Post by yourkers15 on Dec 26, 2023 17:20:51 GMT
Yourkers: Welcome back to the York and Slough show.
We are here to take in our take on the first of hopefully many years of NBN basketball to come. So Slough what is your take on player builds and how they are playing out in real time? What are your thoughts on your team and if they are playing to expectations or under? What are your like and dislikes so far?
Slough: Compered to previous years or versions of NBN, this feels like the most deflated ratings I have seen, where it really highlights some of the star players in the league and there is a true gap between the top tier and the 2nd tier from what I see. We are nearly up to the All Star game and I don't feel there is really any one team that is dominating ahead of a lot of other teams. Sure there are a few that have made moves to be in the top 5 of Power Rankings, but I do think anybody can beat anybody on any given night except for the lowly tankers out there.
As above, the player builds are interesting and a few are dominating, but there are other builds that look like they should be better and just aren't consistently holding it together day in and day out. Its made for some frustration and probably early trades because of it. This sentiment includes me. Should I have traded Ingram already, maybe not, but when you have that trade disease it does happen. I will say Ingram seemed to be better off the bench more than starting for me, but I am kind of amazing how bad defense is including him in the league. I would say my team has played some to expectations, but some low as well like CJ and Ingram, Jonas better than I thought and Zion seems better than I anticipated as well.
My likes so far is the activity, its just nice to see the league back, everyone posting, articles, and seeing all the competitiveness so far. The only dislikes I have were already handled by leadership in getting rid of a bad apple to start. This is meant to be fun and talk shit, but have fun of course.
Questions: With how your team has started and the trades you made, what are your thoughts on your team so far? Do you feel you can turn it around to make the playoffs? Lets go through your recent trade with me and the trade talks to get it done. In your honest opinion who won the deal and how does it play into both the Raptors and the Pelicans for the year and future seasons?
Yourkers: I've been pretty disappointed because I had expectations on players that haven't lived to them. I dealt with injuries and just not up to expectations but now I think I might have found what I needed. I upgraded my offense with Ingram and now Conley. Barnes and smart ruling the bench should make us much better. But who knows this game is crazy.
I think I have a chance to make the playoffs. We are healthy and Beal playing much better. Feel I upgraded the roster and feel I will now start to improve. Should be much better than it has been.
So for our deal I knew you liked Stewart and I wanted to get something good to move him and Ingram fit exactly what I wanted to do at first. I aanted Barnes off the bench cuz I feel he is so versatile. So I had to make sure it made it interesting for you. You get Stewart and keldon who is young and signed to what I think is a solid contract. Dinwiddie just didn't fit my offense anymore but when in the proper offense he is legit. So I think I got the best player but you got a nice group of talent who all can contribute. I think they will say I got the edge but we will see by next year. If Stewart and keldon grow you'll have 2 fine players. So right now I win but very possible you come out on top.
Who do you think are the biggest overachiever and underachiever in the league so far. One for teams and the other on players. Do you feel the Pelicans have the ability to win the division? Where do you rank Brunson among the pgs in the league? Will zion again be the first to call himself champion?
Slough: I think the Nets as a team are pretty high up on overachieving, plus how he is running the DC. Regardless of what he says, he is pushing the limit on the rules, all valid so can't complain with that, but definitely pushing the pace so Simmons doesn't play as much, use SG's that can play SG and SF that can do SG, so more fouls or injuries only helps push the mismatch with the guards in my opinion, not to mention having PG's on the IR as long as one is still technically active lol. For an underachieving team I got to say the Kings. Based on their makeup and team I really thought they would be leading the West if not in the top 3 for the first half of the year. I think Murray is probably one of the biggest surprises on output that has really kept the team lower than anticipated.
For players I am going to go with Devin Vassell as a big overacheiving thus far. I think with how the team is losing and everything his stats seem a bit overinflated, which probably makes it crazy to value trades for him as well. He doesn't seem like he would be scoring at that rate based on ratings and age compared to players that should be doing that already this year like a Bradley Beal. Definitely makes the first year fun and frustrating lol. As far as underachieving players, I would say in the say mention above as Beal. I feel like at minimum he should be around a 22-23ppg player, but something just seems off with how his build translated to FBB.
As far as my team, I think I have a strong case to make a run at the division, but like I said, I made some moves recently with trade disease so its really getting the lineup right with this very flexible deep team. Will it work? I have no clue, but at minimum I think I am a top 4 team in the East as I mentioned previous, the gap between top teams and bottom of playoffs isn't as big as it might be in other years. In the West the 8th seed is only 4 back of first and in the East only 6 back, so anything can happen. I made a gamble that depth was key to a good run this year and the next few.
I would rate Brunson very high up in the ranking of PG's and it comes down to all the things he does and how efficient he is. Sure you could look at the C defense, but then he has over two spg, then the apg and turnover ration isn't what I want, would prefer closer to 9-10apg if he has closer to the 3tpg, but the shooting across the board is top notch. With Zion, he is a beast and I think if he can keep it up on the scoring and maybe play more mins he will only be a beast for the team, another reason I added depth with his low mpg, but when he plays he is a handful and I am pushing for all the efficiency I can get from the team.
Questions: Which players do you feel are the early top 3 MVP candidates? Is there any teams if you were to be in the playoffs currently that your team doesn't match up well against and would be an issue? Being its Christmas, what are your top favorite Holiday meals or foods you love to eat?
