deviantthoughts
May 23rd, 2008, 02:04 AM
Many of us who watch ESPN or listen to ESPN Radio know of Stephen A. Smith and all of us who know Stephen A. Smith know he's a diehard Knicks fan. However, the man has gone on endless rant about how bad the Knicks are (and a rightfully so) to the point that he has said that the Knicks should get rid of everyone... literally, everyone.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ol2X6wsWMSQ
Inspired by the rant posted above, I have decided to take his idea and get rid of everyone and start the Knicks all over. I started an Association with the New York Knicks and, before simulating the season, traded and got rid of everyone until all I had was expiring 1 year contracts all across the board (and let me tell you, it wasn't easy to do; you try getting rid of Jerome James who has a 60 rating, a 2 year contract at 7M a year). After getting rid of everyone, the 2nd round pick for this year, the 1st round pick for next year, and simulating through, the Knicks finished 11-71. Just terrible. Then, I took the next step. Luckily, all of the staff positions were expired contracts except for Isiah Thomas, who I replaced in a heartbeat. From there, I went to the lottery where I hoped I would have gotten the easy 1st pick of the draft, gotten my big man, and started over. But, no... the lottery left me with pick #4.
The draft commenced. I missed out on the best center available, who was some dude from Canada. Also missed out on the best power forward and second best center. With that, I strayed away from a big man and just went with this shooting guard out of South Florida... and the draft ended for me.
I go into free agency with a 49M budget... and I go and get who I need. I decide to build around the rookie and get Josh Smith to compliment him, a potential 1-2 punch. Looking at the available point guards, I picked up both Daniel Gibson and Beno Udrih, with Gibson as the starter. Needing a good shooter and experience, I also signed Jalen Rose, so now I can shift Josh Smith from SF to PF when needed and have Jalen fit into that SF role as my sixth man.
Here is where the problems started: the big men. At PF, the best available was Juwan Howard... and that wasn't happening. It came down to Stromile Swift and Craig Smith and I just ended up taking Craig Smith and having Nick Fazekas as his backup. At C, the problem became larger. I almost took Theo Ratliff because all he wanted was like 400K. Kwame Brown and Jeff Foster were also there, but I didn't bite on them. As I went down the list, I decided to pick up Patrick O'Bryant and Mile Ilic... two really young and inexperienced guys who I intend to upgrade in the future.
With that out of the way, I picked up Dajuan Wagner and Derek Anderson to fill out my roster and I left free agency with 15M free in my cap.
So far, I've started the season (on Hall of Fame) at 2-1. Defensively, we locked down the Bucks and held them to 69 (these are 12 minute quarters) and we put up 97. I put the rookie through as many training sessions as possible (he came out of the draft at a 78 overall and is now at a 85) and he went for 34 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals in his first game, so I'm all good with that. Jalen coming off the bench works well, Josh Smith get his work done, and Ilic is... dare I say, working out. He's not great, but he gets the job done. Oh, and Daniel Gibson is a really good shooter... works out very well as a point guard. Blew out the Jazz in the second game and then had a bad game against Minnesota. Yeah... I kept Lamar Odom (they have him) to 8 and Al Jefferson to 11, but Rashard McCants decides to put up 38 on me and hit the game winner.
Right now, here's the roster and an idea of their role.
Starters:
PG - Daniel Gibson: Distributes the ball when he has to and gets open when doubles are drawn. Not really pass first... I like him to get open looks and take shots that way.
SG - Ryan Yorke: The South Florida rookie. I haven't played with him a lot, so I'm still feeling him out, but he pretty much controls the game. The game compared him to Vince Carter, but he plays a lot more like Chris Paul, but just with a Kobe mentality. I like to get him the ball early and get him to start scoring so he draws attention allowing others to get open, especially because he can create his own shot. He's great at getting steals as well. He can easily put up 20 every night.
SF - Josh Smith: The second scoring option. At SF, he's a great post presence. I'm working on his mid-range so he doesn't always have to be in the post in order to score. Defensively, he just gets it done down low. Swats everything. When he gets a dunk though, it's great. He gets his every night.
PF - Chris Smith: The weakest out of all starters, in my opinion. He's there just to be there because I need the position filled out. He's a good post presence defensively, but that's about it.
C - Mile Ilic: A work-in-progress. Really good shot blocker, which is all I really need from him because I have my scorers. He can score when he's in real close... the mid-range is ok. I would like to upgrade him possibly next year... or whenever I get tired of him.
Bench:
Jalen Rose - The sixth man. Good all-around jump shooter. Provides offense of the bench, which is what I need. He comes in usually to replace Chris Smith so I can move Josh Smith up to PF. When Jalen is on the floor instead of Chris, I have my best lineup. However, I like Jalen better off the bench, although I did start him one game.
Dajuan Wagner - Backup for Gibson. A mediocre shooter. He's only there to distribute the rock.
Nick Fazekas - Shooting big man. I like him because I can have a big man that can score almost anywhere. I'm working on him along with Ilic and Yorke.
Patrick O'Bryant - Doesn't play a lot. He's just filling out the roster.
James Jones - Fills out the roster as well. Good outside shooter though.
Beno Udrih - Originally, I was going to have him be my starter... until he didn't work out. Gisbon starts and Udrih just sits most of the time.
Derek Anderson - I needed a 12th person.
