-win squad, is this enough to add 12 wins to a 53-win squad? I think we're favorites to win the division, but 65 games is a really high bar to clear. I think we might hit the mark but won't be shocked if we fall a little short.

[NickMalone77]

A few teams are off to pretty hot starts.
Are any of them actually that good?
Will any team win 65 games this season?
Why, or why not?

To be at 65-17, you’d have to have a win threshold of about 1 loss per sim. 2 at most. I’m not sure any of the teams that are currently at the top of the league can get to 65 wins. 60? Sure, but 65 is a pretty lofty bar. Teams at the top of the mountain have already been listed but most likely it’s the Bucks. The Pistons have a really talented and well balanced squad but the Bucks have a legit all star at almost every position of the starting 5. Dominique & Chuck play so well as a combo that it makes opposing defenses lives hell. There’s teams around the margins that can make a case in both conference as finals contenders but we could see a rematch of last years finals as the two best teams in the league between Milwaukee & San Antonio.

[BigDaddyd8720]

A few teams are off to pretty hot starts.
Are any of them actually that good?
I think all of the #1 seeds in each division are actually good. Bucks, Spurs, Trailblazers have been good for a few seasons, and the Bullets are coming back around. They went through a short period of not being competitive but their GM doesn't stay down for long. I think either of these teams have a realistic shot at winning the championship

Will any team win 65 games this season? Why, or why not?
I would be kinda shocked if we didn't have a 65 win team this season. Bucks and Trailblazers are in prime position to both hit that mark and the Spurs or Bullets could also get real close to it, if not also hit that mark. The Bucks probably have the easiest division, the Pistons seem to be their only threat, so they could get quite a few easier games the rest of the way. And with the trade deadline getting closer each day, the tanking teams are going to look to offload even more and those top teams always seem to find way to make their teams better. So easier teams plus making your team better is a great recipe to win games. We might have two 65 win teams this season

[IamQuailman]

A few teams are off to pretty hot starts.
Are any of them actually that good?
Will any team win 65 games this season?
Why, or why not?


YES, they are pretty good. The one that is most surprising is the Pistons! Not because they are bad by any means, but just they have not only stepped up to the plate and the challenge of coming after the Bucks title as Central Division King. In fact, I believe the Pistons own 2 of the 4 losses the Bucks have... not many teams can claim that in past seasons, let alone the first 2 months of this season. It's an incredibly impressive start for them. As for the other teams that can hit 65 wins, Bucks, Blazers, & Spurs for sure. Bullets have a chance, if they can stop shaking up their cohesion!