Post by footy on Jan 23, 2011 6:31:50 GMT -5
Yo Yo,
Wassup Foools? Its Footy and Friends here presenting the Allstar Game Edition of PowerPolls for Season 4. With teams competing, falling and pretending to play dead the league has found itself in a nexus of sorts with only a handful of teams seriously capable of toppling the UOSL mountain. In this edition we will see a familiar clubhouse leader who will face some stiff competition on the back nine. I’ve run out of anecdotes so lets get busy!
1. New York Knicks (56 votes, 2 First Place)
Record: 33-12
Perpetually consistent New York find themselves once again the favoured team in the league however the gap is closing. The Knicks encountered some early season struggles as trade rumors swirl of Amare Stoudamire being shifted out as the Knicks look to rejuvenate their roster. Aaron Brooks has turn dominant and must now be considered one of the premier point guards in the league, if he can lead this team to UOSL glory he may even enter folklore. Yet it is the play of LeBron James that continues to inspire this team. James is averaging 28ppg along with 9rpg propelling this Knicks team to its seemlingly permanent position atop the Atlantic Division. A tough team to beat the Knicks will be hoping its strong performances at home can translate into road wins. The one area of concern for GM Outlawz and co.
2. Phoenix Suns (52 votes, 1 FP)
Record: 29-11
Only a sim ago the Suns were sitting pretty atop the league with an impressive 27-6 record and looking down the barrel of a 65 win season, alas a disappointing run pre and post all star games have GM Footy questioning this teams desire to be the best. The bright lights and glitz may have distracted this ball club as it had 3 all-star game participants however now that the weekend has been and gone an amends will be what management is hoping for. Since shipping fan favourite Andrea Bargnani, CJ Leslie has found an increased workload and has delievered on most occasions but it has been the performances of Al Horford who has caught the league by surprise. Since Day 10 Horford has averaged 26.5ppg to match his 11.7rpg. An underrated star who shines in his own right alongside superstar Blake Griffin. These two will be the key to any success the Suns look to endure in the future.
3. Charlotte Bobcats (51 votes, 2 FP)
Record: 35-12
Holding the leagues best record, my early season dark horse has developed into a frontrunner who is mounting a serious challenge to the top perch in the East. Chris Paul has risen to another level however it’s the addition of Cole Aldrich that has slung this team into another stratosphere. A solid scorer, elite rebounder and top blocker, Aldrich is providing the muscle to a team that’s strength has been questioned many times over the previous seasons. If GM Hype can deliver a title to Charlotte it will come as a major ‘Fuck you’ to the entire league. Do me proud Hypey Baby!
4. Milwaukee Bucks (32 votes, 1 FP)
Record: 27-18
A team that was absolutely pillard for trading its future firsts for elite defender Greg Oden, the Bucks have since gone on a tear putting together a 24-14 record since the trade. Oden hasn’t played to expectations but his presence around the locker room seems to have revitalised this ball club. Brandon Jennings is the sole leader of this team now and is routinely dropping double double’s against opposing point guards yet the key to any success the Bucks have will be to Rudy Gay. A stalwart since Day 1 of UOSL, Gay must rectify his shooting woes and include teammates more if the Bucks are to become a top two team in the East. GM Bryan deserves some success as his window may be shutting sooner than he thinks.
5. Golden State Warriors (30 votes)
Record: 32-17
The number two ranked team in the West the Warriors have bridged a 7.0 gap because of the Suns slide and now find themselves only 1.5 games from the top seed in the West. Tyreke Evans has become the catalyst for the Warriors and although he is not enjoying as good a season as Season 3, Evans has done enough to drag this Warriors outfit back into contention for playoff success. Derrick Williams has also impressed since his shift to the Centre position however GM Spence will be looking to address the gaping hole at shooting guard, a position that the Warriors have been concerned about all season long. On a side note it will be interesting to see how the Warriors approach this off-season as they sneak ever closer to Hard cap territory, will they rebuild or will they have another crack at the UOSL trophy?
6. Memphis Grizzlies (27 votes)
Record: 27-19
A team unused to such dizzying expectations the Grizzlies have found themselves sitting pretty atop the Midwest division as teams around them struggle to make contract years and in franchise fighting. Long time winner Deron Williams continues to be the spark that powers this team and with recently acquired OJ Mayo beside him, the Grizzlies have one of the most damaging backcourts in the UOSL. Alessandro Gentile has also developed into one of the purest shooters in basketball and his defense has improved to such a degree that he must now be considered one of the most valuable players in the UOSL. I don’t think they win the championship but the Grizzlies will be happy with a Midwest Title and a reset on their contract year. So far it’s been a job well done.
