Post by JDawg on Jul 27, 2007 12:58:11 GMT -5
In this version of "The Roundtable", I'll talk to some Eastern Conference GM's Rommie, Nova, CJ, Habes, Krup and Reilly about several interesting topics.
#1 What team looks to be the biggest mess to fix? What would they need to do to solve their problems?
Rommie: I think it has to be the Grizzles. The big problem with them is that they don't have their own 1st until 2009. Maybe they can deal Rashard Lewis for some youth/picks, same with Ray Allen and Dice. All three are productive and contenders could really help themselves by adding any one of these guys.
Nova: Memphis without a doubt. The old GM did an awful job building this team, and they are stuck in a transition phase. They have aging, declining veterans who aren't good enough to help them win, and their only half-decent young player is Jarvis Hayes. It won't be a quick fix either. They don't have their 1sts in 07 or 08, and Robinson, Allen, & McDyess are all signed to tremendously large 3 year deals. If he can get anything of value for them, he should pull the trigger. He needs to trade these large contracts for expirings and try to add some players via Free Agency until they get their 1sts back in 2009.
CJ: The Memphis Grizzlies are by far the biggest mess. d2a wrecked that team and it has no picks and no chance to win. I think they have around 8 years of good rebuilding to be a legit title contender. I would start off by buying out Shawn Bradleys contract this year. Then the biggest contract I can next year so I would at least be under the cap. After the 3rd season I would be free of all current contracts and would be able to try to rebuild through FA. I would then try to trade FAs for some picks and continue to do so till I felt the team could contend.
Habes: Memphis. And they need a GM who cares. Hype has proven he's not the guy, so he should be replaced. The guy who comes in would have to be really proactive and flexible trading-wise. They need to let Shard expire and find a team with cap space that is willing to take on another one of their contracts. If they do this, they'll have some room to buyout another contract. Memphis doesn't have a single piece on its roster that it can win around; if you can't win with Shard and Ray in an outside lineup together, then there's no point in keeping them around. It's time to go ground-up in Memphis, and they need an active guy to get things rolling.
Reilly: - Memphis Grizzlies. There are many mediocre teams in the league, some even worse than the Grizz. But the Grizzlies have absolutely no youth, no attractive contracts, and a GM who has yet to put much effort into the team.
In order to fix the team, the Grizzlies need their GM to get much more involved. Hype has been said to be a very good GM, but thus far, he has done nothing to show it. He desperately needs to rid himself of the three year deals he currently has. If that means adding Jarvis Hayes, Rashard Lewis, or future picks to get a deal done, he must do it. If he stays put, he’ll be a bad team for the next three years until his expirings run out; but by then, he’ll be on a contract year and probably won’t have the pieces to stick around.
Krup: Some might say that the Minnesota Timberwolves are the biggest mess but they aren’t. At least they have cap flexibility as well as gaining future first round draft choices unlike the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizz have a bunch of past their prime veterans that hold little to no trade value. Their inflated contracts that were given to them while they were in their primes are cap killers. Mcdyess, Allen, and Robinson are on the cap for another three seasons and retirement is a far fetched idea for any of them as they will all be making 18+ million dollars. The average age is above 27 and does not hold anyone on their roster under the age of 27 worth mention. The new GM Hype has been exactly what his name says and that’s just hype. The first priority of his should be to buy out Shawn Bradley this way he is able to resign Rashard Lewis as well as Jarvis Hayes with no worries about the hard cap and should also consider keeping himself far enough away from hard cap in order to buy out another contract next season.
#2 Do you feel that the concept of “The Contract Year,” will actually work?
Rommie: Yes. Why wouldn't it work? GMs must win to stay. Now GMs must have a well thought out plan when re building. They gotta think about winning. I know that until Kaman and Magloire went down I was a little excited because I was like 10-10 and I felt like I had a real good chance at winning over 40 games which would have been a great improvement but I think I can forget about that happening lol.
Nova: Yes, I do. GM's need to learn that they can't just sit on their teams and hope for the best in the lottery. As a GM, you should take an active approach to building your team, and I believe "The Contract Year" rule will make sure that GM's have to work hard to build successful teams.
CJ: Yes and I think it has already started working. No matter what you do teams are going to tank, but if you notice the amount of tanking teams is way down. AFter seeing the deals made last year, and talking with some teams going on contract next year I know it has most GMs scared to tank.
