NBA SIMS LEAGUE |
Brooklyn (9 - 39) | Expert Pick 0% ><···················· 100% |
Orlando (15 - 32) |
Eastern Growth teams
The Nets: The Nets are arguably a bit perplexing as
to why the team simply doesn’t seem to get the results you think they should.
GM Breece has done a fantastic job of putting together a really solid
foundation on which to build upon, with the names of Brandon Ingram, Lauri
Markkanen and Zach LaVine (previously Jamal Murray) as an all offence all the
time trio. And then filling the spaces around them with a young bouncy 2k style
C in Dereck Lively and strong rotation players like Bobby Portis and Patrick
Williams to fill the final starting spot, and key bench big role. They have
drafted strongly with Jamal Snead and Cody Williams, while also brought in
young talent via trades in the aforementioned Lively, and JaKobe Walter. The
vet role guys like Plumlee, Morris, McDermott and previously Reggie Jackson,
Jevon Carter and Johnny Juzang are all not to be sneezed at too, and yet the
team has languished behind sporadic injuries and inconsistent play to be
sitting on single digits in the win column still. It don’t really make much
sense, on paper, and something has to give for this squad soon, surely. It
might not be this year, but their guys are all locked up for multiple years and
they again hold their 1st round pick this year too. Games like this
against the Magic would seem to be a prime springboard for a squad with this
talent load, even with missing Brandon Ingram (whom might be shut down for the
year) and Dereck Lively, each who can be replaced solidly by Bobby Portis and Pat
Williams, allowing for more offensive firepower usage from Zach and Lauri. But
will it translate? The Magic: The Magic have made a number of moves
through the season, which MaiLo often does, continuing to accumulate talent and
depth and players that she likes and wants on the team. Jarrett and Agbaji have
been staples for her line ups for years now, and she’s brought in solid talent
in the form of Kyrie, Washinton, Naz Reid, and younger guys like Corey Kispert
and Peyton Watson. Reed Sheppard is also her ace in the hole for now, from a
top of the line pick in the last draft and uber talented, but yet to make his
NBA mark. This team has the line up and talent to make it work and has been
better of late, but just keeps stumbling. This week at least she is only
missing PJ Washington and Maxi Kleber, which means her most damaging players are
all available, and coming up against a team that has struggled this season, despite
their talent level, would seem to be a hands down win to keep pushing up those
standings. But the Nets are not just any “lowly” team, and the Magic haven’t
found the exact formula yet, instead relying on the heroics of massive scoring
games from Kyrie. Unless, that is the game plan alone? Which way will this one
go, Kyrie boom, or Kyrie Bust? The Projected Match-Ups: C: Mason Plumlee Vs Jarrett Allen
Big Mason is being thrust into the starting
line up again this week with Lively down. He’s had 9 starts in Brooklyn and
averaged 6 points and 11 rebounds in those, with 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Solid really! He’s got one of the most consistent big men in the league against
him today though in Jarrett Allen who has started all games and averaged 10
points, 12 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Magic. The
numbers actually stack up solidly between both bigs, and both will be role
players in this one. PF: Lauri Markkanen Vs Naz Reid Lauri busted out the other year but has
come back to earth a little since his payday and the Utah tank in the NBA. But
he’s still huge and averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds. Needs a little room to
build on those numbers. This week he’s got Naz Reid who is a suspect defender,
so maybe this is the week. Naz is averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds as a floor
spacer but isn’t setting the world on fire. They both play a similar role for
their teams but Lauri is more of an impact guy than Naz. SF: Patrick Williams Vs Keldon
Johnson Since arriving in
Brooklyn, Williams has started every game but is playing a very mute role with
8 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist to his name. He’s only shooting it 38% too,
and 32% from deep. He’s going to have to try lock up Keldon Johnson in this one
because he’s not making an impact himself. Keldon for Orlando has started half
the games this year and is averaging 14 points and 3 rebounds. He’s a bit
better as a starter, averaging 16 points and is the key second guy to Kyrie. Keldon
is likely to have the bigger impact in this one. SG: Zach LaVine Vs Ayo
Dosunmu LaVine is making his Brooklyn debut in this
week, so we haven’t seen what he is like as the #1 option in this engine yet. In
SA he averaged 20 points and 4 assists as a wingman to Giannis, but he should
top 30 and push for 40 a game in Brooklyn. We’re about to find out! Dosunmu is
the defensive specialist in this Orlando line up and as a starter he’s
averaging 11 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in that specialist role. He’s
going to have his work cut out for him with LaVine though. PG: Monte
Morris Vs Kyrie Irving Monte
only arrived in Brooklyn last week and started straight away, averaging 20 points
and 6 assists. Big win that one! This week he’ll be sharing with LaVine though,
so might struggle to replicate. He’s going to score though, Brooklyn demand it.
Kyrie however is going to feast on anything and everything he wants against his
former team. He could go for 60 again in this game! Monte won’t have anything
to say about it. Bench V Bench: Bobby Portis, JaKobe Walter, Luka
Garza, Jamal Shead The benches both leave a little to be
desired on the whole, but the Brooklyn bench has all the size. The Magic are
running deep and all with wings, which is a curious choice. I think the
Brooklyn bench impacts more. |
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| X-Factor |
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The Xfactor in this game for me
is a simple one. The Nets I think have too much of a balanced attack, versus
the Magic being single minded. Sure, Kyrie can beat teams alone, but he also
HAS to beat teams alone and if he’s at all slowed, then it becomes a struggle.
The Nets however have a handful of guys all willing and able to contribute and
if they can even half slow Kyrie, the job is just about done. |
| Injury Report | |
|---|---|
| Injured Players: Cam Spencer (Ankle/Thumb) - 32 NBA Games missed this season PJ Washington (Knee/Illness/Personal/Ankle) - 13 NBA Games missed this season Maxi Kleber (Hamstring/Illness/Foot) - 17 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Peyton Watson (returning from Knee) - 7 NBA Games missed this season Kyrie Irving (returning from Shoulder/Illness/Back) - 13 NBA Games missed this season | Injured Players: Maxwell Lewis (Knee) - 20 NBA Games missed this season Dereck Lively II (Shoulder/Knee/Hip/Ankle) - 24 NBA Games missed this season Jamal Cain (Ankle/Illness) - 5 NBA Games missed this season Brandon Ingram (Calf/Ankle) - 35 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Jamal Shead (returning from Knee/Illness) - 4 NBA Games missed this season Cody Williams (returning from Ankle) - 9 NBA Games missed this season Zach LaVine (returning from Adductor/Back/Toe/Personal) - 8 NBA Games missed this season |
| Prediction |
|---|
Head to Head Prediction: This one is tough to pick. The Magic need
Kyrie to go big to get a win, but the Nets also don’t have any obvious
defensive assignment to throw at him to sure fire slow him. So does it come
down to a 1 V 2/3 shootout? Who gets that upper hand? Nets
by 2. |
| Comments (1) | |||
| breece 02/17 07:06 am | Great write up! Thanks Ben! All the best, Mailo! | ||