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Welcome to my new "By The Numbers" article series, where I will be using an excel tool to compile statistics for a particular sim, and then craft a narrative behind what went down given transactions, DC changes, and of course, the results of the simulation. I started with my own team because we had an interesting narrative given Maxey's injury and our sim 1 struggles, combined with the best team record during sim 2. Sometimes I will highlight a very successful team for a given sim, and other times I may highlight a team who performed particularly poorly, all depends on what context creates the most interesting story line in my mind. I will be providing data from the boxscores that are aggregated into totals, team statistics and individual player statistics, followed by a summary of the simulation, and then an NHL style 3-Star ceremony where we highlight that teams 3 key players for that sim (or 3 players that sunk the team if I'm highlighting a poor team performance). Hope you guys enjoy, and if not, well, at least I tried to do something different.
Team Averages For Sim 2:
Individual Totals + Team Stats:
Sim Summary:
Following a disappointing 7 - 7 start to the season, highlighted by the loss of franchise center piece Tyrese Maxey due to a torn abdominal muscle, the Seattle SuperSonics responded by making a statement in sim 2 by reeling off an impressive 11 - 3 record over their 14 game stretch. Head Coach Luke Walton decided to shake things up and deploy a brand new depth chart to help optimize the teams chances for success while their star player was recovering on the injured reserve list. He handed over the keys to the #1 option and starting PG job to Zion Harmon, who Sonics GM Cloud had previously been on the record as saying was "Maxey-lite". The next most notable moves Walton made were to slide Ivan Almeida down from SF to SG, and Michael Foster from C to PF, as he felt both guys were struggling to produce to their max potential when playing against bigger guys at SF and C in the previous sim. However, the moves didn't stop there, as Walton's most questionable decision came by moving All-League 2nd team SG Chance Westry to the 2nd unit, in favor of former #4 overall draft pick Adrien Moerman, citing Moerman's tenacity and hustle on the boards being something he felt the 1st unit had lacked to start the season. Walton even went as far as instilling a vote of confidence in the swing-man as his #3 offensive option, stating that the veteran had earned a fair shot with the way he'd performed in pre-season, and sim 1. We also saw the newly acquired Trayce Jackson-Davis take on a significant role off the bench, joining the aforementioned Chance Westry and spark-plug scorer Enis Murati as this sims 2nd unit. The team showed they could play well as a unit under Coach Walton's revised system, shooting 47% from the field as a team, 42% from 3PT land, and 72% from the line, while also averaging 115 PPG, 24 APG, 57 RPG, and chipping in with 9 SPG and 8 BPG.
Stars Of The Sim:
3 Stars - Ivan Almeida - SG:
Stats:
24.4 PPG / 6.3 RPG / 4 APG / 2 SPG / 1.4 BPG / 2 TOPG / 47.7% FG / 43% 3PT / 72% FT / 36 MPG
Ivan Almeida showed that his +3 TC was for real, as he stepped up in a big way, putting the team on his back by shouldering the brunt of the scoring load, as well as taking great initiative on the defensive end of the ball with 2 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Almeida thrived in the spotlight with Maxey temporarily out of the picture and has put himself firmly in the picture for a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team. Almeida hopes to continue to be a great secondary scoring option on what figures to be a championship contender this season.
2 Stars - Zion Harmon - PG:
Stats:
19.6 PPG / 10.6 APG / 5.4 RPG / 2.3 SPG / 2.9 TOPG / 51.5% FG / 50% 3PT / 87% FT / 35 MPG
Zion Harmon handled the starting PG and #1 option role like a consummate pro, as he was able to replicate 90% of Tyrese Maxey's offensive output, while also leading the team to 11 victories. Seattle targeted Harmon in Free Agency in hopes of him being to step right in to the starting PG role and keep the ship afloat in case of emergency, and the former #6 overall pick proved that he can be trusted with great responsibility. You can't ask for much more out a veteran making $4.5M a year.
1 Star - Makur Maker - C:
Stats:
19.6 PPG / 11.6 RPG / 1.9 BPG / 2.2 TOPG / 47% FG / 50% 3PT / 65% FT / 34 MPG
Makur Maker has been playing inspired ball since arriving in Seattle. Maker is a great teammate for a variety of reasons, he doesn't ever demand the ball, he just pads his stats with rebounds and put-backs, he'll do the dirty work on the defensive end by chipping in with a couple of blocks, and he'll even make you pay from deep if you let him out of your eye sight. He really elevated his level of play when his squad needed him most, and that's something his teammates won't soon forget.