Habes: Yeah. To me, I don't see how it wouldn't. I know Spence wants to revise it to look at a more cumulative aspect of overall performance, and that's understandable. The thing is, that should be an added aspect of it; it shouldn't supplant the concept that if a team can't compete for four straight seasons, its GM should get fired. I will always believe in that concept and its effectiveness.
Reilly: - It has worked, ridding the league of D2A. It was apparent his run in BBS was due to the luck of the lottery. Andray Blatche and Magic Johnson fell in the lap of D2A, which required no skill on his part. He continued the same methods in BBS2, without the luck. The true colors showed, and the system exemplified the GM that needed to be replaced. I hope, in the near future, more GMs who are unworthy of a spot in BBS are fired, and replaced with some of the big time GMs that have been talked about on the boards.
Krup: The Contract year is far too weak in my opinion. If you want to consider BBS the most elite sim on the net we have to raise our standards of competition. Sure everyone rebuilds however you should be showing improvement every season or at the very least show promise of improvement. There is no concrete way of establishing this rule and must be looked at by a case by case basis however GM’s should be threatened by this idea more and more.
#3 If you could be commissioner for a day, what would you do in your reign for a day? Would you make any changes?
Rommie: Well you don't fix what is broken. No changes need to be made right now IMO. This is a great league. I really wouldn't do anything, especially for one day.
Nova: I would make duce give me a blowjob. Nah, but in all seriousness, I don't think there's anything I would change, BBS is an elite league, and the reason is because Spence is so dedicated to the league and does a fantastic job. Oh, there is one change I would make...I would edit Brandon Roy, Andrew Bynum, & Dwight Howard onto the Hornets roster.
CJ: In regards to how the league is setup or run... No
In regards to my players ratings... Yes
Habes: Hype would be fired because it's a joke to come into a league and not show any interest whatsoever. With a league like BBS, you should be eager to join and you should be active once you're in. There are other guys who want your spot, and you owe it to the entire establishment to give a shit. And Hype doesn't. Memphis needs a new GM. I don't care if it's early--to me, that in itself is the reason why he doesn't belong here. The league should warm up to him, but why should there be a such an extended period for him to warm up to the league?
And I'd cap Jeremy's posts because I don't think he has a filter. Everyone says try to be cognizant of the value of what you're saying, but it's been like six months and it's clear Jeremy can't or won't make the distinction between what's a contribution and what's fucking annoying. So I'd give Jeremy 8 posts a day and see if he still wants to dick around and type nonsense left and right. If so, fine, but at least it won't clutter the boards.
Reilly:- Yes, I would replace all GMs who don’t show the activity required to be in BBS. Spencer puts so much time into this league, and I hate seeing GMs who don’t post, don’t create DC’s, or give a half ass effort with their teams. There are numerous leagues that aren’t as serious as BBS and GMs who want a fun league, rather than competitive league, should join them; but BBS is a legit league with top end GMs.
Other than that, I believe everything is taken care of. The tanking problem, for the most part, has been taken care of. The ratings are great. Most GMs are as active as ever. And the league is doing extremely well.
Krup: If I could be commissioner for a day, I would first change the RC rule that I’ve been proposing for the last four season to allow players of all ages to be upgraded a maximum of 3 times in their career. Second I would fire 4-6 GM’s on the spot in this league and bring in some more elite competition. Yea that’s right 4-6 of you gone, chances are those 4-6 will never read this…bitches.
#4 Who would be your sleeper teams in the East and West?
Rommie: I like the Pistons in the East. All that young talent can be scary. When you have a young team like that they don't know they are supposed to lose. They could be a threat if they can get hot.
Out West I like the Sonics after their recent trade. Getting rid of Francis is an instant improvement for some reason. I think they have a real good team with Iverson, Terry, Big Al, and Brad Miller.
