00s Tournament: North Region

[IceMan2]

As many of you may know, I am going to run a tournament featuring the Top teams of the 2000s. For a quest to who was the best. 64 of the top are presented in this March Madness Style Tournament. Here is the main thread:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=304930

Here is a link to the full bracket:

http://betterbracketmaker.com/#!/46ffb17c92c15


This thread is solely for the simulation of the North Region. Featuring these teams:

1 00 Lakers

2 04 Pistons

3 06 Heat

4 04 Pacers

5 00 Blazers

6 07 Suns

7 01 Spurs

8 00 Knicks

9 08 Jazz

10 04 Mavericks

11 07 Bulls

12 02 Pistons

13 01 Raptors

14 00 Hornets

15 05 Nuggets

16 06 Grizzlies

[IceMan2]

[LIST][*]Each Round Will Be Best out of 7[*]I will start with the Top Seeds[*]I will be using whatifsports.com to simulate. Box Scores and Play-by-Plays will also be included with each matchup[*]For those who have whatifsports.com experience, they can validate my results and ensure nothing is rigged. [/LIST]


Predictions for the North Region???

[Scholar]

I predict the 00 Lakers win this. Shaq in his prime and a young Kobe? Goodbye, competition.

[IceMan2]

IMO could be the toughest region. It is the only region to have 3 champions inside the region. And then some other solid teams like the 04 Pacers, the 00 Blazers (who almost beat the 00 Lakers in real-life), and the 07 Suns

[Twiens]

I'd take lakers as well, '00 Knicks as a sleeper pick.

[IceMan2]

As for upset picks (like we typically have in NCAA tournaments)...
um 07 Bulls over 07 Suns?

00 Blazers are my darkhorse pick to win this region

[hangintheair]

00' Lakers all the way

Dark Horse: 02 Pistons

I'll change my dark horse prediction to 02 Pistons..

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Top seed takes it. Peak Shaq is ridiculous in WIS, as he should be. 2001 Spurs are my darkhorse.

[KG215]

Yeah, I'm interested in seeing the boxscores from the '00 Laker games, just to see the numbers Shaq puts up. If it's best-of-seven I don't really see very many upsets happening.

[IceMan2]

Yeah, I'm interested in seeing the boxscores from the '00 Laker games, just to see the numbers Shaq puts up. If it's best-of-seven I don't really see very many upsets happening.

Not even on WIF
Your talk of "variation" was the main reason I changed it from 3 to 7 lol

[IceMan2]

1 2000 Los Angeles Lakers

vs.




16 2006 Memphis Grizzlies

Preview: The 2000 Lakers finished with a 67-15 record, the best seen in the entire decade. Definitely making them worthy of a #1 seed in this tournament. The playoffs weren't as easy, but they made it through eventually winning the championship. O'Neal was at his peak and maybe the best player in this entire tournament. Kobe was an all-star but not quite in his prime yet. Nonetheless, they had Rice who was probably the best role-player they had in their 1st 3-peat and could make up for Kobe not being at in his prime yet.

The 2006 Grizzlies finished with a 49-33 record and were led by All-Star PF Pau Gasol and a whole bunch of good role players. Some key names include: Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Eddie Jones, and Chucky Atkins. Overall they 6-7 players average in double-figures. They did not however have much success in the playoffs keeping them down to only a #16 seed.

The Grizzlies will have a tough time containing O'Neal in this series, you can expect him to do his thing. However, the Grizzlies do have great perimeter defense with Battier and Eddie Jones. Battier will be guarding Kobe all series limiting him. They may not stop O'Neal, but if they can limit everyone else they have a shot at an upset.

[IceMan2]

Game 1: Grizzlies 102, at Lakers 92

Box Score: http://whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore...u=1&teamfee=-1

Player of the Game: P.Gasol 18points/10reb/7ast/2blk


Recap: The Grizzlies come out and stun the Lakers Game 1. They outscored them 56-40 in the 2nd half to win this game. Pau Gasol led the way with a double-double dishing out 10 assists, while 5 other players were also in the double-figures. They also turned it over only 8 times. Shaq led the Lakers with 33 points and 13 rebounds while Kobe added 18/9/8 but it was not enough.


Game 2: at Lakers 108, Grizzlies 77

Box Score: http://whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore...u=1&teamfee=-1

Player of the Game: S.O'Neal 33points/13reb/4ast on 15/22 shooting

Recap: The Lakers bounced back in a big way to take Game 2 from the Grizzlies. O'Neal was dominant once again while Kobe added 19 points for them in 30 minutes due to foul trouble. The key difference was their defense, holding the Grizzlies to less than 40% shooting and forcing 20 TOs. Gasol struggled shooting just 5/13 and is now just 12/40 overall in the series.


Game 3: Lakers 86, at Grizzlies 78

Box Score: http://whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore...u=1&teamfee=-1

Player of the Game: S.O'Neal 34points/17reb on 14/25 FG

Recap: In a tough fought defensive game the Lakers came out victorious to take a 4-2 lead in the series. O'Neal had 30+ points again as he led the way when everyone else was struggling. Bryant had 11points/8ast while Rice added 15. Pau Gasol had his best game of the series scoring 26 with 8reb/6ast but the rest of his team struggled as the Lakers take a 2-1 lead.


Game 4: at Grizzlies 102, Lakers 77

Box Score: http://whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore...u=1&teamfee=-1

Player of the Game: P.Gasol 19points/12reb/7ast on 7/14 FG

Recap: The Lakers came out soft and the Grizzlies came out hard. The outcome was the result of this. Pau Gasol had another good all-around game as the Grizzlies played terrific defense holding the Lakers to just 77 points. Shaq had 29/14 but Kobe just 9 points on 4/13 shooting. He has failed to reach the 20 point mark all series thanks to Shane Battier and the Memphis tough defense.


Game 5: at Lakers 95, Grizzlies 90

Box Score: http://whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore...u=1&teamfee=-1

Player of the Game: S.O'Neal 22points/15reb/9ast/4blk on 9/15 FG

Recap: The Lakers won a tough fought Game 5. O'Neal led the way again, he was double-teamed more this game but found open players and had 9 assists overall while making a more impact on defense. Glen Rice stepped up leading all scorers with 24 while Bryant added 17 on 8/19 continuing his medicore series. Gasol just missed a triple-double with 19/10/9.


Game 6: Lakers 108, at Grizzlies 97

Box Score:http://whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore...u=1&teamfee=-1


Player of the Game: K.Bryant 32points/9reb/9ast


Recap: Kobe Bryant finally stepped up and had a big game and that is all the Lakers needed to close out the series. Bryant had his series best 32 points while continuing his all-around display. Shaq added 23/13. Pau Gasol struggled with 14 points and 9reb on 7/18 shooting as the series comes to an end.

1 2000 Lakers Win Series 4-2

[hangintheair]

Nice Win by the lakers.. I tried my own simulation but the Memphis did an upset 4-3.. Good thing in your simulation the Lakers won.

[KG215]

Not even on WIF
Your talk of "variation" was the main reason I changed it from 3 to 7 lol

Not sure what you mean, but I wasn't the only one. I was just agreeing with the one or two posters who said something before me along those same lines. I've really only messed around with simming all-time great teams against other all-time great teams, and teams like the '96 Bulls, '86 Celtics, and '87 Lakers generally won the most. So maybe more upsets than I expect shouldn't surprise me.

[KG215]

Here's Shaq and Kobe's averages.

Shaq: 29.0 PPG, 14.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.0 BPG, .588 FG%

Kobe: 17.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, .441 FG%