My Sitdown With Ashes
Apr 13, 2013 12:46:00 GMT -5
Post by nybombers3 on Apr 13, 2013 12:46:00 GMT -5
1. It's your CY. What's the plan?
To win of course, but I suppose you want specifics. In an ideal world, I sign MKG and my players have another great TC. I win 42 games with the young squad and have a future dynasty. Realistically do I expect that to happen? No, not really. The East is tough, and I'll likely have to move some of my studs, but I won't be moving everyone. Dakari probably won't go anywhere. It's a toss up with the rest. I have a lot of trade options and strong leads out there already, but I'd be a fool to not wait for FA Day 1. This FA class is loaded. Signing any one of the players I offered for would likely change my entire plan moving forward. Assuming I strike out, I'd probably trade for a big time big man and a good SG, possibly aged, on the cheap. That should get me 42 right there. If I feel a little friskier, maybe I'll go all out. But I really love this team right now. It has literally been real life years since I've had this sort of good fortune in BBS. Not since stealing Duk and draft West have I had this luck, and they won me a title. To come out with a great PG, then two #1s and a #2 (getting my #1 choice with it), I'd hate to have to give that all up. So I likely won't. But I'll probably have to give some of it up.
2. You stated that you always wanted Dakari over Harrison. What turned you off about Harrison. Will he bust?
Dakari's notes are sexy as hell. Big and strong? Check. Dominant inside scorer? Check. Blocks shots? Check. Can get some steals? Check? Rebound? Check. Take care of the ball? Check. Take all that and add huge upside? Yeah, sign me up please. Dakari is touted as the next big thing, and I am a firm believe in that. He was my target from the start, but I couldn't bring myself to believe I'd get the #1 selection three times in a row, so I was pleased to see Harrison being hyped as the #1, so I joined in on that. Lo and behold I get the #2, Harrison goes #1, and I get my guy. Couldn't be happier. As for Harrison, I don't think he'll be a bust. I do believe his ratings are a little inflated with athleticism, but his notes are still very good. He sounds like Marcus Smart, except with a better jump shot and possibly better rebounding. Can't be disappointed with that. I think he'll likely be a top PG, which is huge, but I already have a nice PG, and not only is C a position of need for me, I think Dakari has more upside.
3. What kind of players are you trying to acquire, aside from just stars obviously?
Definitely need a PF and some shot-blocking depth. I'll also be after a scoring SG most likely. Like I said, ideally I sign MKG to address PF. Then maybe sign someone like Ibaka for depth, trade for someone like Redd, and I think from there 42 wins would be cake. I could also upgrade Smart if I absolutely needed to, so that's always another option as well. Oh, I also need rebounding. That's always been a weakness for my teams. I really feel I would have won a title those seasons I made the Conf Finals 3 years in a row and the finals once if I only had some more rebounding.
4. You have a lot of cap space. Aside from the obvious stars, what are your plans with this cap space? How confident are you that you can sign a star?
This questions is either similar, or my answer is, either way I'm trying to sign a number of guys obviously. Asides from the stars, I need some shot-blocking first and foremost. When I build a team, I like to go for shot-blocking first, because the other depth is always much easier to get, oftentimes with an MLE or even in remaining FAs, if not there then pretty cheaply in trades. I'll need to target some rebounding as well, but clearly the first day is all about the stars, and benjamins. How confident am I in landing one? Not very. Players don't ditch that extra year often, but the ones that usually do are the ones fresh of rookie contracts, so here's hoping I can get at least one of the guys I'm after. That would take a lot of pressure off of me.
5. With this FA being so loaded, do you feel there will be a lot of overpaying with max contracts being handed out like candy? What is your mentally going into this?
Oh definitely. Some players are going to be overpaid. I might even be the one doing it, but I need to get someone here, so if I overpay and make my CY, it's worth it. My team has been in a great financial situation for years, and I always manage my cap very well. But anyways, there are players overpaid each year, so with a FA class like this I can see easily 3-5 guys getting way more than they deserve. Can't let that stop me though, I have to be right there in the thick of things throwing out money like crazy.