Nova: My sleeper team out East is Cleveland. They are a team that really impress me, despite their record. They've got a very balanced offense, they are incredibly deep, and their only real weakness is the lack of a solid backup center. I don't think they need to make a blockbuster trade, but if they can get a good center to back up LaFrentz and tweak their Depth Chart, I think this team could surprise some people and make some noise in the Playoffs. As for the Western Conference, I would have to say Denver. As with last season, they don't have a great record during the regular season, but, they are a very tough team to beat in a best-of-7 series. They are similar to Cleveland in that they don't have any weaknesses and should be better, and as with the Cavs, I don't believe they need to make any big trades. They need to find a way to get Jerry Stackhouse more playing time, he's too good to only be playing 24 minutes per game. In addition, they've been bitten by the injury bug this season, so once they get healthy, I expect them to jump up in the Western Conference Standings. The West is wide open, and it would not surprise me if they got even further then last season and made it to the BBS Finals.
CJ: East :Cleveland Cavaliers
They almost upset eventual champion Chicago last year and have improved. I think they can make it far in this years playoffs with Gordon and Barbosa.
West ortland Trailblazers
They don't have great depth but they have some very good starters. They should be able to at least make the second round as current lower seed.
Habes: In the East, Orlando, Milwaukee and Boston are all teams that I truly believe could make noise in a playoff series. Three teams with lots of athleticism and really balanced offenses. If the defense could shape up for these teams, they'd be contenders.
In the West, I really think Portland's the best team around. They're hot with Odom, and I think they're the perfect playoff team.
Reilly: Sleeper in the East – Boston Celtics. The Celtics have one of the best players in the league with Shaq. Dwight Howard has really become an emerging star, and the team has some very nice complementary players. However, I do believe the Celtics needs a few more pieces to backup their starters if they want to become a legit contender. If Shaq stays healthy, with all the experience I had with him, he can single handily carry a team deep into the playoffs.
Sleeper in the West – Houston Rockets – The Rockets were almost champs a few seasons ago, but AIG has yet to get them back to the promise land. This year might be different, if the team can stay injury free going into the playoffs. The team is on its last hurrah with the aging Jamison, Nash, and Fortson, but they might have enough to do some damage in the playoffs.
Krup: I don’t know how much you can consider this team a sleeper in the east but I think the Cavs could do some serious damage come playoffs. This team gave the Bulls their best run for their money last year in the playoffs and I think they can do it again. In the West I think the team that will make the playoffs and shock the world is the Sacramento Kings. This team is really solid, for the west, and could give some teams some problems 2nd half of the season.
#5 Who would you consider the best all-around GM in the league?
Rommie: Wow I have no clue. So many good ones. Dave, Aaron R, DJ, and Spencer, he is an assistant but he is still a damn good GM. Plus James, Manas when active and stuff, and Outlawz. I don't know who to pick. I think it comes down to Aaron or Dave but I guess I'll go with Dave just because he won the championship last year.
Nova: That's a very tough question. I would have to say Krup. There are other GM's like Reilly & Garf who are excellent at trading and putting together very talented rosters, but Krup has put together an unbelievable team. They are beyond efficient, not only do they have the best player in the BBS in Elton Brand, they also have another superstar in Dirk Nowitzki, a defensive stopper in Marcus Camby, an excellent all-around player in Joe Johnson, and arguably the most underrated PG in the league in Manu Ginobili. The Pistons & Lakers have more youth, but Krup has put together a team that plays incredible basketball, and if he wanted to, he could probably win one-two more championships after this year.
CJ: Reilly has always been the best GM in the league. He always finds a way to get what he is looking for. A lot of GMs have learned from his ways over time and have caught up to him in terms of being able to get what they want, but Reilly is still the best at that. Dave has put togethor the best team yet in the current BBS so you have to consider him just for that reason.
Habes: Aaron Reilly. This question gets asked far too often.
Reilly: There are numerous GMs in the league who excel at one thing, yet lack another. Some are good at everything, but I believe there are two GMs that excel more than anyone else. Maybe I’m biased and it’s a cop out, but results count, and these two get it done. Krupinski and Garf both excel at trading and depth charts. I believe Krupinski is the best in the league at creating a depth chart, always finding the weaknesses in opposing teams, while utilizing his strengths. Hernando is the top GM when it comes to trades. I hope he can post what he actually received for Kobe Bryant, but it was tons of picks, young guys, and nice contracts. The team he assembled has been through mainly trades, and they are going to be a force in a few seasons.
