G9.
Pistons GM
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2023 Sim 2 Recap
New series in which G9. recaps the more notable aspects of the sim and/or events that have occurred since the sim.
Still undefeated?*
*(At home). Everybody else might be playing for 2nd. The Los Angeles Clippers performed tremendously in Sim 2, keeping their hold on the #1 seed in the Western Conference. But wait, there's more. Cloud has since added future HOF SF/SG Klay Thompson to the team. I bet you wish you had added him to your starting lineup. Don't worry though, your starters won't be facing Klay. Your bench will. Klay looks to be a super-sub scoring spark and defensive captain for the Clippers 2nd unit.
Notable Sim 2 Victories:
Clippers 138 - ROCKETS 105
The Rockets entered the season with high hopes. Well, I don't think they match up against championship level competition.
Clippers 124 - MAVERICKS 100
Another dominating road win. Devin Booker out-balled Bradley Beal!
PISTONS 117 - Clippers 104
Chalk this up to a case of "can't win them all." The Pistons shot hot and the Clippers did not. I expect this matchup to go a little different with the addition of Klay Thompson.
The Battle for #1*
*(#1 overall pick). The Knicks find themselves amongst the top lottery teams once again as they hope to add another future superstar to their already stacked young squad. The Cleveland Cavaliers recently decided to tear it all down after finishing last season as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference and exiting the playoffs in the first round. The Washington Wizards finished last season as the 2nd seed in the East, but remained a rather unremarkable team. GM GB decided to ship off Anthony Davis and Victor Oladipo for a shot at a true tank and reset. Keep an eye on these three teams as they compete for the worst overall record and best odds at the #1 overall draft pick.
Current Records:
Washington Wizards: 6-22 (.214)
Cleveland Cavaliers: 5-19 (.208)
New York Knicks: 2-25 (.074)
Point Differentials:
Washington Wizards: -9.6ppg
Cleveland Cavaliers: -11.2ppg
New York Knicks: -13.9ppg
"Unstoppable Force"
In the 2023 Offseason the Milwaukee Bucks dropped Giannis Antetokounmpo's name into a couple of trade conversations. These included packages revolving around players such as Zion Williamson, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Bronny James, and the like. Username wasn't sure of his ability to win a title with Giannis, so some considerations were made. Ultimately, Giannis stayed in Milwaukee. Username has revamped his depth chart to feature G as the primary option once again and the Bucks are on a roll. Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to rack up the individual accolades this season, but he won't stop there. Except G and the Bucks to make a strong push for the Finals, especially if Giannis continues to put up numbers like this.
Sim 2 Stats:
4x POTW
1x POTM
18 Games Played
36.72ppg
16.61rpg
4.44apg
1.89bpg
1.22spg
52.13fg%
"Just Like Dad"*
*(But not as ugly). The Oklahoma City Thunder appear to have hit the jackpot with PG/SG Scotty Pippen Jr. He brings everything to the court his father did, plus some halfway decent looks. (For the uninformed, Scottie Pippen Sr. is one goofy lookin dude). Pippen Jr. has so far dominated the Summer League (CPUPre), the Summer League Tourney (Pre), and the first two stretches (Sims) of his NBA Career. He's shown a remarkable ability to score, as well as a knack for hunting down rebounds and passing the ball effortlessly. He's quite literally a triple-threat on offense. He can create on his own, create for his teammates, or help regain possession after a missed shot. Pippen Jr. is rather old for a rookie (relative to most of his draft mates), but that age and experience has proved to aid in his success rather than slow it down. The Thunder would be wise to hold onto Pippen for... well... for a long time.
Notable Season Stats:
26.6ppg
6.4rpg
5.2apg
2.1spg
42.1%3pt
2024 Draft Update
It's become rather typical for General Managers in the NBA to not set eyes on potential draftees until the day before the draft. This makes drafting the next big thing especially difficult, as teams are allowed limited time to scout and consider their options. Some positive rumors have been heard around the league recently as Commissioner Donkey appears to have mentioned a possible early draft release. How early? We're not quite sure. All we know is the following:
- It's not the day of the playoff sim
- He already started the draft
Chalk that up as a win-win-win-win-win in my books. Tanking teams should be especially looking forward to a potential early release. Sometimes it even propels them to move on from this seasons draft picks and already start preparing for the next. If we do get an early release, keep your eyes on the trade market if you are looking to acquire a potential top pick. Beware though: picks may fall in lotto!
