For the final time, who will claim the ultimate prize and lay claim to the title as basketball champions of the world? Who will be declared the 2019 NBA Champions?
First Round
The East, for all it's competitiveness in the regular season, showed none of the that to open the playoffs, as no series was close. The Hawks lost the first game to the Wizards, before easily dispatching them in 4, while the Nets also advanced in 4, ousting the Pacers to set up an intriguing match-up of Derrick Rose against LeBron James. The Knicks swept the Pistons and the Raptors did the same to the Bucks, as Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul will do battle with Kyrie Irving, Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second round.
The West nearly started with a massive upset, as the league best Nuggets went 2-0 against the underdog Warriors. But Dion Waiters brought Denver back into it with a couple great games, then finished Golden State off with 33 points in the decisive Game 5. The Kings had the opposite experience, quickly sweeping the Jazz to earn a shot at the Nuggets. Phoenix and San Antonio put on a show, as these real life rivals squared off in a doozy that went all 5 games. In Game 5, the Spurs offense was completely shut down, as they commit 24 turnovers and shot just 34% from the field as the Suns cruised to Round 2. And in the biggest shocker of not just this playoffs, but The New Millennium's history, the Dallas Mavericks were stunned in a sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although Tony Parker and Pau Gasol are not the offensive magicians they used to be, they provided excellent defense on Stephen Curry and DeMarcus Cousins, allowing Kevin Durant and Jabari Parker to lead the offense. The two Parkers would combine in Game 3, as Jabari hit the game winner off an assist from Tony and the defending champs were out.
Second Round
But the magic ran out for Minnesota in Round 2, as the younger and better Phoenix Suns marched right over the Timberwolves, sending them home in just 5 games as D'Angelo Russell never scored less than 22 points in any game. Denver and Sacramento had themselves a great series, full of plenty of scoring and highlight worthy plays. In Game 6 with the Nuggets up 3-2, the Kings collapsed, as several players fouled out and Denver advanced to face Phoenix.
The Nets and Hawks was an absolute slugfest, as you could've expected. Derrick Rose was absolutely stellar, especially in Game 3s and 4, where he scored above 30 points, but they were both losses for New Jersey as Atlanta was just that little bit better. With everything on the line, Rose delivered a vintage performance in Game 5, dropping 42 points as the Nets kept their season alive. But it all came to an end in Game 6, as LeBron posted a triple-double with 28 points and the Nets were sent packing. It certainly looked like the Toronto Raptors would be joining the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, after winning the first three games against the overmatched Knicks. With their backs against the wall, the Knicks forced an absolute classic in Game 4, which went all the way to quadruple overtime. Melo had 45 points, CP3 had 24 assists, but it didn't matter, because after over 50 minutes on the court, Kyrie Irving buried the game winner to send the Raptors through, still without a single loss on their resume.
Conference Finals
The Raptors made it 7 wins in a row when they won Game 1, but LeBron had the answer, dropping 46 points to hand Toronto their first loss. Then J.R. Smith gave them their second, coming off the bench for 32 points to win Game 3. Game 4 went to the Raptors, but Game 5 was all LeBron, who scored 27 points and held Giannis to 14 points with 4 turnovers in 40 minutes. Game 6 was another duel between LeBron and Giannis, with both men over 30 points, but it was the Greek Freak who stood tall this time, making several key blocks down the stretch to force a Game 7. At home, Atlanta had an excellent strategy, using time wasting techniques and ensuring it stayed a halfcourt game, not letting Toronto run the fastbreak. This strategy proved excellent, as the Hawks would go up by as many as 21 in the 3rd quarter, cruising towards an NBA Finals berth. But shooting guard Dane Grimes came to life, hitting three after three for 15 points in the 3rd, and suddenly, everything flipped. George, Giannis and Kyrie got going, the fastbreak ran wild, and the lead was blown, and Atlanta was left heartbroken once more, another great lead blown.
Out West, the Nuggets were red hot, and quickly took a 3-0 lead, on the verge of an easy run to the NBA Finals. But the Suns fought back, forcing 20 turnovers to win Game 4, before Brook Lopez dominated Game 5, delivering 43 points to keep Phoenix's season alive. But Denver's defense clamped down in Game 6, forcing 19 turnovers as Tyreke Evans had a triple-double and the league's best team made it all the way.
NBA Finals
Game 1 was a seesaw affair, with Denver taking a small lead into halftime that melted away in the 3rd quarter. It would come down to late game execution, and Denver's was abysmal, as Dion Waiters just took every shot, missed most of them and Paul George took command on the offensive end, finishing with 36 points and a victory. But Denver got revenge in Game 2, as Tyreke Evans led an incredibly effective offense that opened up a 20 point lead early and held on after a late Raptors rally to tie the series.
Waiters opened strong in Game 3, but Dane Grimes quickly answered, posting 20 points in the 2nd quarter alone and it was over from there, as Grimes finished with 33 and Irving added 24 and Toronto's guards put the Nuggets away. The Raptors best stars certainly came to play in Game 4, as Irving, George and Antetokounmpo combined for 79 points, but it was Grimes that was the hero once more. He three consecutive threes late that put the game out of reach, and left Toronto one win short of another title.
And a motivated and hungry Raptors squad left no doubt of who was the best in Game 5, a game that was never close despite Denver being at home. Giannis had a triple-double, Paul George had 34 points and 6 steals, and the Nuggets were absolutely blown out of the water and The New Millennium ends with the same champions as in real life. For the second time, the Raptors are kings of the basketball world, and could be for a long time to come. The Toronto Raptors are your 2019 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Paul George(28 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.6 apg, 2.6 spg)
Thank you all for reading these posts, this series has been an absolute blast to make, an unexpected success for me. I run a lot of these simulation type series in my spare time, but I never imagined anyone would want to read them. Certainly, there is an audience for this content, and I already have an idea in mind for another of these long simulations that I will be bringing to this blog in the future. But for now, I thank you for reading The New Millennium, for going along for this crazy ride and sticking with me the entire way. Congratulations to the two-time champion Toronto Raptors!
- Henry
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Saturday, September 14, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Last Ride)
Last time on The New Millennium, the Lakers and Heat got new franchise players in Luke Doncic and Trae Young, while the Charlotte Hornets made the biggest moves, trading away Tony Parker to acquire Eric Bledsoe and picking DeAndre Ayton fourth overall. There's one final regular season left, one final chance for 16 different teams to make the playoffs and give themselves a chance to claim the last Larry O'Brien Trophy. What lies ahead in the 2018-2019 regular season?
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets(54-28)
2. Dallas Mavericks(51-31)
3. Phoenix Suns(49-33)
4. Sacramento Kings(45-37)
5. Utah Jazz(43-39)
6. San Antonio Spurs(42-40)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves(42-40)
8. Golden State Warriors(42-40)
9. Houston Rockets(40-42)
10. Vancouver Grizzlies(40-42)
11. Los Angeles Lakers(35-47)
12. Seattle SuperSonics(35-47)
13. New Orleans Pelicans(32-50)
14. Portland Trail Blazers(31-51)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(26-56)
Led by the trio of Tyreke Evans(16.7 ppg, 6.6 apg), Dion Waiters(18.4 ppg) and Thaddeus Young(16 ppg, 6.4 rpg) the Denver Nuggets reign supreme in the most competitive season in The New Millennium's history. Right behind them are the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, as Stephen Curry(24.7 ppg, 11.1 apg) wins his fourth MVP, tying Wilt Chamberlain in real life. Behind them you find a lot of the usual suspects, and I'll give a shout-out to Devin Booker(20.6 ppg, 5.3 apg) who I'm pretty sure led the Kings to their best record in this series. And hey, Minnesota is back in the playoffs, as Kevin Durant(28.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.2 apg) leads his old squad into the postseason for one more run. The Lakers improved massively thanks to Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic(15.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.9 apg), though the other LA was nowhere near as lucky, as the Clippers fell off a cliff.
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(53-29)
2. Toronto Raptors(51-31)
3. New York Knicks(51-31)
4. New Jersey Nets(49-33)
5. Indiana Pacers(48-34)
6. Detroit Pistons(48-34)
7. Milwaukee Bucks(46-36)
8. Washington Wizards(45-37)
9. Cleveland Cavliers(43-39)
10. Boston Celtics(41-41)
11. Charlotte Hornets(35-47)
12. Chicago Bulls(34-48)
13. Philadelphia 76ers(30-52)
14. Orlando Magic(30-52)
15. Miami Heat(19-63)
Atlanta remains atop the East, looking for redemption after being swept in the Finals last year, but they faced an extremely tough test in the Toronto Raptors. Toronto features the incredible Big 3 of Kyrie Irving(20.8 ppg, 5.4 apg), Paul George(18.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Giannis Antetokounmpo(19.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 6.3 apg), who looks to deliver glory to all of Canada once more. The Eastern Conference is absolutely stacked, and resulted in absolute heartbreak for the poor Cavaliers, who had their first winning season in absolutely forever but still didn't make the playoffs. The Hornets still can't get their act together, with star James Harden(22.3 ppg, 7.4 apg) about ready to leave, though Charlotte still has one other future superstar in DeAndre Ayton(14.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg). The Bulls finally missed their first playoffs since 2002, and with an aging, subpar roster, might be ready to completely rebuild. And the Miami Heat remained awful, but at least the future is now bright with Trae Young(16.9 ppg).
Awards
MVP: Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Sixth Man: Isaiah Thomas, Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: C.J. McCollum, Vancouver Grizzlies
Coach of the Year: Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets(54-28)
2. Dallas Mavericks(51-31)
3. Phoenix Suns(49-33)
4. Sacramento Kings(45-37)
5. Utah Jazz(43-39)
6. San Antonio Spurs(42-40)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves(42-40)
8. Golden State Warriors(42-40)
9. Houston Rockets(40-42)
10. Vancouver Grizzlies(40-42)
11. Los Angeles Lakers(35-47)
12. Seattle SuperSonics(35-47)
13. New Orleans Pelicans(32-50)
14. Portland Trail Blazers(31-51)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(26-56)
Led by the trio of Tyreke Evans(16.7 ppg, 6.6 apg), Dion Waiters(18.4 ppg) and Thaddeus Young(16 ppg, 6.4 rpg) the Denver Nuggets reign supreme in the most competitive season in The New Millennium's history. Right behind them are the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, as Stephen Curry(24.7 ppg, 11.1 apg) wins his fourth MVP, tying Wilt Chamberlain in real life. Behind them you find a lot of the usual suspects, and I'll give a shout-out to Devin Booker(20.6 ppg, 5.3 apg) who I'm pretty sure led the Kings to their best record in this series. And hey, Minnesota is back in the playoffs, as Kevin Durant(28.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.2 apg) leads his old squad into the postseason for one more run. The Lakers improved massively thanks to Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic(15.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.9 apg), though the other LA was nowhere near as lucky, as the Clippers fell off a cliff.
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(53-29)
2. Toronto Raptors(51-31)
3. New York Knicks(51-31)
4. New Jersey Nets(49-33)
5. Indiana Pacers(48-34)
6. Detroit Pistons(48-34)
7. Milwaukee Bucks(46-36)
8. Washington Wizards(45-37)
9. Cleveland Cavliers(43-39)
10. Boston Celtics(41-41)
11. Charlotte Hornets(35-47)
12. Chicago Bulls(34-48)
13. Philadelphia 76ers(30-52)
14. Orlando Magic(30-52)
15. Miami Heat(19-63)
Atlanta remains atop the East, looking for redemption after being swept in the Finals last year, but they faced an extremely tough test in the Toronto Raptors. Toronto features the incredible Big 3 of Kyrie Irving(20.8 ppg, 5.4 apg), Paul George(18.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Giannis Antetokounmpo(19.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 6.3 apg), who looks to deliver glory to all of Canada once more. The Eastern Conference is absolutely stacked, and resulted in absolute heartbreak for the poor Cavaliers, who had their first winning season in absolutely forever but still didn't make the playoffs. The Hornets still can't get their act together, with star James Harden(22.3 ppg, 7.4 apg) about ready to leave, though Charlotte still has one other future superstar in DeAndre Ayton(14.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg). The Bulls finally missed their first playoffs since 2002, and with an aging, subpar roster, might be ready to completely rebuild. And the Miami Heat remained awful, but at least the future is now bright with Trae Young(16.9 ppg).
