#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Wig scrambles up to the microphone in front of a half-empty press room. The players, present for the first time in a long while, are clustered off to one side of the room, smiling and joking amongst themselves.

"Well, this is an improvement on last year when the place was packed. Means I need less in the cafeteria to feed you all."

He sighs.

"Last year can only be described as an unmitigated disaster. We pushed the Magic all the way to the final game of the season, only to fall one game short of a division title and the #1 seed. That failure took us out of a favorable matchup and into one that was... less favorable.

"We pushed the Cavaliers all the way to the final quarter of the season... only to fall short in front of our home crowd. This was... unacceptable."

Wig turns and stares daggers at the players, who go quiet. He turns back to the reporters and his voice drops to a low hiss.

"We offered deals to Daniel Randle and Harland Ellinger that we thought were more than fair... only to see them sign max offer sheets with other teams, blowing up our plans to keep a nice, tidy tax bill and surround them with more talent. Clearly they valued money over loyalty. This slight will not be soon forgotten.

"We offered Deron Williams what we felt was a lucrative extension... only to see him sign with the Wizards. This slight will not be soon forgotten.

"We offered Joakim Noah what we felt was a fair deal... and he departed to the Suns. This unkindest cut of all, after the way he treated us last season... is not good and no, I guarantee you this slight will not be soon forgotten.

"So where are we as a team? I'll tell you."

Wig swivels in his chair and fidgets with a long, wicked looking knife while addressing his players directly.



"Harland Ellinger, you wanted the big money. I've coddled you behind the likes of Nate Robinson, Steph Curry and Deron Williams long enough. It is time for you to step up and earn your paycheck, son. Greatness is no longer expected of you... it is required.



"Daniel Randle. When I found you that first preseason I saw what all masters live to see. Raw, untamed power. And something beyond that, something truly special... now that you have that massive contract, the hunger no longer seems to burn in you and I fear I was mistaken."



Greg Monroe opens his mouth to defend his teammates, "you paid me. I just don't think it's a good idea, murdering our confidence like that."

Wig's eyes narrow. "Am I mad, or did the word 'think' escape your lips? You were not hired for your GMing skills, you hippopotamic land mass!"



Monroe stops mid-sentence in shock, mouth moving but no words coming out.



Draymond jumps in, "I agree with Greg..."



"Oh, the sot has spoken! What happens to their confidence is not your concern. Never forget this - when I got you out of Milwaukee you were so slobbering drunk you couldn't buy BRANDY!"



He cuts Thomas Robinson off before he can even say anything.

"And YOU! Friendless! Brainless! Helpless! Hopeless! Do you want me to send you back to where I found you? Out of the playoffs? In San Antonio?"

There is a long, awkward silence. The players are in shock. Wig slowly continues.

"The expectations are the same as they are every year. I brought you all here for one purpose... winning a ring. Five other teams have scaled the championship summit since we last picked up a ring and I do NOT want to be like that baseball team here in Atlanta. I do not fear losing. I loathe it. Perform or there will be consequences."

He storms out of the room, flipping his chair. Behind the podium, a screen flickers to life. The players study it silently...

After that destruction of your team of a press conference, what would be an indicator for you that this team is not championship material? Will you be forced to send off some of your biggest contracts like Monroe, Draymond and Robinson?

NOLa. wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:53 pm After that destruction of your team of a press conference, what would be an indicator for you that this team is not championship material? Will you be forced to send off some of your biggest contracts like Monroe, Draymond and Robinson?

Well, losses against the likes of a retooling Magic squad and ESPECIALLY a loss to a team who lost every other game would be a good indicator. If you're a championship squad, losses against elite teams are acceptable but you'd better not lose focus and take care of business against clubs that do not themselves harbor championship aspirations.

The preseason saw you playing a staunch, 7 man rotation with little time to evaluate much of your bench. Will we see different looks in the regular season?

The Atlanta Hawks have been a playoff threat forever now, it seems. However, nobody has been able to stop the beast that is the Detroit Pistons. How are you hoping to contend this year, as well as topple the former champion? How are you hoping to contain Anthony Davis in the upcoming season (and possibly in the playoffs)?

What would that dark side consist of for the Atlanta chapter? A slow crumble or an entire demolition of the cat box all at once? How will you look to avoid this cap hell that you are stepping into?

garbageman wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2018 5:29 pm The preseason saw you playing a staunch, 7 man rotation with little time to evaluate much of your bench. Will we see different looks in the regular season?

It's likely there will be some experimentation with different combinations around the edges, but I have a pretty good idea of what I want my rotation to look like.

digiskunk wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:08 pm The Atlanta Hawks have been a playoff threat forever now, it seems. However, nobody has been able to stop the beast that is the Detroit Pistons. How are you hoping to contend this year, as well as topple the former champion? How are you hoping to contain Anthony Davis in the upcoming season (and possibly in the playoffs)?

Numbers. We have loaded up on defensive-minded bigs to throw at him and hopefully wear him down.

NickMalone77 wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:41 pm What would that dark side consist of for the Atlanta chapter? A slow crumble or an entire demolition of the cat box all at once? How will you look to avoid this cap hell that you are stepping into?

I'm not overly concerned about the cap. We have a big bill facing us this season after Randle and Ellinger cashed in, but we have the option to reset our tax repeater status next year if this team doesn't perform to expectations. But everyone knows I hate paying the tax and if attractive retools presented themselves in the form of cheap potential if we give up some of our current high-paid talent... well... I'd have to listen.

Give us a prediction. How many blue/purp potential guys are left on your roster by the trade deadline of the 7 you now have? And if you had to guess who would be the first to get moved?

DarthVegito wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 5:39 pm Give us a prediction. How many blue/purp potential guys are left on your roster by the trade deadline of the 7 you now have? And if you had to guess who would be the first to get moved?

You never know what will come your way but it isn’t easy to get deals done in this league, I think it will be tough to make more than one move and with so many cost conscious teams out there I expect most teams will be asking about Oden.

You handed out max contracts to your young duo of Ellinger and Randle this offseason, but neither would rate as anything more than an average defender. Are you worried at all about not having a stopper at the guard position?

Also, with this being your 30th season, if you could add one player from any time in Hawks history who didn't make an All Star game to your team this season, who would it be?

Bowtothebill23 wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 6:24 pm You handed out max contracts to your young duo of Ellinger and Randle this offseason, but neither would rate as anything more than an average defender. Are you worried at all about not having a stopper at the guard position?

Also, with this being your 30th season, if you could add one player from any time in Hawks history who didn't make an All Star game to your team this season, who would it be?

Not terribly. Draymond is versatile enough to slide down and guard perimeter players if need be.

That second question is easy. Sim League Champion Erick Barkley, of course.

You have a new owner in Shad Johnson who took over for Darryl Beasley who sold the team after 15 years. Mr. Johnson has very high expectations of making money and winning. Do you feel you will get the same support from this ownership compared to your previous owner and how concerned are you about his expectations?

78# wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:21 pm You have a new owner in Shad Johnson who took over for Darryl Beasley who sold the team after 15 years. Mr. Johnson has very high expectations of making money and winning. Do you feel you will get the same support from this ownership compared to your previous owner and how concerned are you about his expectations?

We have always turned a healthy profit and I think my track record on winning speaks for itself. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.