Post by Moscow on Jun 23, 2015 4:06:04 GMT -6
It's the most wonderful time of the month, the ABCA Playoffs! Congrats to everyone that didn't strike out and well done to those still playing and those who are happy with their draft position 
Here's some things I typed.
(1) Sydney Kings vs (8) CSKA Moscow
The Sydney Kings are coming into the playoffs cold having lost 4 of their last 6. Fortunately they’re playing a team that considers 4-6 to be a pretty good sim. This team rides Larry Johnson, who is very good at everything but not really elite at anything. Fortunately he comes with a supporting cast of Mark Aguirre, Frank Johnson and the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who combine to do everything you could ever ask for on a basketball court. Young starter Tracy Mcgrady is the obvious Achilles heel of this team, but can still definitely hold his own in a limited capacity. The team has a few really nice players coming off the bench and should be scary to any team that runs into them.
CSKA is a leading the way for Eurasia’s expansion movement, behind the slogan “Just join, you’ll make the playoffs.” Using a very balanced attack of rookie Dwyane Wade, Sidney Moncrief and recent trade pickup Cliff Robinson, Moscow grabbed their first playoff berth in nine years. This is the slowest, lowest scoring team in the league (sorry Bayi) and they’ll do their best to make any series they are in unbearable to watch. Fortunately for viewers, they will likely be gone in short order.
Prediction: Kings in 5. Moscow’s slow pace should lead to an outlier win. Their GM may or may not wish he’d taken KAJ over Cliff.
(4) BC Zalgiris vs (5) Tehran Mahram
After a long series of rough years, BCZ has finally shifted gears and picked up home court in the playoffs. Originally looking like a team that would live and die by the draft, the GM seems to have switched philosophies, as his 3 leading scorers are trade acquisitions from this season. Bob Mcadoo is their inside scoring presence, Benji Wilson is their shooter, and Isiah Thomas is their all-world point guard. These 3 are augmented inside by draft picks Kevin Garnett and Alonzo Mourning to create a very solid 53 win team. Wilson will be out for the first couple games of the playoffs, which may hurt them, but this team looks good in a weak Eurasian conference.
Mahram won a powerhouse Middle East division with a 42-40 record. Mookie Blaylock is a complete stud, but he doesn’t have much to help him out. George McGinnis represents inside, but he won’t scare any playoff teams. These guys struggle on defense and might see some big numbers on the other side of the scoreboard this spring.
Prediction: BCZ in 5. I think Tehran actually matches up pretty well here, but the talent disparity is just way too much.
(2) London Towers vs Istanbul Anadolu Efes
The London Towers missed the 60 win mark for the 2nd straight time after an 11 year run of supremacy. However, nobody will complain about a 59-23 mark. This is a very well built team, with 2 all-time great scorers in MJ and Karl, backed by 2 elite defenders in Elie and Parish, and a streaky game changer in Pee wee Kirkland. I think depth will ultimately be their demise as the bench has some pretty glaring flaws, but I’d never count out a team with the GOAT.
At 37-45, Istanbul is another team reaping the benefits of the Eurasian conference. After 2 seasons at the 8 seed, Vinko Jelovac and his team have elevated to #7. He’s joined by shooters Terry Porter and Andrew Gaze, and washouts Bernie King and Frank Brickowski to form a team that is well rounded, if ultimately overmatched in talent.
Prediction: Towers in 5. I think MJ and Peewee will have a field day on offense. Constantinople is due for a youth movement.
(3) San Miguel Beermen vs (6) ALBA Berlin
San Miguel took a dip in wins after trading all-everything center Pat Ewing to avoid cap issues. They’re still really, really good. This team rode 2 of the league’s best players to a 58 win season. John Stockton averages 23p/13a/7r and Shawn Kemp puts up 29ppg on 63% shooting. Their other starters are young guys that are good enough to stand around watching these 2 stars beating up most of the other teams around the ABCA. If this GM puts his mind to work on game planning, this can be a very dangerous team to do battle with.
Despite dealing Oscar Schmidt, ALBA managed to turn a 19-21 start around and finish with a respectable 47 win season. Between Darrall Imhoff and Jerry Lucas, this team has a monopoly on the old and the slow. But they also have the incredible Alex English, and some solid talent in Larry Bird and Darwin Cook. Vince Carter is also very good off the bench. Hard to point out flaws in this team, I see a lot of very good, but nothing great. 5 years ago this team may have gone 16-0 on their way to a ship, this year they should prove a stout first round gatekeeper.
Prediction: Beermen in 6. I wouldn’t be shocked to see an upset in this one based on the matchups. Then again…John Stockton.
