#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Well that last season was a hoot, eh? Making the finals for the first time, stealing a couple games from the best team in the league while our star Wanderlei recovered from injury... It was truly exciting times in LA last year that we look to continue and perfect this year.

While this could very well be Wanderlei's last year with the Lakers, he's still showing up in great form. His age has not hurt his performance too badly, and we fully expect him to take lead in our front court, possibly at Center this year. Scot Bulter had another great offseason, perfecting some of his already developing skills in the Post, and while we would love to see his blocking game develop, he should have no issue holding it down against some of the best PF's in the league. Joe Sherrill has played tremendously the last two years, but we're going to try him out in the 6th man role this year that Bulter played last year. Should be exciting to see how they produce.

Our back court is getting ready to take over, though. With Delmar reaching out for his peak years, Leiker appears to be there with many good years to spare. Acuna and his experience have supported these two young talents brilliantly, and Ernie has shown no signs of slowing down himself.

The only questions remain are the supporting cast and, who may step up where should one of these 6 get injured on our road for another year as a finals contender? Time will tell, but barring some Kings-like injury disasters, we're going to be a threatening team all year long.

In our division, Johnson, it looks like the same players will be at the top (Wizards, Nuggets and the late-surging Kings), and I think we will all have our eyes on the Bucks in the Mourning division to give any one of us problems this year. Over in Omega, we'll have our eyes on a number of different teams this year, starting with the underdog Mavericks who proved in the playoffs last year that they should not be overlooked. Will the Raptors dominance dwindle this year? Possibly, if they don't make a few more roster moves during the regular season. Thunder, Clippers, Bulls, Suns and possibly the Pelicans are teams we expect to see on the other side of the bracket next post-season.

The Lakers (and Leiker) are ready for this season to get underway. With that, who's got questions??

Now that the Raptors effectively own the city of Los Angeles after the playoffs, what city should the Lakers and Clippers look to move to?

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MexicanMamba wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:56 pm Now that the Raptors effectively own the city of Los Angeles after the playoffs, what city should the Lakers and Clippers look to move to?

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Ouch! Let's blame Canada. Clippers can move to Canada though and we'll take sunny San Diego. But if we're looking to actually conquer TEAMS' cities, as in the way the Raptors did, I say we take New York. OKC would be an accomplishment, but the land there is boring. Maybe we take over Chicago? The Bulls won't allow it for much longer...

Alex Sayuck - Laser Eye Basketball Magazine

Do you see any leap forward for Woodrow Atwater this year? He has made some progression since being drafted in 2031 but has understandably taken a backseat given the star power in LA. Is this the year you think he can be productive off the bench?

Keepit100 wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:21 pm Alex Sayuck - Laser Eye Basketball Magazine

Do you see any leap forward for Woodrow Atwater this year? He has made some progression since being drafted in 2031 but has understandably taken a backseat given the star power in LA. Is this the year you think he can be productive off the bench?

Good ol' Woodrow Atwater is consistent if anything. G/G on draft day years ago to G/G today. He gets the job done off the bench supporting Lopez, but I don't see his role changing much this season. He did show improvement in TC though. Not entirely certain how our bench is shaking out this year but he will be in every rotation for sure.

How excited are you that you can help train Delmar Lopez’s foiling now? That was one of his biggest (and only) flaws.

Last season was your first advancing past the first round. What did you learn from the deep post-season run?

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What were the most important things you learned on your deep playoff run?

IamQuailman wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 11:55 am How excited are you that you can help train Delmar Lopez’s foiling now? That was one of his biggest (and only) flaws.

In addition to his foiling, I also see his fouling as a flaw, so I was indeed happy to do something about it. I'm really stoked to continue watching him grow this year and beyond. I have a full starting lineup of blues now! So rad!

false9 wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 2:24 pm Last season was your first advancing past the first round. What did you learn from the deep post-season run?

Not only did I make it past the first round, I made it to the finals. I was as surprised as anyone! I learned that anything is possible in PBSL so long as you have some solid anchors set, and I think I'm even more set this year. The league has changed this offseason though, so we'll see what happens.

garbageman wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 5:21 pm Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What were the most important things you learned on your deep playoff run?

The most important things I learned in the deep playoffs is matchups matchups matchups. On paper the Wizards beat me. Aside from the regular season record, the Knicks beat me. With a healthy BDJ, the Kings had a real shot, too. But I think it was having one or two players consistently edging the opposition that put me over the top. Also, in PBSL, your starting 5 is more important than your backups, though it's good to have strong backup too in the event one of your best gets hurt.

greepleairport wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 6:30 pm

IamQuailman wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 11:55 am How excited are you that you can help train Delmar Lopez’s foiling now? That was one of his biggest (and only) flaws.

In addition to his foiling, I also see his fouling as a flaw, so I was indeed happy to do something about it. I'm really stoked to continue watching him grow this year and beyond. I have a full starting lineup of blues now! So rad!

He prefers foils to sabers when it comes to fencing, that’s what I had read recently... slipped into me typing!

Random Reporter: As the defending Conference champs, what things do you think will make this be your year?

greepleairport wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 6:33 pm On paper the Wizards beat me.

(And don't sell yourself short man, that was totally not true. Trust me, I spent more than half of the season and most of the playoffs analyzing our potential matchup)

Xist2Inspire wrote:Random Reporter: As the defending Conference champs, what things do you think will make this be your year?

greepleairport wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 6:33 pm On paper the Wizards beat me.

(And don't sell yourself short man, that was totally not true. Trust me, I spent more than half of the season and most of the playoffs analyzing our potential matchup)

Wow, thanks dude. In and out of PBSL I am my own worst critic! In all seriousness I was ready to blow up my team at the ASB and bank on another year for title contention, because I saw teams like the Wizards, Raptors, Thunder and honestly the Knicks too as teams I couldn’t beat. While I had a great regular season record against the Wizards, I figured it would be proven a fluke in the playoffs.

So I guess in further answering earlier questions as well, I learned to be a bit more confident in my moves as a GM. I joked about winning GM of the year at the start of last season, but I think I was a real contender for that title as well, in retrospect.

And looking ahead to a successful season this year... Delmar is ready. By no means has he peaked, but he was arguably my weakest starter last season. With his, Bulter’s AND Leiker’s successful training camps (honestly the aging Acuna’s TC too), I think we’re strong everywhere, and if I didn’t think we were strong enough last year - our first trip to the finals - I think we might be the team to beat this year. Seriously.


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GWR: How do you anticipate handling the pressure of repeating as Alpha Conference Champion?

JNR wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:30 am GWR: How do you anticipate handling the pressure of repeating as Alpha Conference Champion?

Ooo, yeah, there's some definite heat coming my way. I'm looking at my first round opponent, the Kings, as my primary conference competition this year, but I'm not overlooking the Bucks or Magic either. While they are all better teams than they were last year, so are we! Wandy's numbers are going down, sure, but he's still an all-star and top player in the league. Short of playing my key players too hard in the regular season and risking injury, I think we're poised to handle defending the conference championship quite well.

Also beer.

We heard your team was overlooking the Bucks in the conference, which we are too. What about them gives off the impression they'll just lay down and let us do what we want to them?

NOLa. wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2020 1:58 pm We heard your team was overlooking the Bucks in the conference, which we are too. What about them gives off the impression they'll just lay down and let us do what we want to them?

Hahaha, of the top contenders I am overlooking the Bucks a bit. I think they have the start of a great team but another year or two before being truly great. In due time. I like them winning that division but I think the Magic will pose a problem for them...