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Air Allnite: “After a 97-77 loss, I don’t want to hear any excuses. I don’t care that Hearn and Sanz Garcaa got hurt and left the game. I don’t care that Kyle Knowles was off the bench in this game. That Zubr Bialystok defense is for real, and your favorite basketball team is soft. Is Rod Guyton soft. Your so called MVP struggled in a game when you needed him to step up, specifically after the bigs went down. Let’s stop that conversation full stop.”

Marshall Richards: “So that’s how we’re going to do this? Not even an intro?”

Air Allnite: “They know who you are and what you do. Folks, the suck up session starts now. Tell the soft people something good to take away from this debacle, Marshall.”

MR: “The 3 point shooting flashed. 7 of 18, with Guyton going 4 of 7. Guyton is being that guy, but even Batman had Robin, and no one stepped into that role tonight. Harrison Mann had 9 rebounds. Damion Hatfield had 12. The rebounding was there. Sokmen had 8 and Sanz Garcaa had 8 when he went down. On the injury front, both Hearn and Sanz Garcaa are ok and expect to miss no time. Trenton Tovar should be back also. So Pio is going to get to play with different combinations. If you see Kyle or Guyton on the bench, I’d assume that it’s training related. If you’re looking for the good, there it is.”

AA: “This team appears to have everything they need to play fast, Marshall. Yet they consistently suck at it. Is this a Pio Reina coaching fail or is something different at play?”

MR: “It’s something different at play. Pio can’t play for the guys. Pio can’t take care of the ball for them. The only way to fix that is to work on that. Pio can help by changing the tempo. He knows that. That he tries to play fast more often than he should indicates he’s trying to hammer this point home to the team.”

AA: “Or he’s a stubborn coach who’s out of touch with his team.”

MR: “Or maybe you just don’t know Pio’s basketball philosophies as well as you think. Of the 3 point guards on the roster, Christophe Nguyen is the closest to playing defensively how Pio wants to play. Offensively he is not ready. McCain isn’t far behind Nguyen on the defensive end, but he’s far behind offensively. Elijah Wilson is going to be a while, but he has promise. The only 2 shooting guards who can play the way Pio wants to play are Kyle Knowles and Mantas Petriukstis. Both lack that certain something to be the point guard that Pio is looking for. Rod has it offensively, but lacks a bit defensively in what Pio wants to see. The small forwards who can play defensively are Sokmen and Reese. The only big who can play his preferred style is Danian Hatfield. Out of 15 players on this roster, only 5 players can play the way Pio wants to play. The fact that he doesn’t play that way says he knows this, and is trying to find a way to play to his players’ strengths. That’s not a coach out of touch with his players.”

AA: “So tell me what his players do well, Marshall? Your $100,000 man has done 20 and 10 only 4 times. That’s sad. His sidekick up front has only done it once. There’s another $46,000 wasted. Harrison Mann is a role player at best. That’s $20,000 wasted. Your $19,000 small forward has only scored 20 in a game 3 times this season. Then that collection of 2 guards you have there… Petriukstis has only scored double figures in 2 games. $15,000 there. Trenton Tovar, your precious shooter, is shooting .356 from the floor, .283 from three, and only has 2 20 point games. Another $16,000 waste. Kyle Knowles, at $58,000, has 4 20 point games. Is he really 3 times as good as Tovar? He doesn’t seem like it to me. And then there’s Rod Guyton, your prospective MVP. When you needed him to have a big game last night, did he? Nope. That’s $68,000. The only thing this team is good at is spending money. The numbers speak for themselves."

MR: "And with that, the guy you love to hate is back. More of him after the break!

So... What's the deal with merchandising?

My team only averages around $31K while league average is $54K? Is this primarily a function of me not having enough homegrown / USA players?

Attendance wise I'm not too far off from the league average: $198K vs. $208K (might be able to close the gap with my latest price adjustments)...

With merchandising there are three main things that factor in

1.) Homegrown players. Obviously the first is players from the US since you're in a United States league, but also how long players have been on your team. If you have a Brazilian player but he's been on your team for five plus years that counts in the homegrown department. Unfortunately, the American born players who has been on your team for five years will generate more homegrown money than foreign born player that's been on your team for five years. However ...