Other GMs who are right there include Outlawz, who has done wonders with the Knicks. Since getting Yao in the draft, he has surrounded the team with the right pieces, through trades. Spence is up there, since he pretty much runs the teams he is the assistant for. He has taken a horrid situation in Minnesota, and given the team a bright future with expirings and picks. I also think Duce has slipped into the top five, especially after the Garnett deal. Though Ben Wallace’s contract is going to kill him in a few seasons, his time is now, and he had to make a run, which I’m confident he’ll do. DJ is also up there. Though I completely disagree with the way he went about it, he has kept his cap situation down, and when he has a goal, he sticks to it.
Krup: The best overall GM in the league is by far Aaron………..Haberman. Haberman has shown his excellent GM skills over the years. In the beginning of the sim he sacrificed all of his future to try and win now. Despite not being successful it was a heck of a try. He’s shown great knowledge in the draft room mostly agreeing with comp picks. He’s very much into the league when he is winning and not so much into the league when he is losing. He never rushes into deals and always has a plan of action. He’s averaged 32 wins a season the last 5 seasons. He’s a magic maker!
#6 Who will win the GM of the year award?
Rommie: I really don't know. Still a lot of time left. I think that P.I.G. could get it if his team can keep the winning up. Obviously Dave will be in consideration. Same with Vernon since he is leading the West.
Nova: Another very tough question, I'd have to give it to Outlawz. There is not a doubt in my mind that the Knicks are the best team in the BBS outside of the Bulls. Not only do they have arguably the best 1-2 punch in the league in Tony Parker & Yao Ming, but he's also added some excellent players in Samuel Dalembert & Jason Richardson. Finally, he has two projected lottery 1sts. He's done an outstanding job building this team, and I have to give it to him.
CJ: From what I have been seeing people say on the boards... Scott will. I think GM of the year should be more of what you did this year and not in previous years but I can understand him getting it just for the team he has brought up out of nothing.
Habes: Portland just went 5-0. If they continue to stay hot with Odom aboard, I think Dan gets the nod. Wasn't afraid to dismantle some massive offensive ability in order to build a winner, and now Portland has pretty amazing frontcourt defense and size, and they're scoring. I also like the job Outlawz did bringing in JRich. That deal benefitted both teams and I think they both deserve recognition for being willing to pull the trigger.
Reilly: - The top GM this year has been Outlawz. The Jason Richardson pickup has been key, as they now have three options who have the ability to put up 20+ a night. Stepania is also another key pickup, though not as big as Richardson, which will give the Knicks depth in case of an injury.
Krupinski has to be considered, due to the amazing record he currently has, as well as Vernon. Though neither has made any significant moves, both have put winners on the floor. I also think Duce has the ability to be a contender by the end of the year with the moves for Wallace and Bibby. I truly believe Duce has put a great team on the floor, and they’re going to be a force in the playoffs.
Krup: I think the GM of the year award should go to Spencer because he is actually helping Minnesota win games while rebuilding and stocking him up with tons of Draft picks which some of the picks don’t look that attractive they could be come draft time. He is also helping them keep liquid in their salary which could help this offseason which could be the biggest offseason BBS has seen in the long time.
#7 Do the Chicago Bulls repeat as BBS Champions?
Rommie: Yes. There are a lot of good teams. The Knicks are very good all around. Same with the Ratpors. The Spurs lead the West and the Warriors have the best back court in the league but at the end of the day the Bulls stand above all. They just don't have a weakness. They can beat you any way.
Nova: Barring an injury to a starter, absolutely. They are in another league. There is Chicago, then there is the rest of the league. I wouldn't be surprised to see them hit 70 wins. They have no weaknesses, and there is just no one who can beat them in a 7 game series.
CJ: Yes they will. As long as they don't have an injury to their starting 5 I don't see them getting beat or anyone going beyond 6 games. They will start falling off the next 2 years though.
Habes: Yes, unless they face Orlando in the first round. They'll cruise if they don't. Dave pretty much has a perfect starting five.
Reilly: - I always believe the field has a better chance of taking the title cup instead of one team, but the Bulls definitely have the top chance. I don’t think there has been as dominant of a team since the Sonics of old BBS. Each position consists of a guy with the ability of an all star, and the depth is remarkable. If Dirk or Brand doesn’t go down with an injury, the Bulls have to be the favorites entering the playoffs.