I'm looking to trade for a high pick later on so I can get my hands on a 7'2 center next year who will be upcoming in the next draft. Feel free to give me any roster advice and try this out yourself... it's kinda fun.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ol2X6wsWMSQ
Inspired by the rant posted above, I have decided to take his idea and get rid of everyone and start the Knicks all over. I started an Association with the New York Knicks and, before simulating the season, traded and got rid of everyone until all I had was expiring 1 year contracts all across the board (and let me tell you, it wasn't easy to do; you try getting rid of Jerome James who has a 60 rating, a 2 year contract at 7M a year). After getting rid of everyone, the 2nd round pick for this year, the 1st round pick for next year, and simulating through, the Knicks finished 11-71. Just terrible. Then, I took the next step. Luckily, all of the staff positions were expired contracts except for Isiah Thomas, who I replaced in a heartbeat. From there, I went to the lottery where I hoped I would have gotten the easy 1st pick of the draft, gotten my big man, and started over. But, no... the lottery left me with pick #4.
The draft commenced. I missed out on the best center available, who was some dude from Canada. Also missed out on the best power forward and second best center. With that, I strayed away from a big man and just went with this shooting guard out of South Florida... and the draft ended for me.
I go into free agency with a 49M budget... and I go and get who I need. I decide to build around the rookie and get Josh Smith to compliment him, a potential 1-2 punch. Looking at the available point guards, I picked up both Daniel Gibson and Beno Udrih, with Gibson as the starter. Needing a good shooter and experience, I also signed Jalen Rose, so now I can shift Josh Smith from SF to PF when needed and have Jalen fit into that SF role as my sixth man.
Here is where the problems started: the big men. At PF, the best available was Juwan Howard... and that wasn't happening. It came down to Stromile Swift and Craig Smith and I just ended up taking Craig Smith and having Nick Fazekas as his backup. At C, the problem became larger. I almost took Theo Ratliff because all he wanted was like 400K. Kwame Brown and Jeff Foster were also there, but I didn't bite on them. As I went down the list, I decided to pick up Patrick O'Bryant and Mile Ilic... two really young and inexperienced guys who I intend to upgrade in the future.
With that out of the way, I picked up Dajuan Wagner and Derek Anderson to fill out my roster and I left free agency with 15M free in my cap.
So far, I've started the season (on Hall of Fame) at 2-1. Defensively, we locked down the Bucks and held them to 69 (these are 12 minute quarters) and we put up 97. I put the rookie through as many training sessions as possible (he came out of the draft at a 78 overall and is now at a 85) and he went for 34 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals in his first game, so I'm all good with that. Jalen coming off the bench works well, Josh Smith get his work done, and Ilic is... dare I say, working out. He's not great, but he gets the job done. Oh, and Daniel Gibson is a really good shooter... works out very well as a point guard. Blew out the Jazz in the second game and then had a bad game against Minnesota. Yeah... I kept Lamar Odom (they have him) to 8 and Al Jefferson to 11, but Rashard McCants decides to put up 38 on me and hit the game winner.
Right now, here's the roster and an idea of their role.
Starters:
PG - Daniel Gibson: Distributes the ball when he has to and gets open when doubles are drawn. Not really pass first... I like him to get open looks and take shots that way.
SG - Ryan Yorke: The South Florida rookie. I haven't played with him a lot, so I'm still feeling him out, but he pretty much controls the game. The game compared him to Vince Carter, but he plays a lot more like Chris Paul, but just with a Kobe mentality. I like to get him the ball early and get him to start scoring so he draws attention allowing others to get open, especially because he can create his own shot. He's great at getting steals as well. He can easily put up 20 every night.
SF - Josh Smith: The second scoring option. At SF, he's a great post presence. I'm working on his mid-range so he doesn't always have to be in the post in order to score. Defensively, he just gets it done down low. Swats everything. When he gets a dunk though, it's great. He gets his every night.
PF - Chris Smith: The weakest out of all starters, in my opinion. He's there just to be there because I need the position filled out. He's a good post presence defensively, but that's about it.
C - Mile Ilic: A work-in-progress. Really good shot blocker, which is all I really need from him because I have my scorers. He can score when he's in real close... the mid-range is ok. I would like to upgrade him possibly next year... or whenever I get tired of him.
Bench:
Jalen Rose - The sixth man. Good all-around jump shooter. Provides offense of the bench, which is what I need. He comes in usually to replace Chris Smith so I can move Josh Smith up to PF. When Jalen is on the floor instead of Chris, I have my best lineup. However, I like Jalen better off the bench, although I did start him one game.
Dajuan Wagner - Backup for Gibson. A mediocre shooter. He's only there to distribute the rock.
Nick Fazekas - Shooting big man. I like him because I can have a big man that can score almost anywhere. I'm working on him along with Ilic and Yorke.
Patrick O'Bryant - Doesn't play a lot. He's just filling out the roster.
James Jones - Fills out the roster as well. Good outside shooter though.
Beno Udrih - Originally, I was going to have him be my starter... until he didn't work out. Gisbon starts and Udrih just sits most of the time.
Derek Anderson - I needed a 12th person.
I'm looking to trade for a high pick later on so I can get my hands on a 7'2 center next year who will be upcoming in the next draft. Feel free to give me any roster advice and try this out yourself... it's kinda fun.