Awards
MVP: Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Sixth Man: Isaiah Thomas, Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: C.J. McCollum, Vancouver Grizzlies
Coach of the Year: Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets
Friday, September 13, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Final Destination)
Last time on The New Millennium, new acquisition DeMarcus Cousins led Stephen Curry and the Dallas Mavericks to their second title of the series, besting LeBron James and the Hawks. Now, the final offseason is upon us and changes are coming.
Player Retirements
Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Colin Braun, Julio McDaniels, Clifton Davenport, Damien Baxter, Damon Stallworth, Cliff Hobbs and Jason Richardson. Kobe, McGrady and Richardson would all be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Draft Lottery
The Lakers and Cavaliers were the losers of the lottery this time, as LA fell to pick number four while Cleveland had to settle for five. The Hornets moved up to third, and the Miami Heat, who trade away both Derrick Rose and Boogie Cousins in the past few years, won the lottery, beating out the Warriors for the top spot.
- The Golden State Warriors trade the 2018 2nd overall pick and PF J.T. Samuel(85 OVR) to the Los Angeles Lakers for SG Itsi Bajza(87 OVR)-
Golden State had a poor year but are absolutely not rebuilding, so give up the second pick to acquire Bajza, who had a very good season(15.6 ppg) on the awful Lakers squad. Los Angeles now receives their second pick in the top four, and are poised to get a few more good pieces.
2018 NBA Draft
(Henry's Note- I actually made this draft class myself, importing player DNA from every rookie I could find, and because of that, the class is almost entirely full of real players, unlike the classes 2k puts out. It would be way too long for me to list all the real players drafted here, so instead, I've given you a link to check out the entire class in full)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XY5n3SVstbi3xWz1R4IIvpJBwZnTu6CCaxXPtBbNazU/edit?usp=sharing
Free Agency
(Apparently DeMarcus Cousins had a player option in his contract, which he took so this free agency ended up being incredibly dull)
Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:
SF Bojan Bogdanovic(85 OVR), Los Angeles Lakers, 3 years, 44 million dollars
SF Kelly Oubre Jr.(80 OVR), Dallas Mavericks, 3 years, 32 million dollars
Trade Summary
There were no really, really big trades made, but there were still quite a few that should have relevance for the postseason picture. The Utah Jazz picked up Jonas Valanciunas(89 OVR) who should pair well with Anthony Davis(97 OVR) while the Bucks brought back D.J. Augustin(88 OVR). The Bulls sent Joel Owens(88 OVR) to the Clippers to pick up 22 year old wingman Justise Winslow(83 OVR). In what was probably the biggest name trade, the Hornets sent Tony Parker(89 OVR) to Minnesota, before picking up Eric Bledsoe(90 OVR) from the Wizards for SF Calbert Walton(84 OVR) and a pick. The Celtics acquired Javier Sanchez(87 OVR) from the Magic and John Collins(86 OVR) from the Kings, as they prepare for another playoff run this year. A couple other big men switched teams, as Serge Ibaka(89 OVR) moved from Orlando to Sacramento and the Pacers got Vincent Curtis(89 OVR) from Portland.
Player Retirements
Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Colin Braun, Julio McDaniels, Clifton Davenport, Damien Baxter, Damon Stallworth, Cliff Hobbs and Jason Richardson. Kobe, McGrady and Richardson would all be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Draft Lottery
The Lakers and Cavaliers were the losers of the lottery this time, as LA fell to pick number four while Cleveland had to settle for five. The Hornets moved up to third, and the Miami Heat, who trade away both Derrick Rose and Boogie Cousins in the past few years, won the lottery, beating out the Warriors for the top spot.
- The Golden State Warriors trade the 2018 2nd overall pick and PF J.T. Samuel(85 OVR) to the Los Angeles Lakers for SG Itsi Bajza(87 OVR)-
Golden State had a poor year but are absolutely not rebuilding, so give up the second pick to acquire Bajza, who had a very good season(15.6 ppg) on the awful Lakers squad. Los Angeles now receives their second pick in the top four, and are poised to get a few more good pieces.
2018 NBA Draft
(Henry's Note- I actually made this draft class myself, importing player DNA from every rookie I could find, and because of that, the class is almost entirely full of real players, unlike the classes 2k puts out. It would be way too long for me to list all the real players drafted here, so instead, I've given you a link to check out the entire class in full)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XY5n3SVstbi3xWz1R4IIvpJBwZnTu6CCaxXPtBbNazU/edit?usp=sharing
Free Agency
(Apparently DeMarcus Cousins had a player option in his contract, which he took so this free agency ended up being incredibly dull)
Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:
SF Bojan Bogdanovic(85 OVR), Los Angeles Lakers, 3 years, 44 million dollars
SF Kelly Oubre Jr.(80 OVR), Dallas Mavericks, 3 years, 32 million dollars
Trade Summary
There were no really, really big trades made, but there were still quite a few that should have relevance for the postseason picture. The Utah Jazz picked up Jonas Valanciunas(89 OVR) who should pair well with Anthony Davis(97 OVR) while the Bucks brought back D.J. Augustin(88 OVR). The Bulls sent Joel Owens(88 OVR) to the Clippers to pick up 22 year old wingman Justise Winslow(83 OVR). In what was probably the biggest name trade, the Hornets sent Tony Parker(89 OVR) to Minnesota, before picking up Eric Bledsoe(90 OVR) from the Wizards for SF Calbert Walton(84 OVR) and a pick. The Celtics acquired Javier Sanchez(87 OVR) from the Magic and John Collins(86 OVR) from the Kings, as they prepare for another playoff run this year. A couple other big men switched teams, as Serge Ibaka(89 OVR) moved from Orlando to Sacramento and the Pacers got Vincent Curtis(89 OVR) from Portland.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Big Man Boogie)
Last time on The New Millennium, the Spurs and Hawks continued to dominate their respective conferences, with LeBron taking home his third MVP. But none of it matters if you can't win in the playoffs, and both teams are seeking redemption for the past few years of heartbreak. Who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2018 NBA Championship?
First Round
This time, there would be no mistakes for Atlanta. LeBron led his fired up Hawks squad to an absolute romp in their first round, easily sweeping the defending champion Bucks. The Pacers and Celtics had themselves a great series, but in the end, it was Boston's clutch ability that led them through, as LaMarcus Aldridge hit the game winner to send Indiana home. Meanwhile, the Knicks fell victim to the force of nature known as Russell Westbrook, who dominated Chris Paul in every facet of the game on the way to a 3-1 series win. The Pistons would be met in the second round by the Nets, who swept past the Bulls thanks to their great backcourt of Derrick Rose and midseason signing C.J. McCollum.
Out West, the feisty SuperSonics gave the Spurs a run for their money, pushing the best team in the NBA all the way to a Game 5 before San Antonio rallied to advance. Denver, led by the extremely underappreciated Thaddeus Young, took down the Utah Jazz in 4, and the Mavericks would do the same to the Grizzlies. But the biggest story of the first round came out of the west coast, as the Phoenix Suns simply couldn't handle Devin Booker and the Kings. Booker took down his real life team in 4, and got plenty of help from wing partner Brandon Ingram and former NBA Finals MVP Sherman Conway in the successful upset.
Second Round
The East remained fairly lopsided, and started out as the Hawks quickly dispatched of the Celtics as Atlanta's Alec Burks thoroughly outclassed Boston's Eric Gordon in all 5 games. In another upset, the New Jersey Nets, former 3-time NBA Champions with all the firepower in the world, fell in 5 to the Detroit Pistons, as Russell Westbrook outdueled Derrick Rose, highlighted by a 40 point performance in the Game 4 win.
The Spurs survived an upset attempt in the first round, and looked stronger for it, as the Denver Nuggets went down in 5. Denver was actually pushing hard for the top spot in the West for most of the year, but this series was extremely lopsided, as Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Love were just so much better than anything the Nuggets could offer. But the Mavericks were not nearly as fortunate, as they ran up against the young and hungry Kings, as Devin Booker, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram gave the heavily favored Mavericks all they could handle. In Game 7, Dallas finally woke up, as the big man trio of Enes Kanter, DeMarcus Cousins and Zach Randolph took control inside, allowing Stephen Curry to hit seven threes in a blowout win to advance.
Conference Finals
As the seasons have gone on, the Dallas Mavericks have improved massively on defense, and it showed in this inter-Texas battle against the Spurs. Marvin Williams and DeMarcus Cousins harassed Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Love all series long, and while San Antonio was able to take two games, it all unraveled in the end. Game 6 was the demise of the Spurs, as Kawhi Leonard shot just 1-8 from the floor, and the Mavericks back-up point guard Isaiah Thomas came off the bench for 23 points to send Dallas to another NBA Finals.
The Hawks vs the Pistons was a match between teams with very different identities, as Detroit's backcourt of Westbrook and Arthur Stinson frequently combined to win them games, while Atlana's frountcourt of James, Jimmie Lydon and Dwight Howard traded right back. It all came down to a Game 7, which was dead even for most of the first half. In the second, Jrue Holiday absolutely locked down Russell Westbrook, who would finish just 8-25 shooting, while LeBron and J.R. Smith provided more than enough scoring, combining for 54 points and Atlanta was one step away.
NBA Finals
A lot of fans were very excited to see the first ever playoff matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, and while James logged 37 points in Game 1, Curry was largely held in check. Zach LaVine made some big plays down the stretch for Dallas, but an Alec Burks buzzer-beater for Atlanta sent it to overtime. In the extra period, James and DeMarcus Cousins exchanged buckets and assists, but it was Curry who hit the dagger on a wide-open three to win Game 1. The Mavericks had all the momentum heading into Game 2, and it showed, as Atlanta ended up down by 24 at the half and never recovered, as Cousins had his way with Dwight Howard, notching 25 points and 15 rebounds.
The Atlanta Hawks were by this point a complete mess, and the wheels once again fell off in another blowout in Game 3. This time it was Curry who absolutely killed Atlanta hitting 10 threes to finish with 39 points and leave the Mavericks one win away from a sweep and the title. With everything left to do, the Hawks started strong in Game 4, as J.R. Smith drilled one big shot after another as Atlanta was up 6 at halftime. But with Curry and LaVine struggling, it was on Cousins to step up and save Dallas, and he did just that. Cousins filled up the stat sheet, scoring 39 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, but saved his best for last. With LeBron dragging his team back into the game, Atlanta's franchise player hit two big dunks. But when he went for a third, Cousins blocked him at the rim, before taking off with the ball to set up an easy three for LaVine. On the next possession, Cousins blocked Howard at the rim, before setting up a dagger three for Curry, and Dallas went wild. In the end, it was all about the big man, as the preseason acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins will go down as one of the best in The New Millennium's history. The Mavericks cruised to victory, and Cousins was mobbed, the absolute heart and soul of the franchise. The Dallas Mavericks are your 2018 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: DeMarcus Cousins(23.8 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.3 blkpg)
Boogie Cousins has seen his stock plummet in real life, with multiple devastating injuries that, as of this writing, leave his career in a state of limbo. But in this series, he almost fills the Kawhi Leonard role, the player traded for before the season started who leads the team to glory. And just like Leonard, his contract has now expired, and according to the game, he's testing free agency. That's the headliner for what will be the final offseason of The New Millennium, coming tomorrow.
