#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Who are the teams to watch?
Who competes for the title this season?
Who is building effectively?
Who is a dark horse?

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: Midnight Pacific Standard Time

Who are the teams to watch? I would say the main culprits that have been included in this discussion. The Blazers, Bucks, Spurs, Bullets, Bulls, Knicks, Pistons, Clips, Lakers, Sonics. I see all these teams making the playoffs.
Who competes for the title this season? I have to always say the defending champs until they lose. So the Blazers for sure. But I think if I was a betting man, I'd put my money on the Bucks or the Spurs this season.
Who is building effectively? The obvious answer is the Spurs. I'm not sure we've ever seen a team put together a better team on paper than how they look right now. But that always has to convert to the floor and Wins. We'll see if that happens.
Who is a dark horse? Watch out for the Sonics, Clippers, and Bulls. Bulls should have been much better than they were. I expect them to be much more of a threat this year. The Clippers will be better than they were last year, over 50 wins for sure. The Sonics have been steadily getting better and better, I expect more of that this season which will make them more than an afterthought.

Mike Lowry wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:29 am Who are the teams to watch?
Who competes for the title this season?
Who is building effectively?
Who is a dark horse?

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: Sim 1

1. Teams to watch - for me, this moniker is reserved for teams that will look a lot different than last season (in a positive way) - so teams that had great finishes last season are off the list here for me. I think the Celtics in the East and the Jazz in the West are the teams to watch. They made aggressive moves but based on preseason results, it's not clear whether or not those moves will pan out, so those teams are interesting and I think bear watching.
2. Who competes for the title? The Bucks, Bullets, and Spurs are definitely the favorites. Yes, the Blazers are defending champions, but we lost a starter in the offseason and those teams didn't - and it's not like we cruised to the title. So I think the other conference finalists start out a step ahead of us in the "favorites" column.
3. Who is building effectively? I really like the Sonics right now. I think they're a little over-committed to Danny Schayes, but they've built a deep team that isn't overly reliant on rookie-scale deals for depth, and they have an identity - except for 'Nique, they're built around defense (and 'Nique isn't a minus on that end). I like teams that know who they are and have the discipline to build toward a vision, and that's the Sonics.
4. Who is a dark horse? I think the Knicks could surprise some people, mostly on the strength of Moses Malone. With all the talk of the Celtics and Bullets in the division, and the Nets effectively reloading, it seems like people are sleeping on the Knicks.

Mike Lowry wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:29 amWho are the teams to watch?

I'm going to interpret this as "Teams that can go either way, so keep an eye on them", since the next question asks about title contenders.

Look out for the Mavericks and Rockets. I know they haven't done much since the league's started, but when I look at their rosters, depth is the only thing that bothers me. The Mavericks have two interior forces, two underrated scorers, and two point guards who know how to get the ball where it needs to be at a high level. The Rockets finally have a true second star to go alongside Bird, which puts less pressure on Pierce and Birdsong. McDowell takes care of most of the dirty work so that Bird and Ewing can spend most of their energy on the offensive side. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of these teams make a serious run at the 4th seed in the West.

Mike Lowry wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:29 amWho competes for the title this season?

For the East, it's the Bucks, Bulls, Bullets, and Nets, with the Nets and Bucks being a tier above the other two. The Nets and Bucks are perhaps the two single most talented and well-built rosters in the league, while the Bullets and Bulls are proven teams with quality rosters.

For the West, it's the Spurs, Clippers, and Blazers. The Spurs are going to waltz into one of the top 2 seeds, even if both the Rockets and Mavs live up to their potential. The Clippers are an offensive juggernaut similar to the Spurs, but they've also added a little more post help in Oakley. And the Blazers are a Wig-led team, so even though there will be a post-title hangover and early season growing pains, I expect them to have all of that solved by the end of the season.

Mike Lowry wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:29 amWho is building effectively?

The Kings. They're taking the classic route of trading current talent for future assets, and they're being active doing so. The Celtics and Suns also deserve their props, but the draft and lotto plays too large of a role in their plans. Darth has managed to get concrete assets (Schrempf, Dumars, points) along with speculative assets (y/g guys, picks). His rebuild isn't wholly predicated on lotto luck, he has options regardless of whether or not he ever lands a top 3 pick. That, to me, is a sign of an effective rebuild.

Mike Lowry wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:29 amWho is a dark horse?

