SLOE Investment Firm: InvEASTment Options

[IamQuailman]

Just like the stock market, SLOE is a volatile marketplace where GMs are required to buy low and sell high on the daily. Whether it is team success or a player's value under scrutiny, brash decisions (or sheer patience and will power to resist trades) are a daily task for each and every team in the league. Is it the right time to move your aging vet player? Should a fringe playoff team pack it in or make a push? Did Team X really run it around, or was their schedule during the last sim a perfect storm of matchups and home games? With this article, I'm going to look at some of the dynamic forces within our league (from division to division, this article... Eastern Conference) and tell you whether or not you should consider investing your fake money in these privately owned organizations (as if they were tradable on an open market).

1. The Atlantic Division

New York Knicks - SELL
Toronto Raptors - BUY

The Knicks are one of the surprise Cinderella stories of the league. If you invested in them early, you are sitting pretty with their record and standings. That said, they have played 18 home games (15-3) and 13 away games (5-8). With more away games on the way, it's very possible a slip could be coming, specifically to close out the season. After March 3rd, the Knicks will have 17 road games and 6 home games. With a young core, it'll be interesting to watch this team compete down the stretch. But if the past has shown us anything, it's that young teams tend to struggle on the road more than veteran teams.

On the other hand, being 3.5 games back, the Raptors are finally getting healthy and have 2 more home games than away games waiting for them on their schedule. The starting 5 of Lowry, Ellis, Turner, Bosh and Whiteside is tried and tested and can withstand the tests of time, as their main goal for the regular season is "Make the Playoffs At All Costs". Coming off a good sim, the Raptors could start surging. Buyers beware: if you DO buy into the Raptors, it may be smart to buy in mid-March. They have a gauntlet of a schedule during February and the 1st half of March, with 14 away games and 7 home games, and their value could take a hit. Brutal I know, but after 3/17, it will be smooth sailing with 12 home games and 4 away games to close out the regular season.

2. The Central Division

Chicago Bulls - SELL
Indianapolis Pacers - BUY

Chicago Bulls pulled one of the biggest shocker trades of the season, moving James Harden to the Hawks for Victor Oladipo and Gerald Green. Even after shaking his team to the core, his team came out and balled out, willing 6 of his 9 games last sim. So why sell? You have to trust Garbageman and the pulse he has on his team. But similar to the Knicks, the close out schedule for his team is pretty rough. 16 of his last 26 games are on the road. The month of January will be tough as well, as the Bulls could face at least 10 playoff-potential teams. People will be seeing the nice series of wins they pulled off after a mind-blowing trade, and people will see that point differential (3rd best in the league). But don't be deceived and don't get sucked into the trap that this team could be in the process of ascending to the top. Sell high!

The Central is a 3-legged race, and the Pacers are the lead dog. So why buy? People are starting to panic, calling this the beginning of the "Pacers Plummet". They lost 3 of their 6 losses in the last 5 games of the most recent sim and are looking over their shoulder at the (apparently) surging Bucks and Bulls. So Pacers stock is falling back down to earth as a result. But never fret. Their loss is your potential gain. The Central is the Pacers' division to lose, and Pauly P is on the record saying they are going all out in order to send Deron Williams out in a blaze of glory. Buy now before the value sores back up to where it was before (and beyond).

3. The Southeast Division

Orlando Magic - SELL
Washington Wizards - BUY

Before last sim, the Orlando Magic were neck and neck in the tank race with the league's newest team, the Charlotte Bobcats. However, in the last sim, the Magic doubled their season win-total, giving the Bobcats a distinct and clear edge in the tank war. Usually you don't want to buy stock or invest in utter failures, but there is a niche in the SLOE stock market that invests in these lowly franchises. The Magic have a nice core forming, but when it comes to the only competition they are in for this season, they are slowly taking themselves out of it and handing the keys to the Bobcraps. Sell this stock before they win 2 more games and give the tank commander title to Charlotte!

Don't sleep on the Wizards. They are 3rd in the division and are 4.5 games back of the Hawks. But there is a HUGE consideration that needs to be made... Washington has played only 1/3 of its games at home, 29 games into the season. That means that the Wizards are poised to make a late season push like no other. This is currently flying under the radar, mainly since the Heat and Hawks have been so domineering this season. But the Wizards are always looking for a chance to sneak their name into the division race, and their remaining schedule allows them just that opportunity.

Western Conference coming later this evening!

[NOLa.]

Western Conference coming later this evening!

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[NickMalone77]

Western Conference coming later this evening!

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[Inner_GI]

Doug, you can claim 5 points towards the 2015-16 media cap.