Miami Heat (27 votes)
Record: 28-15
A scarily talented team the Heat continue to wreak havoc at the most opportune times. Riding on the back of a 9-1 record, the Heat brass must love what Harrison Barnes, Dejan Musli and LaceDarius Dunn are capable of. That is, complete and utter devastation of any opponent. Musli brings staunch defense and amazing shotblocking capabilities while Barnes and Dunn combine to form the deadliest scoring duo in the league. A fun team to watch the Heat will be a must watch team come playoff time.
8. Sacramento Kings (14 votes)
Record: 26-18
Wow! What a turnaround for the once struggling Kings. They are riding the wave of a huge 10 game win streak and find themselves firmly entrenched among the West’s elite. Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook have been as fantastic as ever for this team but it has been the addition of sharpshooter Andrea Bargnani that has light a fire under the asses of the Kings squad. The perfect blend of youth and experience this season could be the season the Kings fall from the clouds and pinch the UOSL championship from the favourites noses.
9. Dallas Mavericks (13 votes)
Record: 23-18
Another GM facing his contract year, GM Biggie must have been shitting bricks early in the season as his team stared down the barrel of another wasted season. Yet, the additions of Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki seems to have fixed all of this teams issues as they push even closer to an unlikely Midwest title. Josh Smith has been phenomenal this season but partners in crime Jeff Green and Yao Ming have been just as vital as the Mavs stand to fight back the wolves at their door.
10. Detroit Pistons (9 votes)
Record: 28-22
I still have no idea what to make of this team. Good enough to beat anyone but inconsistent enough to lose to anyone, the Pistons need to find a common ground. They have the leagues best defense and concerns around their point guards ability seem to have been rectified with the classy acquirement of highly underrated Kirk Hinrich. A good team, we will have to wait and see just how good these Pistons truly are.
Others Receiving Votes : San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers (8 votes), Portland Trailblazers (2), Chicago Bulls (1)
Contributing GM’s:
Philadelphia 76ers,
Utah Jazz,
Sacramento Kings,
Charlotte Bobcats,
Milwaukee Bucks
Bon Voyage!
Wassup Foools? Its Footy and Friends here presenting the Allstar Game Edition of PowerPolls for Season 4. With teams competing, falling and pretending to play dead the league has found itself in a nexus of sorts with only a handful of teams seriously capable of toppling the UOSL mountain. In this edition we will see a familiar clubhouse leader who will face some stiff competition on the back nine. I’ve run out of anecdotes so lets get busy!
1. New York Knicks (56 votes, 2 First Place)
Record: 33-12
Perpetually consistent New York find themselves once again the favoured team in the league however the gap is closing. The Knicks encountered some early season struggles as trade rumors swirl of Amare Stoudamire being shifted out as the Knicks look to rejuvenate their roster. Aaron Brooks has turn dominant and must now be considered one of the premier point guards in the league, if he can lead this team to UOSL glory he may even enter folklore. Yet it is the play of LeBron James that continues to inspire this team. James is averaging 28ppg along with 9rpg propelling this Knicks team to its seemlingly permanent position atop the Atlantic Division. A tough team to beat the Knicks will be hoping its strong performances at home can translate into road wins. The one area of concern for GM Outlawz and co.
2. Phoenix Suns (52 votes, 1 FP)
Record: 29-11
Only a sim ago the Suns were sitting pretty atop the league with an impressive 27-6 record and looking down the barrel of a 65 win season, alas a disappointing run pre and post all star games have GM Footy questioning this teams desire to be the best. The bright lights and glitz may have distracted this ball club as it had 3 all-star game participants however now that the weekend has been and gone an amends will be what management is hoping for. Since shipping fan favourite Andrea Bargnani, CJ Leslie has found an increased workload and has delievered on most occasions but it has been the performances of Al Horford who has caught the league by surprise. Since Day 10 Horford has averaged 26.5ppg to match his 11.7rpg. An underrated star who shines in his own right alongside superstar Blake Griffin. These two will be the key to any success the Suns look to endure in the future.