First Round
This time, there would be no mistakes for Atlanta. LeBron led his fired up Hawks squad to an absolute romp in their first round, easily sweeping the defending champion Bucks. The Pacers and Celtics had themselves a great series, but in the end, it was Boston's clutch ability that led them through, as LaMarcus Aldridge hit the game winner to send Indiana home. Meanwhile, the Knicks fell victim to the force of nature known as Russell Westbrook, who dominated Chris Paul in every facet of the game on the way to a 3-1 series win. The Pistons would be met in the second round by the Nets, who swept past the Bulls thanks to their great backcourt of Derrick Rose and midseason signing C.J. McCollum.
Out West, the feisty SuperSonics gave the Spurs a run for their money, pushing the best team in the NBA all the way to a Game 5 before San Antonio rallied to advance. Denver, led by the extremely underappreciated Thaddeus Young, took down the Utah Jazz in 4, and the Mavericks would do the same to the Grizzlies. But the biggest story of the first round came out of the west coast, as the Phoenix Suns simply couldn't handle Devin Booker and the Kings. Booker took down his real life team in 4, and got plenty of help from wing partner Brandon Ingram and former NBA Finals MVP Sherman Conway in the successful upset.
Second Round
The East remained fairly lopsided, and started out as the Hawks quickly dispatched of the Celtics as Atlanta's Alec Burks thoroughly outclassed Boston's Eric Gordon in all 5 games. In another upset, the New Jersey Nets, former 3-time NBA Champions with all the firepower in the world, fell in 5 to the Detroit Pistons, as Russell Westbrook outdueled Derrick Rose, highlighted by a 40 point performance in the Game 4 win.
The Spurs survived an upset attempt in the first round, and looked stronger for it, as the Denver Nuggets went down in 5. Denver was actually pushing hard for the top spot in the West for most of the year, but this series was extremely lopsided, as Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Love were just so much better than anything the Nuggets could offer. But the Mavericks were not nearly as fortunate, as they ran up against the young and hungry Kings, as Devin Booker, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram gave the heavily favored Mavericks all they could handle. In Game 7, Dallas finally woke up, as the big man trio of Enes Kanter, DeMarcus Cousins and Zach Randolph took control inside, allowing Stephen Curry to hit seven threes in a blowout win to advance.
Conference Finals
As the seasons have gone on, the Dallas Mavericks have improved massively on defense, and it showed in this inter-Texas battle against the Spurs. Marvin Williams and DeMarcus Cousins harassed Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Love all series long, and while San Antonio was able to take two games, it all unraveled in the end. Game 6 was the demise of the Spurs, as Kawhi Leonard shot just 1-8 from the floor, and the Mavericks back-up point guard Isaiah Thomas came off the bench for 23 points to send Dallas to another NBA Finals.
The Hawks vs the Pistons was a match between teams with very different identities, as Detroit's backcourt of Westbrook and Arthur Stinson frequently combined to win them games, while Atlana's frountcourt of James, Jimmie Lydon and Dwight Howard traded right back. It all came down to a Game 7, which was dead even for most of the first half. In the second, Jrue Holiday absolutely locked down Russell Westbrook, who would finish just 8-25 shooting, while LeBron and J.R. Smith provided more than enough scoring, combining for 54 points and Atlanta was one step away.
NBA Finals
A lot of fans were very excited to see the first ever playoff matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, and while James logged 37 points in Game 1, Curry was largely held in check. Zach LaVine made some big plays down the stretch for Dallas, but an Alec Burks buzzer-beater for Atlanta sent it to overtime. In the extra period, James and DeMarcus Cousins exchanged buckets and assists, but it was Curry who hit the dagger on a wide-open three to win Game 1. The Mavericks had all the momentum heading into Game 2, and it showed, as Atlanta ended up down by 24 at the half and never recovered, as Cousins had his way with Dwight Howard, notching 25 points and 15 rebounds.
The Atlanta Hawks were by this point a complete mess, and the wheels once again fell off in another blowout in Game 3. This time it was Curry who absolutely killed Atlanta hitting 10 threes to finish with 39 points and leave the Mavericks one win away from a sweep and the title. With everything left to do, the Hawks started strong in Game 4, as J.R. Smith drilled one big shot after another as Atlanta was up 6 at halftime. But with Curry and LaVine struggling, it was on Cousins to step up and save Dallas, and he did just that. Cousins filled up the stat sheet, scoring 39 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, but saved his best for last. With LeBron dragging his team back into the game, Atlanta's franchise player hit two big dunks. But when he went for a third, Cousins blocked him at the rim, before taking off with the ball to set up an easy three for LaVine. On the next possession, Cousins blocked Howard at the rim, before setting up a dagger three for Curry, and Dallas went wild. In the end, it was all about the big man, as the preseason acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins will go down as one of the best in The New Millennium's history. The Mavericks cruised to victory, and Cousins was mobbed, the absolute heart and soul of the franchise. The Dallas Mavericks are your 2018 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: DeMarcus Cousins(23.8 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.3 blkpg)
Boogie Cousins has seen his stock plummet in real life, with multiple devastating injuries that, as of this writing, leave his career in a state of limbo. But in this series, he almost fills the Kawhi Leonard role, the player traded for before the season started who leads the team to glory. And just like Leonard, his contract has now expired, and according to the game, he's testing free agency. That's the headliner for what will be the final offseason of The New Millennium, coming tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Crown of Thorns)
Last time on The New Millennium, some lower tier teams found success in the offseason, with the Wizards starting things off by taking Donovan Mitchell first overall in the draft. The Pelicans took Jayson Tatum and Lauri Markkanen, before signing Jimmy Butler, the Clippers got Al Horford in free agency and the Lakers drafted De'Aaron Fox. In trades before the season, the contenders loaded up, with the Mavericks making the biggest splash after acquiring DeMarcus Cousins. The Lakers sold off pieces, sending Carlos Boozer to New Jersey, Dorell Moncrief to Milwaukee and Dante Exum to Chicago. The Grizzlies also sold, as Tyson Chandler was sent to the Hornets, Marvin Williams went to Dallas and Rajon Rondo joined the Magic, while the Kings finally got a top big man, trading Joe Johnson to Philly for Sherman Conway. Finally, after a great rookie season, Buddy Hield was sent to the defending champion Bucks, as Washington cleared the way for Mitchell. How will these changes affect the 2017-2018 regular season?
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs(59-23)
2. Phoenix Suns(50-32)
3. Dallas Mavericks(50-32)
4. Denver Nuggets(49-33)
5. Utah Jazz(47-35)
6. Vancouver Grizzlies(43-39)
7. Sacramento Kings(39-43)
8. Seattle SuperSonics(38-44)
9. Portland Trail Blazers(37-45)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves(35-47)
11. Los Angeles Clippers(34-48)
12. New Orleans Pelicans(34-48)
13. Golden State Warriors(33-49)
14. Houston Rockets(33-49)
15. Los Angeles Lakers(22-60)
A year removed from their catastrophic collapse in the NBA Finals, the Spurs fell just one win short of becoming the first team in this series' history to win 60 games in back to back years. The Suns have turned into a powerhouse, thanks in large part to Anton Kozlov(16.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) turning back the years. Despite trading away their best players, the Grizzlies still made the playoffs anyways thanks to a stupendous home record, while young teams in Sacramento and Seattle get in with losing records. It's become clear that nothing Timberwolves management are doing is going to save their team, as Kevin Durant gets more and more frustrated, desperate to win his first ring. But nothing's as bad as the Lakers' fall from grace, as this once well-respected giant falls all the way to rock bottom, but they should have a very high pick, as young stars like Luka Doncic, Trae Young and DeAndre Ayton wait in the draft class.
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(53-29)
2. New Jersey Nets(52-30)
3. New York Knicks(49-33)
4. Indiana Pacers(49-33)
5. Boston Celtics(47-35)
6. Detroit Pistons(46-36)
7. Chicago Bulls(45-37)
8. Milwaukee Bucks(44-38)
9. Philadelphia 76ers(38-44)
10. Washington Wizards(38-44)
11. Toronto Raptors(38-44)
12. Orlando Magic(34-48)
13. Charlotte Hornets(33-49)
14. Cleveland Cavaliers(32-50)
15. Miami Heat(29-53)
For the third time in his career, LeBron James(25.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 7.6 apg) is the MVP, leading an Atlanta team that has fallen in the first round two years in a row. They get a rematch with the defending champion Bucks, who seem incapable of dominance in the regular season but remain dangerous for the playoffs. The rest of the list features a large amount of the usual suspects, so it's more interesting to look at the teams who missed out on the playoffs. The Wizards could've hoped for a better rookie year from Donovan Mitchell(10.6 ppg), but they still improved massively regardless. The Raptors struggled on defense for the first half of the year, improving in the second half when it was too little, too late. Orlando adding Rajon Rondo(10.7 ppg, 9.7 apg) did nothing to help them win games in the division, while the Hornets imploded thanks to the steep decline of Tony Parker(12.6 ppg, 7.7 apg) who is a shadow of his former self. Cleveland remains awful, and Miami fell to last but will get a good shot at a top pick.
Awards
MVP: LeBron James, Atlanta Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Douglas Edwin, New Orleans Pelicans
Sixth Man: D'Angelo Russell, Phoenix Suns
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Yuri Klimov, Orlando Magic
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs(59-23)
2. Phoenix Suns(50-32)
3. Dallas Mavericks(50-32)
4. Denver Nuggets(49-33)
5. Utah Jazz(47-35)
6. Vancouver Grizzlies(43-39)
7. Sacramento Kings(39-43)
8. Seattle SuperSonics(38-44)
9. Portland Trail Blazers(37-45)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves(35-47)
11. Los Angeles Clippers(34-48)
12. New Orleans Pelicans(34-48)
13. Golden State Warriors(33-49)
14. Houston Rockets(33-49)
15. Los Angeles Lakers(22-60)
A year removed from their catastrophic collapse in the NBA Finals, the Spurs fell just one win short of becoming the first team in this series' history to win 60 games in back to back years. The Suns have turned into a powerhouse, thanks in large part to Anton Kozlov(16.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) turning back the years. Despite trading away their best players, the Grizzlies still made the playoffs anyways thanks to a stupendous home record, while young teams in Sacramento and Seattle get in with losing records. It's become clear that nothing Timberwolves management are doing is going to save their team, as Kevin Durant gets more and more frustrated, desperate to win his first ring. But nothing's as bad as the Lakers' fall from grace, as this once well-respected giant falls all the way to rock bottom, but they should have a very high pick, as young stars like Luka Doncic, Trae Young and DeAndre Ayton wait in the draft class.
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(53-29)
2. New Jersey Nets(52-30)
3. New York Knicks(49-33)
4. Indiana Pacers(49-33)
5. Boston Celtics(47-35)
6. Detroit Pistons(46-36)
7. Chicago Bulls(45-37)
8. Milwaukee Bucks(44-38)
9. Philadelphia 76ers(38-44)
10. Washington Wizards(38-44)
11. Toronto Raptors(38-44)
12. Orlando Magic(34-48)
13. Charlotte Hornets(33-49)
14. Cleveland Cavaliers(32-50)
15. Miami Heat(29-53)
For the third time in his career, LeBron James(25.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 7.6 apg) is the MVP, leading an Atlanta team that has fallen in the first round two years in a row. They get a rematch with the defending champion Bucks, who seem incapable of dominance in the regular season but remain dangerous for the playoffs. The rest of the list features a large amount of the usual suspects, so it's more interesting to look at the teams who missed out on the playoffs. The Wizards could've hoped for a better rookie year from Donovan Mitchell(10.6 ppg), but they still improved massively regardless. The Raptors struggled on defense for the first half of the year, improving in the second half when it was too little, too late. Orlando adding Rajon Rondo(10.7 ppg, 9.7 apg) did nothing to help them win games in the division, while the Hornets imploded thanks to the steep decline of Tony Parker(12.6 ppg, 7.7 apg) who is a shadow of his former self. Cleveland remains awful, and Miami fell to last but will get a good shot at a top pick.