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Semi Finals - Kings > BCZ in 6, Beermen > Towers in 7
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Finals - Kings > Beermen in 7
Here's some things I typed.(1) Sydney Kings vs (8) CSKA Moscow
The Sydney Kings are coming into the playoffs cold having lost 4 of their last 6. Fortunately they’re playing a team that considers 4-6 to be a pretty good sim. This team rides Larry Johnson, who is very good at everything but not really elite at anything. Fortunately he comes with a supporting cast of Mark Aguirre, Frank Johnson and the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who combine to do everything you could ever ask for on a basketball court. Young starter Tracy Mcgrady is the obvious Achilles heel of this team, but can still definitely hold his own in a limited capacity. The team has a few really nice players coming off the bench and should be scary to any team that runs into them.
CSKA is a leading the way for Eurasia’s expansion movement, behind the slogan “Just join, you’ll make the playoffs.” Using a very balanced attack of rookie Dwyane Wade, Sidney Moncrief and recent trade pickup Cliff Robinson, Moscow grabbed their first playoff berth in nine years. This is the slowest, lowest scoring team in the league (sorry Bayi) and they’ll do their best to make any series they are in unbearable to watch. Fortunately for viewers, they will likely be gone in short order.
Prediction: Kings in 5. Moscow’s slow pace should lead to an outlier win. Their GM may or may not wish he’d taken KAJ over Cliff.
(4) BC Zalgiris vs (5) Tehran Mahram
After a long series of rough years, BCZ has finally shifted gears and picked up home court in the playoffs. Originally looking like a team that would live and die by the draft, the GM seems to have switched philosophies, as his 3 leading scorers are trade acquisitions from this season. Bob Mcadoo is their inside scoring presence, Benji Wilson is their shooter, and Isiah Thomas is their all-world point guard. These 3 are augmented inside by draft picks Kevin Garnett and Alonzo Mourning to create a very solid 53 win team. Wilson will be out for the first couple games of the playoffs, which may hurt them, but this team looks good in a weak Eurasian conference.
Mahram won a powerhouse Middle East division with a 42-40 record. Mookie Blaylock is a complete stud, but he doesn’t have much to help him out. George McGinnis represents inside, but he won’t scare any playoff teams. These guys struggle on defense and might see some big numbers on the other side of the scoreboard this spring.
Prediction: BCZ in 5. I think Tehran actually matches up pretty well here, but the talent disparity is just way too much.
(2) London Towers vs Istanbul Anadolu Efes
The London Towers missed the 60 win mark for the 2nd straight time after an 11 year run of supremacy. However, nobody will complain about a 59-23 mark. This is a very well built team, with 2 all-time great scorers in MJ and Karl, backed by 2 elite defenders in Elie and Parish, and a streaky game changer in Pee wee Kirkland. I think depth will ultimately be their demise as the bench has some pretty glaring flaws, but I’d never count out a team with the GOAT.
At 37-45, Istanbul is another team reaping the benefits of the Eurasian conference. After 2 seasons at the 8 seed, Vinko Jelovac and his team have elevated to #7. He’s joined by shooters Terry Porter and Andrew Gaze, and washouts Bernie King and Frank Brickowski to form a team that is well rounded, if ultimately overmatched in talent.
Prediction: Towers in 5. I think MJ and Peewee will have a field day on offense. Constantinople is due for a youth movement.
(3) San Miguel Beermen vs (6) ALBA Berlin
San Miguel took a dip in wins after trading all-everything center Pat Ewing to avoid cap issues. They’re still really, really good. This team rode 2 of the league’s best players to a 58 win season. John Stockton averages 23p/13a/7r and Shawn Kemp puts up 29ppg on 63% shooting. Their other starters are young guys that are good enough to stand around watching these 2 stars beating up most of the other teams around the ABCA. If this GM puts his mind to work on game planning, this can be a very dangerous team to do battle with.
Despite dealing Oscar Schmidt, ALBA managed to turn a 19-21 start around and finish with a respectable 47 win season. Between Darrall Imhoff and Jerry Lucas, this team has a monopoly on the old and the slow. But they also have the incredible Alex English, and some solid talent in Larry Bird and Darwin Cook. Vince Carter is also very good off the bench. Hard to point out flaws in this team, I see a lot of very good, but nothing great. 5 years ago this team may have gone 16-0 on their way to a ship, this year they should prove a stout first round gatekeeper.
Prediction: Beermen in 6. I wouldn’t be shocked to see an upset in this one based on the matchups. Then again…John Stockton.
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Semi Finals - Kings > BCZ in 6, Beermen > Towers in 7
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Finals - Kings > Beermen in 7
