Biggest Surprises After Sim 1
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:08 am
The 1st sim of the season always is exciting for everyone. The anticipation and uncertainty of what's about to play out is enough to reinvigorate MOST GMs in the league. There are things we all expect (Anthony Davis and Kevin Love being amazeballs, Bulls looking unstoppable, Thunder/Spurs fighting for bottom of the West, etc.), but there are many things that come out of nowhere that makes people go WOW WTF! Last year, the big one was Phil Milburn taking the league by storm after Darth gave some leash and a starting role. This season, Sim 1 did not disappoint and brought us many pleasant surprises (good and bad). Whether or not it's fools gold or not, let's pause this season, look at this in a vacuum, and bask in the glory that is post-Sim 1 bliss/agony/wonder.
The Celtics are Back!
This is something Boston fans have been waiting (what feels like) centuries for. The Celtics have teetered in mediocrity since the days of the Boozer UFA snub (also 2 IRL years ago
), finally they have had some of that Leprechaun Luck reappear. They've managed to find that pot of gold in Tyler Ulis, and Karl Anthony-Towns is FINALLY coming into his own and DOMINATING like we expected him to when he was picked #1 overall years back (17ppg, 15rpg... unbelievable numbers!). They are posting a 2nd best point differential (+0.4 shy of league-best) and top-5 in offensive and defensive efficiency in the league. The additions of Schroeder and Saric have made them a darkhorse contender this season. HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS!
Van-thom of the Atlantic
We all expected the Atlantic to be a two-way battle between the Sixers and the Knicks after last season, but the leader in the Sixers locker room isn't Simmons or Fultz like we would have expected. It's Van Grimaldi. He's posting career best numbers in scoring (+8 from last year), assists, field goal percentage, and then some. He's scoring 1.42 points per shot and 64.6% true shooting percentage. The Sixers had a rough start with the Grim Reaper after he was drafted, but he has become a staple and cornerstone of this franchise and looks to lead them to the post season once again this year.
Team Rocket Still Blasting Off Again
Once again, we are surprised that the Rockets are leading the Southwest, and once again, we shouldn't be that surprised. They are a main stay in the Southwest Division champion talks in recent history, but this core continues to not get any younger. The cliff HAS to be coming, right? Isaiah Thomas has to lose a step, right? Nope, he's out here doing IT things posting a statline of 23-4-5. Al Horford can't maintain his form at the age of 35. But here we are. Horford is averaging a double-double once again (20-10 mind you), and at this point in time, posting a career high 3.3 bpg. As long as Horford continues to play like this, the Rockets won't be going away, despite GM 78's statement on letting the players coach themselves this season. Speaking of surprises... who is Herbert Shoop?! 16ppg from a nobody is something ANY GM would welcome on their squad. Finding little gems like this is what keeps 78 in the talks for GM of the Year every year.
Pacers on Pace for Another Playoff No-Show?
At first glance, the Pacers being 1-4 despite the amount of talent on their squad is a shock. They have some of the best front and wing rotations in the league. Tobias Harris, Khris Middleton, Lebron James and Truman Wrenn round out their wings, and Joel Embiid, Nikola Vucevic, and Judd Williams wrap up the front court. But why are they 1-4?! It's not like they don't have a good stop gap at PG in Chris Paul. The shock dwindles once you look at their schedule thus far: @ Hawks (L), Nets (W), Pistons (L), @ Sixers (L), Suns (L). The losses came to 4 teams with a combined record of 23-5. We shouldn't be surprised, they essentially played the best in the 4 divisions. Brutal start of the season schedule, and they surely can bounce back... but we are in a Sim 1 vacuum... and vacuum rhymes with GLOOM AND DOOM.
Suns are on FIYAH.. thanks to Charlie Villenu-- i mean, Mathews
I know, I know. Kevin Love on any team will make them great. Suns came out a-blazing. But it's not the Kevin Love show only this year. Victor Oladipo (although he's hurt for the next month), Harrison Barnes, Thomas Robinson, and even Charlie Mathews (who?) are all pulling their weight, making things only a lot easier for Kevin Love to dominate more comfortably. But of these 4 supporting cast guys, I want to shine the light on Charlie Mathews (long lost identical twin of Charlie Villenueva?), who is posting an almost double double (10-9) on a vet min. Charlie is the epitome of "playing within his means" and "knowing his role". He only takes 8 shots a game, and half of those are 3-pt shots... of which he's making just under half (47.4%). He has been BEYOND clutch for this team and is potentially setting himself up for a nice little pay-day next year after putting his name on the map.
BREAKING NEWS: Damion McNary Traded to the Pelicans
It should be no surprise that the Bucks were shopping some big name player. Same shit, different day. But the fact that the trigger got pulled on a deal for Bucks former-franchise corner stone so early in the season (especially after a 4-2 start) is a bit surprising (to the league, not me lol). McNary has been on the outs for the last season or two, and the Bucks have been actively shopping him since training camp. A deal was reached with the Pelicans this morning, involving an exchange of Mcnary-Payton-cash considerations for Ricky Rubio-Timothy Pulley-Pelicans 2024 1st. Classic tradesie-backsie for the Bucks bringing home a former player, but also getting a young emerging stud in Pulley who fits the same build window as the rest of the Bucks 21 to 23 year old core of Ronald Small and Devin Booker. The Pelicans get a superstar recovery from a set-back, and looks to turn their season around with him and Payton's contributions. If they do look to soften their tax bill, Elfrid's contract is much more moveable than Ricky Rubio's come trade deadline.
