Fireside chat with ilovebball
Nov 3, 2012 18:57:09 GMT -5
Post by ashes on Nov 3, 2012 18:57:09 GMT -5
Chatting with ilovebball
1. Well, to start things off I'll go with the obvious. Your team is awfully mediocre in a weak conference. What do you think is the reason for this and when is it time to shake things up?
Things have been pretty ugly for my team this season. I feel like one reason is due to how experimental I have been getting with my depth charts but at the same time, the stats for many of my key players (particularly Ivey) has dipped from the previous two seasons. I am trying to make a move but nobody is biting on what I have to offer. As far as shaking it up goes, I do not have my first for this or the next season so any move I would do has to remain focused on winning and right now, I am just not seeing it.
Ah, I see. Definitely a problem. And yeah Ivey is sucking some kind of balls. More on that next..
2. Please tell me what the deal is with Royal Ivey. Is his 1 TOPG really that important? Maybe it's just this season, but now that he's dipped pretty much everywhere, is it time to pull the plug?
It is really important. Turnovers are a major weakness for my team. Despite Ivey's amazing handles, we are near the bottom in the league (Pau is averaging over 3, Yao over 2, multiple guys including bench guys averaging 1.5 or over). A lot of this is probably due to pace (we run fast or very fast always) but having a guy like Ivey who can keep it that low as the starting PG in a fast or very fast pace offense really is a huge luxury. The rest of his numbers have been down and I am not sure whether it is due to the different depth charts I have been using or due to a need of some AC love but if he can return to the form which he was at over the previous two seasons, I feel like he will be okay. As far as pulling the plug goes, I won't part with him unless I get a very very good PG in return (or just an offer which blows me away). He is still the only good PG on my roster and I don't see the point (no pun intended, just noticed it when re-reading).
Eh, good luck.
3. Man, now that I think about it, Ginobili is having a rough go at things as well. As a real life Rockets fan, this has to be bittersweet, right? I despise Ginobili.
I hate the Spurs but I really like Ginobili in real life. I have been a fan of his since the 2002 World Championships (prior to him playing in a Spurs uniform) and just love his game. Not a fan of the flopping but he plays with such toughness, always gives it his all and is able to just do it all. He will be in the Naismith Hall of Fame and is highly deserving of the honor. As far as rough goes, I feel like his playing fine. He is mostly a third and non option, putting up 12 PPG on 47% shooting, 4.7 RPG, more steals than turnovers. Given that he is playing in an inside offense, I feel like he is doing a good job overall.
Ginobili is a douche. But as far as on your team, I dunno, I'm not feeling him. But hey, to each his own.
4. That was a dumb question, I'm sorry Ginobili decided to quit playing for you. I did enjoy that recent 50 pt game Kobe dropped on him though. Was Ellis/Millsap for Kobe really that bad?
A lot of people criticized the deal but I really didn't hate it. Ellis is nice but he is not on the level of Kobe (if he can reach that level, he would be considered a success) and to be honest, I am not all that sold on Millsap (bigs who lack rebounding and are not allowed to play SF scare me) but after seeing him be the key piece in a trade for Tyson Chandler, his value does seem to be higher than I thought it was. Overall though, Kobe is averaging almost 40 PPG leading your team to one of the best in the league so clearly it is working out well for you.
Yeah I think Millsap is poop. Crazy greeme snagged TC with him, good job.
5. As sexy as that frontcourt is, you'll probably have to break it up to continue to compete or ship both Yao and Gasol for a full rebuild because everyone else is old as balls. When does that happen, and trade me Yao. What interest/offers have come close to enticing you, if any?
Yao is going to finish his career in Houston. Nah I'm just kidding but he is my all time favorite player so it would have to take one hell of an offer to get him from me (and I know a day will come when somebody will give me such an offer but so far, I have yet to receive one which makes complete sense for my team). I feel like Yao, Pau and Ivey are still relatively young with Ginobili at his prime. Hill and SAR are old but I consider them to be replaceable through minor deals. Call me delusional but I honestly do not feel my team is bad as my record suggests it is. I do not have my pick this year or next year (nor do I want to give away one of my stars to get them) so I have to remain competitive for the short term.
6. Which player in the league would you currently want to build your team around and why?
This is tough but I would have to go with Rondo. There are probably better answers out there but he is my preference. That rebounding is simply amazing at the PG spot, his turnovers are manageable and he is so perfect for an inside offense. While the outside game is greatly lacking, the guy is 21 years old so you can be sure that he is still improving. Just an overall stud.
Yup, he is sick.
7. With the recent drama in the league, you had a minor run-in with a certain play34basketball. On a scale from 1-10, how annoying is play's bitching/trolling/shit-talking? Do you think it's because he's out of the playoffs with KG/LeBron/Ayol or because he has sand in his vagina?
I don't think it was much tbh. I'm pretty sure he was viewing the PBTSL shoutbox when everything was ongoing and I didn't say anything against him (or against anybody else). I really think he was trolling. As far as how annoying all the trolling is, I'll say 1. It usually is funny and entertaining to me. We are in sim leagues for fun, I don't really take anything that is said around here seriously.
(Side note: ilovebball expressed to me in private that he is sold on the sand in vagina theory)
8. If you could change one thing around here, what would it be?
Raise the hardcap. It really is killing me.
I like it.
9. If Yao Ming gets a broken foot injury here, will it bring tears to your eyes?
I'd probably shake my head in disgust. However, the good thing about FBB is that all those injuries are long gone by the next training camp. Wish things were like that in real life.
Seriously.
