SimWorld NBA: The Chronicle

[ronyell]

best viewed from a computer or from web view & much dynasty info is contained in video links

THE AGENDA
This begins from the real world date of April 13th, 2018 on a NBA2K18 MyLeague for Xbox One using the SimWorld NBA2KGOAT roster project.

We are chronicling the entire landscape of the NBA as your everyday media outlets. The vast bulk of this will CPU vs CPU and will be unaltered so that we are not manipulating results (although there will be "some" level of "user control" to help keep realism). We hope that as we get years into this MyLeague, that you may get a chance to follow some of the guys that have contributed players to our fictional draft classes from here at OS & other outlets & maybe we could involve you in articles and/or interviews (we are always looking for help).


THE MEDIA
Post #2 will be where our "NBA SimWorld TV" (Live Media Stream) will be view-able. It is essentially our SimWorld NBA TV. A live feed of streams to view info, box scores & stats straight from the MyLeague itself as we work them as they are all archived. We will also stream stats/team stats on occasion. If you ever have an inquiry about anyone or any team in particular just let us know & we will try to get in a stream of that info or get it posted.

Live games will be streamed and will be viewable on this feed but can also be viewed at: www.youtube.com/SimWorldTV Games will be streamed every Sunday at 11am & Thursday at 10pm EST (along with additional "stealth" streams) so please tune in to check out our gameplay, chat with us & to show your support. Other games will also be streamed sporadically without notice unless you subscribe to our channel.

All playoff Game 7's & all NBA Finals games will be streamed as well.


THE INFO
In post #2 there is a link to up-to-date depth charts (players only show injured if they will miss a significant amount of time or if it is a significant injury). You will also see a link to "League History Info" where we will keep each season's league history (champions, awards, league leaders, etc.) info.

NOTE: ANY GRAPHIC THAT SAYS TO CLICK THE LINK WILL HAVE AN ACTUAL LINK TO BOXSCORES, AUDIO/VIDEO OR WHATEVER IT STATES.


We strongly desire your interaction, requests and feedback! If you're liking what you see, please hit that like button & rate the thread AND if you think you'd like to help in anyway (no xbox or game necessary); PM me. Appreciate your follow & hope you enjoy.

[ronyell]

TEAM-BY-TEAM DEPTH CHARTS

LEAGUE HISTORY INFO

[ronyell]

We simmed from April 6th to the start of the playoffs and here is what you may have missed:













Philly is the hottest team in the league as they are riding a 16-game win streak into the playoffs. Simmons looks like he’ll be comfortable in a playoff setting, Embiid came back for the final two games and picked up right where he left off, Saric dropped 40 on the Mavs & they picked up a decisive win over Cleveland at home while holding Lebron to 12 points.

The Celtics won their final four games averaging 118 ppg over that span. Marcus Smart is expected to return near the end of the 1st round if the Celts can get past the 76ers. Their 4-game win streak helped them hang on to the #2 seed.

Lebron & the Cavs looked less than stellar in a loss to the Sixers but redeemed themselves in a 41 point route of the Knicks & then took them down again two days later. The Cavs go into the playoffs as the #4 seed.

Toronto went 2-2 in their final four games with their two losses being to non-playoff teams. The good news is that their two wins were over playoff teams Indy & Miami. Toronto hung on to their #1 spot clinching the #1 spot in the East for the 1st time in the franchise’s history.

THE REST
Indy closed out the season with losses to the depleted Dubs and the Raptors finishing up with home & home wins over the Hornets. Miami slumps into the playoffs being routed by both the Thunder & the Raptors. Milwaukee & Giannis looked to be building some chemistry with Brandon Jennings looking like a starter. Washington held on to the final playoff spot in the East despite their a 4-game losing streak before beating the Magic in their final game of the season. Detroit’s 4-game win streak which included a win over Toronto was not enough to get them into the playoffs as the missed the #8 spot by 1 game.




Houston secured the #1 seed in the West and a franchise high 67 wins as the closed out the season beating up on the lowly Lakers and Kings but taking an L to OKC. D’Antoni rested Harden and Paul over the past week and expected to be rested for round 1.

Golden State has won 7 straight and have starting looking like their former selves despite playing without Curry. Klay & Draymond have returned and KD has accepted the role and challenge as “the man” with Curry out, averaging 31 over the last 4.

Jimmy Butler returned to the lineup and the T’Wolves and spurred them on to win their final four, even scoring 40 in the final game of the season. Minny’s defense took even further strides and Coach Thibs even gave the team praise for their effort and progress in a post-game.

The Spurs struggled in April with their offense and defense looking terribly inconsistent. The bigger story is that Kawhi Leonard returned to in-game action for the final game of the season & despite losing to the Pelicans and skidding to #7 in the West; this gives them a huge boost heading into the playoffs.

The Blazers went 2-2 while sitting Lillard & McCollum. Impressive wins over the Spurs & Nuggets an acceptable loss to the surging Jazz and a tough loss to the Rockets see the Blazers into the #3 spot in the West. Maurice Harkless is expected to continue to be out unless the Blazers can make it deep into the 2nd round.