I'm going to place the Sonics in the "dark horse" category out West. They're not a star-studded team, especially after TC, but they're a well-put-together roster led by an absolute beast in Dominique. They're basically a less flashy version of the Lakers, but with a much more balanced roster.

In the East I'll take the Pistons. I've been a fan of this team for a while, and though their trades removed a lot of what I liked about them, they're still quality, aggressive moves with huge potential payoff. Both Griffith and English have led their teams to the Finals, with English winning it all and collecting a Finals MVP award. They don't quite have the proven track record of success that makes the Bucks, Bullets, and Bills contenders off the bat, but they have a roster that can go toe-to-toe with them.

Who are the teams to watch?
I think this season has some usual teams to watch if you wanna watch for the top end stuff.. but I'm really excited to see the Sixers & Celtics to see if their rebuilds are ready to become playoff-bound teams. Each made leaps in the off-season, whether it was in the draft or TC. I would love to see one of them make a playoff push. Also, the Nets (more on them in a second). In the West, the Jazz make a compelling argument to see if they could squeeze back into the playoff picture after a quick retool season.

Who competes for the title this season?
Blazers will absolutely be back in the running in the West, as well the Lakers & Spurs. I think those are our the top candidates in the West. Now the East has been pretty consistently Bullets, Bucks, Bulls, Knicks, & (recently) Pistons. But I think the Nets are ready to step in to really surprise people.

Who is building effectively?
There are a few teams that could be named here, but I think what it really comes down to overall is finding the balance between rookie-deal players and top-end talent, knowing when to cash in your youth chips on a star (but without completely depleting bench depth). I feel like this is something I've done well with the Bucks, but the Nets have done a great job managing their cap and talent. I also think the Lakers did a sneaky good job this off-season, especially with acquiring Michael Cooper and securing Ruland for cheap.

Who is a dark horse?
My darkhorse for this season is the Nets. I've mentioned them a few times, but their youth has really grown over the last couple seasons. They were a fringe playoff team trying to rediscover themselves after Fat Lever's return & Cliff Robinson's departure. Since then, they have made strides in really building a talented and deep roster with balanced contracts and are built to last. Really admiring what they have as a roster top to bottom, and I think they are ready to shock some people again.

Who are the teams to watch?

• I think everyone in the Atlantic division outside of Philly, who had a nice offseason as well, are teams to watch. I think the championship representative from the East comes from this Atlantic Division. I do think the Pistons could surprise some and walk away with the division title in the Central. As far as the West goes I think its a fight between the Spurs, Warriors, and Lakers. The East finally looks like the harder conference to be in

Who competes for the title this season?

• I think its going to be a fight between the Knicks, Bullets, Pistons, and Bucks in the East and Spurs and Lakers in the West. This might be the first chance for this Spurs build to make its first run, but I think one of the 4 teams out of the East that I listed, takes home the hardware.

Who is building effectively?

• I will give some flowers to my mentor, @tbone963 and Detroit. Been building for a few seasons now and had a great offseason. Darrell G, Alex English, and Trey Cumm is going to be a trio that breaks hearts in my opinion

Who is a dark horse?

• As for a dark horse, I will stay with the Pistons or the Warriors out West. I think both teams have builds to win a lot of games and could sneak up on some people in the playoffs and make a run.

Who are the teams to watch?
The Bullets and Bucks both put up scoring clinics in the preseason. There is a lot of talent there and it will be a dogfight all season for the conference title.

Who competes for the title this season?
The aforementioned Bullets and Bucks from the East and the uber-talented Spurs from the West. Expect a lot of fireworks.

Who is building effectively?
The Celtics have patiently built a formidable starting lineup heralded by Hakeem Olajuwon so I do not expect them to be basement dwellers for much longer.

Who is a dark horse?
The Cleveland Cavaliers filled a Lake Erie-sized hole at the PF spot with their signing of David Greenwood this past offseason so I expect them to be back in the playoff picture this season after last season's disappointing finish.

Who are the teams to watch?

Teams to watch are the Bucks and Nets. The trade for Johnson put the Nets back into contention. With Ellis having the camp he had, this team will be scary to deal with. The Bucks are the Bucks. Shot blocking everywhere. It's like their goal was to sign every big with a 90+ blocking rating.

Who competes for the title this season?

It's the Bucks and the Champs until they are dethroned. Those are the favorites in my book. I know everyone will say Spurs because of all of the pretty colors on my team's page but I still haven't figured out a way to win.

Who is building effectively?