Krup: Jeremy, go fuck your self for asking a question like this on here. Fuck your sports illustrated jinx you try to pin on the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls will play their hardest come playoffs and we will be prepared to defend our title. Come and get us.
#1 What team looks to be the biggest mess to fix? What would they need to do to solve their problems?
Rommie: I think it has to be the Grizzles. The big problem with them is that they don't have their own 1st until 2009. Maybe they can deal Rashard Lewis for some youth/picks, same with Ray Allen and Dice. All three are productive and contenders could really help themselves by adding any one of these guys.
Nova: Memphis without a doubt. The old GM did an awful job building this team, and they are stuck in a transition phase. They have aging, declining veterans who aren't good enough to help them win, and their only half-decent young player is Jarvis Hayes. It won't be a quick fix either. They don't have their 1sts in 07 or 08, and Robinson, Allen, & McDyess are all signed to tremendously large 3 year deals. If he can get anything of value for them, he should pull the trigger. He needs to trade these large contracts for expirings and try to add some players via Free Agency until they get their 1sts back in 2009.
CJ: The Memphis Grizzlies are by far the biggest mess. d2a wrecked that team and it has no picks and no chance to win. I think they have around 8 years of good rebuilding to be a legit title contender. I would start off by buying out Shawn Bradleys contract this year. Then the biggest contract I can next year so I would at least be under the cap. After the 3rd season I would be free of all current contracts and would be able to try to rebuild through FA. I would then try to trade FAs for some picks and continue to do so till I felt the team could contend.
Habes: Memphis. And they need a GM who cares. Hype has proven he's not the guy, so he should be replaced. The guy who comes in would have to be really proactive and flexible trading-wise. They need to let Shard expire and find a team with cap space that is willing to take on another one of their contracts. If they do this, they'll have some room to buyout another contract. Memphis doesn't have a single piece on its roster that it can win around; if you can't win with Shard and Ray in an outside lineup together, then there's no point in keeping them around. It's time to go ground-up in Memphis, and they need an active guy to get things rolling.
Reilly: - Memphis Grizzlies. There are many mediocre teams in the league, some even worse than the Grizz. But the Grizzlies have absolutely no youth, no attractive contracts, and a GM who has yet to put much effort into the team.
In order to fix the team, the Grizzlies need their GM to get much more involved. Hype has been said to be a very good GM, but thus far, he has done nothing to show it. He desperately needs to rid himself of the three year deals he currently has. If that means adding Jarvis Hayes, Rashard Lewis, or future picks to get a deal done, he must do it. If he stays put, he’ll be a bad team for the next three years until his expirings run out; but by then, he’ll be on a contract year and probably won’t have the pieces to stick around.
Krup: Some might say that the Minnesota Timberwolves are the biggest mess but they aren’t. At least they have cap flexibility as well as gaining future first round draft choices unlike the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizz have a bunch of past their prime veterans that hold little to no trade value. Their inflated contracts that were given to them while they were in their primes are cap killers. Mcdyess, Allen, and Robinson are on the cap for another three seasons and retirement is a far fetched idea for any of them as they will all be making 18+ million dollars. The average age is above 27 and does not hold anyone on their roster under the age of 27 worth mention. The new GM Hype has been exactly what his name says and that’s just hype. The first priority of his should be to buy out Shawn Bradley this way he is able to resign Rashard Lewis as well as Jarvis Hayes with no worries about the hard cap and should also consider keeping himself far enough away from hard cap in order to buy out another contract next season.
#2 Do you feel that the concept of “The Contract Year,” will actually work?
Rommie: Yes. Why wouldn't it work? GMs must win to stay. Now GMs must have a well thought out plan when re building. They gotta think about winning. I know that until Kaman and Magloire went down I was a little excited because I was like 10-10 and I felt like I had a real good chance at winning over 40 games which would have been a great improvement but I think I can forget about that happening lol.
Nova: Yes, I do. GM's need to learn that they can't just sit on their teams and hope for the best in the lottery. As a GM, you should take an active approach to building your team, and I believe "The Contract Year" rule will make sure that GM's have to work hard to build successful teams.
CJ: Yes and I think it has already started working. No matter what you do teams are going to tank, but if you notice the amount of tanking teams is way down. AFter seeing the deals made last year, and talking with some teams going on contract next year I know it has most GMs scared to tank.