OKC and the Westbrook show put up monster numbers in wins over the rockets and the Heat helping them to the #6 seed. They continued to look lost at times in the 4th quarter and coach Donovan chose not to rest any of his stars down the stretch of the regular season.

THE REST
Utah continued to look like a well-oiled machine despite a loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Their defense remains steady and Jae Crowder looks to be fitting in. Denver just held on to the #8 spot losing 3 of their final 4. AD was unable to lead the Pels to the playoffs as they ended the year tied with the Nuggets but losing the tie-breaker. The Lakers continued to show growth and Ingram showcased for next year as he scored 40 in the final game in a fiery win over the Clippers.

[ch46647]

Ronyell- This is phenomenal. Your passion for NBA 2K is palpable.

[ayyitskev]

April 12th, 2018

By: Adam Schefter

Around The NBA: End Of Regular Season

With the regular season now in the rear-view, the excitement around the league is all pointing towards the start of the postseason tomorrow. Me being me, however, my eyes are looking forward to the offseason. Now let me tell you, it'll be a big one. A lot of big names could be on the move, and these are just a couple of the reports I've been hearing prior to the playoffs beginning from both playoff teams, and those on the other end of the spectrum.

Charlotte Hornets & Head Coach Steve Clifford Expect To Part Ways. Following a lackluster 36-46 finish in the top-heavy-yet-not-so-deep Eastern Conference, Michael Jordan and co. expect to move on from current head coach Steve Clifford. Furthermore, I'm hearing that All-Star Kemba Walker as well as a still much left in the tank Dwight Howard could be on the move. Local word in Charlotte is that no one is safe, although teams after Frank Kaminsky would need cough up quite a price. No official comment from the team.

Third-Seed Trailblazers Ready To Make Noise. Portland superstar (yes, superstar) Damian Lillard is ready to get rocking, following a string of tweets hyping up his team and even throwing a shot at opposing superstar point guard Russell Westbrook. He since deleted the tweet, but it said, "A Stat-stuffer vs. a game changer... yeah ok.". The Blazers are among the hottest teams coming into the playoffs, sitting Lillard and CJ McCollum in their last couple of games and still finishing as the third seed. Westbrook chose not to comment much about it, telling reporters, "He's a good player, but I'm not worried." This is a matchup to keep eyes on.

Marc Gasol Frustrated At Grizzlies Front Office. The Spanish big man and former defensive player of the year award recipient Marc Gasol has expressed his frustration at the Memphis brass, with some conflicting reports saying that he has requested a trade. Gasol declined to comment, and called reports untrue. Gasol is now on the wrong side of 30, however can still be a key part for a team looking for a third star, such as Washington or Toronto. Memphis will likely ask for a first round pick and/or a young high-upside player.

Lance Stephenson Will Attempt To Lockdown King James In Round One. "Born Ready" Lance Stephenson has entered the starting lineup for a hungry Pacers team ready to upset the King in round one. Stephenson, as outspoken as anyone, has told local reporters, "I asked coach to give me 'Bron. I ain't scared of nothing, we're ready to show the world what we got."

Isaiah Thomas Is Reportedly Going To Retire If No Teams Meet His Contract Demands. The struggling Lakers star is set to test free agency, however according to reports, he's looking for money over 20 million a season, and threatens retirement if no one bites. Thomas might have been able to ask for that kinda dough two years ago, in the midst of a career year in Boston, however after his hip injury that had him bounce from Cleveland to Los Angeles, he'd be lucky to find a one year offer over 8 million. Still, a team like Sacramento could take a flier on the fallen star, however it would be foolish for teams to meet his demands.

[cormag001]

April 12th, 2018

By: Bill Simmons

Can Kawhi Leonard be a Game Changer in the West?

You know, if you really think about it, Zaza Pachulia might've ended the Spurs dynasty.

Superstar Kawhi Leonard has been sidelined all but 10 games this season with a mysterious injury, officially called "right quadriceps tendinopathy". A time table was never set for Leonard's return, and the injury proved to be much more serious than initially believed. The Spurs season reflects the loss of their superstar -- garnering 46 wins, this is the first time in 18 years the Spurs have not finished the year with 50 or more.

While there are no blatant signs of tension from the Spurs, rumors have swirled about instability in the locker room. Adrian Wojnarowski wrote that the team had called together a meeting in March that centered frustration surrounding Kawhi. Although San Antonio's Danny Green denied the claims, it wouldn't be difficult to see how Kawhi's absence could affect overall morale.

How different would things have been if Zaza let Kawhi land on his baseline jumper in the third quarter of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals? After all, the game had been asbolutely dominated by the Spurs. They were up 22 with 20 minutes to go when Kawhi went down. While it's impossible to know for sure what would have happened, it's tough to imagine the Spurs melting down like they did with Kawhi still in the lineup. Not to get too hypothetical, but the Spurs looked really, really good. Like, could maybe win one, two.... three ..... maybe even four games good.

