In my last post, I mentioned there was a huge announcement coming in June. Well, seeing as I’m running out of June, I should probably make that announcement!

By now, the announcement should be fairly obvious. Yes, NBA Sim will soon join the ranks of the ABA and slowly become a memory. Itis officially being replaced with SimHoop! There were several reasons for the name change. First, I found myself starting to look at basketball throughout the entire history of the sport and felt using “NBA” in my name would limit the impression of my scope. Secondly, “NBA” is a trademarked name by a fairly recognizable entity (I love you, NBA!) and I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes, legally. Thus, it seemed like a pretty easy decision.

Now, if you’ve been a reader of the old NBA Sim, don’t worry. I’m not planning on changing anything, really. I’ll still be making my crazy, stats- and historian-obsessed musings on the sport of basketball and will continue to pursue insane projects (like The DB Project and the Fight of the Decade).

So thanks for sticking with me through this change. I promise I’ve got some really cool ideas coming soon to pay you back.

I wanted to do a quick check in here as it’s been quite a while since my last update.

I’m still working hard at getting through the final 24 years of NBA stats, but it’s slow going. I’ve been missing my old reference book (The Sports Encyclopedia: 1891-1989 Pro Basketball by David S. Neft and Richard M. Cohen) since moving on to Street and Smith’s Pro Basketball annuals. The reason is that Neft/Cohen would create team rosters after the season was done, while Street/Smith’s rosters are pre-season. That means they miss out on last-minute summer acquisitions as well as any in-season trades and pickups. That, plus the fact that I have to go through every player every year, rather than just the rookies (based on the system I had created) and it’s taking way longer to get through than I had imagined.

Still, I’m making progress. I’ve gotten through the 1992 season. And, hot damn, it couldn’t come at a better time as I just found out the gods, Neft/Cohen actually made Pro Basketball Sports Encyclopedias up through the 1992 season! I found a copy on Amazon for about $2 (I feel sorry for the person who got rid of it not knowing it’s practically the bible for NBA Sim!) and now I have it in my grubby, little hands! I’m going to make sure the Street and Smith’s are accurate according to the Sports Encyclopedia and then continue on with my work.

I’ll make sure to check back after I’m done with the 2000 season.

Oh yeah, and there’s going to be a MAJOR NEWS ANNOUNECMENT here in June. Prepare yourselves!

Old man Chamberlain is here to give a hearty thank you to the Pro Basketball: The Sports Encyclopedia: 1891-1989 Edition 2 by David S. Neft and Richard M. Cohen. As of today I finished stat-checking basketball data through the 1989 season for my gigantic DB Project which is the final season recorded in that great reference. Putting it back on the shelf after almost 2 years of constant perusing is a little bittersweet.

However, I’m equally excited to start the next chapter in my ridiculous outing. For the next two decades of NBA seasons, I’m going to be fact checking my database against old Street and Smith’s Pro Basketball Yearbooks. I’ve spent the six months securing all of these back issues via eBay and Street and Smith’s back catalog store and – needless to say – this pile of magazines has been seducing me ever since! I’m eager to start tearing through them.

Unfortunately, as I now must go through individual, separate magazines for each season rather than one huge reference book, the process may slow down a bit. Hopefully, I can finish this task soon, but I’m bracing for a long step here. I think I’ll check back in here after the 2000 season (that will break up the rest of the NBA history into equal 12-year chunks) so I’ll catch you all later!

I’ve been away from the Fight of the Decade blogs for a bit … hell, I’ve been away from NBA Sim for too long! Much of the reason for this is the apathy for writing the individual game posts for these match ups. So, in an effort to actually finish this contest, I will forgo the game posts and go straight to the results!

Game 1: 1980s at 1970s 94-119 1970s 1-0

Game 2: 1980s at 1970s 114-87 Tie 1-1

Game 3: 1970s at 1980s 128-108 1970s 2-1

Game 4: 1970s at 1980s 88-97 Tie 2-2

Game 5: 1980s at 1970s 133-126 1980s 3-2

Game 6: 1970s at 1980s 119-122 1980s 4-2

Tournament Results:
Ok, so the 1970s lose the match, but this one was actually closer than the 4-2 record appears. The point differential between the two teams is a microscopic 0.1 PPG! So … I guess the 70s can at least take this as a moral victory.

Next Round: 1970s at 2000s!

Another DB Project milestone, another blog update!

