1975; That was the year that wasn

[penbeast0]

“1975; That was the year that wasn’t.”

Why did I pick 1975? This is the year that the ABA finally achieved virtual parity in terms of average talent with the NBA. So, you have two rival leagues, each with their own stars. In addition, this is a seriously bad year for Kareem, the best player in basketball, so there is not nearly as big a gap between top talent and second tier talent. The theory is that the two league merge and contract with the weaker teams being cannon fodder or contracted out and their players split up in a dispersal draft among the stronger teams.

A few rules to make this ATL unique:

(1) You choose a team which gives you a coach and core of players (50 game minimum, all players play for the team they ended the season with). It also gives you a team culture and identity which might or might not be important.

(2) There are only 4 rounds of the draft. Teams pick in reverse order of their winning percentage each round with ABA teams who played 84 games each subtracting 2 wins from their total. Ties are broken by B-R.com’s SRS rating (higher rating picks later). This should give teams 2-3 new starters and at least 4 rotation players, moving the weaker players down the depth charts or onto the waiver wires. Since weaker teams pick first, they should be strengthened more than the teams with better records so it should even things up. This should also speed up the drafting process.

(3) Then there will be one week for initial writeups. After that comes the regular season. Posters will have two weeks to write up each head to head matchup (please pick a winner -- no ties) for every pair of teams not involving their own. Each writeup that is turned in (must have at least a short explanation of reasons) counts as finishing one home game over .500; each writeup that the writer favors your team counts as finishing one away game over .500 while each writeup that you lose counts as finishing one away game under .500. Thus doing the writeups is rewarded as well as having a good team. And, there is no set number of teams that are required to be in the league.

(4) Finally, the top 4 records in the league go head to head in the playoffs (1 v. 4, 2 v. 3) with home court advantage to the higher seeds. Ties will be determined by head to head record in the writeups. If desired, we can get outside judges for the playoffs since the GMs have all done more than their share of writeups. This should be done within two weeks, one for each round.

Total: 5 weeks. NBA RULES (ie. No 3 point shot), ABA REFS (by paying better, they had raided many of the NBA’s best referees and this way the ABA stars also get star treatment)

Let me know what team you want to play if you are interested.
Plus . . . Comments? Problems? Suggestions?


As an example, I will choose either Milwaukee or Kentucky as my team. Milwaukee has one great player, one outstanding support player, but no one else on the roster is more than a rotation caliber reserve. So, if I choose to run an 8 man rotation, I will need to draft a starting PF, 2 starting guards, and a 6th man. Then I will have to convince people that the new players can turn around Milwaukee’s culture (coach, Kareem’s alienation, etc.). If someone really wants Milwaukee and no one else wants Kentucky I will play them instead. They also have a top center, plus a terrific PF. Dampier was a good PG but without the 3 pt rule, he might be better as a reserve; Wil Jones is a solid defensive 3; my top priority would be upgrading the guards. They had a winning culture and will pick 4th to last if the 3 teams with better records (Denver, Washington, Boston) are playing. Downside is convincing people how well the ABA numbers will hold up in interleague play and the value of their 3 point shooters.

1. Bob McAdoo
2. George McGinnis

[SabasRevenge!]

I'll take Boston.

Keepers:

G: Jo Jo White
G: Paul Westphal
G: Don Chaney
F/G: John Havlicek
F: Don Nelson
F/C: Paul Silas
F/C: Jim Ard
C/F: Dave Cowens

[TurkishThunder]

You got Milwaukee? If you do I'll take Philly

[CellarDoor]

Tentatively taking Kentucky if Pen goes Milwaukee. If he goes Kentucky, I'll take Milwaukee. I'm doing a bit more research though.

[CellarDoor]

Reading through the rules...only four teams go to the POs? Ouch. I might be done quick in this one

[BlackIce]

I'll take DEN, though I'm gonna really have to research this era to stand a chance.

[penbeast0]

Tentatively taking Kentucky if Pen goes Milwaukee. If he goes Kentucky, I'll take Milwaukee. I'm doing a bit more research though.

Ok, between the two of us we'll take these two teams whichever way it works out.

Did I mention that the winner gets a celebritory photo of himself wearing a leisure suit and a 6" afro holding the trophy?

[Miller4ever]

Nets.

Julius Erving

And those other guys...

[CellarDoor]

Nets.

Julius Erving

And those other guys...

Wait, there were other people on that team?

Tentatively taking Kentucky if Pen goes Milwaukee. If he goes Kentucky, I'll take Milwaukee. I'm doing a bit more research though.

Ok, between the two of us we'll take these two teams whichever way it works out.

Did I mention that the winner gets a celebritory photo of himself wearing a leisure suit and a 6" afro holding the trophy?

I'm holding you to that when I win.

[TurkishThunder]

is this 74-75 or 75-76?

[CellarDoor]

Unless Pen's age is getting to him, we always use the last year as the indicator. In this case, we're talking 74/75. Barry's finals MVP year, Colonels won the ABA title I believe. And either me or Pen have Kareem and a high pick

[TurkishThunder]

Unless Pen's age is getting to him, we always use the last year as the indicator. In this case, we're talking 74/75. Barry's finals MVP year, Colonels won the ABA title I believe. And either me or Pen have Kareem and a high pick

Ya, I'm mad that I don't get to use Darryl Dawkins because of the 50 game limit.

[CellarDoor]

Unless Pen's age is getting to him, we always use the last year as the indicator. In this case, we're talking 74/75. Barry's finals MVP year, Colonels won the ABA title I believe. And either me or Pen have Kareem and a high pick

Ya, I'm mad that I don't get to use Darryl Dawkins because of the 50 game limit.

Walton also comes 15 games short of use.

[Snakebites]

Crap, missed the early boat on this one, so not much room for strategic advantage here.

I'll post my choice in a little while.

[Snakebites]

Question: How many teams are participating?

That kinda effects strategy as it gives me a sense of how many players will be available for drafting.

[penbeast0]

I'm going to post a recruiting post on the PC board and one other so hopefully we can get a couple of extra players that are new here (and hopefully they'll be good, active participants). Hoping for about 12 teams but am happy if we pull at least 8.

[Snakebites]

Crap, I keep waffling back and fourth between two teams.

I'm actually hoping someone comes along and picks one.

[CellarDoor]

Do we think there's 12 first option type guys? Looking over it, I only saw about 8-10. But I'm definitely not as knowledgeable here.

[Snakebites]

1st option type guys?

What do you mean?

K, after a great deal of deliberation I've decided to go with the Knicks. Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe still in their primes.

[Snakebites]

Cellar- Kentucky/Milwaukee
Penbeast0- Milwaukee/Kentucky
Snakebites- New York Knicks
Miller4ever- New York Nets
SabasRevenge!- Boston Celtics
BlackIce- Denver Nuggets
Turkish Thunder- Philadelphia 76ers

There is the comprehensive listing of the folks who signed up thus far. I made this list so that it will be easier for people to select from available teams.