Awards
MVP: LeBron James, Atlanta Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Douglas Edwin, New Orleans Pelicans
Sixth Man: D'Angelo Russell, Phoenix Suns
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Yuri Klimov, Orlando Magic
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Restocking)
Last time on The New Millennium, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first title in over four decades, as their young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, C.J. McCollum and more led them to an enthralling seven game victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.
Player Retirements
Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Travis Sanders, Yao Ming, David West and Toni Petrovic. Dirk, Yao and West all made it into the Hall of Fame.
Draft Lottery
The big losers in this lottery were the 76ers, who dropped to pick number 5. Taking their spot in the top 3 were the Wizards, who used a little bit of magic(wink) to leapfrog their way up to the top pick in the draft. The Clippers and Pelicans round out the top 3, while the Heat will pick at number 4.
2017 NBA Draft
1. SG Donovan Mitchell, Washington Wizards(Certainly a dynamic and exciting player, should bring life back to the franchise)
2. PG Chao Snyder, Los Angeles Clippers
3. SF Jayson Tatum, New Orleans Pelicans
4. PF Kyle Kuzma, Miami Heat
5. C Bam Adebayo, Philadelphia 76ers(I mean, it's a big man driven league, but this is a strange pick)
6. PG Lonzo Ball, Seattle SuperSonics(Someone give Seattle an intervention, they just keep drafting guards)
7. PF John Collins, Sacramento Kings(Quality big man for a team that needed one)
8. PF Lauri Markkanen, New Orleans Pelicans(Well, this team can shoot at least)
9. SF Josh Jackson, Cleveland Cavaliers(Yeah, this ain't saving the franchise)
10. PG Markelle Fultz, Minnesota Timberwolves(It's hard to ignore how things went in real life, but he should develop well playing with KD)
11. PG De'Aaron Fox, Los Angeles Lakers(Great pick, great fit)
12. SF Clayton Webb, Vancouver Grizzlies
13. PG Dennis Smith Jr., Toronto Raptors
14. PF Hugh Mills, Indiana Pacers
15. PG Mingyu Su, Milwaukee Bucks
16. SF Jonathan Isaac, Boston Celtics
17. SG Josh Hart, Washington Wizards
18. PF Jordan Bell, Orlando Magic
19. PF Semi Ojeleye, Phoenix Suns
20. SF OG Anunoby, Golden State Warriors
21. SF Dillon Brooks, Utah Jazz
22. SG Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Lakers
25. SG Sindarius Thornwell, New York Knicks
26. PG Frank Ntilikina, Detroit Pistons
27. C Harry Giles, Sacramento Kings
28. PF Tyler Lydon, Atlanta Hawks
30. PF Caleb Swanigan, Los Angeles Clippers
31. PG Derrick White, Chicago Bulls
32. SF Terrance Ferguson, Seattle SuperSonics
33. SF Dwayne Bacon, Miami Heat
34. SG Malik Monk, Houston Rockets
36. SG Davon Reed, Seattle SuperSonics
39. PG Frank Mason, Sacramento Kings
42. SG Sterling Brown, Toronto Raptors
44. SG Damyean Dotson, Houston Rockets
45. PF D.J. Wilson, Indiana Pacers
47. PG Frank Jackson, Utah Jazz
48. SF Wesley Iwundu, New Jersey Nets
50. C Tony Bradley, Atlanta Hawks
51. C Jarrett Allen, New Orleans Pelicans
52. PF T.J. Leaf, Atlanta Hawks
53. PF Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers
54. SG Kadeem Allen, Chicago Bulls
55. PG Jawun Evans, Boston Celtics
56. C Justin Patton, Chicago Bulls
57. PF Ike Anigbogu, Toronto Raptors
58. C Thomas Bryant, Utah Jazz
60. PG Monte Morris, Charlotte Hornets
Free Agency
Here are the players who switched teams in free agency:
C Al Horford(91 OVR), Los Angeles Clippers, 4 years, 180 million dollars
SG Jimmy Butler(89 OVR), New Orleans Pelicans, 4 years, 120 million dollars
C Jesse Wilks(87 OVR), Cleveland Cavaliers, 4 years, 84 million dollars
C Kyle O'Quinn(84 OVR), Washington Wizards, 3 years, 42 million dollars
SF Solomon Hill(83 OVR), New Jersey Nets, 3 years, 32 million dollars
C Miles Plumlee(82 OVR), Los Angeles Clippers, 3 years, 20 million dollars
Offseason Summary
It's a long road back for the Clippers, who have lost more talent over the past 5 years than anyone else in the league. They've already got Gordon Hayward(91 OVR) and now sign Horford, plus get Chao Snyder(84 Potential) out of the draft. Maybe someday they'll reclaim their respectability. The Pelicans are also trying to rebuild their team, as they've lost the likes of Tony Parker, David West, Bradley Beal and DeMar DeRozan over the past couple years. They do get Tatum and Markkanen in the draft, plus sign Knicks hero Jimmy Butler, so maybe the Big Easy will have a team to cheer for in the near future. I do like the Kings getting Collins, I think he's a great fit for their team, as is Fox for the Lakers, who begin their life post-Kobe with Jaylen Brown(85 OVR, 87 Potential) and Myles Turner(84 OVR, 87 Potential).
Player Retirements
Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Travis Sanders, Yao Ming, David West and Toni Petrovic. Dirk, Yao and West all made it into the Hall of Fame.
Draft Lottery
The big losers in this lottery were the 76ers, who dropped to pick number 5. Taking their spot in the top 3 were the Wizards, who used a little bit of magic(wink) to leapfrog their way up to the top pick in the draft. The Clippers and Pelicans round out the top 3, while the Heat will pick at number 4.
2017 NBA Draft
1. SG Donovan Mitchell, Washington Wizards(Certainly a dynamic and exciting player, should bring life back to the franchise)
2. PG Chao Snyder, Los Angeles Clippers
3. SF Jayson Tatum, New Orleans Pelicans
4. PF Kyle Kuzma, Miami Heat
5. C Bam Adebayo, Philadelphia 76ers(I mean, it's a big man driven league, but this is a strange pick)
6. PG Lonzo Ball, Seattle SuperSonics(Someone give Seattle an intervention, they just keep drafting guards)
7. PF John Collins, Sacramento Kings(Quality big man for a team that needed one)
8. PF Lauri Markkanen, New Orleans Pelicans(Well, this team can shoot at least)
9. SF Josh Jackson, Cleveland Cavaliers(Yeah, this ain't saving the franchise)
10. PG Markelle Fultz, Minnesota Timberwolves(It's hard to ignore how things went in real life, but he should develop well playing with KD)
11. PG De'Aaron Fox, Los Angeles Lakers(Great pick, great fit)
12. SF Clayton Webb, Vancouver Grizzlies
13. PG Dennis Smith Jr., Toronto Raptors
14. PF Hugh Mills, Indiana Pacers
15. PG Mingyu Su, Milwaukee Bucks
16. SF Jonathan Isaac, Boston Celtics
17. SG Josh Hart, Washington Wizards
18. PF Jordan Bell, Orlando Magic
19. PF Semi Ojeleye, Phoenix Suns
20. SF OG Anunoby, Golden State Warriors
21. SF Dillon Brooks, Utah Jazz
22. SG Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Lakers
25. SG Sindarius Thornwell, New York Knicks
26. PG Frank Ntilikina, Detroit Pistons
27. C Harry Giles, Sacramento Kings
28. PF Tyler Lydon, Atlanta Hawks
30. PF Caleb Swanigan, Los Angeles Clippers
31. PG Derrick White, Chicago Bulls
32. SF Terrance Ferguson, Seattle SuperSonics
33. SF Dwayne Bacon, Miami Heat
34. SG Malik Monk, Houston Rockets
36. SG Davon Reed, Seattle SuperSonics
39. PG Frank Mason, Sacramento Kings
42. SG Sterling Brown, Toronto Raptors
44. SG Damyean Dotson, Houston Rockets
45. PF D.J. Wilson, Indiana Pacers
47. PG Frank Jackson, Utah Jazz
48. SF Wesley Iwundu, New Jersey Nets
50. C Tony Bradley, Atlanta Hawks
51. C Jarrett Allen, New Orleans Pelicans
52. PF T.J. Leaf, Atlanta Hawks
53. PF Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers
54. SG Kadeem Allen, Chicago Bulls
55. PG Jawun Evans, Boston Celtics
56. C Justin Patton, Chicago Bulls
57. PF Ike Anigbogu, Toronto Raptors
58. C Thomas Bryant, Utah Jazz
60. PG Monte Morris, Charlotte Hornets
Free Agency
Here are the players who switched teams in free agency:
C Al Horford(91 OVR), Los Angeles Clippers, 4 years, 180 million dollars
SG Jimmy Butler(89 OVR), New Orleans Pelicans, 4 years, 120 million dollars
C Jesse Wilks(87 OVR), Cleveland Cavaliers, 4 years, 84 million dollars
C Kyle O'Quinn(84 OVR), Washington Wizards, 3 years, 42 million dollars
SF Solomon Hill(83 OVR), New Jersey Nets, 3 years, 32 million dollars
C Miles Plumlee(82 OVR), Los Angeles Clippers, 3 years, 20 million dollars
Offseason Summary
It's a long road back for the Clippers, who have lost more talent over the past 5 years than anyone else in the league. They've already got Gordon Hayward(91 OVR) and now sign Horford, plus get Chao Snyder(84 Potential) out of the draft. Maybe someday they'll reclaim their respectability. The Pelicans are also trying to rebuild their team, as they've lost the likes of Tony Parker, David West, Bradley Beal and DeMar DeRozan over the past couple years. They do get Tatum and Markkanen in the draft, plus sign Knicks hero Jimmy Butler, so maybe the Big Easy will have a team to cheer for in the near future. I do like the Kings getting Collins, I think he's a great fit for their team, as is Fox for the Lakers, who begin their life post-Kobe with Jaylen Brown(85 OVR, 87 Potential) and Myles Turner(84 OVR, 87 Potential).
Monday, September 9, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(The Last Laugh)
Last time on The New Millennium, the Spurs and Hawks stayed atop both conferences, but new franchises rose up to take over the spots behind them. With three more rings up for grabs, who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2017 NBA Championship?
First Round
In the West, the Spurs dropped the first game to Houston before coasting to a 3-1 win, while big Tyreke Evans bodied Stephen Curry, as the Nuggets took down the Mavericks and joined San Antonio with both top seeds through to the second round. The Jazz would be next to face the Spurs, after eliminating the Warriors in a tough five game series. Utah's hero was Juwan Moncrief, acquired in the J.R. Smith trade, who dropped 53 points in the final two games against Golden State. Portland would also have a tough time against Phoenix, but it was big man Jimmie Owens who stepped up, leading the Trail Blazers to a Game 5 win to face Denver in the second round.
Out East, the Hawks and Bucks went at it, with Milwaukee desperate to send Atlanta home in the first round for the second year in a row. It went all the way to Game 5, where LeBron delivered his best game of the series, notching a triple-double and giving Atlanta a big lead. The Hawks promptly blew it, as Milwaukee came roaring back, leaving long-serving veteran Luol Deng to hit a game winner over LeBron as the Bucks advanced. The Nets would face the Bucks next, as a hard fought series with Chicago saw Derrick Rose lead the Nets to a blow-out win in Game 5. The Knicks would have no trouble against the Magic, winning in a sweep, while the Celtics pulled out another great upset, as LaMarcus Aldridge dominated Josh Smith and Joakim Noah in the post en route to a 3-1 win.