I just completed verifying names, positions, heights, weights and teams for all players up through the 1984 season. And, man, I’ve gotta tell you – this chunk of basketball time was waaaaay more interesting than the previous. Whereas the ABA days were tedious – having to verify player after player who only suited up for a single season – the late 70s and early 80s are full of long-careered, great players. It truly was a golden age for the sport and I burned through it quickly.

I’m inspired and super-energized to keep moving on through the next block of time, but it’s going to be an extremely short one. Instead of a block constisting of 8-14 years, I’ll next check in here after 4. For most of my verification I’ve been using Pro Basketball: The Sports Encyclopedia: 1891-1989 Edition 2 by David S. Neft and Richard M. Cohen – an utterly fantastic reference and a must buy for any NBA historian. Unfortunately, the book only goes up through the 1989 NBA season so for the rest of my DB Project, I’m moving on to Street and Smith Pro Basketball yearbooks.

I’ve been slowly accumulating these annuals off of eBay and their own online archive, and am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to rip through them. However, until then, I’ll treasure the last few pages left in the Sports Encyclopedia.

As always, I’ll keep you updated here.

Game 1: 2000s at 1960s
In a quick rematch from the last series, the 2000s squad traveled into Boston to take on the legends of the 1960s. Team Captains Tim Duncan (31 PTS / 11 TRB / 4 AST) and Wilt Chamberlain (24 PTS / 11 TRB / 2 BLK) led their teams on the floor but it was the superior defense of the 2000s club that won the game (11 BLK / 10 STL to the 1960′s 6 BLK / 7 STL). This was just enough to overcompensate for Oscar Robertson’s hot shooting from deep (3-5 3FG) and the 2000s strike the first blow.
118-111 2000s 1-0

Game 2: 2000s at 1960s
Wilt and Timmy D kept themselves relatively in check for game 2 so it was the “small” guys who battled ferociously. Elgin Baylor had a strong showing for his team (20 PTS / 11 TRB / 3 BLK) as did LeBron James (25 PTS / 8 TRB / 8 AST), but this contest was never close. The three-point discrepancy in the 2000 squad’s favor sealed that (9 made three-pointers to the 1960′s 2) and the 1960s leave Boston 0-2 with a bloody nose.
119-89 2000s 2-0

Game 3: 1960s at 2000s
Entering San Antonio – the 2000s team’s home court – the 1960s legends were pissed. Down 0-2 to their younger counterparts (and not having a great showing in either game) had lit a fire inside them and they came out swinging. Oscar Robertson led the charge (23 PTS / 3 TRB / 11 AST) along with Baylor (21 PTS / 12 TRB / 2 STL) and the wings completely shut down the outside (0 three-pointers for the 2000s). As a result, the 2000s had to play the 60s styled game and the score was tied with 6 seconds left. Wilt Chamberlain had the ball and went to turn to face the basket, but Tim Duncan made his second and final steal of the night, then heaved a full court outlet pass for Kobe Bryant who scored the winning layup. This critical error cost the 1960s their best chance at a win and leave the squad utterly deflated.
95-97 2000s 3-0

Game 4: 1960s at 2000s
With such a crushing defeat in Game 3, the 1960s might as well not have shown up to play for Game 4. Chamberlain (23 PTS / 10 TRB / 4 BLK) and Spencer Haywood (14 PTS / 10 TRB / 2 STL) played well, but no one else scored in double digits and the team shot 37% for the night. Meanwhile, it was a stats smorgasbord for the 2000s: Duncan dominated (32 PTS / 12 TRB / 4 BLK) and Kobe notched a triple-double (15 PTS / 10 TRB / 10 AST). At the end it was a near-50 point bloodbath and the 2000s emerge victorious.
77-125 2000s 4-0

Tournament Results:
A sweep brings the 1960s team below .500 for the first time in the contest. On the other side, the 2000s four-and-out victory rockets them into second place, just 1 loss behind the vaunted 1980s squad.

Next Round: 1980s at 1970s!

It’s been five months since the end of the initial UBAS season – five long months (UBAS site)! While it was an agonizingly long time, I spent it well by pouring over all of the unsigned, remaining players and cooking up trade idea after trade idea.

Then, about two months ago, Adam (the commissioner) updated everyone with the new crop of rookies. Blake Griffin is the most promising of the bunch, and John Wall was a solid project, but the field was fairly strong with an influx of European and Australian players, as well. The draft was so strong, in fact, that I quickly realized many newly available players were better than some of those gathering dust on my bench.

So, I went back to the database – finding the best players to fill holes in my squad. I hope I did alright. I’ll quickly recap how I did in the draft and why I dropped the players I did and what made me select the players I drafted.