6. Away from your team, who do you feel had the best draft? Worst draft? What picks shocked you the most?
I like the Wizards draft. I think Jesus and Beals will be good players. Probably not studs, but good starters in my opinion, especially with some camping. They also picked up some interesting players in Claxton and Case. For Claxton, it's really going to have to depend on how he sims. He's obviously be suited for a multi-backup role, so we'll see how he performs there. Case is different though. Depending on his actual ratings, he could be good with some camping and average potential. However, I wouldn't be surprised to find that his inside is inflated and the fact that he can't rebound sucks. All in all, I think the Wizards made out well. Conversely, I don't like the Terrell Ham pick at all. Ham screams bust to me, and I'm not a fan of a 22 year old with no Bs anywhere. If he were 19, sexy pick. 22? Bust. #5 was way too high to take the risk on him, especially with Young and Irish on the board still. So that being said, I'd go with Mavericks for worst draft. I was shocked to see James Young fall that far. Good, albeit server-troubled pick.
7. They had the best record in the league but they weren't talked about a lot when it came to winning it all. How shocked are you that the Raptors won the title? It's early but do you feel they can repeat?
It's the quintessential DJ-validating title win. DJ did a good job grabbing Humphries for cheap, so you have to give him that. Then snagging Deron was awesome, but of course he wouldn't be there without Nikola Mirotic, so luck went a long way for DJ. Though, I'm confused why Mirotic can play SF, since he was a PF, but I guess that was clarified somewhere and I didn't see it. Can't really be shocked, with those players he had an amazing team, the only shocking part is how good Mirotic is. Can he repeat? Sure. Bring Deron back and he can still go for the title. It's unlikely I move any of my studs for Humphries, which I'm sure he'd like (I don't know I haven't opened his PM yet), so I can see him keeping the exact same team and doing very well.
8. Quincy Acy is considered the best player in the league yet he hasn't done a lot of winning in the playoffs. Is Acy really that good but he's been on sub par teams or is he just not a winner?
Acy is damn good. Must be having some rough luck in the playoff. Not sure if he has LBJ syndrome, but even LeBron got one eventually. I don't have much more to say on this subject other than I hate Acy and any player like him.
9. What team out there is in the worst position possible? Your team aside, best?
I'm not sure on this question. Are there any teams out there in that kind of state? Oh, the Bucks maybe? They mortgaged their future to make their CY, no? Their team is getting up their in age, and I think they traded their picks, so if I had to pick a team I'd go with them. They'll be fine, but they are in a bad position in my opinion because they certainly won't be winning a title with their team, and they don't have their picks. Hate to be in that situation. Perpetual mediocrity. As for best position, obviously I'd love to say myself, but since I'm in my CY, I wouldn't even go that far, even without the question limiting it. The Clippers look in nice shape, already starting to win and they have Davis/Shabazz/Parsons plus cap space. That's a pretty nice little core there. I'm sure there's a team out there in a better situation, but the Clippers are the first to come to mind. If the Magic bring back Lillard, they are in a pretty nice situation.
10. The Hawks at one point had, for a couple of seasons, a very stacked line up with multiple assets. The Knicks had a sick big 3 of Bron/Wade/Yao. Which was the most disappointing? What could that team have done better?
Oh man, this is a tough one. Both teams were obviously disappointing, but I'm not as harsh on people for not winning the title if they put themselves in position to, and the Knicks made the finals and I believe that Hawks made it there twice. It's easy to knock that particular team for not getting the job done, but what about the team that bests them? I'm more along on the side of praising the team that wins rather than ridiculing the team that loses. It takes a lot to make the Finals, and at that point, both teams are deserving of winning in my opinion. I think both the Knicks and the Hawks clearly did what they needed to do, just lost out to similar/better teams in the other conference. To actually answer the question, I'd say Knicks, just because they probably should have made multiple finals and put themselves in a position to win multiple championships. Though they did have the misfortune of running into a stacked Kings team when they actually did make the finals.
11. Tim Duncan is a lock for the HOF. Does anyone else make it with him?
Another tough one. I honestly don't know. KG and Baron were pretty good weren't they? I don't know if they make it into the HOF with Duncan though. Pau Gasol was solid. Eh, I'm going to go ahead and say just TD makes it, but that's because I didn't pay to much attention to KG. I can somewhat remember Baron being really good, but keep in mind, I wasn't in this BBS from the beginning for whatever reason. Once Kobe retires, he makes it.