10. So give me your top 3 teams in each conference and why.
East:
1. Celtics (still the team to beat IMO)
2. Bulls (Kobe is UNREAL)
3. Nets (love what Greeme did overall)
West:
1. Nuggets (no debate really)
2. Clippers (been somewhat struggling lately but that backcourt and team defense is just really nice)
3. Lakers (while I really want to put my Rockets there and honestly do believe we should be there, we haven't been playing like it. Nanz has done a real nice job with this Lakers team. They are)
No disagreements here, other than I doubt my team is top 3 for real.
11. The NBA season is finally here. Which two teams make it to the finals?
Sticking with Lakers and Heat. Lakers have been struggling so far but I feel like one good coaching change and they will be good. That team just has too stacked of a starting lineup to not be good and the NBA is run by superstars.
Lakers suck.
12. James Harden is clearly sent from heaven to bestow the Rockets with awesomeness. I am fully convinced he is Black Jesus. How cool is it to have him and to see him tearing it up for Houston?
He is so amazing. It is so scary to think that he is only 23 years old and locked up for 5 years here. It is so refreshing to see somebody who can just take over in late game crunch time situations. The guy is the superstar this city has been begging for (and we didn't even have to tank to get him, tanking in real life is terrible to watch). I'm already growing out my beard for next Halloween and gonna get me a mohawk too YEEEEEE!
Co-signed.
13. Okay last question about the Rockets, how do they fair this year? Who needs to be playing more/less? What second big trade would you like to see?
I am expecting another playoff push and probably a 7th or 8th seed. The difference between this one and previous seasons being we have a superstar who can attract potential free-agents next offseason to potentially help us go from mediocre to contender.
I am hoping to see Donates, Royce White and T-Jones get more minutes. Really hoping one of them can step up into a legit PF for this squad.
Not sure what the second big move would have to be. With a strong potential free-agent class coming up, I am hoping we can lure another star here using Harden and Lin (the Chinese connection). Or else target a star on a tanking team such as Josh Smith.
Ugh I'm still feeling last team out, 14th pick again. Definitely want to see some of the young guys play a bit more, but hey if we are winning then that works too.
14. brophdog88 sits firmly atop your division, the West, and is neck and neck with the Celtics. As I type this, I have noticed Shawn Marion for the first time. God damn. Anyways, their point differential is sick, but Tyronn Lue sucks dick. Remember when he was on the Rockets? (lol I lied) So yeah I forgot where I was initially going with this, so um, tell me what you're going to do to take broph out in the playoffs, or are you going to bend over and take it?
Lol yes I remember when Lue was on the Rockets and he was an absolutely terrible basketball player both offensively and defensively. He really does sick dick IRL. Though for some weird reason, he is solid as a rock here. Last time I met them, I created a DC highlighting and exploiting favorable matchups for my team and it worked out well (matchups such as placing my best defensive players against his best offensive players as well as my best offensive players against his weakest defensive players). His team is really nice and looks better this year than they did in the previous so it might not work as well but time will tell (really hoping to do something between now and the deadline so we'll see).
15. Who are your top 5 favorite GMs here and why?
This is tough. In no order:
You (Ashes) – Rockets fan, awesome commish in UOSL3 and you sent me questions.
Erbes – Dude is hilarious. Always cracks me up.
Biggie – Really nice guy.
Aar – Also a really nice guy. One time he raped me and I didn't even care. He is just that nice.
Broph – I feel like I have learned more about FBB in BBS over the past few months by reading his posts than I knew in all the leagues prior (and I have been in and out of random leagues since 2003, mostly during the past 1.5 years or so)
16. Now if you had to kill one of those GMs, who would it be and why?
Even tougher question. Wtf? I'd probably say Erbes tbh. I like him, he is hilarious but sometimes he can get annoying. Dude gave me a 4 on my last interview due to a lack of pictures. I mean wtf is that? Really?
Wow what a dick. Definitely a murdering offense. Ahem...
17. What do you think of Derrick Rose's ratings here?
I still think he is going to be a stud. Being 19 in FBB is huge as they tend to retain potential so he should have amazing upside for at least two training camps (unless he gets unlucky). The guy has A- inside along with a solid midrange game so he should be a great scorer already prior to any training camp (especially for an inside focused offense and it is not easy to find an inside offense option PG). I feel like he can potentially become the best PG in the game if his handles, defense and three-point shot develop.
18. Like usual, Skillz has made 19328 trades, but hasn't gotten very far. In fact, I look at his team and I'm really confused, to me it looked a lot nicer earlier this year, or at least I think it did. I don't really remember. Tell me about your dealings with Skillz and the great joy they've brought you.
The only deal I have ever done with Skillz was a minor deal in BBSv4 which sent Sam Lacey for Mark Landsenberger. Land was great for my squad. In terms of here, I think he offered me 3 upcoming meh firsts for somebody (don't really remember who) and I turned it down. Yeah it is difficult to keep track of his team but more often than not, his team ends up looking a lot better in the end.
The coolest thing about Skillz is he always has everyone's best interest at heart.
19. If you could switch teams with anyone here, which team would it be and why?
I like my current team (having my favorite team along with my favorite player) but if I could switch, it would probably be San Antonio. I like a challenge and he has no first for the next couple of seasons, Tracy McGrady with nothing else. In terms of amazing situations, the Pistons would be cool.
20. Finally, of course, who makes it to the finals this season and who wins it all?
Right now, given the way teams are currently constructed, I would have to say Celtics and Nuggets. They both just look far above everybody else. In terms of who wins, I'd have to give the edge to the Celtics. As amazing as the Nuggets roster is, I just feel like Duncan and Nash would smash Perkins and Lue.
Can't fault that pick. Anyways, peace.