My New York Rens finished 38-44 which “won” me the 11th pick in the draft. However, the team that had the 8th spot abstained from selecting in the draft so everyone moved up and I took 10th. I dropped Bob Houbregs to have a spot on my roster. His original selection was a bit of a mistake – the method I used to create my season 1 team didn’t account for games played or minutes played. As a result, towards the end, I began to pick up really productive players that either missed a ton of games or barely saw the court. So, Houbregs was an easy dump.

I knew the promising young rookies (Griffin, Wall, Demarcus Cousins, etc.) would be hot properties in the first 10 or so picks so I concentrated on the European and Australian players. Most of these players followed the same pattern: the first half of their career would be incredibly productive followed by mediocre years. So, focusing just on the first 5 years, I chose Australian shooting guard, Al Green, who had hands-down the best first 5 years of anyone on the board. He wasn’t a perfect fit for my squad as Clyde Drexler was going to be manning the SG spot for a decade, but I went with production over fit for this one. In fact, it wasn’t too terribly bad a lineup problem, either, as Drexler could slide up to SF, Barkley could slide up to PF and Leroy Edwards and Harry Gallatin could each play C.

I knew this draft class was extremely strong and I felt I could jump in with another early pick if I made the right trade. Luckily, the GM who owned the 15th selection asked me about Derek Harper. Harper was a great, long-term player but I felt I could find one who would produce more in less time at the 15th pick, so I shipped him out. As if this wasn’t enough good luck already, the two teams with the 13th and 14th picks decided to sit out for the draft so my 15th pick now was 13th (12th including the 8th spot who dropped out, too).

Anyway, I have always been slightly concerned with Leroy Edwards. He’s one of my favorite players and a phenomenal talent but is injury-prone for the first couple of years. When he goes down Harry Gallatin or Vlade Divac can take over for the C spot, but depending on lineups, sometimes Barkley will have to step up from the SF to the PF spot. Long story short, I wanted someone who could cover the PF and SF bases and Scott Fisher was the best bet for the next 5 years.

Jack Coleman was going to be a servicable backup big for the rest of his career, but with Scott Fisher I felt he was expendable. This decision was made even easier with the realization I could pick up even better players at my final spot (32nd pick). Looking over my squad I felt I still was a little top-heavy so I wanted to pick up a guard.

It was my turn and I even drafted the email saying I would be selecting a PG when I decided to do one more type of formula. This one averaged players’ best first season against their entire career and a gem popped out: Frank Ramsey. He wasn’t a PG but at SG/SF he could help fill in for Ron Harper who wouldn’t be able to play a full season.

And that was it! I think I did pretty well although I guess I still probably won’t see what I’ve missed until the season starts. Last year, I had a strategy for the draft and stuck to it pretty well but it was pretty clear afterward that my methods had a few kinks. A full season under my belt I now also am better aware of what it takes to be successful in the league. I think I shored up some gaping holes in my lineup (for this year and future years) and am on the right track. I can’t say I’ll compete for the championship in season 2 – but I should make the playoffs. I’ll keep you all updated!

Game 1: 1960s at 2000s
It’s quite a juxtaposition as the thin runners of the 60s take the court across the chiseled, muscular 90s players. However, the doughy Baylor (29 PTS / 10 TRB / 4 AST) and the string bean Chamberlain (25 PTS / 14 TRB / 5 AST) get the last laugh – outlasting their athletic counterparts and squeaking out a 10-point win on their opponent’s home court.
115-105 1960s 1-0

Game 2: 1960s at 2000s
A little embarrassed at their close loss, the 2000 squad came out fired up. This determination turned into a block party and subsequently a blowout. The 2000s players recorded 16 blocks in this game but, oddly, the majority of these came from the perimeter. Kobe (11 PTS / 5 TRB / 5 AST) notched 2 blocks while Dwyane Wade (playing as a point guard) recorded 5 denials! Garnett (21 PTS / 5 TRB / 7 AST / 2 BLK) was the centerpiece for the winning side.
87-107 Tie 1-1

Game 3: 2000s at 1960s
Back on their home court in Boston, the 60s squad just fell flat – literally. They got beat in both of the “jumping” stats, losing the rebounding battle 42-50 and only managing 1 block to their opponents’ 10 (yikes!). The Big Fundamental was dominant on both ends (23 PTS / 13 TRB / 4 AST / 5 BLK), limiting the efficiencies of Chamberlain and Spencer Haywood. Baylor (28 PTS / 10 TRB / 5 AST), however, is becoming the jewel of the 1960s for this series (and this is against LeBron).
111-98 2000s 2-1