Habes: Yeah. To me, I don't see how it wouldn't. I know Spence wants to revise it to look at a more cumulative aspect of overall performance, and that's understandable. The thing is, that should be an added aspect of it; it shouldn't supplant the concept that if a team can't compete for four straight seasons, its GM should get fired. I will always believe in that concept and its effectiveness.
Reilly: - It has worked, ridding the league of D2A. It was apparent his run in BBS was due to the luck of the lottery. Andray Blatche and Magic Johnson fell in the lap of D2A, which required no skill on his part. He continued the same methods in BBS2, without the luck. The true colors showed, and the system exemplified the GM that needed to be replaced. I hope, in the near future, more GMs who are unworthy of a spot in BBS are fired, and replaced with some of the big time GMs that have been talked about on the boards.
Krup: The Contract year is far too weak in my opinion. If you want to consider BBS the most elite sim on the net we have to raise our standards of competition. Sure everyone rebuilds however you should be showing improvement every season or at the very least show promise of improvement. There is no concrete way of establishing this rule and must be looked at by a case by case basis however GM’s should be threatened by this idea more and more.
#3 If you could be commissioner for a day, what would you do in your reign for a day? Would you make any changes?
Rommie: Well you don't fix what is broken. No changes need to be made right now IMO. This is a great league. I really wouldn't do anything, especially for one day.
Nova: I would make duce give me a blowjob. Nah, but in all seriousness, I don't think there's anything I would change, BBS is an elite league, and the reason is because Spence is so dedicated to the league and does a fantastic job. Oh, there is one change I would make...I would edit Brandon Roy, Andrew Bynum, & Dwight Howard onto the Hornets roster.
CJ: In regards to how the league is setup or run... No
In regards to my players ratings... Yes
Habes: Hype would be fired because it's a joke to come into a league and not show any interest whatsoever. With a league like BBS, you should be eager to join and you should be active once you're in. There are other guys who want your spot, and you owe it to the entire establishment to give a shit. And Hype doesn't. Memphis needs a new GM. I don't care if it's early--to me, that in itself is the reason why he doesn't belong here. The league should warm up to him, but why should there be a such an extended period for him to warm up to the league?
And I'd cap Jeremy's posts because I don't think he has a filter. Everyone says try to be cognizant of the value of what you're saying, but it's been like six months and it's clear Jeremy can't or won't make the distinction between what's a contribution and what's fucking annoying. So I'd give Jeremy 8 posts a day and see if he still wants to dick around and type nonsense left and right. If so, fine, but at least it won't clutter the boards.
Reilly:- Yes, I would replace all GMs who don’t show the activity required to be in BBS. Spencer puts so much time into this league, and I hate seeing GMs who don’t post, don’t create DC’s, or give a half ass effort with their teams. There are numerous leagues that aren’t as serious as BBS and GMs who want a fun league, rather than competitive league, should join them; but BBS is a legit league with top end GMs.
Other than that, I believe everything is taken care of. The tanking problem, for the most part, has been taken care of. The ratings are great. Most GMs are as active as ever. And the league is doing extremely well.
Krup: If I could be commissioner for a day, I would first change the RC rule that I’ve been proposing for the last four season to allow players of all ages to be upgraded a maximum of 3 times in their career. Second I would fire 4-6 GM’s on the spot in this league and bring in some more elite competition. Yea that’s right 4-6 of you gone, chances are those 4-6 will never read this…bitches.
#4 Who would be your sleeper teams in the East and West?
Rommie: I like the Pistons in the East. All that young talent can be scary. When you have a young team like that they don't know they are supposed to lose. They could be a threat if they can get hot.
Out West I like the Sonics after their recent trade. Getting rid of Francis is an instant improvement for some reason. I think they have a real good team with Iverson, Terry, Big Al, and Brad Miller.
Nova: My sleeper team out East is Cleveland. They are a team that really impress me, despite their record. They've got a very balanced offense, they are incredibly deep, and their only real weakness is the lack of a solid backup center. I don't think they need to make a blockbuster trade, but if they can get a good center to back up LaFrentz and tweak their Depth Chart, I think this team could surprise some people and make some noise in the Playoffs. As for the Western Conference, I would have to say Denver. As with last season, they don't have a great record during the regular season, but, they are a very tough team to beat in a best-of-7 series. They are similar to Cleveland in that they don't have any weaknesses and should be better, and as with the Cavs, I don't believe they need to make any big trades. They need to find a way to get Jerry Stackhouse more playing time, he's too good to only be playing 24 minutes per game. In addition, they've been bitten by the injury bug this season, so once they get healthy, I expect them to jump up in the Western Conference Standings. The West is wide open, and it would not surprise me if they got even further then last season and made it to the BBS Finals.
