#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Hello, friends. As always, let’s take a quick look back at last season before we look ahead.

So how do you top a great season coupled with one of the greatest postseason runs ever? Well, follow it up with the best regular season ever of 75 wins, an MVP for Boban, and going BACK TO BACK!



I was pleased we were up to the task and going up against one of my sim mentors in the Finals was great challenge. Gar Bageman and his Bulls were a worthy opponent.

So after all that, what's next? I had to run it back, right? Off went a slightly under supermax to Ernie Acuna, some one year extensions to most of the bench mob (except for Judd Williams, who left for greener pastures), and in came some more veterans ready to contribute. We were pleased to bring in a potpourri of serviceable bigs, Kenrich Williams, and one of the GOATs in Anthony Davis (btw, totally willing to trade him for points).

Expect to see the usual big four of Boban, JJ, Bronny, and Ernie in the starting lineup, but I'll probably tinker with that fifth starter. For now, Zubac will hold down the fort as the fifth starter, but I'm always willing to see who else could be a solution, whether internally or externally.

As far as a three-peat, anything short of that is a failure. There are definitely some teams ready to challenge us, but we'll be ready.

With that, I'll take your questions.

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You were able to sign GOAT Anthony Davis on a vet min, but he's already on the block. Why doesn't he fit with your current roster?

garbageman wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 8:24 am Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You were able to sign GOAT Anthony Davis on a vet min, but he's already on the block. Why doesn't he fit with your current roster?

It’s a small sample size, but I’m not certain he’s what I need at center, and I may want to ditch salary to drop a tax tier down. He’ll have the chance to prove himself up to day 60 though, as he’ll get the bulk of the backup center minutes.

GWR: Such domination usually leads to a lack of motivation. Do you feel that happening in your case?

How much will it cost to get you to leave our division so that the Clippers have a better chance at winning it? I'm tight with Steve Ballmer still and can make things happen.

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Random Reporter: Could you elaborate on why you paid top dollar to retain Acuna, despite him not really performing at a level high enough to justify that, as well as not being nearly as important to the squad as the Big 3?

No team has ever done the three-peat. The closest team were the 1993-1996 Celtics who won the first two and are the only team to make the Finals three times in a row. Do you think you'll flex on this league and do the impossible?

JNR wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 9:39 am GWR: Such domination usually leads to a lack of motivation. Do you feel that happening in your case?

I could use a sim-cation. Between the holidays, being busy at work, and the “job” side of sim league that I try to help with, it can be tiresome. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t already thinking about the post-Boban project I have in mind.

That being said, I am ready to win another damn ring.

MexicanMamba wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:06 am How much will it cost to get you to leave our division so that the Clippers have a better chance at winning it? I'm tight with Steve Ballmer still and can make things happen.

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In all seriousness, I do expect the division to be better those season. They can look forward to the post Boban project, but that won’t be for a few years.

Xist2Inspire wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:05 am Random Reporter: Could you elaborate on why you paid top dollar to retain Acuna, despite him not really performing at a level high enough to justify that, as well as not being nearly as important to the squad as the Big 3?

Yknow, maybe I misread the market? I think Acuna is one of the best PGs in the game. I also didn’t want to risk losing him and having to plug in an MLE replacement. Plus, it’s possible his stats would be more impressive I a bigger role with higher usage. I don’t regret that EA’s back at his salary. If it’s a problem down the line, I’m confident we will handle it.

NOLa. wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:08 am No team has ever done the three-peat. The closest team were the 1993-1996 Celtics who won the first two and are the only team to make the Finals three times in a row. Do you think you'll flex on this league and do the impossible?

A betting man would say so, right? It’s a long season, and a longer postseason though. We’ll take thing one sim at a time.

What led you to have such a successful legacy at Orlando, along with possibly the league's first repeat? Any key decisions you think you made to get here?

greepleairport wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:14 pm What led you to have such a successful legacy at Orlando, along with possibly the league's first repeat? Any key decisions you think you made to get here?

It’s been a long journey. If you look at my history, there were some tank-tacular seasons in the beginning. But I got my legs under me. I think I had the transactional part down, but learning from some smart GMs from a gameplan/DC standpoint was what put me over the top for the first title.

From there, most of the success that’s followed has been a byproduct of the Boban project, some lucky bounces in TC (JJ going purple) and UFA/trading (Acuna in UFA, Bronny trade). The biggest thing is staying engaged- you get out of what you put into the game.