12. Kobe, from what it appears, tore his achilles. Thoughts? Do the Lakers still make the playoffs?
Lakers likely make the playoffs still without Kobe. Though they get smashed in the first round. Chances are that would have happened anyway. Pretty sad day for Kobe, I feel for him. Can't stand him, but as a player, I respect him. If he really did tear his Achilles, he is probably done. Don't see him coming back from that.
13. I believe your were openly upset over the price of FBB3. What price would you pay for it? Would you join a league with it down the line?
This is mostly because I am tired of Heavyreign. I don't respect him as a developer and I don't want to pay for his product. I'd probably buy it for $10, and that's just to appease other people. I wouldn't start an FBB3 league. As far as joining one, unlikely. It looks to me like you'd be better served having the game to be in the league, and I'd say the league would probably be better served without me since I would not be buying it. Also, from trying the demo it really seems to have lost what made this past FBB so nice. It's simplicity.
14. Do you feel this league needs something else added? Needs to remove something? Slow down? Anything?
No, not really. John has done a great job picking up where marty left off. Both stepped up when the league needed it, and I feel the league is going strong. Pace is good, consistency is close to where it needs to be, and activity is solid. It'll never be like the old days, but I think that's just how it'll be with FBB now. Lost some of its luster in general, I don't even think the new FBB will change that.
15. Your board name is ashes. Why? Does it mean something special?
Nothing special about it. Just a variation of a name I've always used online. It started as Asheetaka and/or Asheetaka2021. Asheetaka came from an anime movie I watched when I was younger, Princess Mononoke. The main character was "Ashitaka" but AIM wouldn't allow it because it contained the word "shit" so I changed it to Asheetaka. From there, I used to play Starcraft back in 2000 or 2001, and my account name was still Asheetaka, however I joined a guild or team (whatever they called it) called Chaos. Each member would have to change their name into something that incorporated Chaos, so mine became Ashes of Chaos. At that point I became known as Ashes and it stuck. Ever since then, anything I've been associated with has been Ashes. Actually, if you'd like a blast from the past: z4.invisionfree.com/SimLeagueCentral/index.php?showforum=1
That league has such classic names like: Sagapolutele50, Insaneradical23, mustajab (Who I assume is the same one here and I believe the commish there), UOducksTK1, AllHailManiac, Play34Basketball, Jahallstar, and of course myself, Asheetaka2021
Boom. 2004
To win of course, but I suppose you want specifics. In an ideal world, I sign MKG and my players have another great TC. I win 42 games with the young squad and have a future dynasty. Realistically do I expect that to happen? No, not really. The East is tough, and I'll likely have to move some of my studs, but I won't be moving everyone. Dakari probably won't go anywhere. It's a toss up with the rest. I have a lot of trade options and strong leads out there already, but I'd be a fool to not wait for FA Day 1. This FA class is loaded. Signing any one of the players I offered for would likely change my entire plan moving forward. Assuming I strike out, I'd probably trade for a big time big man and a good SG, possibly aged, on the cheap. That should get me 42 right there. If I feel a little friskier, maybe I'll go all out. But I really love this team right now. It has literally been real life years since I've had this sort of good fortune in BBS. Not since stealing Duk and draft West have I had this luck, and they won me a title. To come out with a great PG, then two #1s and a #2 (getting my #1 choice with it), I'd hate to have to give that all up. So I likely won't. But I'll probably have to give some of it up.
2. You stated that you always wanted Dakari over Harrison. What turned you off about Harrison. Will he bust?
Dakari's notes are sexy as hell. Big and strong? Check. Dominant inside scorer? Check. Blocks shots? Check. Can get some steals? Check? Rebound? Check. Take care of the ball? Check. Take all that and add huge upside? Yeah, sign me up please. Dakari is touted as the next big thing, and I am a firm believe in that. He was my target from the start, but I couldn't bring myself to believe I'd get the #1 selection three times in a row, so I was pleased to see Harrison being hyped as the #1, so I joined in on that. Lo and behold I get the #2, Harrison goes #1, and I get my guy. Couldn't be happier. As for Harrison, I don't think he'll be a bust. I do believe his ratings are a little inflated with athleticism, but his notes are still very good. He sounds like Marcus Smart, except with a better jump shot and possibly better rebounding. Can't be disappointed with that. I think he'll likely be a top PG, which is huge, but I already have a nice PG, and not only is C a position of need for me, I think Dakari has more upside.
