#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

GM Bow Bill: Welcome everyone! Thank you for coming to our Press Conference this season. We are incredibly excited coming into this season as we boast one of the best teams we've ever assembled. Let's take a ride back 26 seasons ago: in the creation draft, what I really wanted was to build an elite defensive team: having a DPOY candidate and other elite defenders at that position. Flash forward to now... and we got it.

Last year, I controversially sat here telling you I had decided to blow up my team that had just won the championship. I was somewhat ridiculed for it since, as I just said, I already had a team that was clearly good enough to win it all: and when you have a team like that, in my opinion, you don't let that go. I'm a big believer in going title or bust. I want to be able to buy into the illusion all season that my team is good enough to win a championship. But, I broke my rule: I bet on myself because I received such a good offer for Steph Curry. I then received great value for Ryan Anderson. With some small trades here and there, I both helped my tank and brought in more future assets, every single one of which is important for this upcoming season.

Last season, I bet on myself being able to, in one year, turn a team that had just won the championship into one that was even better. Essentially, I traded Steph Curry, Ryan Anderson, and one year of sucking for: Rudy Gobert, Brian Stark, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, and a reset tax bill. Hell yeah, I'd do it again.

This year, the task is simple but challenging: bringing home the 4th championship to Golden State. We absolutely have the talent to do so. We have the best defensive player in the NBA in Jordan, another budding DPOY candidate in Rudy Gobert, an elite 2-way player in Rudy Gay, a talented young scorer in Brian Stark, an elite facilitator and defender in Kyle Lowry, and a defensive lockdown in Patrick Beverly off the bench.

We believe we should have the best defense in the league this year and should challenge for the best defense ever. We envision Jordan and Gobert gobbling up rebounds, leading the league in frontcourt blocks, and overall, just anchoring our defense. Our perimeter defense will be elite as well. Gay is a top flight wing defender who can defend 2-4, Lowry is maybe the 2nd best defensive point guard in the NBA, and Beverly might be #3 and will back up the 2 and 3. Scoring-wise, we have 4 guys who can carry us. Rudy Gay is a guy who can be a #1 scorer, Lowry can easily be a #2, Stark can be a #3, and Beverly can shoot as well. With our elite defense, I don't think we'll need much more.

Congratulations to the LA Clippers on their Pacific Championship last year, to the New Orleans Pelicans on their Western Conference Championship, and to the Pelicans again on their NBA Title. This season though, we look to take it all back.

How do you respond to those that say Brian Stark posted empty numbers on a bad team this year and that his production was fool's gold?

WigNosy wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:45 pm How do you respond to those that say Brian Stark posted empty numbers on a bad team this year and that his production was fool's gold?

I say they're damn right. We played a zone defense with high pace and little motion with the design of getting Stark as many shots as possible. He was inefficient, but we were going for Rookie of they Year. This year, I think we'll see a toned down Stark, and I think he'll settle into that 15 PPG area on a relatively efficient season.

What's the future of Brandon Bisson on this squad? Long-term option or potential trade bait?

You seemed too excited to tell me you're back in college and it will be easier to do podcasts. Is this because I won't be able to talk to a certain mother again?


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78# wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:50 pm What's the future of Brandon Bisson on this squad? Long-term option or potential trade bait?

I am a believer that no one is off the table completely. Everyone can be had for a price. Going off of that, with this new 2nd Round Restricted Free Agency, he has much more value. He won't play at all this season or likely next, but if someone wants him, they are welcome to make an offer. If I had to guess, I am not the team to pay his second contract though.

NOLa. wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:58 pm You seemed too excited to tell me you're back in college and it will be easier to do podcasts. Is this because I won't be able to talk to a certain mother again?


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Maybe.

Nick Melon; The Advocate: Any fear that with bringing back DeAndre and the other high salaried guys on the roster in Gay and Lowry that the option to retain Gobert could be a tad difficult next year with the lack of a rise in salary cap in recent years and Warriors already over 20-30 mil over the cap?

NickMalone77 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 11:51 pm Nick Melon; The Advocate: Any fear that with bringing back DeAndre and the other high salaried guys on the roster in Gay and Lowry that the option to retain Gobert could be a tad difficult next year with the lack of a rise in salary cap in recent years and Warriors already over 20-30 mil over the cap?

Thanks for the question. And congratulations again on the championship. I know it was well-earned. We have some options. Obviously after this season, we'll look to move one-two of our bigger pieces for younger assets. And if people decide to just stick us with them or if we are so dominant that we waltz to a championship somehow, we may just run it back. I anticipate making about 25-30 points on media/volunteer/voting points, and I have about 80 in stock right now with a reset tax bill.

How has Rudy Gobert enjoyed playing next to DeAndre, and how has his adjustment been to the power forward spot?

logpmess wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:19 am How has Rudy Gobert enjoyed playing next to DeAndre, and how has his adjustment been to the power forward spot?

He's not overly thrilled I know. As a defensive big with DPOY aspirations one day, center is obviously the easiest way to do so. And now he's playing with the best defensive and rebounding big our league has had in quite some time. He's fine though. Winning cures all and now he has the opportunity to help anchor one of the elite defenses of all time. And he knows he's likely our center of the future. DeAndre will likely move on at some point in the future which will pave the way for Rudy.

How far away are you from yet another championship? Do you believe that you have all the pieces now, or are there still some moves to be made?

digiskunk wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2017 1:41 pm How far away are you from yet another championship? Do you believe that you have all the pieces now, or are there still some moves to be made?

I believe we have the pieces now. If I think there's another move to be made at day 60 or at the deadline to put us over the edge, I'll make it, but I think our core is good enough to win it all.

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: The Pacific Division looks very interesting this year, but the Warriors are pretty universally hailed as the favorites. I think a team a lot of folks might be sleeping on is the LA Lakers. As a team that's probably very interested in scouting your competition, how do you think they stack up to your squad?