Yourkers: As for the mvp race I like Haliburton, Jokic, and fox. Haliburton is shooting amazing, great assist to turnover ratio and also plays great defense. Jokic just does it all outside of blocking shots. He is just an unreal talent and Fox is my wild card who I just love his game and being a pg who does it all it gives you a big chance to win mvp.
I don't matchup well against the Thunder. With chet and Banchero just seem to take my bigs to school and I just can't match that. Add in now they have young to help score the ball it might be an even bigger issue.
For holiday foods sweet potato pie is a must to have. I just love sweet potato pie. Know you will shake your head over that. Some baked ziti and deviled eggs. Those are other musts and I just love food so I'm down for almost whatever. I just love food.
Being that it is Christmas what was the favorite gift you ever received? Out of the most recent moves which one do you think will lead to the biggest impact? What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Slough: Your picks in food are correct, I have no clue what you are talking about with a Sweet Potato Pie. Is that like Yams for Christmas? I still don't like them if you name it differently. Deviled eggs are solid since I love them, you can somehow eat an easy half a dozen like no problem, and make different flavors that I do for Thanksgiving every year.
Generally I would say I am not a big Christmas person, didn't really have the best time growing up around this Holiday, so that is why I would rather meal prep (Yes I did that today), smoke a bowl, and write some stuff for articles, watch sports, and prep for work. Usually if I want something, I go and make the money to buy what I want as a present, but for the sake of this question, its kind of hard. I generally love to give gifts to be honest more than receive, thats the fun in the Holiday for me, and also if there is good food to enjoy with friends. I will say my grandma once got me these sweet white Nike's with like a teal blue or green on them around the early 90's which was a lot for her at the time, but probably that. Other than that, probably just food and random things that Silver and our close friends buy each other, but we usually do more for Bdays than these Holidays as they are meant for the kids.
There are a lot of recent moves and the biggest impact will likely be all the work Silver has to do inputting everything and checking DC's lol. Jokes aside I really think it comes down to Magic with his deal for Murray and Capela, Thunder for Young, and our deal with Ingram. I am before any sims have happened feeling a bit of buyers remorse with the damn Magic snagging both Murray and Capela, as I would have went after them first instead of Bogs, but it is what it is.
Christmas movies is easy, Die Hard is a Christmas movie and the best hands down. If I have to go a few others, probably The Christmas Story so I don't shoot my eye out and the leg lamp was the epitome of every young kid when it was created jumping them into puberty. Elf wasn't bad as well.
Questions: What do you normally do for New Years Eve? What is the best New Years Eve or New Years Day you have ever had? Are you making any New Years Resolutions to start the year? What is one resolution you have made previously that you completed as many do it but the % isn't high that many complete.
Yourkers: For new years I use to get together with some people and get shit faced. But these days since I am sober I usually just work and make that extra money that comes from it. So this year I'll be doing an overnight and making time and a half.
My best kew years was in Disney land. Took my ex there and it was an amazing time. It was just beautiful to be there with someone you love and on top or that the fire works were amazing it was just as good as you get.
For new years resolutions I have a few. I need to start eating better and get in better shape. I plan to finish these courses to be a peer specialist. I also want to start saving money better. Those are really the main ones I am going for and the main one is just to feel better and be happy cuz this past year was not it at all.
As for completing I doubt I have ever did one lol. Feel like they are just made to motivate you and we just fall into the trap we have always fallen into. Cuz in the end we just do what we use to and find comfortable. Comfort is hard to break but once you can things do get better.
Last questions. Tell us bout your meal prepping. What are your go to dishes? If you had 3 wishes to better the people around you what would they be? Since you like to give more than receive what is the best gift you ever gave? What's your plan for NYE this year?
Slough: I'm pretty basic on meal prepping and I don't mind eating boring since I am a picky eater in the first place, but I would say one go to is; Jasmine Rice, ground beef with jalepenos, mushrooms, and red bell peppers. Its pretty easy and filling. Obviously with the white rice it has carbs so depending on how much i'm at the gym lifting depends on the ratio for this one, but you want to try and limit the carbs of course. These would be a base, mix them together and usually add in a hot sauce which at any given time I have 5-12 different ones in the fridge haha. You can also toss on top sliced avocado, cherry tomato's, broccilli, even without a hot sauce its really kind of like a southwest salad without the lettuce. Another one would be grilled chicken breast that can be sliced, chopped or shredded, and steam broccilli, carrots, cauliflower, basically a medley and have bases of spinach, tomotato's, avocado, artichoke's, black olives, and corn available to mix it up in a bowl or salad. Most of the prepping is really salads or bowls that are simple to make and reheat. I also do soups or chili in a big crock pot as well to switch it up. All about crockpot and sous vide that helps prep, not to mention an Insta Pot.
As far as 3 wishes would go, its a tough question, but probably in no order be kind to people and want to help others succeed. Better themselves in the right path to be happy with oneself (this includes myself as well). Lastly, learn empathy and humility for more people around them as a pay it forward to spread kindness. Damn, not even sure I answered this right and its much harder than it sounds to answer.
For gifts a few of the things I have done is probably more around sports. I know have taken Silver to a Cowboys Niners game when in College. Another friend surprised him with a custom Seattle Kraken jersey and flew up to meet at dinner that I had everyone keep a secret. Mostly like doing the surprise thing as thats fun, so anything around dinners, sports, cooking and get the extra surprise to make them feel loved.
As far as NYE probably not much actually, likely just hanging out with a few close friends and mostly focused on my Washington Huskies this year with the playoff game on New Years Day and hopefully for once one of my teams can pull it off, most of them have been a stone's throw to heartbreak every time over the last decades, haha.
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