3. What kind of players are you trying to acquire, aside from just stars obviously?
Definitely need a PF and some shot-blocking depth. I'll also be after a scoring SG most likely. Like I said, ideally I sign MKG to address PF. Then maybe sign someone like Ibaka for depth, trade for someone like Redd, and I think from there 42 wins would be cake. I could also upgrade Smart if I absolutely needed to, so that's always another option as well. Oh, I also need rebounding. That's always been a weakness for my teams. I really feel I would have won a title those seasons I made the Conf Finals 3 years in a row and the finals once if I only had some more rebounding.
4. You have a lot of cap space. Aside from the obvious stars, what are your plans with this cap space? How confident are you that you can sign a star?
This questions is either similar, or my answer is, either way I'm trying to sign a number of guys obviously. Asides from the stars, I need some shot-blocking first and foremost. When I build a team, I like to go for shot-blocking first, because the other depth is always much easier to get, oftentimes with an MLE or even in remaining FAs, if not there then pretty cheaply in trades. I'll need to target some rebounding as well, but clearly the first day is all about the stars, and benjamins. How confident am I in landing one? Not very. Players don't ditch that extra year often, but the ones that usually do are the ones fresh of rookie contracts, so here's hoping I can get at least one of the guys I'm after. That would take a lot of pressure off of me.
5. With this FA being so loaded, do you feel there will be a lot of overpaying with max contracts being handed out like candy? What is your mentally going into this?
Oh definitely. Some players are going to be overpaid. I might even be the one doing it, but I need to get someone here, so if I overpay and make my CY, it's worth it. My team has been in a great financial situation for years, and I always manage my cap very well. But anyways, there are players overpaid each year, so with a FA class like this I can see easily 3-5 guys getting way more than they deserve. Can't let that stop me though, I have to be right there in the thick of things throwing out money like crazy.
6. Away from your team, who do you feel had the best draft? Worst draft? What picks shocked you the most?
I like the Wizards draft. I think Jesus and Beals will be good players. Probably not studs, but good starters in my opinion, especially with some camping. They also picked up some interesting players in Claxton and Case. For Claxton, it's really going to have to depend on how he sims. He's obviously be suited for a multi-backup role, so we'll see how he performs there. Case is different though. Depending on his actual ratings, he could be good with some camping and average potential. However, I wouldn't be surprised to find that his inside is inflated and the fact that he can't rebound sucks. All in all, I think the Wizards made out well. Conversely, I don't like the Terrell Ham pick at all. Ham screams bust to me, and I'm not a fan of a 22 year old with no Bs anywhere. If he were 19, sexy pick. 22? Bust. #5 was way too high to take the risk on him, especially with Young and Irish on the board still. So that being said, I'd go with Mavericks for worst draft. I was shocked to see James Young fall that far. Good, albeit server-troubled pick.
7. They had the best record in the league but they weren't talked about a lot when it came to winning it all. How shocked are you that the Raptors won the title? It's early but do you feel they can repeat?
It's the quintessential DJ-validating title win. DJ did a good job grabbing Humphries for cheap, so you have to give him that. Then snagging Deron was awesome, but of course he wouldn't be there without Nikola Mirotic, so luck went a long way for DJ. Though, I'm confused why Mirotic can play SF, since he was a PF, but I guess that was clarified somewhere and I didn't see it. Can't really be shocked, with those players he had an amazing team, the only shocking part is how good Mirotic is. Can he repeat? Sure. Bring Deron back and he can still go for the title. It's unlikely I move any of my studs for Humphries, which I'm sure he'd like (I don't know I haven't opened his PM yet), so I can see him keeping the exact same team and doing very well.
8. Quincy Acy is considered the best player in the league yet he hasn't done a lot of winning in the playoffs. Is Acy really that good but he's been on sub par teams or is he just not a winner?
Acy is damn good. Must be having some rough luck in the playoff. Not sure if he has LBJ syndrome, but even LeBron got one eventually. I don't have much more to say on this subject other than I hate Acy and any player like him.
