#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Wilbon: Pardon the interruption but I'm Mike Wilbon. The 2017 season has started and we've seen some surprises already. Tony, anything surprise you so far?


Kornheiser: Pardon the Interruption, I'm Tony Kornheiser. The only surprise I have is that you didn't throw me a surprise birthday party, Wilbon. I'm shocked and hurt.

Wilbon: Your birthday was in July!

Kornheiser: That's why a November party would've been a surprise! Today we're going to talk about the teams starting hot out the gate, we're going to look at the young studs who are and aren't playing, and Wilbon and I go head to head in oddsmakers, where I'm going to grind him into paste. Paste! But let's start with our headlines.

WHACKLANTIC

Kornheiser: We kind of expected this going in, but it's been tough for any team to get separation in the Atlantic division. Besides the bottom-dwelling Celtics, which we also expected, each team is separated by less than two games and are all a game around or above .500. Most of us thought the Knicks would be the cream of the crop in the division, but that cream appears to have some curds in it. Wilbon, did you think the Knicks and the rest of the division would be better?

Wilbon: Yes and no Tony. Yes to the Knicks, no to the division. There was so much turnover on every roster including the Knicks that I figured it would be slow going, but I really overestimated the Knicks ability to overcome its defensive flaws. The Henson issue hurt them a lot. But I still think they'll win the division, and I think as the months go by the chasm between them and the rest of the division will grow.

Kornheiser: I thought the Knicks would take a step back after losing Mbah a Moute and they have, especially defensively. But something I am surprised about is how the Raptors look poised right now. I thought losing Bosh and Lowry would hurt them but Steph Curry has a lot of pride. He won a championship and he turned around a Timberwolves franchise in one season. He sees Toronto as simply the latest challenge, and he's stepping up to meet it.

Wilbon: Good point Tone, the Raptors, Sixers, and Nets are hanging tough right now. We'll have to see how long it lasts.

CARS ROARING AND STALLING

Wilbon: Next up is the Central division, or particularly two teams in the division. The Pistons have surprised pretty much everyone so far, jumping out to a 12-3 record on the back up Anthony Davis's 38 points a game. On the other side of the division, we have the reigning Eastern Conference Pacers, the team that was 24 minutes away from a title, sputtering to a 5-11 start. This question is a two-parter, Tony: which is more surprising and which trend is more sustainable?

Kornheiser: The answer to both is the Pacers. Yes, the Pistons look better than we thought, but we've seen this happen before with this transcendent once-in-a-lifetime players. Kevin Durant turned into a team carrier in his 5th year, and Davis is set to do the same thing. But the Pacers ran it back with the championship squad. I know Deron Williams came back a year older, but that shouldn't have caused the dropoff we're seeing. And that's the reason I say they continue to struggle. Deron is hurt now, and when he comes back he'll be solely responsible for putting points on the board for a team 26th in scoring. It'll be too much for his 32 year old bones to bear.

Wilbon: Teams struggle after failed championship runs all the time, Tony! This is a 23 year old phenom leading a bunch of whatevers to a 12-3 record! The answer is obviously the Pistons for most surprising. Look at the other players. Two players with double digit scoring, a defense that pretty much lets anyone score, and yet behind Davis's amazing season, they're flying high. But I do agree with what you indirectly said, that the Pistons can't keep this alive for long. They're undefeated on the road, and there's no chance that continues.

Kornheiser: These are the bold statements you get on this show, Mike Wilbon predicting the Pistons won't go 41-0 on the road.

NORTHBEST

Kornheiser: Next up is the Northwest division, which is as tight as the Atlantic division, but unlike that division doesn’t have a real bottom-feeder team weighing them down. After the first month it appears like any team in this division can take the crown. If you had to guess, Wilbon, which team do you see surviving this tight race?

Wilbon: I’m still going OKC. I picked them at the start of the season and I haven’t seen enough to make me think they’re going to take a step back. And I know what you’re about to do, Tony. You’re gonna wave your arms around and shout about Jabari Parker’s injury, but I think they’ll get through it for the same reason I picked them in the first place: they’re a deep, balanced team. These sort of teams can always survive an injury or two because they’re stacked everywhere else. I’m not scared, I’m not backing down!

Kornheiser: But you should. You should back down. I’m going to list some numbers for you real quick. Negative 2.4. Negative 2.2. 3.3. 2.6. Those are the point differentials of the Blazers, Jazz, Thunder, and Nuggets through one month. Add those together and you get 1.3

Wilbon: You should’ve saved this math for oddsmakers.

Kornheiser: One more number for you. 10.5. That’s the Timberwolves point differential through one month. That’s more than all the other teams COMBINED!

Wilbon: Well yeah, two are negative Tony.

Kornheiser: Irrelevant. The Wolves are playing amazing offense and their defense is better than expected. Wiggins and Lopez are doing a great job of helping Bosh out on offense. And they look poised to keep it up. I think the Timberwolves get another division crown. Last headline!

WARRIORS ARE COMING OUT AND PLAYING

Kornheiser: Usually a team gets assembled in the offseason that looks like a juggernaut but it takes time to gel. That’s not the case for the Golden State Warriors, who grabbed the most talent in the offseason and are looking like it 14 games in. They’re tied with the Bucks for the best record in the league, they’re killing opponents by 13 points a game, and they have the best defense by a mile. The Rudy Gobert PF idea is clearly working, and the idea that they wouldn’t score enough to win seems to be flawed at best. Are you buying the hype of this team?

