Post by ucfinfan86 on Oct 28, 2019 17:37:02 GMT
Part 3 covering the Pacific Division from 2036 - 2045
| Team | 2036 | 2037 | 2038 | 2039 | 2040 | 2041 | 2042 | 2043 | 2044 | 2045 | Average Wins |
| Clippers | 63 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 52 | 51 | 59 | 55 | 53 | 49 | 55.6 |
| Blazers | 55 | 50 | 61 | 53 | 59 | 48 | 58 | 61 | 57 | 46 | 54.8 |
| Sonics | 66 | 68 | 61 | 69 | 15 | 18 | 30 | 35 | 36 | 45 | 44.3 |
| Warriors | 50 | 24 | 52 | 43 | 53 | 37 | 49 | 42 | 22 | 34 | 40.6 |
| Lakers | 33 | 33 | 30 | 23 | 34 | 47 | 53 | 54 | 32 | 29 | 36.8 |
| Suns | 36 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 39 | 46 | 38 | 25 | 28.2 |
| Kings | 22 | 35 | 30 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 36 | 23 |
-Best Draft pick is a combination of best player and best value in the draft
Los Angeles Clippers
Most Wins: 63(4) Least Wins: 49(1) Average Wins: 55.6(2)
Playoff Appearances: 10 Conference Finals Appearances: 7 Finals Appearances: 4
Titles Won: 1 MVPs: 1 All Leaguers: 9 Best Draft Pick: PG Aldo Ossola 1.14
When I first joined the joke around the NBN was that the Clippers couldn’t get out of the first round and that notion has been expelled this past decade. They’ve made the playoffs all 10 years, with 7 conference finals and 1 title. They’ve been very consistent as shown by the 2nd highest 55.6 average wins and the decade low 49 least wins. While they haven’t built the absolute juggernaut that steam roll the league some years like some of the Nets, Celtics or Sonics teams, they have built a title contender every season. They’ve had a few constants like SG Bobby McDermott and PF Jack Kerris who they’ve held the entire decade. Their best team was probably the 2036 one that PG Sonny Johnson, SG Bobby McDermott, SF Emoni Bates, PF Tyler Ringgold, PF Jack Kerris, PF Ty Rodgers, and PF Joe Fulks. I also liked their 2043 team that had PG Larry Costello win the MVP along with McDermott, Kerris, SF Eddie Calder, SF Kiyan Anthony and C Ed Dancker. The real downside for the Clippers has been in the draft as it hasn’t been their style of team building. They’ve only had 3 1st round picks over the 10 years and it’s really hard to pick one as a “best” draft pick: 1.14 Aldo Ossola, 1.14 SF Jonathan Lawson, or 1.24 SG Pranas Talzunas.
Portland Trailblazers
Most Wins: 61(9) Least Wins: 46(3) Average Wins: 54.8(3)
Playoff Appearances: 10 Conference Finals Appearances: 5 Finals Appearances: 2
Titles Won: 2 MVPs: 0 All Leaguers: 6 Best Draft Pick: PF Anatolly Polyvoda 1.19
The Blazers are fresh off of their 2nd title in 4 years in what was their lowest win total of the past decade. They’ve made the playoffs for all 10 seasons and made the conference finals 5 times. Along with the Clippers, they’ve owned the Pacific since the Sonics/Cousy dynasty ended. Much like the Wizards, they are willing to take different approaches than most GMs to team building. Since they’ve been good the whole decade, it’s hard to pinpoint a roster or 2 that were best, but my favorite team they put together was either the 2038 team that had PG Milos Teodosic, SG Sergei Belov, SF Modestas Paulauskas, PF Pierre Thiolon, and C Tom Barlow with an amazing bench of Abdoulaye N’Doye, Todd Blanchfield, and George Levis or the 2043 team of PG Tal Brody, SG Frank Ramsey, SF Cliff Hagan, C Tom Barlow, C Goga Bitadze, and C Bob Ferry. The Blazers best draft picks was between PF Polyvoda and SG Deliabasic. It’s still too early on Deliabasic, but both look like they should be good picks. Getting a potential all-star big at 1.19 is great value.
Seattle Supersonics
Most Wins: 69(1) Least Wins: 15(16) Average Wins: 44.3(11)
Playoff Appearances: 5 Conference Finals Appearances: 3 Finals Appearances: 2
Titles Won: 1 MVPs: 4 All Leaguers: 6 Best Draft Pick: PF Paolo Banchero 1.14
The start of this decade included the Sonics last 4 years as a title contender with PG Bob Cousy winning 1 title and winning 60+ games 4 straight years. Once they decided to move on for Cousy, they tanked for a few seasons and have since increased their win total for 6 straights years (15, 18, 30, 35, 36, 45). Their rebuild has probably taken a few more years than they would have liked, but they seem to be heading into a good spot. Looking back on the 2039 69 win team which was loaded with PG Bob Cousy, SG Jesus Shuttlesworth, SF LeBron James, C Tarzan Cooper, C Honglin Qu, and PG Bryce Griggs. Their previous title winning team had SG Jalen Newhouse in place of LeBron James and also had big men C Salah Mejri and C Maurice Desaymonnet. As far as draft choices there’s not a lot to choose from. PF Banchero has turned into a rotation level big man, but disappointed compared to the compensation that was given up to acquire him with his hyped draft notes. PG Ja Morant was acquired as a 2nd year player in the Cousy deal.