CJ: East :Cleveland Cavaliers
They almost upset eventual champion Chicago last year and have improved. I think they can make it far in this years playoffs with Gordon and Barbosa.
West ortland Trailblazers
They don't have great depth but they have some very good starters. They should be able to at least make the second round as current lower seed.
Habes: In the East, Orlando, Milwaukee and Boston are all teams that I truly believe could make noise in a playoff series. Three teams with lots of athleticism and really balanced offenses. If the defense could shape up for these teams, they'd be contenders.
In the West, I really think Portland's the best team around. They're hot with Odom, and I think they're the perfect playoff team.
Reilly: Sleeper in the East – Boston Celtics. The Celtics have one of the best players in the league with Shaq. Dwight Howard has really become an emerging star, and the team has some very nice complementary players. However, I do believe the Celtics needs a few more pieces to backup their starters if they want to become a legit contender. If Shaq stays healthy, with all the experience I had with him, he can single handily carry a team deep into the playoffs.
Sleeper in the West – Houston Rockets – The Rockets were almost champs a few seasons ago, but AIG has yet to get them back to the promise land. This year might be different, if the team can stay injury free going into the playoffs. The team is on its last hurrah with the aging Jamison, Nash, and Fortson, but they might have enough to do some damage in the playoffs.
Krup: I don’t know how much you can consider this team a sleeper in the east but I think the Cavs could do some serious damage come playoffs. This team gave the Bulls their best run for their money last year in the playoffs and I think they can do it again. In the West I think the team that will make the playoffs and shock the world is the Sacramento Kings. This team is really solid, for the west, and could give some teams some problems 2nd half of the season.
#5 Who would you consider the best all-around GM in the league?
Rommie: Wow I have no clue. So many good ones. Dave, Aaron R, DJ, and Spencer, he is an assistant but he is still a damn good GM. Plus James, Manas when active and stuff, and Outlawz. I don't know who to pick. I think it comes down to Aaron or Dave but I guess I'll go with Dave just because he won the championship last year.
Nova: That's a very tough question. I would have to say Krup. There are other GM's like Reilly & Garf who are excellent at trading and putting together very talented rosters, but Krup has put together an unbelievable team. They are beyond efficient, not only do they have the best player in the BBS in Elton Brand, they also have another superstar in Dirk Nowitzki, a defensive stopper in Marcus Camby, an excellent all-around player in Joe Johnson, and arguably the most underrated PG in the league in Manu Ginobili. The Pistons & Lakers have more youth, but Krup has put together a team that plays incredible basketball, and if he wanted to, he could probably win one-two more championships after this year.
CJ: Reilly has always been the best GM in the league. He always finds a way to get what he is looking for. A lot of GMs have learned from his ways over time and have caught up to him in terms of being able to get what they want, but Reilly is still the best at that. Dave has put togethor the best team yet in the current BBS so you have to consider him just for that reason.
Habes: Aaron Reilly. This question gets asked far too often.
Reilly: There are numerous GMs in the league who excel at one thing, yet lack another. Some are good at everything, but I believe there are two GMs that excel more than anyone else. Maybe I’m biased and it’s a cop out, but results count, and these two get it done. Krupinski and Garf both excel at trading and depth charts. I believe Krupinski is the best in the league at creating a depth chart, always finding the weaknesses in opposing teams, while utilizing his strengths. Hernando is the top GM when it comes to trades. I hope he can post what he actually received for Kobe Bryant, but it was tons of picks, young guys, and nice contracts. The team he assembled has been through mainly trades, and they are going to be a force in a few seasons.