Game 4: 2000s at 1960s
The 60s lose in another blowout although this one is particular ugly as neither team shoots well (37% and 46%). After shining brightly, Baylor’s star gets dimmed tonight (4-14 FG) under the punishing defense of LeBron. His teammate, Jerry West, does even worse (0-7 FG), hounded by Kobe Bryant. It’s a bloodbath in Boston and the bruised 60s squad leaves the court with their heads hung low and their hopes quickly evaporating.
97-75 2000s 3-1

Game 5: 1960s at 2000s
The series shifts back to the 2000s home court in San Antonio and the home team are up a commanding 3-1. Just in time for Wilt Chamberlain (remember that guy?) to finally shake loose of the shackles Duncan has had him in for the past 4 games. Wilt (25 PTS / 14 TRB / 4 BLK / 3 STL) out-Duncan’s Duncan and Baylor (26 PTS / 10 TRB / 6 AST) gets his mojo back. Kevin Durant finds 4 minutes of playing time and manages to do nothing but commit a single turnover.
105-94 2000s 3-2

Game 6: 2000s at 1960s
Rebounding is the name of the game in the 6th contest as the 1960s out board their 2000 counterparts to the ridiculous amount of 60-34! Oscar Robertson almost notches a triple-double (31 PTS / 8 TRB / 9 AST) and Baylor continues to produce (22 PTS / 10 TRB / 2 AST). Tim Duncan was the only 2000 player who seemed to show up tonight (20 PTS / 9 TRB / 2 AST) while Durantula (1-6 FG, 0-3 3FG) and Paul Pierce (3-8 FG) chuck their team out of the building in a lopsided match.
102-131 Tie 3-3

Game 7: 1960s at 2000s
Hot damn, we’ve got ourselves a Game 7! The final and deciding contest will be held on the 2000′s home court, but the 1960s squad is coming off the largest victory in the series. The tension shoots like electricity through the crowd before the tip off! From jump to the final shot, this one was close. LeBron (0-4 3FG) and Kobe (0-3 3FG) are the main culprits in the 2000′s brickfest but this is offset by the 7 additional turnovers the 1960s team makes. It’s anybody’s game going into the 4th quarter as both teams are led by their big mens’ strengths (Chamberlain with 32 PTS / 16 TRB and Duncan with 13 TRB / 5 BLK). Up by a point, Dwyane Wade (19 PTS / 2 TRB / 4 AST) decides to 1-up his rival, LeBron, and sinks a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Killer series.
106-110 2000s 4-3

Tournament Results:
The 1960s have seen the most action so far (I’m even questioning how random my random selection process is!), but they’re doing ok – especially considering they’ve been the visiting team in each of the four series. It’ll be interesting to see if they emerge as strong favorites after getting home court advantage.

Next Round: 1960s at 1950s!

Game 1: 1950s at 1980s
The 1950s squad – based in Minneapolis – make the 2000 mile trip to Los Angeles, home court of the 1980s for Game 1 in this series. It was a battle of the power forwards this evening as Barkley (20 PTS / 18 TRB / 2 BLK) fought Pettit (17 PTS / 11 TRB / 2 BLK) on both ends of the floor. Cousy also pitched in for the early decade’s squad (20 PTS / 5 TRB / 5 AST) but no other teammate scores over 8 points and the 1950s lose by double digits.
95-106 1980s 1-0

Game 2: 1950s at 1980s
Pettit and Cousy implore the rest of the starters to help them score for Game 2 and score they do as all 5 players reach double digits. Unfortunately, tonight is the night Michael Jordan decides to do everything well (16 PTS / 7 TRB / 10 AST / 2 STL), negating the 50′s comeback. A thrilling game comes down to free throws as the 80s go 24-28 (.857) to the 60s squad’s 21-30 (.700). The curse of the 50′s poor shooting is starting to haunt them already.
95-106 1980s 2-0

Game 3: 1980s at 1950s
Back in Minneapolis, Paul Arizin does his best Michael Jordan impression (21 PTS / 11 TRB / 3 AST / 3 BLK) – though Jordan doesn’t look so bad, himself (17 PTS / 4 TRB / 13 AST). Cousy (14 PTS / 7 AST) and Pettit (13 PTS / 7 TRB) once again perform their points-assists-rebounds duet, but no one on the 50s can stop the Round Mound of Rebound. Sir Charles (20 PTS / 9 TRB / 6 AST) leads the 80s to another victory and the 50s to the brink of being swept.
118-93 1980s 3-0

