#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Current Totals:
1 (tie). Midwest and Atlantic - $2350
3. Pacific - $1850
4. Central - $1350

This Sim's Division Representatives:
Atlantic: BallSoHard
Central: Soundwave
Midwest: JNR
Pacific: TraywithanA

You may claim a point if you provide a write-up/rationale for at least 5 picks - though feel free to do more! Otherwise, you're just competing for the divisional race which awards 5 points per GM in the winning division at the end of the season.

Pick the 10 games with the spread below from 12/28/13 and rank them in confidence from 10 (most confident) to 1 (least confident). You'll get 10pts for winning your most confident, 9 for second, etc. You will then be paid off the following scale:

1st - $1000
2nd - $600
3rd - $200
4th - Nothing but shame

The team with the minus number is the favorite (needs to win by at LEAST that number). The underdog just has to stay within that number. If the game is marked (pk) there is no spread.

A really good example of this being done was last week's thread, if you need a reference.


12/28/2013
Magic (-7) @ Hornets
Bulls (-4) @ Cavaliers
Trailblazers @ Bucks (-3)
Clippers @ Wizards (-7)
76ers @ Nuggets (-7)
Raptors (pk) @ Nets (pk)
Knicks @ Lakers (-11)
Pistons @ Suns (-1.5)
Mavericks @ Kings (-15)
Warriors (-5) @ Grizzlies

Example of picks:
10. Clips +7
9. Kings -15
8. Raptors pk
etc.

Magic (-7) @ Hornets - I think the Magic continue their improbable run and the Hornets continue...their probable run.
Bulls (-4) @ Cavaliers - Sorry Josh. It's hard to figure the Bulls out, and this may be a sim where they drop some headscratchers.
Trailblazers @ Bucks (-3) - I feel confident in the Bucks winning at home.
Clippers @ Wizards (-7) - I really like this Wizards team. Great defense and good offense.
76ers @ Nuggets (-7) - Just a hunch but I think the Sixers start to turn it around this sim.
Raptors (pk) @ Nets (pk) - *sings* Kyle Lowry's back and you're in trouble...
Knicks @ Lakers (-11) - Could the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Knicks?
Pistons @ Suns (-1.5) - I like Love to outmatch Davis and the Suns to pull out a close one at home.
Mavericks @ Kings (-15) - I know this is a trick but it's hard to turn down all those points
Warriors (-5) @ Grizzlies - Warriors are a good road team and the Grizz are struggling.

Confidence:

10. Lakers over Knicks
9. Bucks over Blazers
8. Pistons over Suns
7. Wizards over Clippers
6. Warriors over Grizzlies
5. Cavs over Bulls
4. Raptors over Nets
3. Mavericks over Kings
2. Sixers over Nuggets
1. Magic over Hornets

Magic (-7) @ Hornets
Barely beat the Hornets at home, different story on the road
Bulls (-4) @ Cavaliers
Gotta go with the healthier home team
Trailblazers @ Bucks (-3)
Bucks will do everything they can to lose this game, but it will fail
Clippers @ Wizards (-7)
When the Clippers lose, it's usually in spectacular fashion
76ers @ Nuggets (-7)
Sticking with the home team but 76ers have been unpredictable
Raptors (pk) @ Nets (pk)
Raptors haven't quite figured it out yet and have only won 1 road game all season
Knicks @ Lakers (-11)
Lakers may win, but will struggle to gel after the trade they just made.
Pistons @ Suns (-1.5)
Irresistable force meets movable objects
Mavericks @ Kings (-15)
Lots of points to give up, but I expect a blowout
Warriors (-5) @ Grizzlies
Better team that seems to have a better idea of what they are doing

10. Suns over Pistons
9. Nets over Raptors
8. Hornets over Magic
7. Wizards over Clippers
6. Warriors over Grizzlies
5. Kings over Mavs
4.Knicks over Lakers
3. Bucks over Blazers
2. Nuggets over 76ers
1. Cavs over Bulls

Magic (-7) @ Hornets
Bulls (-4) @ Cavaliers
Trailblazers @ Bucks (-3)
Clippers @ Wizards (-7)
76ers @ Nuggets (-7)
Raptors (pk) @ Nets (pk)
Knicks @ Lakers (-11)
Pistons @ Suns (-1.5)
Mavericks @ Kings (-15)
Warriors (-5) @ Grizzlies

1. Pistons @ Suns (-1.5)
2. Raptors (pk) @ Nets (pk)
3. Pistons @ Suns (-1.5)
4. 76ers @ Nuggets (-7)

10. Kings (-15) over Mavericks - So. Many. Points. I am ok with banking on a Kings blowout here even though it very easily could backfire due to the spread.
9. Lakers (-11) over Knicks - Lakers just added a little depth while trading off their best player. Knicks have no starters or bench. I like the Lakers in the 12 minutes that the starters will be on the bench.
8. Magic (-7) over Hornets - Magic are a stronger team and the only reason it isn't double digits is the home court advantage. Magic to cover easily.
7. Clippers over Wizards (-7) - Upset city as defending champs should never be seven point dogs when they have Kevin Durant. I think Socrates said it.
6. 76ers over Nuggets (-7) - There is no reason other than i think it's too many points.
5. Cavaliers over Bulls (-4)
4. Bucks (-3) over Blazers
3. Pistons over Suns (-1.5)
2. Grizzlies over Warriors (-5)
1. Nets over Raptors

Tallys:
This week was a little difficult because of BallSoHards 'colorful' interpretation of the pick'em rules. Though he didn't follow the rules, I considered a disqualification, but he did get the 2nd most right out of 10. So in the spirit of competition, I'm awarding the Atlantic division a tie for 3rd place for the week.

1. Pacific - $1000 - 32/55 points
2. Central - $600 - 29/55 points
3. Midwest - $200 - 19/55 points
3. Atlantic - $200 - 6/10 picks correct

Current Standings:
1. Pacific - $2850
2 (tie). Midwest and Atlantic - $2550
4. Central - $1950

Tray, Wave, and JNR - you may claim 1 point!

NAILED IT!!!