#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Wig waits outside the press conference room, steeling himself for yet another talk with reporters. After putting on his typical scowl, he enters the room.



"All right, we're here again. Just like last year, we're smarting this season thanks to a loss to the Raptors in the Conference Finals. Unlike last year, we weren't at full strength thanks to a late-season injury to McDyess. Do I think we would have won it all last year? Maybe, maybe not. Would I have liked our chances a whole lot better with McDyess on the floor? Of course."

"I still believe this is a championship core. We're back to the days of Oldlanta now, with our core aging, but I think we're definitely still a contender. I was ecstatic to keep Desmond Mason at a price that I think was eminently reasonable and I see no reason that he can't keep taking on a bigger share of the offensive load - he showed in the preseason he is ready to step it up."

"I was disappointed in the loss of DerMarr Johnson for nothing in RFA. I know I have a reputation around the league of never letting anything go for nothing if I can help it... and there's a reason for that. When DerMarr signed his offer sheet with Portland, we reached out to the Blazers management to see what their thought process on signing was and got stonewalled in return. Ultimately, we did not see DerMarr as a max player and felt it was time to let him walk."

"We were excited to pick up Andres Nocioni at pick #20 in the draft - honestly, I thought with his rebounding and three-point shooting, he could quickly grow into our starting SF spot... unfortunately, he was involved in a snowboarding accident just before training camp that badly affected his shooting and rebounding and the league denied our petition to void his salary. So there's that. Sebastian Telfair fell to us at 28 and we think he could be a long-term replacement for Penny at point guard, though he is definitely not going to be ready for a couple of years... which is a problem since our team is in win now mode."

"We also looked at a couple of alleged 'rebuilding' offers this offseason but, frankly, the 'value' that was being offered in return for some of our players was, to put it bluntly, insulting. So, I suppose we'll just have to take another run at the crown and try to crush everyone again like we did three years ago."



The motto this year is the same it's been the last two years. One for the thumb... unless someone decides to offer me a shiney new toy in the form of a rebuild package.

Dr. Rocker, The Cleveland Rocker: By your own near-admission, the Hawks are getting worse... but is your competition getting worse faster and still not good enough? In other words, when you stick it in the East, will it cry? Wiggle? Giggle? Change the channel?

42PhD wrote:Dr. Rocker, The Cleveland Rocker: By your own near-admission, the Hawks are getting worse... but is your competition getting worse faster and still not good enough? In other words, when you stick it in the East, will it cry? Wiggle? Giggle? Change the channel?

I never said we were getting worse - I said we were getting older. Big Ben and Antonio McDyess are still in their primes, Penny is still a force, and I think people are underestimating Grant Hill. I do expect our younger players - Desmond Mason in particular - to make strides and shoulder some of the load that others have carried, but I think if we're healthy, we've got as good a chance to win a title as anyone.

WigNosy wrote:

42PhD wrote:Dr. Rocker, The Cleveland Rocker: By your own near-admission, the Hawks are getting worse... but is your competition getting worse faster and still not good enough? In other words, when you stick it in the East, will it cry? Wiggle? Giggle? Change the channel?

I never said we were getting worse - I said we were getting older. Big Ben and Antonio McDyess are still in their primes, Penny is still a force, and I think people are underestimating Grant Hill. I do expect our younger players - Desmond Mason in particular - to make strides and shoulder some of the load that others have carried, but I think if we're healthy, we've got as good a chance to win a title as anyone.

As I said, a near-admission between those repeated comments and acknowledging how it smarts that you did not make it past the Raptors twice now.

Follow up: You seem like a Goo Goo Dolls kind of guy. Goo Good Dolls or Matchbox 20? Which better speaks to your heart?

42PhD wrote:As I said, a near-admission between those repeated comments and acknowledging how it smarts that you did not make it past the Raptors twice now.

Follow up: You seem like a Goo Goo Dolls kind of guy. Goo Good Dolls or Matchbox 20? Which better speaks to your heart?

Never listened to either.

GWR: I saw that Desmond Mason had a really impressive preseason off the bench. Are you planning to keep him as a high scoring 6th man, or was that just a preseason experiment?

JNR wrote:GWR: I saw that Desmond Mason had a really impressive preseason off the bench. Are you planning to keep him as a high scoring 6th man, or was that just a preseason experiment?

At least to start the season, I would like to see him with the starting crew, but there is likely to be tinkering throughout the season.

WigNosy wrote:

42PhD wrote:As I said, a near-admission between those repeated comments and acknowledging how it smarts that you did not make it past the Raptors twice now.

Follow up: You seem like a Goo Goo Dolls kind of guy. Goo Good Dolls or Matchbox 20? Which better speaks to your heart?

Never listened to either.

No one believes that.

"Third Eye Blind." Gotcha.

With your stars starting to age, do you plan on rebuilding anytime soon?

coltsguy510 wrote:With your stars starting to age, do you plan on rebuilding anytime soon?

Just as soon as I see a plausible rebuild package, it will be time to start a rebuild.

Given what I have been offered so far, the timetable looks like "never."