Post by Rog on May 22, 2019 18:00:30 GMT
These are just quick observations for each team after preseason sim #1. If I have time later I'll do West as well.
Boston Celtics
It existed to some extent last year, but the Celtics easiest way to beat them is beat them through the post and looks to potentially be even worse this year. Pradilla shot 36% while Embry shot 26.2%. Obviously these numbers aren't going to be what happens in the end, but they are not good signs. Easier said then done as Cousy, Simons, and Schmidt averaged a combined 88 points a game and are easily the best trio in the league.
Miami Heat
The Heat are a mess and still look to be years away from being even close to contenders. They do shave some nice pieces. Bailey Howell looks to have a breakout year without a team around him, averaged 19, 13, and 1.6 a game. That did come with a 35.3% shooting percentage, so its not all great. Otherwise there isn't enough here to be excited. Guerin had a rough sim, Dariq Miller-Whitehead looks decent ratings wise but didn't impress, and Slavnic averaged over 4 turnovers a game. Rough roster.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets took what looks like a giant step back this yar with their wings being quite a bit worse. Bobroczky looks to be a force as he has been for a while averaging 15 and 16 with 3.4 blocks. Dick Barnett comes up from G-League and averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting fantastic percentages. They don't look great beyond him right now, Nicolin averaged 4.6 turnovers, Lopatka shot under 40% while only scoring 11 points, and McMillon is not really a starter in this league with his B- outside.
New York Knicks
The Knicks didn't make big moves, so their roster looks largely the same. Trae Young though is 31, he was their big stud last year, and now averaged 4.4 turnovers a game in 5 games. That is rough for him and would be a big time issue for the Knicks. Ramsey also had a hard time scoring. They will struggle without their guns scoring well and holding things together offensively. Averaging 14.4 turnovers a game will not cut it.
Orlando Magic
Ever since the Magic lost Charles, they have a huge mess and will end up again being a mess. They do have two nice pieces in 28 year old Sid Tanenbaum and 29 year old Kresimir Cosic that they really should get the most out of and rebuild the shit out of this roster. Bianchi is a nice piece, off the bench but he is asked to start here and showed up a 12 points per game, 9 assists, and can't defend. He also shot 1 for 6 from the line, that is not okay. Sherman White is gonna start at power forward, and again is a great back up big, but averaged .3 blocks a game and is gotta do more than that by far for the Magic to compete for the playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers
As expected, the 76ers struggled on the wings and looked okay in the paint. 24 year old Bastien Vautier looks like the perfect Slough big to push the issue on defense, averaging 16.4 rebounds and 4.6 stocks while not taking too many shots and Glenn Roberts showed he can come in and give 20 points a game if needed, which shouldn't. The wings are the issue here, with Kiyan scoring well but bringing nothing else, averaging 3.2 turnovers a game, and shooting 43% from the field. They started Armenak Alachachian at shooting guard, and the less we say about that the better. DJ Carton played well enough, showing they have multiple options there at point guard.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards have a weakness at power forward, and their options didn't appear great with the options being 31 year old Lew Hitch, who at most has averaged 21.5 minutes a game and didn't look good in those minutes, and 26 year old Perry Crosswhite, a promising big who has neve rbeen given that much of a chance. Crosswhite got the start in the preseason sim 1 and proceeded to go 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3.7 blocks while shooting 47.7% from the field and 71.9% from the line proving he might actually be a good start. The rest of the roster relatively underperformed, but if everyone plays like they have been and Crosswhite does that? They could be really good.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have been a decent team the last few years but they really look like they might have a bad year. I've never been a fan of Lecque, but Andrzej Pluta got the start, and proved Lecque is still the best option there. Gary Phillips, their lottery pick this year, looks awful as well and a waste of a pick. They have no depth and the starts of these players that are the best options behind Raga and Lecque look to give them nothing special. They didn't start any starters except potentially Dierking, who looks nice, but the players they did should get big minutes off the bench and none of them look good.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets averaged the most points in the league in the first preseason sim, averaging over 130 points a game while shooting 47.8% from the field. There are issues, as the 4-3 record indicates, but overall its a good sign to start the year. They did give up 126.7 points a game and averaged 13.7 turnovers, both numbers that need to come down in a big way. Teofilo Cruz is going to break out any year now, but continues to look like he has issues again this year. Modestas will help more than the 20 points indicate, he shot the ball poorly and won't over a course of a year but he also won't average 12 rebounds a game. Jerry West is the big time story here though, averaging 31 points, 10 rebounds, nearly 7 rebounds, and 2.5 steals while keeping his turnovers way down. He shot only 71% from the line, that will come way up and could boost his scoring numbers. Hornets have a bright future, but might be a year away.