Golden State Warriors
Most Wins: 50(21) Least Wins: 22(12) Average Wins: 40.6(16)
Playoff Appearances: 6 Conference Finals Appearances: 0 Finals Appearances: 0
Titles Won: 0 MVPs: 0 All Leaguers: 2 Best Draft Pick: PG Pee Wee Kirkland 1.12
When I joined the NBN the Warriors were one of the top franchises on the back of star SG Jordan Toles. In the past decade though, the Warriors have really been quite mediocre. They’ve tanked for a few seasons and have tried to remake some teams in free agency, but have never really put together a true contender. They’ve topped 50 wins 3 times, while making the playoffs 6 times. Their best team was one they put together by going into free agency with a clean slate and signed away PG Brooklyn Vick, SG Luguentz Dort, and PF Jack Coleman. That team also featured SF Musa Jallow, SF Fuzzy Vandivier and a rookie C Janis Krumins. They made another little resurgent run in 2042 behind a comeback season behind PG Ray Lumpp, SG Jared Terrell, SF Zoran Paunovic, PF Jack Coleman, and C Arnie Risen. They are yet another team in this division that doesn’t have a lot of draft pick choices over the years. I’m sure their best pick will end up being PG Dave Bing who was drafted #1 last year, but there’s not a lot to go on yet. I’ll go with PG Pee Wee Kirkland, who was drafted late lotto and has developed into a backup level PG.
Los Angeles Lakers
Most Wins: 54(17) Least Wins: 23(10) Average Wins: 36.8(19)
Playoff Appearances: 3 Conference Finals Appearances: 0 Finals Appearances: 0
Titles Won: 0 MVPs: 0 All Leaguers: 4 Best Draft Pick: PG Oscar Robertson 1.2
The Lakers have been plagued with inactivity over the years and are basically the Heat of the West. They’ve made the playoffs 3 times in 10 seasons and usually hang around the 30 win mark. Their problem has been the lack of activity in trading assets when they are tanking (late 2030’s) or shopping for upgrades when they are contending (early 2040’s). They are a team that has drafted often at the top of the lottery and have actually done quite well. Some of their best picks were PG Oscar Robertson at 1.2 (who was traded for Elgin Baylor/Sam Jones), Tom Heinsohn, and Bailey Howell. Their 2041-2043 playoff run featured essentially the same roster in PG KC Jones, SG Sam Jones, SF Elgin Baylor, SF Tom Gola, and PF Tom Heinsohn. They were a good team, but never a true title contenders due to their inability to acquire a true big man.
Phoenix Suns
Most Wins: 46(25) Least Wins: 11(24) Average Wins: 28.2(26)
Playoff Appearances: 2 Conference Finals Appearances: 0 Finals Appearances: 0
Titles Won: 0 MVPs: 0 All Leaguers: 3 Best Draft Pick: SF Jalen Johnson 1.2
This is another franchise that has gone through a few GMs over these 10 years. There was cheddar, popematty, and greenmachine until SpikeLee came back in 2041. This franchise was a mess pre-Spike winning a total of 61 games over 4 seasons. Spike came back and probably maybe the wrong decision in trying to compete instead of rebuilding it back up slowly and has now gone back on the rebuilding route again. Spike did earn the 6th seed with 46 wins in 2043 around a veteran squad of Milos Teodosic, Bill Sharman, Modestas Paulauskas, Bill Bridges, and Jack Coleman. The Suns best pick was a toss-up between C Walt Bellamy and SF Jalen Johnson. Neither have become the all-star that was expected of both when they were drafted #1 and #2, but they are both good players. Spike is hoping SG Carlo Recalcati can become that player.
Sacramento Kings
Most Wins: 36(28) Least Wins: 12(22) Average Wins: 23(29)
Playoff Appearances: 0 Conference Finals Appearances: 0 Finals Appearances: 0
Titles Won: 0 MVPs: 0 All Leaguers: 0 Best Draft Pick: PF Ray Scott 1.7
Lastly is the worst franchise over the past decade. They’ve averaged less wins than the CPU run Bulls. They’ve had a few GMs here since buckeyeball stepped down, but things may finally be looking up with kennypowers. This past season was their most wins of the decade and show some signs of promise moving forward. They have a nice little nucleus of Hazzard, Goodrich, Miles and Hairston with veteran Dino Meneghin. They should have some cap space moving forward as well, but unfortunately still have Puggy Bell’s contract on the books for another few seasons. For comedy sakes, here is their 2nd best team of the decade in 2037 Wlamir Marques, Moyses Blas, Chia Chungchang, Francisco Mattei, Matt Wright. 0 All Leaguers in 10 years! Looking through their list of draft picks and it’s easy to see why they’ve had a lack of success with PF Ray Scott 1.7 the best pick after a decade of lottery selections. One of their current youngsters will probably end up topping Scott.
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