3. Charlotte Bobcats (51 votes, 2 FP)
Record: 35-12
Holding the leagues best record, my early season dark horse has developed into a frontrunner who is mounting a serious challenge to the top perch in the East. Chris Paul has risen to another level however it’s the addition of Cole Aldrich that has slung this team into another stratosphere. A solid scorer, elite rebounder and top blocker, Aldrich is providing the muscle to a team that’s strength has been questioned many times over the previous seasons. If GM Hype can deliver a title to Charlotte it will come as a major ‘Fuck you’ to the entire league. Do me proud Hypey Baby!
4. Milwaukee Bucks (32 votes, 1 FP)
Record: 27-18
A team that was absolutely pillard for trading its future firsts for elite defender Greg Oden, the Bucks have since gone on a tear putting together a 24-14 record since the trade. Oden hasn’t played to expectations but his presence around the locker room seems to have revitalised this ball club. Brandon Jennings is the sole leader of this team now and is routinely dropping double double’s against opposing point guards yet the key to any success the Bucks have will be to Rudy Gay. A stalwart since Day 1 of UOSL, Gay must rectify his shooting woes and include teammates more if the Bucks are to become a top two team in the East. GM Bryan deserves some success as his window may be shutting sooner than he thinks.
5. Golden State Warriors (30 votes)
Record: 32-17
The number two ranked team in the West the Warriors have bridged a 7.0 gap because of the Suns slide and now find themselves only 1.5 games from the top seed in the West. Tyreke Evans has become the catalyst for the Warriors and although he is not enjoying as good a season as Season 3, Evans has done enough to drag this Warriors outfit back into contention for playoff success. Derrick Williams has also impressed since his shift to the Centre position however GM Spence will be looking to address the gaping hole at shooting guard, a position that the Warriors have been concerned about all season long. On a side note it will be interesting to see how the Warriors approach this off-season as they sneak ever closer to Hard cap territory, will they rebuild or will they have another crack at the UOSL trophy?
6. Memphis Grizzlies (27 votes)
Record: 27-19
A team unused to such dizzying expectations the Grizzlies have found themselves sitting pretty atop the Midwest division as teams around them struggle to make contract years and in franchise fighting. Long time winner Deron Williams continues to be the spark that powers this team and with recently acquired OJ Mayo beside him, the Grizzlies have one of the most damaging backcourts in the UOSL. Alessandro Gentile has also developed into one of the purest shooters in basketball and his defense has improved to such a degree that he must now be considered one of the most valuable players in the UOSL. I don’t think they win the championship but the Grizzlies will be happy with a Midwest Title and a reset on their contract year. So far it’s been a job well done.
Miami Heat (27 votes)
Record: 28-15
A scarily talented team the Heat continue to wreak havoc at the most opportune times. Riding on the back of a 9-1 record, the Heat brass must love what Harrison Barnes, Dejan Musli and LaceDarius Dunn are capable of. That is, complete and utter devastation of any opponent. Musli brings staunch defense and amazing shotblocking capabilities while Barnes and Dunn combine to form the deadliest scoring duo in the league. A fun team to watch the Heat will be a must watch team come playoff time.
8. Sacramento Kings (14 votes)
Record: 26-18
Wow! What a turnaround for the once struggling Kings. They are riding the wave of a huge 10 game win streak and find themselves firmly entrenched among the West’s elite. Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook have been as fantastic as ever for this team but it has been the addition of sharpshooter Andrea Bargnani that has light a fire under the asses of the Kings squad. The perfect blend of youth and experience this season could be the season the Kings fall from the clouds and pinch the UOSL championship from the favourites noses.
9. Dallas Mavericks (13 votes)
Record: 23-18
Another GM facing his contract year, GM Biggie must have been shitting bricks early in the season as his team stared down the barrel of another wasted season. Yet, the additions of Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki seems to have fixed all of this teams issues as they push even closer to an unlikely Midwest title. Josh Smith has been phenomenal this season but partners in crime Jeff Green and Yao Ming have been just as vital as the Mavs stand to fight back the wolves at their door.
10. Detroit Pistons (9 votes)
Record: 28-22
I still have no idea what to make of this team. Good enough to beat anyone but inconsistent enough to lose to anyone, the Pistons need to find a common ground. They have the leagues best defense and concerns around their point guards ability seem to have been rectified with the classy acquirement of highly underrated Kirk Hinrich. A good team, we will have to wait and see just how good these Pistons truly are.
Others Receiving Votes : San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers (8 votes), Portland Trailblazers (2), Chicago Bulls (1)
Contributing GM’s:
Philadelphia 76ers,
Utah Jazz,
Sacramento Kings,
Charlotte Bobcats,
Milwaukee Bucks
Bon Voyage!