While this season has been a bit of a disappointment for San Antonio, they're still in a familiar place -- the playoffs. With Kawhi's quad shockingly feeling better when the playoffs roll around, the Spurs get a chance at the defending champions in round one. While this Spurs team has been anything but dominant, returning the face of the franchise, a guy who happens to match up extremely well with the Warriors best player, gives the Spurs a shot again. In fact, this time around, the Warriors will be the team missing the face of the franchise -- two-time MVP Steph Curry is expected to miss the entire series.

Will the Spurs rally around Kawhi's return and pull off one of the most shocking upsets in the recent NBA? Probably not. Do I believe the Spurs and Kawhi can make the Warriors work for it? Absolutely. This series is packed with storylines and the talent shift from last season favors the underdogs. Keep your eyes on Kawhi.

[AdamJones113]

James Harden (Rockets) (7) copy.jpg
Is this the year James Harden reigns supreme?

April 12, 2018

Adam Jones


2018 Playoff Preview


It's the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas, but the NBA playoffs. Kawhi Leonard is back, as is Dwyane Wade; the 76ers are here, and they have won more than 50 games for the first time since their NBA Finals appearance against the Lakers.

Eastern Conference
(1) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Washington Wizards
The Raptors, the East's best team all season long, get the team I believe to be the easiest squad to handle of the East's three last playoff teams. Not that the Wizards are an easy team to beat, by any means. John Wall is back, Otto Porter has become a top-tier third option, and Bradley Beal has probably never played better. But "never played better" fits the Raptors even more snugly, as Dwayne Casey's group looks poised to make their deepest run yet on the strength of their deepest squad ever. And Lowry and DeRozan are still pretty darn good, too. Toronto 4, Washington 1

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Miami Heat
Can the Celtics win without Kyrie Irving? Well, they're only going up against one of the most dogged teams in the entire NBA. Miami, despite starting fabled legend Dwyane Wade at the 2, doesn't quite have the skill to overcome Boston's newfound lack thereof. Brad Stevens, sans Kyrie and sans Gordon Hayward, is still one of the best coaches in the league and still has talented and hardworking players able to do his bidding and send the physically weakened but mentally hardened Celtics past the underdog Heat. Boston 4, Miami 1

(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks
The 76ers leapfrogged the Cavaliers in pursuit of the #3 seed with a mammoth 16-game win streak that evoked memories of another time a 76er stepped over Tyronn Lue. But the 76ers are hardly playoff-hardened, and everyone knows that the postseason is a different beast. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a different beast, as well, and the Bucks have fought valiantly against tough Raptors teams in the past. Yet the 76ers' momentum, along with Joel Embiid, will propel them to the next round—just not with their win streak intact. Philadelphia 4, Milwaukee 2

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Indiana Pacers
Ooh boy. The league's most heavily scrutinized team goes up against one of the league's least-discussed franchises. Look, I love Myles Turner, Victor Oladipo, and the remarkable success story that is Indiana. But 21-20 on the road won't cut it in the playoffs, especially with such a young group. Oh, and there's one other thing I guess bears mentioning, that might have some affect on the outcome of the series. Do you really need me to say it? Playoff LeBron. The Cavs are not the same team they once were, but they won't be derailed so soon. Cleveland 4, Indiana 2


Western Conference
(1) Houston Rockets vs. (8) Denver Nuggets
Let's give Denver their due before they get hammered by the league's best team. Denver eked out a playoff berth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, thanks in large part to the offensive brilliance of Nikola Jokic. But James Harden scores more points per game than the Nuggets have conference victories, and Denver is 15-26 on the road while Houston is a league-best 32-9. I'm reluctant to call for the brooms, but cleaning has never been so likely. Houston 4, Denver 0

(2) Golden State Warriors vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs
The best series of the first round pits the evil empire against the steady Pops. The Dubs are sans Steph Curry, while the Spurs appear to have Kawhi Leonard back. 'Twould be sweet poetic justice for Kawhi to vanquish his injurious foes, but the Spurs haven't been their constantly great selves all year, Kawhi's barely played, and Golden State is just still too powerful with KD, Draymond, and Klay. Don't think this one'll be easy, and Houston is certainly pulling for their in-state rivals. Golden State 4, San Antonio 3

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) Oklahoma City Thunder
Russ vs. Dame is the best individual matchup of the first round. Both will come out flying after tremendous regular season campaigns. Portland hit the 50-win mark, while OKC squeezed into the postseason with 47... but a hungry Brodie is a ravenous winner. I don't think Portland has enough talent alongside Dame especially with Mo Harkless out: Steven Adams holds the advantage over Jusuf Nurkic, and Paul George is a better all-around player than C.J. McCollum. It will take Lillard's magic to see Portland through, and I just don't think the Thunder will clear enough to let him have it. Oklahoma City 4, Portland 2

(4) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (5) Utah Jazz
The T-Wolves got a big boost with the return of Jimmy Butler. KAT is already an elite NBA big man. But boy do the Jazz match up well against them: the Stifle Tower is the rare big man poised to hold KAT in check, and the entire team has come together and played well. The T-Wolves are a fantastic team and they're back in the playoffs after a too-long dry spell. But the Jazz want to show the world their abilities without Gordon Hayward, and with the best defense in the West at their back, I think they may just do it. Utah 4, Minnesota 3

[ronyell]