Second Round
The upsets just kept coming in the Eastern Conference, as the two lowest seeds in Milwaukee and Boston kept up the barrage. Despite Rose's best efforts, including 40 points in New Jersey's lone victory, the Nets couldn't keep up with the Porzingis-Towns duo, losing in 5. The Knicks were also defeated in 5, as Boston won thanks to the stellar play of Mike Conley, who led them to four straight wins never scoring less than 26 points, and dropped 50 to win Game 4.
It was the opposite story in the West, as top seeds San Antonio and Denver made it the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs had little trouble with the Jazz, as Kawhi Leonard brushed Utah aside with ease, but Denver was not nearly as lucky. Portland went up 3-1 thanks to Bradley Beal's scoring, but the Nuggets would rally. They shut Beal down, as he was held to a measly 4 points in Game 6, as Denver's excellent defense carried them to three straight wins.
Conference Finals
All hail the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite their incredibly young core, the Bucks have played far beyond their level, and have continued to improve throughout their playoff run. They were at their absolute best against the Celtics, who never really stood a chance. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Willie Lewis was completely unhelpful against Towns, Porzingis and midseason signing Nikola Vucevic. Mike Conley would lead Boston to one win, and the Celtics would force a Game 5, where they took a big lead heading into the 4th quarter. But just like Round 1, no lead is safe against the Bucks, as all three big men led an absolute rout, with Towns, Porzingis and Vucevic all scoring above 20 points and the Bucks powered their way to the NBA Finals.
It was a different story once again in the West, as the Nuggets and Spurs looked incredibly well matched, trading wins through the first 4 games. But in Game 5 in San Antonio, the Spurs' defense stepped up and Kawhi Leonard took control in a 30 point win to take a 3-2 lead. Now at home, the Nuggets rallied for a big lead, but couldn't hang on, as Leonard and Love combined for 30 points in the 4th quarter and the Spurs finally made it to the promised land.
NBA Finals
Two teams that hadn't tasted much success now squared off in the 2017 NBA Finals, and Game 1 was an interesting affair, as the stars on both sides were held in check. That allowed shooting guard Jodie Meeks to play the hero, as he led the Spurs with 19 points and a win on home floor. But Game 2 was dominated by one star in particular, as former NBA Champion Kevin Love came to play. He held Porzingis to 4-19 shooting, as the Bucks were limited to just 77 points in a dismal display, while Love notched 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and the Spurs won by 33 to go up 2-0.
The humiliated Bucks could have just folded there, but buoyed by a home crowd that had not seen a Finals game since 1974, Milwaukee rallied. Porzingis and Towns combined for 48 points and the Bucks defense limited Love to 5-20 shooting as the Bucks got their first win. Game 4 was a classic, a back and forth flow that saw both teams make big runs, as the stars traded back and forth. But in the end it was Kawhi Leonard who was the man, scoring 32 points to put the Bucks away and leave the Spurs with a chance to lift the title on their home court.
The Bucks started strong in Game 5, taking an early lead, but couldn't hold the Spurs off for long, as Leonard and Love led a comeback and had the game tied at halftime. But in the 3rd quarter, an unlikely hero emerged, as young Andrew Wiggins came off the bench for Milwaukee, and turned the game on its head. Wiggins blocked a shot from Leonard, before delivering two thunderous dunks and hitting a corner three, and the Bucks never looked back, rolling to an 18 point win to force Game 6.
Game 6 was once again led by a role player, and once again, the Bucks stepped up. After a very tight game the whole way through, it was shooting guard C.J. McCollum that took over in the 4th quarter with 14 points, part of 24 for the game, as the Milwaukee fans rejoiced. We're going to a Game 7!
After one hell of a series, it all came down to Game 7. The story of this game was focused on the Spurs, as after two losses in a row, San Antonio stayed one step ahead of their younger counterparts. Milwaukee just couldn't get over that final hurdle, trailing by 1 at halftime and by 1 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The 4th opened strong for the Spurs, who would take a 9 point lead led by Kawhi Leonard who totaled 38 points for the game. But Karl-Anthony Towns wasn't finished yet. Milwaukee's big man stepped up, denying everything at the rim, grabbing any rebound he could find and even hitting several three-pointers. With the interior secure, a battle outside emerged, as Leonard and McCollum traded threes, as the game reached a deadlock. But if we've learned anything about these Bucks, it's that they produce the most unlikely heroes....
Veteran Anders Fredriksson, 36 years old and a journeyman of the league, largely known after losing his starting job to Russell Westrbrook in Detroit and then John Wall in Phoenix. A career defined by others' success became his own, as Fredriksson delivered on the grandest stage, forcing several key turnovers. And then, finally, Kristaps Porzingis blew the game wide open, blocking three straight shots from Kevin Love, and running the fastbreak for dunk after dunk. Even Kawhi Leonard's magnificent performance did nothing to save the doomed Spurs, who were ran off their own court by nothing short of an unstoppable force. For the very first time, a team blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals, and when the final horn sounded, all of Milwaukee began to party like it's '71, baby! The Milwaukee Bucks are your 2017 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns(18.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1.6 blkpg)
I don't think anyone saw this one coming. Just a couple years removed from being the basement of the league, the Bucks narrowly make the playoffs and then completely demolish everyone in their path. An excellent NBA Finals, but a bitterly disappointing loss for the Spurs, who will certainly take plenty of abuse for this choke job. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2017 offseason, and perhaps see how could be next to build a roster as good as Milwaukee's.
First Round
In the West, the Spurs dropped the first game to Houston before coasting to a 3-1 win, while big Tyreke Evans bodied Stephen Curry, as the Nuggets took down the Mavericks and joined San Antonio with both top seeds through to the second round. The Jazz would be next to face the Spurs, after eliminating the Warriors in a tough five game series. Utah's hero was Juwan Moncrief, acquired in the J.R. Smith trade, who dropped 53 points in the final two games against Golden State. Portland would also have a tough time against Phoenix, but it was big man Jimmie Owens who stepped up, leading the Trail Blazers to a Game 5 win to face Denver in the second round.
Out East, the Hawks and Bucks went at it, with Milwaukee desperate to send Atlanta home in the first round for the second year in a row. It went all the way to Game 5, where LeBron delivered his best game of the series, notching a triple-double and giving Atlanta a big lead. The Hawks promptly blew it, as Milwaukee came roaring back, leaving long-serving veteran Luol Deng to hit a game winner over LeBron as the Bucks advanced. The Nets would face the Bucks next, as a hard fought series with Chicago saw Derrick Rose lead the Nets to a blow-out win in Game 5. The Knicks would have no trouble against the Magic, winning in a sweep, while the Celtics pulled out another great upset, as LaMarcus Aldridge dominated Josh Smith and Joakim Noah in the post en route to a 3-1 win.
Second Round
The upsets just kept coming in the Eastern Conference, as the two lowest seeds in Milwaukee and Boston kept up the barrage. Despite Rose's best efforts, including 40 points in New Jersey's lone victory, the Nets couldn't keep up with the Porzingis-Towns duo, losing in 5. The Knicks were also defeated in 5, as Boston won thanks to the stellar play of Mike Conley, who led them to four straight wins never scoring less than 26 points, and dropped 50 to win Game 4.
It was the opposite story in the West, as top seeds San Antonio and Denver made it the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs had little trouble with the Jazz, as Kawhi Leonard brushed Utah aside with ease, but Denver was not nearly as lucky. Portland went up 3-1 thanks to Bradley Beal's scoring, but the Nuggets would rally. They shut Beal down, as he was held to a measly 4 points in Game 6, as Denver's excellent defense carried them to three straight wins.
Conference Finals
All hail the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite their incredibly young core, the Bucks have played far beyond their level, and have continued to improve throughout their playoff run. They were at their absolute best against the Celtics, who never really stood a chance. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Willie Lewis was completely unhelpful against Towns, Porzingis and midseason signing Nikola Vucevic. Mike Conley would lead Boston to one win, and the Celtics would force a Game 5, where they took a big lead heading into the 4th quarter. But just like Round 1, no lead is safe against the Bucks, as all three big men led an absolute rout, with Towns, Porzingis and Vucevic all scoring above 20 points and the Bucks powered their way to the NBA Finals.
It was a different story once again in the West, as the Nuggets and Spurs looked incredibly well matched, trading wins through the first 4 games. But in Game 5 in San Antonio, the Spurs' defense stepped up and Kawhi Leonard took control in a 30 point win to take a 3-2 lead. Now at home, the Nuggets rallied for a big lead, but couldn't hang on, as Leonard and Love combined for 30 points in the 4th quarter and the Spurs finally made it to the promised land.
NBA Finals
Two teams that hadn't tasted much success now squared off in the 2017 NBA Finals, and Game 1 was an interesting affair, as the stars on both sides were held in check. That allowed shooting guard Jodie Meeks to play the hero, as he led the Spurs with 19 points and a win on home floor. But Game 2 was dominated by one star in particular, as former NBA Champion Kevin Love came to play. He held Porzingis to 4-19 shooting, as the Bucks were limited to just 77 points in a dismal display, while Love notched 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and the Spurs won by 33 to go up 2-0.
The humiliated Bucks could have just folded there, but buoyed by a home crowd that had not seen a Finals game since 1974, Milwaukee rallied. Porzingis and Towns combined for 48 points and the Bucks defense limited Love to 5-20 shooting as the Bucks got their first win. Game 4 was a classic, a back and forth flow that saw both teams make big runs, as the stars traded back and forth. But in the end it was Kawhi Leonard who was the man, scoring 32 points to put the Bucks away and leave the Spurs with a chance to lift the title on their home court.
The Bucks started strong in Game 5, taking an early lead, but couldn't hold the Spurs off for long, as Leonard and Love led a comeback and had the game tied at halftime. But in the 3rd quarter, an unlikely hero emerged, as young Andrew Wiggins came off the bench for Milwaukee, and turned the game on its head. Wiggins blocked a shot from Leonard, before delivering two thunderous dunks and hitting a corner three, and the Bucks never looked back, rolling to an 18 point win to force Game 6.
Game 6 was once again led by a role player, and once again, the Bucks stepped up. After a very tight game the whole way through, it was shooting guard C.J. McCollum that took over in the 4th quarter with 14 points, part of 24 for the game, as the Milwaukee fans rejoiced. We're going to a Game 7!
After one hell of a series, it all came down to Game 7. The story of this game was focused on the Spurs, as after two losses in a row, San Antonio stayed one step ahead of their younger counterparts. Milwaukee just couldn't get over that final hurdle, trailing by 1 at halftime and by 1 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The 4th opened strong for the Spurs, who would take a 9 point lead led by Kawhi Leonard who totaled 38 points for the game. But Karl-Anthony Towns wasn't finished yet. Milwaukee's big man stepped up, denying everything at the rim, grabbing any rebound he could find and even hitting several three-pointers. With the interior secure, a battle outside emerged, as Leonard and McCollum traded threes, as the game reached a deadlock. But if we've learned anything about these Bucks, it's that they produce the most unlikely heroes....
Veteran Anders Fredriksson, 36 years old and a journeyman of the league, largely known after losing his starting job to Russell Westrbrook in Detroit and then John Wall in Phoenix. A career defined by others' success became his own, as Fredriksson delivered on the grandest stage, forcing several key turnovers. And then, finally, Kristaps Porzingis blew the game wide open, blocking three straight shots from Kevin Love, and running the fastbreak for dunk after dunk. Even Kawhi Leonard's magnificent performance did nothing to save the doomed Spurs, who were ran off their own court by nothing short of an unstoppable force. For the very first time, a team blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals, and when the final horn sounded, all of Milwaukee began to party like it's '71, baby! The Milwaukee Bucks are your 2017 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns(18.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1.6 blkpg)
I don't think anyone saw this one coming. Just a couple years removed from being the basement of the league, the Bucks narrowly make the playoffs and then completely demolish everyone in their path. An excellent NBA Finals, but a bitterly disappointing loss for the Spurs, who will certainly take plenty of abuse for this choke job. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2017 offseason, and perhaps see how could be next to build a roster as good as Milwaukee's.
