Teams Who Didn't Make the Playoffs - What next? Pt. 1: Johnson Division
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 3:38 pm
Talking about winners is great. We’re American - who doesn’t love winning? But some of us also care about those who struggle the most, or who have been in a perpetual downward spiral, or who really need to set up a GoFundMe for PBSL points. In this series this playoff season, I want you all to know that you are gone, but not forgotten! Let’s take a look at each of you, recap how you got here, and what might be a good next step, starting with my home in the Johnson Division. Opinions all my own, do it for the points. Cheers!
Alpha, Johnson
Indiana Pacers
Everyone in PBSL gasped when the Pacers acquired Bronny James, thinking they might have instantly become the team to beat, but they got a big stop sign straight out the gate. Playing the Lakers, who despite pitfalls stayed just ahead of the Pacers all year (even though they beat the Lakers every other game of the season), and their star players (including star acquisition Bronny) played great games - Bronny even danced close to a triple double! It was great but not great enough as they went down 115-107, beginning their worst opening sim in this still new GM’s memory. This set an unfortunate tone for the S47 Pacers, losing 10 of their first 12, climbing back to a win below .500 at the trade deadline when they decided to cut ties with their biggest talent, De’Aaron Fox. This had little effect on the team’s outcome this year, as they rode to the end sitting one win under .500.
What will the Pacers do next to get back into competition?
They might want to take a look at trading Haile if they haven’t already, see what they get back. If they acquire better talent at C or PG it could be worth it to better support Diakite once he hits RFA (a player he should definitely exercise, in my opinion). Blakemore is a functional PG but does not have great passing skills like Fox who could drop dimes to any one of his teammates on the floor, any time. Even acquiring someone resembling a 28 yr old version of Erik Haynes (similar 38 yr old stats but ya know, a bit more stamina) for a few years, excelling anywhere with better DRB, PSD or BLK would offer a pretty brutal front court to any team trying to drive inside. Do these things and be a good team fast!
Sacramento Kings
Ever since the Kings won their title in S44, the Kings have focused exclusively on a rebuild. Their main goal this year was to hit 25 wins, which they did, keeping their young core of developing and acquiring just enough talent to win 25 games. On these terms, they might be the most successful non playoff team! NOLa has not been a playoff (or regular season) fan for a while because once you acquire a good young player, it’s actively as gratifying as watching paint dry until they hit blue potential. So James Addington, Nickolas Lynch, Dorian Whitley and Killian Hayes? Grow up already.
What can you do next?
Probably keep chilling. Four young talents can feel a little iffy heading into TC, because you can’t insure them all (and who knows? One might break their leg - everyone’s favorite thing to do playing PBSL games these days), so eventually NOLa might think of sending one of these fellows on their merry way for some other talent, but they’re sitting pretty easy right now while their GM racks up just enough reg season win points and writes more league articles for even more points. What’s he going to do with these points?! Probably turn at least one of these young blue potential guys into a purple monster. Look out for these guys a couple years from now!
Atlanta Hawks
Loco needs points. However he can get them. Until he gets them, all other points are moot. So how did Loco get points? Not through dumb memes. Not through league articles. Not through DC submissions (I don’t think…). Loco got points via trades. How many points did he get?
7 for Josh Mitchell
7 for Randy Abney
7 for Norrin Radd
10 for Laurence Runyon
5 for #16 pick
10 for James Addington
46 Total here. Really not bad for trades! But at this rate it could be a PBSL decade before Loco has a chance to really dig deep into PBSL play. I certainly hope he has the patience. I mean, I barely had any patience when I had Giannis’s contract to deal with, and in 2 seasons my patience nearly ran out! I wanted to get busy in PBSL, and I’m sure Loco wants to do the same. Would be cool to see some media or something more here, but kudos to him if this method keeps netting points and keeps Loco interested.
Alpha, Johnson
Indiana Pacers
Everyone in PBSL gasped when the Pacers acquired Bronny James, thinking they might have instantly become the team to beat, but they got a big stop sign straight out the gate. Playing the Lakers, who despite pitfalls stayed just ahead of the Pacers all year (even though they beat the Lakers every other game of the season), and their star players (including star acquisition Bronny) played great games - Bronny even danced close to a triple double! It was great but not great enough as they went down 115-107, beginning their worst opening sim in this still new GM’s memory. This set an unfortunate tone for the S47 Pacers, losing 10 of their first 12, climbing back to a win below .500 at the trade deadline when they decided to cut ties with their biggest talent, De’Aaron Fox. This had little effect on the team’s outcome this year, as they rode to the end sitting one win under .500.
What will the Pacers do next to get back into competition?
They might want to take a look at trading Haile if they haven’t already, see what they get back. If they acquire better talent at C or PG it could be worth it to better support Diakite once he hits RFA (a player he should definitely exercise, in my opinion). Blakemore is a functional PG but does not have great passing skills like Fox who could drop dimes to any one of his teammates on the floor, any time. Even acquiring someone resembling a 28 yr old version of Erik Haynes (similar 38 yr old stats but ya know, a bit more stamina) for a few years, excelling anywhere with better DRB, PSD or BLK would offer a pretty brutal front court to any team trying to drive inside. Do these things and be a good team fast!
Sacramento Kings
Ever since the Kings won their title in S44, the Kings have focused exclusively on a rebuild. Their main goal this year was to hit 25 wins, which they did, keeping their young core of developing and acquiring just enough talent to win 25 games. On these terms, they might be the most successful non playoff team! NOLa has not been a playoff (or regular season) fan for a while because once you acquire a good young player, it’s actively as gratifying as watching paint dry until they hit blue potential. So James Addington, Nickolas Lynch, Dorian Whitley and Killian Hayes? Grow up already.
What can you do next?
Probably keep chilling. Four young talents can feel a little iffy heading into TC, because you can’t insure them all (and who knows? One might break their leg - everyone’s favorite thing to do playing PBSL games these days), so eventually NOLa might think of sending one of these fellows on their merry way for some other talent, but they’re sitting pretty easy right now while their GM racks up just enough reg season win points and writes more league articles for even more points. What’s he going to do with these points?! Probably turn at least one of these young blue potential guys into a purple monster. Look out for these guys a couple years from now!
Atlanta Hawks
Loco needs points. However he can get them. Until he gets them, all other points are moot. So how did Loco get points? Not through dumb memes. Not through league articles. Not through DC submissions (I don’t think…). Loco got points via trades. How many points did he get?
7 for Josh Mitchell
7 for Randy Abney
7 for Norrin Radd
10 for Laurence Runyon
5 for #16 pick
10 for James Addington
46 Total here. Really not bad for trades! But at this rate it could be a PBSL decade before Loco has a chance to really dig deep into PBSL play. I certainly hope he has the patience. I mean, I barely had any patience when I had Giannis’s contract to deal with, and in 2 seasons my patience nearly ran out! I wanted to get busy in PBSL, and I’m sure Loco wants to do the same. Would be cool to see some media or something more here, but kudos to him if this method keeps netting points and keeps Loco interested.