Chicago Bulls
Bulls actually surprised this sim, going 3-2 in the first sim. Shuttleworth at 35 leads the way with 27 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, shooting too many times a game but being the only true offensive option beisdes SGA. Their defense will be what keys them if they wind up in the playoffs. That and the performance Shai Gilgous-Alexander put on will have to continue. He averaged 35 points, 9.5 assists, 6 rebounds, 3.2 steals while shooting the ball really well and keeping his turnovers down. That will have to be the case with the lack of offensive options on this team.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are here. And they are here to stay. Jcog gave us all a break for a few years but they had an off season for the ages and went 6-3 in their first sim with the new roster. Green brought his turnovers down while giving a superstar like performance everywhere else. Nico Mannion is a true star, probably the second or third best point guard in the league. Havlicek averaged 16/6/4 in his first game time, shooting poorly off the bench. They don't have a small forward that inspires confidence beyond him, but will start Shaffer to take advantage of his notes. Their front court underperformed expectations but should be better and everyone else played like crazy.
Detroit Pistons
Yourkers believes he has a contender on his hands, but the preseason shows something else. Fulks looks solid yet again, but they don't have another good big on the roster by the looks of things with Schmidt averaging 8 and 9 while shooting terribly, hes done. Selvy and Chia brings the scoring and Hampton looks ready to be a starting force at point, but the turnovers are going to be an issue and they need to find other options to help out Selvy, Hayes, and Chia keep those down or they will have a long year.
Indiana Pacers
One of the surprises last year, Donny has himself the looks of a real contender on his hands. Dick McGuire has long been underrated, and he averaged 24 and 10 the first sim. They have a ton of other options behind him, but they need to find a shooting guard as 16/5/5 from Gene Vance from the position isn't going to cut it. Future Hall of Famer Paul Azirin looks to have some in the tank with a big year ahead of him if the Pacers are going to compete. Their front court combo of Gene Dyker and Willie Naulls will be a strength most likely as well, combining for 35 points, 30 rebounds, and 7.7 stocks. Dyker doesn't have a long history of starting, but if he does that the Pacers could win the division and the whole thing.
Milwaukee Bucks
One of the quieter teams in the league, the Bucks look to have a long year. They don't have a positive piece on the roster and might have the worst roster in the league with an 18 year old Wayne Brabender and 20 year old Theo Maledon being the best pieces they have. Darrall Imhoff can't block shots and doesn't rebound well, I don't think he will be very good despite A potential. They need to move Jean-Paul Beugnot for rebuilding pieces and tear the whole thing down.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors were fantastic last year and return basically the same starters minus at point guard. If Booboo McAdoo can give him these numbers all year and they can find contributions from the bench more so than they have now, Yardley and Berkovich should be enough to win 50 points per game. Tom Barlow and Janis Krumins need to do more in certain areas for them to actually compete though. Time will tell, they do have issues cap wise that will prevent them from making big moves.
Boston Celtics
It existed to some extent last year, but the Celtics easiest way to beat them is beat them through the post and looks to potentially be even worse this year. Pradilla shot 36% while Embry shot 26.2%. Obviously these numbers aren't going to be what happens in the end, but they are not good signs. Easier said then done as Cousy, Simons, and Schmidt averaged a combined 88 points a game and are easily the best trio in the league.
Miami Heat
The Heat are a mess and still look to be years away from being even close to contenders. They do shave some nice pieces. Bailey Howell looks to have a breakout year without a team around him, averaged 19, 13, and 1.6 a game. That did come with a 35.3% shooting percentage, so its not all great. Otherwise there isn't enough here to be excited. Guerin had a rough sim, Dariq Miller-Whitehead looks decent ratings wise but didn't impress, and Slavnic averaged over 4 turnovers a game. Rough roster.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets took what looks like a giant step back this yar with their wings being quite a bit worse. Bobroczky looks to be a force as he has been for a while averaging 15 and 16 with 3.4 blocks. Dick Barnett comes up from G-League and averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting fantastic percentages. They don't look great beyond him right now, Nicolin averaged 4.6 turnovers, Lopatka shot under 40% while only scoring 11 points, and McMillon is not really a starter in this league with his B- outside.
New York Knicks
The Knicks didn't make big moves, so their roster looks largely the same. Trae Young though is 31, he was their big stud last year, and now averaged 4.4 turnovers a game in 5 games. That is rough for him and would be a big time issue for the Knicks. Ramsey also had a hard time scoring. They will struggle without their guns scoring well and holding things together offensively. Averaging 14.4 turnovers a game will not cut it.