Sunday, September 8, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Fresh Start)
Last time on The New Millennium, the Toronto Raptors made a big move, trading away their third overall pick to acquire Kyrie Irving, while another star guard in John Wall got a massive contract to join the basement dwelling Wizards. In trades before the season, the Miami Heat blew everything up, trading away their franchise point guard Derrick Rose to the New Jersey Nets, while Zach LaVine was sent to Dallas. The Hawks got J.R. Smith from Utah, while the Bulls picked up forward Jack Jamison from Cleveland for Andre Igoudala. The Bulls also sent away veteran Damien Baxter to San Antonio, the Knicks got some extra scoring in Willis Hammonds from Philly and the SuperSonics sent DeMar DeRozan to New Orleans for DeAndre Jordan. How will all of these changes affect the 2016-2017 season?
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs(60-22)
2. Denver Nuggets(55-27)
3. Portland Trail Blazers(48-34)
4. Golden State Warriors(47-35)
5. Utah Jazz(47-35)
6. Phoenix Suns(45-37)
7. Dallas Mavericks(43-39)
8. Houston Rockets(41-41)
9. Vancouver Grizzlies(39-43)
10. Los Angeles Lakers(37-45)
11. Minnesota Timberwolves(36-46)
12. Sacramento Kings(34-48)
13. Seattle SuperSonics(33-49)
14. New Orleans Pelicans(23-59)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(19-63)
The Spurs joined the exclusive 60 win club in another dominant season, but what is very interesting is the names lined up behind them. You have Denver, led by breakout star Victor Oladipo(22.4 ppg) and Portland, who signed Bradley Beal(21.5 ppg) before the season started. Dallas fell all the way to seventh, while shockingly, Minnesota fell out of the playoff picture in a season where they failed to find success on the road. Sacramento started in last place, making a midseason trade for C Carson Rollins(86 OVR) that at least got them out of the cellar, but they have completely failed to provide a good landing spot for Joe Johnson(19 ppg). New Orleans fell hard after trading away Jordan and losing Beal, though no one was as bad as the Clippers, who were so putrid that Gordon Hayward(26.2 ppg) took almost every shot and led the league in scoring, so there's that.
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(55-27)
2. Detroit Pistons(53-29)
3. New York Knicks(53-29)
4. New Jersey Nets(52-30)
5. Chicago Bulls(48-34)
6. Orlando Magic(43-39)
7. Boston Celtics(42-40)
8. Milwaukee Bucks(42-40)
9. Indiana Pacers(41-41)
10. Toronto Raptors(39-43)
11. Cleveland Cavaliers(34-48)
12. Charlotte Hornets(34-48)
13. Washington Wizards(32-50)
14. Philadelphia 76ers(28-54)
15. Miami Heat(27-55)
A lot of the usual suspects making in the East, though Detroit made a huge improvement thanks to a career year from Arthur Stinson(20.1 ppg). And New Jersey is once again a major threat after an absolutely ridiculous season from Derrick Rose(28.9 ppg, 10 apg) that won him his first MVP. Also, a big shout-out to the Bucks, who have improved so much in the past few years that they beat out the ever present Pacers for the final playoff spot. Milwaukee is led by the big man duo of Kristaps Porzingis(20.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Karl-Anthony Towns(18.4 ppg, 11.6 rpg), and should provide an excellent early test for LeBron and the Hawks. Toronto also made massive strides this year, but fell just short in the end, and Charlotte just can't figure things out. And in a stiff competition for the worst record in the East, Miami won out in the end, with the third best odds to claim the #1 overall pick.
Awards
MVP: Derrick Rose, New Jersey Nets
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons, Cleveland Cavaliers
Sixth Man: Ricky Rubio, Detroit Pistons
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Derrick Rose, New Jersey Nets
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Ben Simmons, by the way, was mostly a bench player for Cleveland in Year 1 but did put together a solid all-around campaign(12.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.6 apg). Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs(60-22)
2. Denver Nuggets(55-27)
3. Portland Trail Blazers(48-34)
4. Golden State Warriors(47-35)
5. Utah Jazz(47-35)
6. Phoenix Suns(45-37)
7. Dallas Mavericks(43-39)
8. Houston Rockets(41-41)
9. Vancouver Grizzlies(39-43)
10. Los Angeles Lakers(37-45)
11. Minnesota Timberwolves(36-46)
12. Sacramento Kings(34-48)
13. Seattle SuperSonics(33-49)
14. New Orleans Pelicans(23-59)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(19-63)
The Spurs joined the exclusive 60 win club in another dominant season, but what is very interesting is the names lined up behind them. You have Denver, led by breakout star Victor Oladipo(22.4 ppg) and Portland, who signed Bradley Beal(21.5 ppg) before the season started. Dallas fell all the way to seventh, while shockingly, Minnesota fell out of the playoff picture in a season where they failed to find success on the road. Sacramento started in last place, making a midseason trade for C Carson Rollins(86 OVR) that at least got them out of the cellar, but they have completely failed to provide a good landing spot for Joe Johnson(19 ppg). New Orleans fell hard after trading away Jordan and losing Beal, though no one was as bad as the Clippers, who were so putrid that Gordon Hayward(26.2 ppg) took almost every shot and led the league in scoring, so there's that.
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(55-27)
2. Detroit Pistons(53-29)
3. New York Knicks(53-29)
4. New Jersey Nets(52-30)
5. Chicago Bulls(48-34)
6. Orlando Magic(43-39)
7. Boston Celtics(42-40)
8. Milwaukee Bucks(42-40)
9. Indiana Pacers(41-41)
10. Toronto Raptors(39-43)
11. Cleveland Cavaliers(34-48)
12. Charlotte Hornets(34-48)
13. Washington Wizards(32-50)
14. Philadelphia 76ers(28-54)
15. Miami Heat(27-55)
A lot of the usual suspects making in the East, though Detroit made a huge improvement thanks to a career year from Arthur Stinson(20.1 ppg). And New Jersey is once again a major threat after an absolutely ridiculous season from Derrick Rose(28.9 ppg, 10 apg) that won him his first MVP. Also, a big shout-out to the Bucks, who have improved so much in the past few years that they beat out the ever present Pacers for the final playoff spot. Milwaukee is led by the big man duo of Kristaps Porzingis(20.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Karl-Anthony Towns(18.4 ppg, 11.6 rpg), and should provide an excellent early test for LeBron and the Hawks. Toronto also made massive strides this year, but fell just short in the end, and Charlotte just can't figure things out. And in a stiff competition for the worst record in the East, Miami won out in the end, with the third best odds to claim the #1 overall pick.
Awards
MVP: Derrick Rose, New Jersey Nets
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons, Cleveland Cavaliers
Sixth Man: Ricky Rubio, Detroit Pistons
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Derrick Rose, New Jersey Nets
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Ben Simmons, by the way, was mostly a bench player for Cleveland in Year 1 but did put together a solid all-around campaign(12.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.6 apg). Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Winter is Coming)
Last time on The New Millennium, Carmelo Anthony delivered a title to the Knicks faithful, restoring faith in a franchise that desperately needed it(and could use it in real life). Along the way, New York gave Stephen Curry his second consecutive Finals defeat, as since his early career break-through, his time in Dallas has been defined by failure. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.
Player Retirements
Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Jermaine O'Neal, Paul Pierce, Richard Jefferson, Hubert Conway and Brett Moran. Pierce would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, though leaving out a guy like O'Neal is highly questionable, given he won two titles and was the Finals MVP both times, defining the Pacers dynasty of the mid-2000s.
Draft Lottery
Put on your tin foil hats ladies and gentlemen, because the winds of controversy are blowing. The Seattle SuperSonics, with the best odds at the top pick, somehow fell all the way to sixth, a catastrophic disaster for a franchise in need of stability. And then, the real shocker, as the Los Angeles Lakers, one year removed from giving up Joe Johnson and with star Kobe Bryant on the decline, stunned the world after stealing the number one pick. The Cavaliers moved up to second and the Raptors to third, with the Wizards and Clippers rounding out the top five.
- The Toronto Raptors trade 2016 3rd overall pick, PG Daniel Gibson(84 OVR) and PF Tobias Harris(87 OVR) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for PG Kyrie Irving(93 OVR)-
Despite being hailed as a savior when he was picked second overall in 2011, Kyrie Irving has been a bench player the past couple years in Cleveland, largely forgotten by management. Early in the offseason, news broke that he had demanded a trade, and the Cavaliers find a pretty good package. They now have the 2nd and 3rd picks, and get Harris, who is still only 23 and signed on a long term extension. Toronto could afford to give Tobias up, as Giannis Antetokoumpo(87 OVR, 99 Potential) is ready for a bigger role. The Raptors finally get a top flight scoring threat, and hope to finally move back into championship contention.
2016 NBA Draft
1. SG Jaylen Brown, Los Angeles Lakers(Possibly not the best player available, but a perfect Kobe replacement)
2. PF Ben Simmons, Cleveland Cavaliers(Can't shoot threes, but does have 91 Potential)
3. PG Jamal Murray, Cleveland Cavaliers(There's your scoring, great 1-2 combo here)
4. SG Buddy Hield, Washington Wizards
5. PG Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers(Kinda sums the Clippers up, doesn't it?)
6. PG Malcolm Brogdon, Seattle SuperSonics(How many guards do they need?)
7. SF Brandon Ingram, Sacramento Kings(Good value pick)
8. PG Niko Tavcar, Milwaukee Bucks
9. SF Tyrus Christie, New Orleans Pelicans
10. PF Marquese Chriss, Sacramento Kings
11. SF Denzel Valentine, Cleveland Cavaliers
12. PF Skal Labissiere, Houston Rockets
13. SF Taurean Prince, Detroit Pistons
14. PF Domantas Sabonis, Miami Heat(Nice steal)
15. C Ante Zizic, Denver Nuggets
17. PG Kay Felder, Phoenix Suns
20. PG Dejounte Murray, Boston Celtics(Great back-up for Mike Conley)
22. PF Guerschon Yabusele, Los Angeles Clippers
24. C Jakob Poeltl, Vancouver Grizzlies
26. SG Malik Beasley, Washington Wizards
27. PG Demetrius Jackson, San Antonio Spurs
29. SG Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Atlanta Hawks
30. C Thon Maker, New Jersey Nets
31. C Deyonta Davis, Miami Heat
33. SG Patrick McCaw, Los Angeles Lakers
35. PF Pascal Siakam, Philadelphia 76ers
36. SG Caris LeVert, Portland Trail Blazers
37. SF Deandre Bembry, Minnesota Timberwolves
39. SG Malachi Richardson, Los Angeles Clippers
40. PF Chinanu Onuaku, Philadelphia 76ers
43. PF Henry Ellenson, Boston Celtics
45. PF Dragan Bender, Atlanta Hawks
47. PF Juan Hernangomez, Charlotte Hornets
49. C Damian Jones, Los Angeles Clippers
50. SF Jake Layman, Minnesota Timberwolves
52. C Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
54. SF Georges Niang, Washington Wizards
Free Agency
Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:
PG John Wall(93 OVR), Washington Wizards, 4 years, 160 million dollars
SF Evan Turner(85 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 4 years, 46 million dollars
SF Kevin Martin(85 OVR), San Antonio Spurs, 4 years, 52 million dollars
Offseason Summary
We now approach the end of this series, with only three more rings to hand out, every team is going all out to try and book their spot in the history books. The Raptors have made a big move, gambling on the core of Kyrie, Paul George and Giannis, which looks good on paper. The Wizards finally get a hold of John Wall, who now hopes to save their franchise, with help from Buddy Hield. It'll be interesting to keep an eye on how the Cavaliers fare, as they have only a short amount of time to get a lot of young players up to their absolute best, but it is a great opportunity to approach everything with a nice clean slate. And can Jaylen Brown learn enough from Kobe in his final few years to prove worthy of taking the Black Mamba's mantle? Lots of interesting storylines to keep an eye on, plus a lot of teams will be looking to make some aggressive moves in the trade market...