The Celtics are Back!
This is something Boston fans have been waiting (what feels like) centuries for. The Celtics have teetered in mediocrity since the days of the Boozer UFA snub (also 2 IRL years ago
), finally they have had some of that Leprechaun Luck reappear. They've managed to find that pot of gold in Tyler Ulis, and Karl Anthony-Towns is FINALLY coming into his own and DOMINATING like we expected him to when he was picked #1 overall years back (17ppg, 15rpg... unbelievable numbers!). They are posting a 2nd best point differential (+0.4 shy of league-best) and top-5 in offensive and defensive efficiency in the league. The additions of Schroeder and Saric have made them a darkhorse contender this season. HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS!Van-thom of the Atlantic
We all expected the Atlantic to be a two-way battle between the Sixers and the Knicks after last season, but the leader in the Sixers locker room isn't Simmons or Fultz like we would have expected. It's Van Grimaldi. He's posting career best numbers in scoring (+8 from last year), assists, field goal percentage, and then some. He's scoring 1.42 points per shot and 64.6% true shooting percentage. The Sixers had a rough start with the Grim Reaper after he was drafted, but he has become a staple and cornerstone of this franchise and looks to lead them to the post season once again this year.
Team Rocket Still Blasting Off Again
Once again, we are surprised that the Rockets are leading the Southwest, and once again, we shouldn't be that surprised. They are a main stay in the Southwest Division champion talks in recent history, but this core continues to not get any younger. The cliff HAS to be coming, right? Isaiah Thomas has to lose a step, right? Nope, he's out here doing IT things posting a statline of 23-4-5. Al Horford can't maintain his form at the age of 35. But here we are. Horford is averaging a double-double once again (20-10 mind you), and at this point in time, posting a career high 3.3 bpg. As long as Horford continues to play like this, the Rockets won't be going away, despite GM 78's statement on letting the players coach themselves this season. Speaking of surprises... who is Herbert Shoop?! 16ppg from a nobody is something ANY GM would welcome on their squad. Finding little gems like this is what keeps 78 in the talks for GM of the Year every year.
Pacers on Pace for Another Playoff No-Show?
At first glance, the Pacers being 1-4 despite the amount of talent on their squad is a shock. They have some of the best front and wing rotations in the league. Tobias Harris, Khris Middleton, Lebron James and Truman Wrenn round out their wings, and Joel Embiid, Nikola Vucevic, and Judd Williams wrap up the front court. But why are they 1-4?! It's not like they don't have a good stop gap at PG in Chris Paul. The shock dwindles once you look at their schedule thus far: @ Hawks (L), Nets (W), Pistons (L), @ Sixers (L), Suns (L). The losses came to 4 teams with a combined record of 23-5. We shouldn't be surprised, they essentially played the best in the 4 divisions. Brutal start of the season schedule, and they surely can bounce back... but we are in a Sim 1 vacuum... and vacuum rhymes with GLOOM AND DOOM.
Suns are on FIYAH.. thanks to Charlie Villenu-- i mean, Mathews
I know, I know. Kevin Love on any team will make them great. Suns came out a-blazing. But it's not the Kevin Love show only this year. Victor Oladipo (although he's hurt for the next month), Harrison Barnes, Thomas Robinson, and even Charlie Mathews (who?) are all pulling their weight, making things only a lot easier for Kevin Love to dominate more comfortably. But of these 4 supporting cast guys, I want to shine the light on Charlie Mathews (long lost identical twin of Charlie Villenueva?), who is posting an almost double double (10-9) on a vet min. Charlie is the epitome of "playing within his means" and "knowing his role". He only takes 8 shots a game, and half of those are 3-pt shots... of which he's making just under half (47.4%). He has been BEYOND clutch for this team and is potentially setting himself up for a nice little pay-day next year after putting his name on the map.
BREAKING NEWS: Damion McNary Traded to the Pelicans
It should be no surprise that the Bucks were shopping some big name player. Same shit, different day. But the fact that the trigger got pulled on a deal for Bucks former-franchise corner stone so early in the season (especially after a 4-2 start) is a bit surprising (to the league, not me lol). McNary has been on the outs for the last season or two, and the Bucks have been actively shopping him since training camp. A deal was reached with the Pelicans this morning, involving an exchange of Mcnary-Payton-cash considerations for Ricky Rubio-Timothy Pulley-Pelicans 2024 1st. Classic tradesie-backsie for the Bucks bringing home a former player, but also getting a young emerging stud in Pulley who fits the same build window as the rest of the Bucks 21 to 23 year old core of Ronald Small and Devin Booker. The Pelicans get a superstar recovery from a set-back, and looks to turn their season around with him and Payton's contributions. If they do look to soften their tax bill, Elfrid's contract is much more moveable than Ricky Rubio's come trade deadline.