Other GMs who are right there include Outlawz, who has done wonders with the Knicks. Since getting Yao in the draft, he has surrounded the team with the right pieces, through trades. Spence is up there, since he pretty much runs the teams he is the assistant for. He has taken a horrid situation in Minnesota, and given the team a bright future with expirings and picks. I also think Duce has slipped into the top five, especially after the Garnett deal. Though Ben Wallace’s contract is going to kill him in a few seasons, his time is now, and he had to make a run, which I’m confident he’ll do. DJ is also up there. Though I completely disagree with the way he went about it, he has kept his cap situation down, and when he has a goal, he sticks to it.
Krup: The best overall GM in the league is by far Aaron………..Haberman. Haberman has shown his excellent GM skills over the years. In the beginning of the sim he sacrificed all of his future to try and win now. Despite not being successful it was a heck of a try. He’s shown great knowledge in the draft room mostly agreeing with comp picks. He’s very much into the league when he is winning and not so much into the league when he is losing. He never rushes into deals and always has a plan of action. He’s averaged 32 wins a season the last 5 seasons. He’s a magic maker!
#6 Who will win the GM of the year award?
Rommie: I really don't know. Still a lot of time left. I think that P.I.G. could get it if his team can keep the winning up. Obviously Dave will be in consideration. Same with Vernon since he is leading the West.
Nova: Another very tough question, I'd have to give it to Outlawz. There is not a doubt in my mind that the Knicks are the best team in the BBS outside of the Bulls. Not only do they have arguably the best 1-2 punch in the league in Tony Parker & Yao Ming, but he's also added some excellent players in Samuel Dalembert & Jason Richardson. Finally, he has two projected lottery 1sts. He's done an outstanding job building this team, and I have to give it to him.
CJ: From what I have been seeing people say on the boards... Scott will. I think GM of the year should be more of what you did this year and not in previous years but I can understand him getting it just for the team he has brought up out of nothing.
Habes: Portland just went 5-0. If they continue to stay hot with Odom aboard, I think Dan gets the nod. Wasn't afraid to dismantle some massive offensive ability in order to build a winner, and now Portland has pretty amazing frontcourt defense and size, and they're scoring. I also like the job Outlawz did bringing in JRich. That deal benefitted both teams and I think they both deserve recognition for being willing to pull the trigger.
Reilly: - The top GM this year has been Outlawz. The Jason Richardson pickup has been key, as they now have three options who have the ability to put up 20+ a night. Stepania is also another key pickup, though not as big as Richardson, which will give the Knicks depth in case of an injury.
Krupinski has to be considered, due to the amazing record he currently has, as well as Vernon. Though neither has made any significant moves, both have put winners on the floor. I also think Duce has the ability to be a contender by the end of the year with the moves for Wallace and Bibby. I truly believe Duce has put a great team on the floor, and they’re going to be a force in the playoffs.
Krup: I think the GM of the year award should go to Spencer because he is actually helping Minnesota win games while rebuilding and stocking him up with tons of Draft picks which some of the picks don’t look that attractive they could be come draft time. He is also helping them keep liquid in their salary which could help this offseason which could be the biggest offseason BBS has seen in the long time.
#7 Do the Chicago Bulls repeat as BBS Champions?
Rommie: Yes. There are a lot of good teams. The Knicks are very good all around. Same with the Ratpors. The Spurs lead the West and the Warriors have the best back court in the league but at the end of the day the Bulls stand above all. They just don't have a weakness. They can beat you any way.
Nova: Barring an injury to a starter, absolutely. They are in another league. There is Chicago, then there is the rest of the league. I wouldn't be surprised to see them hit 70 wins. They have no weaknesses, and there is just no one who can beat them in a 7 game series.
CJ: Yes they will. As long as they don't have an injury to their starting 5 I don't see them getting beat or anyone going beyond 6 games. They will start falling off the next 2 years though.
Habes: Yes, unless they face Orlando in the first round. They'll cruise if they don't. Dave pretty much has a perfect starting five.
Reilly: - I always believe the field has a better chance of taking the title cup instead of one team, but the Bulls definitely have the top chance. I don’t think there has been as dominant of a team since the Sonics of old BBS. Each position consists of a guy with the ability of an all star, and the depth is remarkable. If Dirk or Brand doesn’t go down with an injury, the Bulls have to be the favorites entering the playoffs.
Krup: Jeremy, go fuck your self for asking a question like this on here. Fuck your sports illustrated jinx you try to pin on the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls will play their hardest come playoffs and we will be prepared to defend our title. Come and get us.