Player Retirements
Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Jermaine O'Neal, Paul Pierce, Richard Jefferson, Hubert Conway and Brett Moran. Pierce would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, though leaving out a guy like O'Neal is highly questionable, given he won two titles and was the Finals MVP both times, defining the Pacers dynasty of the mid-2000s.
Draft Lottery
Put on your tin foil hats ladies and gentlemen, because the winds of controversy are blowing. The Seattle SuperSonics, with the best odds at the top pick, somehow fell all the way to sixth, a catastrophic disaster for a franchise in need of stability. And then, the real shocker, as the Los Angeles Lakers, one year removed from giving up Joe Johnson and with star Kobe Bryant on the decline, stunned the world after stealing the number one pick. The Cavaliers moved up to second and the Raptors to third, with the Wizards and Clippers rounding out the top five.
- The Toronto Raptors trade 2016 3rd overall pick, PG Daniel Gibson(84 OVR) and PF Tobias Harris(87 OVR) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for PG Kyrie Irving(93 OVR)-
Despite being hailed as a savior when he was picked second overall in 2011, Kyrie Irving has been a bench player the past couple years in Cleveland, largely forgotten by management. Early in the offseason, news broke that he had demanded a trade, and the Cavaliers find a pretty good package. They now have the 2nd and 3rd picks, and get Harris, who is still only 23 and signed on a long term extension. Toronto could afford to give Tobias up, as Giannis Antetokoumpo(87 OVR, 99 Potential) is ready for a bigger role. The Raptors finally get a top flight scoring threat, and hope to finally move back into championship contention.
2016 NBA Draft
1. SG Jaylen Brown, Los Angeles Lakers(Possibly not the best player available, but a perfect Kobe replacement)
2. PF Ben Simmons, Cleveland Cavaliers(Can't shoot threes, but does have 91 Potential)
3. PG Jamal Murray, Cleveland Cavaliers(There's your scoring, great 1-2 combo here)
4. SG Buddy Hield, Washington Wizards
5. PG Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers(Kinda sums the Clippers up, doesn't it?)
6. PG Malcolm Brogdon, Seattle SuperSonics(How many guards do they need?)
7. SF Brandon Ingram, Sacramento Kings(Good value pick)
8. PG Niko Tavcar, Milwaukee Bucks
9. SF Tyrus Christie, New Orleans Pelicans
10. PF Marquese Chriss, Sacramento Kings
11. SF Denzel Valentine, Cleveland Cavaliers
12. PF Skal Labissiere, Houston Rockets
13. SF Taurean Prince, Detroit Pistons
14. PF Domantas Sabonis, Miami Heat(Nice steal)
15. C Ante Zizic, Denver Nuggets
17. PG Kay Felder, Phoenix Suns
20. PG Dejounte Murray, Boston Celtics(Great back-up for Mike Conley)
22. PF Guerschon Yabusele, Los Angeles Clippers
24. C Jakob Poeltl, Vancouver Grizzlies
26. SG Malik Beasley, Washington Wizards
27. PG Demetrius Jackson, San Antonio Spurs
29. SG Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Atlanta Hawks
30. C Thon Maker, New Jersey Nets
31. C Deyonta Davis, Miami Heat
33. SG Patrick McCaw, Los Angeles Lakers
35. PF Pascal Siakam, Philadelphia 76ers
36. SG Caris LeVert, Portland Trail Blazers
37. SF Deandre Bembry, Minnesota Timberwolves
39. SG Malachi Richardson, Los Angeles Clippers
40. PF Chinanu Onuaku, Philadelphia 76ers
43. PF Henry Ellenson, Boston Celtics
45. PF Dragan Bender, Atlanta Hawks
47. PF Juan Hernangomez, Charlotte Hornets
49. C Damian Jones, Los Angeles Clippers
50. SF Jake Layman, Minnesota Timberwolves
52. C Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
54. SF Georges Niang, Washington Wizards
Free Agency
Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:
PG John Wall(93 OVR), Washington Wizards, 4 years, 160 million dollars
SF Evan Turner(85 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 4 years, 46 million dollars
SF Kevin Martin(85 OVR), San Antonio Spurs, 4 years, 52 million dollars
Offseason Summary
We now approach the end of this series, with only three more rings to hand out, every team is going all out to try and book their spot in the history books. The Raptors have made a big move, gambling on the core of Kyrie, Paul George and Giannis, which looks good on paper. The Wizards finally get a hold of John Wall, who now hopes to save their franchise, with help from Buddy Hield. It'll be interesting to keep an eye on how the Cavaliers fare, as they have only a short amount of time to get a lot of young players up to their absolute best, but it is a great opportunity to approach everything with a nice clean slate. And can Jaylen Brown learn enough from Kobe in his final few years to prove worthy of taking the Black Mamba's mantle? Lots of interesting storylines to keep an eye on, plus a lot of teams will be looking to make some aggressive moves in the trade market...
Friday, September 6, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Reputation Restored)
Who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2016 NBA Championship?
First Round
Out West, the Spurs faced no issues to start off, easily sweeping past the Jazz, and would be joined by the Timberwolves in Round 2. Minnesota got an incredible 48 points from Kevin Durant to win Game 3, and then 30 more to clinch Game 4. The 3 seed Vancouver Grizzlies saw their defensive collapse against the underdog Warriors, who promptly sent Vancouver packing in a sweep thanks to the scoring duo of Ellis Carlisle and Julio McDaniels. Denver would also look for a big upset, stunning Dallas after winning Game 1, but the Mavericks quickly recovered to win the next 3 in a row and advance.
But in the East, the Hawks were not so fortunate in avoiding the upset, as the Celtics would push Atlanta all the way to 5, before stunning the home crowd as Eric Gordon dropped 30 and the best team in the NBA were sent packing. The unproven Orlando Magic were no match for the veteran Bulls, who dispatched of the Magic in 4 games, with Damien Baxter and Dwyane Wade combining for 68 points in the decisive Game 4. The 2nd and 3rd seed Pacers and Knicks would also be in danger of the upset, as both were pushed to Game 5. But the Knicks took out the defending champion Nets with stellar defense, while Klay Thompson out-dueled James Harden to secure Indiana's ticket.
Second Round
In a series that saw Chicago got in heavy favorites, the bookers should really have watched the first round, as Boston crushed the Bulls, who took 2 games but it wasn't enough. And in the other Eastern Conference series, Jimmy Butler, recently returned to New York, proved to be one of the best guards in the league. Butler completely neutralized Thompson, and Indiana never found a second scoring option, as they were sent packing in 5.
Out West, the top seeded Spurs looked good in Game 1, winning their fourth game in a row. But Kevin Durant had enough of that, and led the Timberwolves to their own four wins in a row, brushing San Antonio aside. Dallas was pushed to their limits against the feisty Warriors, who got all the way to overtime of Game 6 before Edwin Russell took charge, sending Golden State home.
Conference Finals
Despite a great playoff run, Boston's lack of starpower finally cost them in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics would quickly go down 3-0 with no one really stepping up to save them, though they did scrap out a couple wins, before finally being put down in Game 6 on their home floor, with Carmelo Anthony and Hassan Whiteside combining for 42 points.
In the Western Conference Finals, Dallas would win the first two games at home, though both wins were close. But Minnesota's stars came to play, as point guard Colin Braun dropped 35 in Game 3 and Kevin Durant went off for 40 in Game 4, both wins for the Timberwolves to even the series. The Mavericks backcourt responded well, as Russell and Stephen Curry combined for 53 points to win Game 5, but would be shut down in Game 6, as Pau Gasol scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to force a Game 7. With every home team victorious so far, Dallas had the advantage. Both teams struggled to score in a defensive slugfest, but in the end, the Timberwolves fell apart, scoring just 13 points in the 4th quarter as the Mavericks hung on to advance to their third NBA Finals appearance in The New Millennium.
NBA Finals
After third road losses against Minnesota, Dallas visited Madison Square Garden and erased their previous misfortunes, as guard Kenneth Nance provided 25 points off the bench in a Mavs victory. Game 2 was all defense, as everyone struggled to get open shots. But as always, Stephen Curry was the difference for Dallas, forcing seven turnovers from Chris Paul and hitting several clutch threes down the stretch for another road win.
But Paul responded well in Game 3, as he now forced Curry to miss every shot he took in the 4th quarter and set up his teammates with easy looks for a double digit win. Curry would have another poor shooting night in Game 4, which belonged to Hassan Whiteside. The former Marshall product dominated Al Jefferson in the paint, notching 26 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks as the Knicks held off a late Mavericks rally to tie the series.
With momentum in their corner, the Knicks were firing on all cylinders in Game 5. Both Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul had 10 assists, Anthony added on 28 points and New York withstood nine three-pointers from Curry to take a 3-2 lead.
The Mavericks were all out of sorts, and even a trip back home to Dallas couldn't solve their woes. The entire team struggled, Curry most of all who went 2-9 from downtown. And with the Mavericks' star in a slump, Melo took advantage, stealing the limelight. Anthony dropped 36 points and added on another 10 assists, finishing just one rebound short of a triple-double. Dallas had no answer, and would be completely sunk when young Jimmy Butler outran the entire team on an incredible coast-to-coast lay-up that proved to be a defining moment of the series. The Mavericks fans watched on as Anthony, Paul, Whiteside and Butler, many of whom are considered bad boys and troublemakers by modern NBA fans, took over basketball's biggest stage. Anthony took the final inbound, and from half the country away, you could just about hear the masses in the Big Apple began to celebrate. The New York Knicks are your 2016 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Carmelo Anthony(22.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.2 apg)
A huge victory, not just for guys like Anthony and Paul whose careers have been defined by failing to even sniff a ring, but for Knicks fans who have suffered through many years of agony, both in real life and in this game. The Knicks were The New Millennium's very first runner-up; it seems only fair as this series winds to a close, they finally get their title. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2016 offseason.
First Round
Out West, the Spurs faced no issues to start off, easily sweeping past the Jazz, and would be joined by the Timberwolves in Round 2. Minnesota got an incredible 48 points from Kevin Durant to win Game 3, and then 30 more to clinch Game 4. The 3 seed Vancouver Grizzlies saw their defensive collapse against the underdog Warriors, who promptly sent Vancouver packing in a sweep thanks to the scoring duo of Ellis Carlisle and Julio McDaniels. Denver would also look for a big upset, stunning Dallas after winning Game 1, but the Mavericks quickly recovered to win the next 3 in a row and advance.
But in the East, the Hawks were not so fortunate in avoiding the upset, as the Celtics would push Atlanta all the way to 5, before stunning the home crowd as Eric Gordon dropped 30 and the best team in the NBA were sent packing. The unproven Orlando Magic were no match for the veteran Bulls, who dispatched of the Magic in 4 games, with Damien Baxter and Dwyane Wade combining for 68 points in the decisive Game 4. The 2nd and 3rd seed Pacers and Knicks would also be in danger of the upset, as both were pushed to Game 5. But the Knicks took out the defending champion Nets with stellar defense, while Klay Thompson out-dueled James Harden to secure Indiana's ticket.
