BuzzerBeater Forums

I've been reading this thread for some time and I find most suggestions about the huge drop in teams at BB very interesting. However, I doubt the lack of an app, taxes or tactics are really the main culprits in the dwindling numbers. I believe that the lack of advertising has led to a reduced number of new owners, but there must be something else about the game that is driving players away.

This is just speculation on my part, but my gut tells me that the vast majority of quitters are not long-time veteran players, but those who have played the game for about 1 to 3 seasons. Only the BB Gods can confirm or refute that speculation, but for the moment, that's what I believe. So, if I'm correct, the OET or the strength of LI vs. all other tactics probably isn't the main reason why these players are quitting.

It's because it's nearly impossible for new owners to improve their teams quickly.

A quick history lesson for you newer players. When I started playing this game (Season 11), all free agents entered the market with a minimum bid of $1000. Later, BB changed that to 10 times a free agent's weekly salary. (A free agent with a $10,000 salary would have a minimum bid of $100,000) Several seasons later, BB announced that lower-salaried free agents would no longer be included in the PM. I don't remember the threshold for inclusion in the PM, but it seems like it was different for different positions and it seems like it was in the $20,000 to $25,000 range. So, any potential free agent with a salary below those thresholds does not become available on the PM.

Before I started writing this, I went back and looked at my transfer history. When I promoted to Div. IV, I went out and bought four new players on the PM with salaries between $10,000 and $20,000 within 30 days (RT). I paid less than a million for all four together. I did not pay $300,000 for any of them. All were 24 years old or less. None were free agents. Because all free agents were included in the PM, player costs were far lower than what they are today. Without the free agents, costs for lower-salaried players have skyrocketed due to no competition.

Today, if you search on the PM for 24-year-old or less players with a salary of $10,000 to $20,000 and a maximum bid of $300,000 you will find a total of 41 players. And how many teams are about to promote for the first time? Hundreds? More than a 1000? Now, you can go search for players and find many, many more players available in that age and salary range. And most of them have starting bids of $600,000, $750,000, a million or even higher. How many newly promoted Div. IV teams have that kind of money?

They don't. So I believe many relatively new owners are becoming frustrated and giving up. Heck, even trying to build a team with old guys is becoming difficult because many of the Utopian teams are willing to overspend on old guys to win quickly. And BTW, this is the only effect Utopia has had on the PM. Very few Utopian teams are spending money on young guys because many don't have the millions it takes to get those players. Half of the Utopian teams in my league have invested in 30-somethings in order to win quickly. Also this problem with the lack of free agents pre-dates Utopia; prices were skyrocketing before Utopia was even proposed.

So my suggestion to stop the bleeding is to rescind the rule that restricts lower-salaried free agents from the Player Market. An influx of lower-salaried free agents will allow newer owners a better opportunity to acquire players that will help them improve their teams and keep their interest in BuzzerBeater longer.

Last edited by Bucfan at 10/7/2014 11:42:05 AM

I didnt say every player. i said the pf. As the ball is moving around. it creates a harder offense to stop. If a manager is watchng you and the Pg get 30 and sg get 24, he is going to try pin them down. But if the Sf and Pf can drop 24 /30. as well He wont know what to do. Its not about everyboody scoring 25pts. It team flow, Anybody can explode,

Cancling each other is a myth is a my opinion. Me personally , i would care if they both got 15pts when they are worth 40 pt a piece. The more people scoring the better in my opinion. The more weapon you have, the better you play and set up for teams. I trust in the best players making the bad player better. Thats my motto

great analysis.

it is nice to discuss some BB issues here that need an overhaul, but as you said, those issues are not the main reason users are leaving. your argument seems way more plausible.

i hope some BB-'s will read it and think about it

One of the historical best teams in USA D.I is the Silverbacks. They've won 3 titles, including one more recently in Season 22.

Here are the two Finals games for that season
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So it is doable.

Its Pg/sf duo the pf being the kicker.. Theres a way the sg can become a decoy more than a actual factor.

I think teams/managers mess players up playing them at un natural positions. I think only player that can swap are sg/pg. The rest need to stay natural. I have tried looking for a edge it only work from a bench perspective.

I understand motion./r&g/princeton. very well and driving aspect your talking about. but I use Pait/r&g/ptb/ and outside shooting :). these attack the defense better. A dynamic sf can pass, drive and shoot, defense. you see where Im going with it, yes he is costly but on highest level. I think it can be afforded .

Princeton can be figured out very well, this why i omit it from my bases. Some have success with it and I hope it continues. But I pick those 4 because it lets players create a shot it also requires good passing, and also attack the stamina of the foe. Which I think is a factor in games.. Which I think create more chance of a mismatch with Od being a so godly valued.. Cant play tired.

I think a lot people mold players from LI and this is why they don't perform so well. MY opinion. A hybrid to me is player who can many play tactics. His skill will reverse he role naturally within the tactics. I think don't thinks its player playing sf and center. ON BB of course.