Honorable Mention - Adrien Moerman - SF:
Stats:
14.1 PPG / 9.1 RPG / 1.1 APG / 0.9 TOPG / 51.4% FG / 31% 3PT / 81% FT / 32 MPG
Moerman was the unsung hero of the Sonics starting lineup, while his stats weren't as flashy as the others, you'll take 14 Points and 9 Rebounds per game on less than 1 TOPG and 51% from the field from your 3rd option at SF all day long. His high-energy style of play led to several extra possessions for the team, and he was undoubtedly a big reason as to why Seattle's rebounding differential increased by a full +3 RPG.
Team Averages For Sim 2:
Individual Totals + Team Stats:
Sim Summary:
Following a disappointing 7 - 7 start to the season, highlighted by the loss of franchise center piece Tyrese Maxey due to a torn abdominal muscle, the Seattle SuperSonics responded by making a statement in sim 2 by reeling off an impressive 11 - 3 record over their 14 game stretch. Head Coach Luke Walton decided to shake things up and deploy a brand new depth chart to help optimize the teams chances for success while their star player was recovering on the injured reserve list. He handed over the keys to the #1 option and starting PG job to Zion Harmon, who Sonics GM Cloud had previously been on the record as saying was "Maxey-lite". The next most notable moves Walton made were to slide Ivan Almeida down from SF to SG, and Michael Foster from C to PF, as he felt both guys were struggling to produce to their max potential when playing against bigger guys at SF and C in the previous sim. However, the moves didn't stop there, as Walton's most questionable decision came by moving All-League 2nd team SG Chance Westry to the 2nd unit, in favor of former #4 overall draft pick Adrien Moerman, citing Moerman's tenacity and hustle on the boards being something he felt the 1st unit had lacked to start the season. Walton even went as far as instilling a vote of confidence in the swing-man as his #3 offensive option, stating that the veteran had earned a fair shot with the way he'd performed in pre-season, and sim 1. We also saw the newly acquired Trayce Jackson-Davis take on a significant role off the bench, joining the aforementioned Chance Westry and spark-plug scorer Enis Murati as this sims 2nd unit. The team showed they could play well as a unit under Coach Walton's revised system, shooting 47% from the field as a team, 42% from 3PT land, and 72% from the line, while also averaging 115 PPG, 24 APG, 57 RPG, and chipping in with 9 SPG and 8 BPG.
Stars Of The Sim:
3 Stars - Ivan Almeida - SG:
Stats:
24.4 PPG / 6.3 RPG / 4 APG / 2 SPG / 1.4 BPG / 2 TOPG / 47.7% FG / 43% 3PT / 72% FT / 36 MPG
Ivan Almeida showed that his +3 TC was for real, as he stepped up in a big way, putting the team on his back by shouldering the brunt of the scoring load, as well as taking great initiative on the defensive end of the ball with 2 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Almeida thrived in the spotlight with Maxey temporarily out of the picture and has put himself firmly in the picture for a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team. Almeida hopes to continue to be a great secondary scoring option on what figures to be a championship contender this season.
2 Stars - Zion Harmon - PG:
Stats:
19.6 PPG / 10.6 APG / 5.4 RPG / 2.3 SPG / 2.9 TOPG / 51.5% FG / 50% 3PT / 87% FT / 35 MPG
Zion Harmon handled the starting PG and #1 option role like a consummate pro, as he was able to replicate 90% of Tyrese Maxey's offensive output, while also leading the team to 11 victories. Seattle targeted Harmon in Free Agency in hopes of him being to step right in to the starting PG role and keep the ship afloat in case of emergency, and the former #6 overall pick proved that he can be trusted with great responsibility. You can't ask for much more out a veteran making $4.5M a year.
1 Star - Makur Maker - C:
Stats:
19.6 PPG / 11.6 RPG / 1.9 BPG / 2.2 TOPG / 47% FG / 50% 3PT / 65% FT / 34 MPG
Makur Maker has been playing inspired ball since arriving in Seattle. Maker is a great teammate for a variety of reasons, he doesn't ever demand the ball, he just pads his stats with rebounds and put-backs, he'll do the dirty work on the defensive end by chipping in with a couple of blocks, and he'll even make you pay from deep if you let him out of your eye sight. He really elevated his level of play when his squad needed him most, and that's something his teammates won't soon forget.
Honorable Mention - Adrien Moerman - SF:
Stats:
14.1 PPG / 9.1 RPG / 1.1 APG / 0.9 TOPG / 51.4% FG / 31% 3PT / 81% FT / 32 MPG
Moerman was the unsung hero of the Sonics starting lineup, while his stats weren't as flashy as the others, you'll take 14 Points and 9 Rebounds per game on less than 1 TOPG and 51% from the field from your 3rd option at SF all day long. His high-energy style of play led to several extra possessions for the team, and he was undoubtedly a big reason as to why Seattle's rebounding differential increased by a full +3 RPG.
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