The sonics. They are putting together a nice roster around Nique. I am excited to see where his team finish the season. They are another sneaky good team.

Who is a dark horse?

I think the Nets, Bulls and Pistons. These teams will give the favorite Bucks problems in the post season. These 3 teams are talented and could easily represent the east in the finals.

Who are the teams to watch?
Who competes for the title this season?
Who is building effectively?
Who is a dark horse?

Alright, if the preseason results are any indication of how the season goes - and they ALWAYS are - The Bucks/Bulls are the teams to beat. They're gearing up for a conference finals showdown that may be the real finals when all is said and done.

Luckily, preseason is BS, and if you read my presser, you know I ain't got time for that.

I think the Bullets are the unsung heroes of S5 and likely to cause a ruckus in the East. They made a lot of moves going into last season after the previous year's success, and I thought they made too many moves. Well, the same is true now - I think they made too many moves, but they've proven they might be right and I'm wrong. So I like the Bullets to emerge from the East.

West? Well, LTS said he's trying to get under the tax this year (LOL), so they're useless. An engaged JNR means a dangerous Clips; BigDaddy is going to have this build win one of these seasons, so they're in the mix. Hell, maybe I'm a surprise contender. But I think the West is once again the Spurs vs Trailblazers, and I think the Spurs got the edge this year...but I'd love to be proven wrong.

Kings are building effectively for the long haul. I like their moves.

Dark horses are the Pistons. No one saw them coming last year, and they're sure to be a problem this year.

I got my eye on the Nets, Pistons, Celtics, 6ers, and Jazz to make huge leaps.
Some of the teams I would be watching closely if I was the GM and preparing to sell off if my bottom fell out would be the Mavs, Bulls, Knicks, Warriors, and Cavs.
I think the title will go Bucks, Spurs, Nets, or Lakers based on current rosters, but I expect big moves this season, which might make me a contender along with other fringe teams like the Bulls, Clippers, or Sonics
I LOVE the build in New Jersey, and appreciate what I'm seeing in Detroit. The Bucks are the standard for consistent investment and development.
Dark Horse Clippers. Their stars can go toe to toe with anyone.

Who are the teams to watch?

From the East, the Pistons are the team to watch. They barely squeezed into the playoffs and gave the top seed a 7 game series. That team coming together and adding so much talent, they will be a team that shifts it's records immensely.

In the West, the Supersonics are primed for a good season. Seemingly a point guard away from being at the top level, the other positions are so strong, they can easily hang with every team they play each night.

Who competes for the title this season?

The normal cast of characters are always in play: Bullets, Bucks, Spurs and Trailblazers. I think the title most likely runs through these four again, but the Pistons are really primed for a slingshot to the top this season. If they can get home court advantage, I think they could sneak into the finals from the East. For the West, I think the Spurs just have too much talent, and they will take not only the conference, but also the title.

Who is building effectively?

The 76ers need some love here. Whether on purpose or by accident, they have assembled a great group of young talent. I am concerned about how undersized Sam Perkins is as a center, but with some training, he could easily transition to power forward. They seem primed to have another losing season to acquire even more talent. From this point on though, it's really about when to pull the trigger. Do they want to trade away a future piece and get a top player in the league to compete now? Either way, I'm excited to see what happens out in Philly.

Who is a dark horse?

I'm going to choose a dark horse that I haven't mentioned yet. The Cavs have a sneaky good team. They have players that can take over games completely, and that's always a recipe for stealing games come playoff time. If they can find a way into the playoffs, I wouldn't count them out of any contest.

Who are the teams to watch?

I will take the route of teams to watch that have not been as good previously, or are under the radar. I think the Celtics or the Cavs could fall in this category. Both teams missed the playoffs last year and both look like they improved enough to be in contention this year.

Who competes for the title this season?

Trailblazers obviously, they are defending champs. Also, the two teams that have MJs with the Spurs and the Lakers. The other teams I think that can be in there are the Knicks, Bucks, Clippers, and Supersonics.

Who is building effectively?

I will say me, because we are doing it the right way! jkjk. I really like what the Kings are doing. They are tearing down the walls similar to the way Quail will tear it down and getting as many assets as possible. His presser talks on this were really a good read.

Who is a dark horse?

Dark horse to make noise, Clippers. I can see them being a hard out for any team if healthy. Dark horse for the championship, Nets. I think getting Eddie was a great move and will really improve his team this more than what people expect.

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+1 point