Orlando Magic
Ever since the Magic lost Charles, they have a huge mess and will end up again being a mess. They do have two nice pieces in 28 year old Sid Tanenbaum and 29 year old Kresimir Cosic that they really should get the most out of and rebuild the shit out of this roster. Bianchi is a nice piece, off the bench but he is asked to start here and showed up a 12 points per game, 9 assists, and can't defend. He also shot 1 for 6 from the line, that is not okay. Sherman White is gonna start at power forward, and again is a great back up big, but averaged .3 blocks a game and is gotta do more than that by far for the Magic to compete for the playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers
As expected, the 76ers struggled on the wings and looked okay in the paint. 24 year old Bastien Vautier looks like the perfect Slough big to push the issue on defense, averaging 16.4 rebounds and 4.6 stocks while not taking too many shots and Glenn Roberts showed he can come in and give 20 points a game if needed, which shouldn't. The wings are the issue here, with Kiyan scoring well but bringing nothing else, averaging 3.2 turnovers a game, and shooting 43% from the field. They started Armenak Alachachian at shooting guard, and the less we say about that the better. DJ Carton played well enough, showing they have multiple options there at point guard.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards have a weakness at power forward, and their options didn't appear great with the options being 31 year old Lew Hitch, who at most has averaged 21.5 minutes a game and didn't look good in those minutes, and 26 year old Perry Crosswhite, a promising big who has neve rbeen given that much of a chance. Crosswhite got the start in the preseason sim 1 and proceeded to go 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3.7 blocks while shooting 47.7% from the field and 71.9% from the line proving he might actually be a good start. The rest of the roster relatively underperformed, but if everyone plays like they have been and Crosswhite does that? They could be really good.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have been a decent team the last few years but they really look like they might have a bad year. I've never been a fan of Lecque, but Andrzej Pluta got the start, and proved Lecque is still the best option there. Gary Phillips, their lottery pick this year, looks awful as well and a waste of a pick. They have no depth and the starts of these players that are the best options behind Raga and Lecque look to give them nothing special. They didn't start any starters except potentially Dierking, who looks nice, but the players they did should get big minutes off the bench and none of them look good.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets averaged the most points in the league in the first preseason sim, averaging over 130 points a game while shooting 47.8% from the field. There are issues, as the 4-3 record indicates, but overall its a good sign to start the year. They did give up 126.7 points a game and averaged 13.7 turnovers, both numbers that need to come down in a big way. Teofilo Cruz is going to break out any year now, but continues to look like he has issues again this year. Modestas will help more than the 20 points indicate, he shot the ball poorly and won't over a course of a year but he also won't average 12 rebounds a game. Jerry West is the big time story here though, averaging 31 points, 10 rebounds, nearly 7 rebounds, and 2.5 steals while keeping his turnovers way down. He shot only 71% from the line, that will come way up and could boost his scoring numbers. Hornets have a bright future, but might be a year away.
Chicago Bulls
Bulls actually surprised this sim, going 3-2 in the first sim. Shuttleworth at 35 leads the way with 27 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, shooting too many times a game but being the only true offensive option beisdes SGA. Their defense will be what keys them if they wind up in the playoffs. That and the performance Shai Gilgous-Alexander put on will have to continue. He averaged 35 points, 9.5 assists, 6 rebounds, 3.2 steals while shooting the ball really well and keeping his turnovers down. That will have to be the case with the lack of offensive options on this team.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are here. And they are here to stay. Jcog gave us all a break for a few years but they had an off season for the ages and went 6-3 in their first sim with the new roster. Green brought his turnovers down while giving a superstar like performance everywhere else. Nico Mannion is a true star, probably the second or third best point guard in the league. Havlicek averaged 16/6/4 in his first game time, shooting poorly off the bench. They don't have a small forward that inspires confidence beyond him, but will start Shaffer to take advantage of his notes. Their front court underperformed expectations but should be better and everyone else played like crazy.
Detroit Pistons
Yourkers believes he has a contender on his hands, but the preseason shows something else. Fulks looks solid yet again, but they don't have another good big on the roster by the looks of things with Schmidt averaging 8 and 9 while shooting terribly, hes done. Selvy and Chia brings the scoring and Hampton looks ready to be a starting force at point, but the turnovers are going to be an issue and they need to find other options to help out Selvy, Hayes, and Chia keep those down or they will have a long year.
Indiana Pacers
One of the surprises last year, Donny has himself the looks of a real contender on his hands. Dick McGuire has long been underrated, and he averaged 24 and 10 the first sim. They have a ton of other options behind him, but they need to find a shooting guard as 16/5/5 from Gene Vance from the position isn't going to cut it. Future Hall of Famer Paul Azirin looks to have some in the tank with a big year ahead of him if the Pacers are going to compete. Their front court combo of Gene Dyker and Willie Naulls will be a strength most likely as well, combining for 35 points, 30 rebounds, and 7.7 stocks. Dyker doesn't have a long history of starting, but if he does that the Pacers could win the division and the whole thing.
Milwaukee Bucks
One of the quieter teams in the league, the Bucks look to have a long year. They don't have a positive piece on the roster and might have the worst roster in the league with an 18 year old Wayne Brabender and 20 year old Theo Maledon being the best pieces they have. Darrall Imhoff can't block shots and doesn't rebound well, I don't think he will be very good despite A potential. They need to move Jean-Paul Beugnot for rebuilding pieces and tear the whole thing down.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors were fantastic last year and return basically the same starters minus at point guard. If Booboo McAdoo can give him these numbers all year and they can find contributions from the bench more so than they have now, Yardley and Berkovich should be enough to win 50 points per game. Tom Barlow and Janis Krumins need to do more in certain areas for them to actually compete though. Time will tell, they do have issues cap wise that will prevent them from making big moves.
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