Wilbon: Of course I’m buying it. I’m all in! The Warriors have a general manager who knows how to create winners, and he’s done it here. Rudy Gay was exactly what this team needed next to the twin towers. I don’t really see a team that can beat them because any team that scores a lot has to go inside to do it, and you can’t go inside of these guys.

Kornheiser: I’m not one to crown a champion four weeks into the season, Wilbon…

Wilbon: Yes you are.

Kornheiser: Yes I am. And this crown goes to the Golden State Warriors. They’re going to dominate everyone. My favorite part about this team? Last year they were a wreck and Brian Stark was putting up 24 points a game as one of the least efficient chuckers in the league. This year as the team improves he’s shooting 48% and is an excellent third option. They’re the champs, I stake my reputation on it.

Wilbon: Bad thing for the Warriors, your reputation doesn’t mean much. We’ll grab a quick break and then we’re back with Oddsmakers.

Kornheiser: Welcome back to PTI. It’s time for Oddsmakers, and with that we bring in the Maestro of Mathematics, the Kaiser of Calculations, the Poobah of Percentages, Anthony Tony Reali.


Reali: Chances that Ben Simmons plays a game this season. Wilbon, you first.

Wilbon: No chance. Zero. Goose egg! The GM of the Sixers is going to follow the example that the Kings GM set, and that is keeping his prize rookie from playing all year long. I think there’s a problem with it. They’re trying to rig the system!

Kornheiser: Let em rig it. If they don’t think their guy is ready yet, don’t play ‘em. I also say zero, but I want my zero to reflect that I completely support the decision to rest until they’re 30.

Reali: Zero to the power of thirty, got it. Next question: chances Buddy Pedraza makes the All Star Game.

Kornheiser: I love this question and I love this kid. 22 and 7. Anthony Davis is the clear PF frontrunner in the east, but I think Buddy can make a case if he keeps up his production. Maybe up the boards a bit. But I like him. Give me 60%.

Wilbon: I like him too but I think the coaches will go elsewhere. Gordon Hayward may get it over him. But the rest of the field is kind of shabby if you ask me. Give me 50% to make it and 100% that the East gets clobbered in the All Star Game.

Reali: Chances the Suns make the playoffs.

Kornheiser: The Suns have Kevin Love and Jared Dudley. They also have Taj Gibson playing small forward. The West is tight. I used to believe having one elite player was enough, but I’m not so sure now. Give me 25%.

Wilbon: Give me 50%. 50 for Kevin Love’s jersey number. I still believe that Love is enough to pull this team to the playoffs. It may be the 8th seed, but they’ll probably make it.

Reali: Okay, last one. Same question, different division: what are the chances the Grizzlies make the playoffs? Wilbon, go ahead.

Wilbon: Much higher for me. Good point differential, good defense. The Grizzlies will continue to vault up the division rankings and finish second in the division. I give it 80%.

Kornheiser: Wow, that’s high. The Grizzlies always seem to be better than we expect though, and I think this year will be no different. I see them as a dark horse to sneak into the playoffs and win a series. So give me 100%.

Wilbon: You just said mine was high!

Kornheiser: It was. Who won, Tony?

Reali: I want to give it to Wilbon for that last point but I can’t get over Wilbon adding odds for a question I didn’t ask. Who cares about the results of the All Star Game, Wilbon? Tony wins.

Kornheiser: Technicality is my favorite reality. OK we're out of time, try to do better next time.

Wilbon: See you later, knuckleheads. Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

Woman whisper: PTI...

Always a pleasure.

Great stuff as usual!

kucoach7 wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:55 pm Always a pleasure.

Never a chore

Nice to see the return of PTI Raby

Awesome article, can someone from the skype world fill-in someone from the non-skype world what the deal is with not playing these stud rookies?

Philly coming still brew

Conroy wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:18 pm Awesome article, can someone from the skype world fill-in someone from the non-skype world what the deal is with not playing these stud rookies?

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4895

Rationale #4 from the thread within in the thread is the kicker.

false9 wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:46 pm

Conroy wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:18 pm Awesome article, can someone from the skype world fill-in someone from the non-skype world what the deal is with not playing these stud rookies?

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4895

Rationale #4 from the thread within in the thread is the kicker.

Thanks, seems strange to me but doesn't apparently bother very many people.

Conroy wrote:

false9 wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:46 pm

Conroy wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:18 pm Awesome article, can someone from the skype world fill-in someone from the non-skype world what the deal is with not playing these stud rookies?

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4895

Rationale #4 from the thread within in the thread is the kicker.

Thanks, seems strange to me but doesn't apparently bother very many people.

For me with Duren, he is not close to being ready for backup minutes. He has potentials everywhere but his current ratings are terrible. The only reason he has a yellow color is current is because of athleticism.

If he has another good camp next season he may be decent enough to play limited minutes as the backup of my backup SG.

These players that come out the draft with potential are so raw it literally may take until their 2nd contract until they are worth it. I'm a fan of this where others may not be, because in the draft you need to be more strategic with your pick. Do you want to take the younger guy with more potential but 3 seasons away from starting, or the older guy with less potentials ready to play now?


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I enjoyed it. Always a fun read.

You can claim 5 points.