Game 4: 1980s at 1950s
With the humiliation of losing 4 straight games becoming a reality, the 1950s players know it is gut check time and come out courageously. Disasterously, they apparently leave their shot in the locker room, ending up shooting 44% from the floor as a team. Meanwhile, the 1980s smell blood in the water and dominate on both ends of the court. Barkley (34 PTS / 11 TRB / 5 STL) is the standout, though Patrick Ewing has a good showing (18 PTS / 7 TRB) in a secondary role. 1950s drop an egg, but vow to come back in their next series.
121-88 1980s 4-0

Tournament Results:
The 50s go down hard, quickly taking last place with their 0-4 showing. The 80s, on the other hand (with 8 wins), catapult into a tie for first place with the 1960s.

Next Round: 1960s at 2000s!

Game 1: 1960s at 1980s
Many balked at the idea of a Jordan-Dantley backcourt but the 80s squad proved these doubters wrong. Jordan shined playing the point (22 PTS / 6 TRB / 12 AST / 4 STL) and Dantley provided secondary scoring (19 PTS / 2 TRB / 3 AST) to lead the 1980s team over their 1960s counterparts. Patrick Ewing will have his hands full this series as Chamberlain (24 PTS / 12 TRB / 5 AST) and Spencer Haywood (15 PTS / 16 TRB) simply dominated down low.
107-114 1980s 1-0

Game 2: 1960s at 1980s
There was a phenomenal duel between the small forwards in Game 2. Elgin Baylor (19 PTS / 16 TRB / 4 AST) out-muscled everyone on the boards, but Larry Bird (11 PTS / 3 TRB / 10 AST) opened up his teammates with brilliant interior passing. However, it was Wilt Chamberlain (38 PTS / 14 TRB / 5 AST / 4 BLK / 3 STL) who, once again, hoisted the 1960s team on his broad shoulders and carries his team to victory over the star-studded 80s squad.
113-104 Tie 1-1

Game 3: 1980s at 1960s
After stealing Game 2 and heading back to their homecourt in Boston, the 1960s team feels extremely confident. That confidence produces dominating rebounding with Chamberalin (28 PTS / 22 TRB) and Haywood (20 PTS / 12 TRB) leading the way again. The 80s lose in a blowout and a furious Jordan stares icily in Patrick Ewing’s direction (9 PTS / 5 TRB / 3 AST).
99-119 1960s 2-1

Game 4: 1980s at 1960s
It sure must be nice to have multiple all-time clutch players on your squad. With the 1960′s vice grip on the series tightening, Michael Jordan (17 PTS / 9 TRB / 14 AST), Charles Barkley (26 PTS / 9 TRB / 4 AST / 3 BLK) and Larry Bird (22 PTS / 10 TRB / 7 AST) direct a concerted, team-oriented attack to bring the series back to Los Angeles in a tie. In a losing effort, Oscar Robertson shined (17 PTS / 8 TRB / 11 AST) but Chamberlain looked downright mortal (26 PTS / 9 TRB / 3 AST).
136-112 Tie 2-2

Game 5: 1960s at 1980s
A double overtime thriller (and first overtime game in the competition), so several ridiculous stat lines appeared. Elgin Baylor (16 PTS / 12 TRB / 7 AST) and Spencer Haywood (17 PTS / 11 TRB / 3 BLK) had excellent games for the 60s squad – oh, and so did that Chamberlain fella (35 PTS / 19 TRB / 4 BLK). But it was the 1980′s team that prevailed behind the usual triumvirate of Jordan (25 PTS / 8 TRB / 12 AST), Bird (22 PTS / 10 TRB / 6 AST / 4 BLK) and Barkley (30 PTS / 15 TRB / 8 AST). The round mound is leading the 80′s rebound in this series (ugh)!
116-125 2OT 1980s 3-2

Game 6: 1980s at 1960s
Back in Boston, the biggest strength of the 60s – rebounding – fails them (the 80s beat them for the first time in the series, 46-37) and, as a result, so go the 60s squad. Oscar Robertson (25 PTS / 7 TRB / 15 AST) and Jerry West (25 PTS / 5 TRB / 2 AST) hit for 25 apiece, but it’s the steely closer, Michael Jordan (28 PTS / 6 TRB / 12 AST) that shuts the door on this matchup.
129-125 1980s 4-2

Tournament Results:
After the 80′s first series, they are neck and neck with the 90s but the nod would still go to Olajuwon’s bunch who lead with a 3.2 point differential.

Next Round: 1950s at 1980s!