9. What team out there is in the worst position possible? Your team aside, best?
I'm not sure on this question. Are there any teams out there in that kind of state? Oh, the Bucks maybe? They mortgaged their future to make their CY, no? Their team is getting up their in age, and I think they traded their picks, so if I had to pick a team I'd go with them. They'll be fine, but they are in a bad position in my opinion because they certainly won't be winning a title with their team, and they don't have their picks. Hate to be in that situation. Perpetual mediocrity. As for best position, obviously I'd love to say myself, but since I'm in my CY, I wouldn't even go that far, even without the question limiting it. The Clippers look in nice shape, already starting to win and they have Davis/Shabazz/Parsons plus cap space. That's a pretty nice little core there. I'm sure there's a team out there in a better situation, but the Clippers are the first to come to mind. If the Magic bring back Lillard, they are in a pretty nice situation.
10. The Hawks at one point had, for a couple of seasons, a very stacked line up with multiple assets. The Knicks had a sick big 3 of Bron/Wade/Yao. Which was the most disappointing? What could that team have done better?
Oh man, this is a tough one. Both teams were obviously disappointing, but I'm not as harsh on people for not winning the title if they put themselves in position to, and the Knicks made the finals and I believe that Hawks made it there twice. It's easy to knock that particular team for not getting the job done, but what about the team that bests them? I'm more along on the side of praising the team that wins rather than ridiculing the team that loses. It takes a lot to make the Finals, and at that point, both teams are deserving of winning in my opinion. I think both the Knicks and the Hawks clearly did what they needed to do, just lost out to similar/better teams in the other conference. To actually answer the question, I'd say Knicks, just because they probably should have made multiple finals and put themselves in a position to win multiple championships. Though they did have the misfortune of running into a stacked Kings team when they actually did make the finals.
11. Tim Duncan is a lock for the HOF. Does anyone else make it with him?
Another tough one. I honestly don't know. KG and Baron were pretty good weren't they? I don't know if they make it into the HOF with Duncan though. Pau Gasol was solid. Eh, I'm going to go ahead and say just TD makes it, but that's because I didn't pay to much attention to KG. I can somewhat remember Baron being really good, but keep in mind, I wasn't in this BBS from the beginning for whatever reason. Once Kobe retires, he makes it.
12. Kobe, from what it appears, tore his achilles. Thoughts? Do the Lakers still make the playoffs?
Lakers likely make the playoffs still without Kobe. Though they get smashed in the first round. Chances are that would have happened anyway. Pretty sad day for Kobe, I feel for him. Can't stand him, but as a player, I respect him. If he really did tear his Achilles, he is probably done. Don't see him coming back from that.
13. I believe your were openly upset over the price of FBB3. What price would you pay for it? Would you join a league with it down the line?
This is mostly because I am tired of Heavyreign. I don't respect him as a developer and I don't want to pay for his product. I'd probably buy it for $10, and that's just to appease other people. I wouldn't start an FBB3 league. As far as joining one, unlikely. It looks to me like you'd be better served having the game to be in the league, and I'd say the league would probably be better served without me since I would not be buying it. Also, from trying the demo it really seems to have lost what made this past FBB so nice. It's simplicity.
14. Do you feel this league needs something else added? Needs to remove something? Slow down? Anything?
No, not really. John has done a great job picking up where marty left off. Both stepped up when the league needed it, and I feel the league is going strong. Pace is good, consistency is close to where it needs to be, and activity is solid. It'll never be like the old days, but I think that's just how it'll be with FBB now. Lost some of its luster in general, I don't even think the new FBB will change that.
15. Your board name is ashes. Why? Does it mean something special?
Nothing special about it. Just a variation of a name I've always used online. It started as Asheetaka and/or Asheetaka2021. Asheetaka came from an anime movie I watched when I was younger, Princess Mononoke. The main character was "Ashitaka" but AIM wouldn't allow it because it contained the word "shit" so I changed it to Asheetaka. From there, I used to play Starcraft back in 2000 or 2001, and my account name was still Asheetaka, however I joined a guild or team (whatever they called it) called Chaos. Each member would have to change their name into something that incorporated Chaos, so mine became Ashes of Chaos. At that point I became known as Ashes and it stuck. Ever since then, anything I've been associated with has been Ashes. Actually, if you'd like a blast from the past: z4.invisionfree.com/SimLeagueCentral/index.php?showforum=1
That league has such classic names like: Sagapolutele50, Insaneradical23, mustajab (Who I assume is the same one here and I believe the commish there), UOducksTK1, AllHailManiac, Play34Basketball, Jahallstar, and of course myself, Asheetaka2021
Boom. 2004