Second Round
In a series that saw Chicago got in heavy favorites, the bookers should really have watched the first round, as Boston crushed the Bulls, who took 2 games but it wasn't enough. And in the other Eastern Conference series, Jimmy Butler, recently returned to New York, proved to be one of the best guards in the league. Butler completely neutralized Thompson, and Indiana never found a second scoring option, as they were sent packing in 5.
Out West, the top seeded Spurs looked good in Game 1, winning their fourth game in a row. But Kevin Durant had enough of that, and led the Timberwolves to their own four wins in a row, brushing San Antonio aside. Dallas was pushed to their limits against the feisty Warriors, who got all the way to overtime of Game 6 before Edwin Russell took charge, sending Golden State home.
Conference Finals
Despite a great playoff run, Boston's lack of starpower finally cost them in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics would quickly go down 3-0 with no one really stepping up to save them, though they did scrap out a couple wins, before finally being put down in Game 6 on their home floor, with Carmelo Anthony and Hassan Whiteside combining for 42 points.
In the Western Conference Finals, Dallas would win the first two games at home, though both wins were close. But Minnesota's stars came to play, as point guard Colin Braun dropped 35 in Game 3 and Kevin Durant went off for 40 in Game 4, both wins for the Timberwolves to even the series. The Mavericks backcourt responded well, as Russell and Stephen Curry combined for 53 points to win Game 5, but would be shut down in Game 6, as Pau Gasol scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to force a Game 7. With every home team victorious so far, Dallas had the advantage. Both teams struggled to score in a defensive slugfest, but in the end, the Timberwolves fell apart, scoring just 13 points in the 4th quarter as the Mavericks hung on to advance to their third NBA Finals appearance in The New Millennium.
NBA Finals
After third road losses against Minnesota, Dallas visited Madison Square Garden and erased their previous misfortunes, as guard Kenneth Nance provided 25 points off the bench in a Mavs victory. Game 2 was all defense, as everyone struggled to get open shots. But as always, Stephen Curry was the difference for Dallas, forcing seven turnovers from Chris Paul and hitting several clutch threes down the stretch for another road win.
But Paul responded well in Game 3, as he now forced Curry to miss every shot he took in the 4th quarter and set up his teammates with easy looks for a double digit win. Curry would have another poor shooting night in Game 4, which belonged to Hassan Whiteside. The former Marshall product dominated Al Jefferson in the paint, notching 26 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks as the Knicks held off a late Mavericks rally to tie the series.
With momentum in their corner, the Knicks were firing on all cylinders in Game 5. Both Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul had 10 assists, Anthony added on 28 points and New York withstood nine three-pointers from Curry to take a 3-2 lead.
The Mavericks were all out of sorts, and even a trip back home to Dallas couldn't solve their woes. The entire team struggled, Curry most of all who went 2-9 from downtown. And with the Mavericks' star in a slump, Melo took advantage, stealing the limelight. Anthony dropped 36 points and added on another 10 assists, finishing just one rebound short of a triple-double. Dallas had no answer, and would be completely sunk when young Jimmy Butler outran the entire team on an incredible coast-to-coast lay-up that proved to be a defining moment of the series. The Mavericks fans watched on as Anthony, Paul, Whiteside and Butler, many of whom are considered bad boys and troublemakers by modern NBA fans, took over basketball's biggest stage. Anthony took the final inbound, and from half the country away, you could just about hear the masses in the Big Apple began to celebrate. The New York Knicks are your 2016 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Carmelo Anthony(22.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.2 apg)
A huge victory, not just for guys like Anthony and Paul whose careers have been defined by failing to even sniff a ring, but for Knicks fans who have suffered through many years of agony, both in real life and in this game. The Knicks were The New Millennium's very first runner-up; it seems only fair as this series winds to a close, they finally get their title. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2016 offseason.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Watch the Throne)
(Henry's Note- I actually did the trades for the 2015-2016 season a long time ago, so I've forgotten some of the reasoning behind several moves. Instead of doing a big trade post, I'll just summarize the big moves now)
In the biggest trade before the season started, the Hornets acquired PG Tony Parker(95 OVR) from the Pelicans as New Orleans received several players and two first round picks in exchange. Several big name centers switched teams, including Joel Embiid(88 OVR, 91 Potential) to the Wizards for SG Dane Grimes(89 OVR) which saw Washington flip Al Jefferson(89 OVR) to Dallas for a couple first round picks. Finally, longtime Clipper Pau Gasol(93 OVR) finally left LA, as he joins Kevin Durant(98 OVR) in Minnesota.
Last time on The New Millennium, the Kings completed a quick retooling, trading for Joe Johnson and picking up Devin Booker in the 2015 Draft. Plus, the Bucks used their first and third picks to load up their frontcourt, selecting Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis. How will these moves, plus the trades made earlier, affect the 2015-2016 regular season?
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(59-23)
2. Indiana Pacers(58-24)
3. New York Knicks(56-26)
4. Orlando Magic(50-32)
5. Chicago Bulls(48-34)
6. New Jersey Nets(46-36)
7. Charlotte Hornets(46-36)
8. Boston Celtics(46-36)
9. Miami Heat(43-39)
10. Detroit Pistons(39-43)
11. Philadelphia 76ers(35-47)
12. Milwaukee Bucks(33-49)
13. Cleveland Cavaliers(32-50)
14. Toronto Raptors(32-50)
15. Washington Wizards(19-63)
The Hawks, Pacers and Knicks all went hard for the top spot in the East and the league, but in the end Atlanta won out as LeBron James(22.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.6 apg) took home his second MVP. Orlando enjoyed a breakout season thanks to the wing scoring tandem of J.J. Redick(17.6 ppg) and Javier Sanchez(18.5 ppg). The Hornets were a little inconsistent throughout the year, but got hot at the end to solidify a playoff spot, while Miami were unfortunate to miss out on the postseason with a winning record. Milwaukee added 14 wins with new rookies Porzingis(17 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Towns(12.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg) both making 1st team All-Rookie. The gap between the largely mediocre teams and the basement was massive this year, as the Wizards lost their first 21 games, but did at least have Rookie of the Year winner Joel Embiid(16.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg).
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs(56-26)
2. Dallas Mavericks(53-29)
3. Vancouver Grizzlies(50-32)
4. Phoenix Suns(47-35)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves(47-35)
6. Golden State Warriors(41-41)
7. Denver Nuggets(38-44)
8. Utah Jazz(38-44)
9. Houston Rockets(38-44)
10. Portland Trail Blazers(36-46)
11. New Orleans Pelicans(34-48)
12. Sacramento Kings(33-49)
13. Los Angeles Lakers(28-54)
14. Seattle SuperSonics(26-56)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(23-59)
San Antonio and Dallas continue to dominate the West, with the Spurs coming out on top this year. Behind them, Vancouver and Phoenix surprisingly took the next two spots, thanks to breakout seasons from Marvin Williams(17.6 ppg) and Perry Drew(20.3 ppg) respectively. For Minnesota, new acquisition Pau Gasol(13.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg) had a fine season though he continues to show his age, and Houston suffered a tough loss on the final day to end their playoff hopes. The Pelicans enjoyed an incredible campaign from Bradley Beal(25.5 ppg) who provides hope with no more Tony Parker, and Sacramento began the slow move up the standings with a solid year from Joe Johnson(19.1 ppg). The Lakers and Clippers were as bad as anticipated, but Seattle continues to confound, losing 14 more games than last year and putting forth one of the worst defenses in the league.
Awards
MVP: LeBron James, Atlanta Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid, Washington Wizards
Sixth Man: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Zach King, Philadelphia 76ers
Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks
With three legit contenders in the East and two more in the West, will it be one of the Hawks, Pacers, Knicks, Spurs or Mavericks who claim the title? Once again in the playoffs, can the Nets prove they still have what it takes in their title defense? Or will one of these lesser teams surprise everyone? Find out next time on The New Millennium!
In the biggest trade before the season started, the Hornets acquired PG Tony Parker(95 OVR) from the Pelicans as New Orleans received several players and two first round picks in exchange. Several big name centers switched teams, including Joel Embiid(88 OVR, 91 Potential) to the Wizards for SG Dane Grimes(89 OVR) which saw Washington flip Al Jefferson(89 OVR) to Dallas for a couple first round picks. Finally, longtime Clipper Pau Gasol(93 OVR) finally left LA, as he joins Kevin Durant(98 OVR) in Minnesota.
Last time on The New Millennium, the Kings completed a quick retooling, trading for Joe Johnson and picking up Devin Booker in the 2015 Draft. Plus, the Bucks used their first and third picks to load up their frontcourt, selecting Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis. How will these moves, plus the trades made earlier, affect the 2015-2016 regular season?
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks(59-23)
2. Indiana Pacers(58-24)
3. New York Knicks(56-26)
4. Orlando Magic(50-32)
5. Chicago Bulls(48-34)
6. New Jersey Nets(46-36)
7. Charlotte Hornets(46-36)
8. Boston Celtics(46-36)
9. Miami Heat(43-39)
10. Detroit Pistons(39-43)
11. Philadelphia 76ers(35-47)
12. Milwaukee Bucks(33-49)
13. Cleveland Cavaliers(32-50)
14. Toronto Raptors(32-50)
15. Washington Wizards(19-63)
The Hawks, Pacers and Knicks all went hard for the top spot in the East and the league, but in the end Atlanta won out as LeBron James(22.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.6 apg) took home his second MVP. Orlando enjoyed a breakout season thanks to the wing scoring tandem of J.J. Redick(17.6 ppg) and Javier Sanchez(18.5 ppg). The Hornets were a little inconsistent throughout the year, but got hot at the end to solidify a playoff spot, while Miami were unfortunate to miss out on the postseason with a winning record. Milwaukee added 14 wins with new rookies Porzingis(17 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Towns(12.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg) both making 1st team All-Rookie. The gap between the largely mediocre teams and the basement was massive this year, as the Wizards lost their first 21 games, but did at least have Rookie of the Year winner Joel Embiid(16.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg).
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs(56-26)
2. Dallas Mavericks(53-29)
3. Vancouver Grizzlies(50-32)
4. Phoenix Suns(47-35)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves(47-35)
6. Golden State Warriors(41-41)
7. Denver Nuggets(38-44)
8. Utah Jazz(38-44)
9. Houston Rockets(38-44)
10. Portland Trail Blazers(36-46)
11. New Orleans Pelicans(34-48)
12. Sacramento Kings(33-49)
13. Los Angeles Lakers(28-54)
14. Seattle SuperSonics(26-56)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(23-59)
San Antonio and Dallas continue to dominate the West, with the Spurs coming out on top this year. Behind them, Vancouver and Phoenix surprisingly took the next two spots, thanks to breakout seasons from Marvin Williams(17.6 ppg) and Perry Drew(20.3 ppg) respectively. For Minnesota, new acquisition Pau Gasol(13.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg) had a fine season though he continues to show his age, and Houston suffered a tough loss on the final day to end their playoff hopes. The Pelicans enjoyed an incredible campaign from Bradley Beal(25.5 ppg) who provides hope with no more Tony Parker, and Sacramento began the slow move up the standings with a solid year from Joe Johnson(19.1 ppg). The Lakers and Clippers were as bad as anticipated, but Seattle continues to confound, losing 14 more games than last year and putting forth one of the worst defenses in the league.
Awards
MVP: LeBron James, Atlanta Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid, Washington Wizards
Sixth Man: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Zach King, Philadelphia 76ers
Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks
With three legit contenders in the East and two more in the West, will it be one of the Hawks, Pacers, Knicks, Spurs or Mavericks who claim the title? Once again in the playoffs, can the Nets prove they still have what it takes in their title defense? Or will one of these lesser teams surprise everyone? Find out next time on The New Millennium!
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