2.) League leaders and National Team players. if your players are one of the leaders in points, assists, rebounds, that player will get more merchandising money for you. Ditto if he's on the national team. Of the two, being a league leader tends to generate more money than being on a national team. Of course normally if your player is on a national team he's usually one of the league leaders in something. This is the thing you really want. If player X is wrecking in the major categories for your team. It doesn't matter if he's from Mars his jersey sells are going to make up for any homegrown money deficiency

3.) There are arena improvements you can do like buy a store that will add to your merchandising. Since in BB logic, the more places that sell stuff, the more stuff that will be sold and more merchandising money will be made. While eventually this will add a really good chunk of money to your merchandising and I will quickly testify that it does, it does cost and I'd only do it if you have a good million to spare buying, leveling it up and maintaining it on top of weathering the half a season it takes for it to really kick in

Hopes this helps. Merchandising money can really help especially during that mid-season period when attendance just seems to suck for no logical reason

I'll echo Coach Stephenson here...home-grown is where it's at. This week I hit $26k in homegrown merch, which beats out player jersey sales and team sales. Without it, I would only have ~$44k in merch sales. I haven't been able to venture down the merch store path yet, but it's one of my next ventures for sure...after the stadium upgrade, which I was going to do and then spent my money on players instead.

*on the Linndale practice courts *

Pio Reina: “Free Throw week is once again upon us. I don’t like what I see overall. I want all of my starters shooting at a minimum of 80%. Rotation players at 75. If you’re not a starter, you’re considered in the rotation. I only have 2 starters meeting my threshold, and 2 non starters. Gentlemen, those are points we cannot afford to leave on the floor. Fix this issue. If you want to win, make the free throws."

"Next on the agenda is the defense. I don’t know how good you think the defense is, but you guys need to get better. You guys can play decent defense, but you can be better. You show it in spurts. I want to see it all the time every time. Be consistent with that effort. I need to see things tighten up. This league is too tough to play lackadaisical on the defensive like you have been. We should be holding opponents to under 40%. I want to see that number at 36% or lower. You guys are sitting at 37.9%."

"Next item is turnovers. We don’t cause enough and we give up way too many. I want to you bring that number down. Currently, we’re at 11 per game. I want it under 9. You guys want to play fast? I keep telling you to take care of the basketball. If you won't take care of the basketball, we will have to just change how we play. Try me if you want to."

"Last item, bench production. Starters are excused now. Mantas, Shooter, you guys are my leaders on the bench squad. Reese, you are going to slide into a matchup role until such time as your offense demands a full time spot on the 2nd unit. Pascal, you’re going to be the key. I think you have the ability to play multiple positions. Harrison and Damian, you guys are in the same situation as Reese. If I didn’t call your name, you’re fighting to break into the rotation. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t capable. Remember, while you’re working to get better, you’re making those in front of you on the depth chart better, and they will help to make you better. Next man up is a way of life here. Your job is to be ready to play every day. I want my second unit to be more than just a second unit. I want you to be my second starters. I’m confident we have that in the back court. We’re not that far from having it up front. I know you guys can do this. Time to step up. When we become champions, the bench will be a key component. Let’s go!!!”

Petriukstis and Tovar called out to Pemweiser. "Big Pimpin", Tovar called. "Big Fella", called Petriukstis. "We got plans for you..."

My team is also probably bringing that average way up. Holley scrimmaged with the NT to start the season and he's homegrown so I get like 120k a week in Merch almost entirely from him. Cut me out and league average is probably 45-48 a week

https://imgur.com/a/xc5EcDl

Last edited by oriolekid at 7/1/2023 1:44:03 PM

Also for all you cool cats who were unaware, the US has an amazing buzzerbeater discord. Crazy active and full of advice, training diaries and paths, and NT strategizing, plus general sports talk as well.
https://discord.gg/cKpNkt2

Then send me a PM with your discord name and I can approve you guys.

Hunt: We welcome you back to the Warriors Pregame Show. I'm Hunt Mosley. He's Bret "the Legend" Rodriguez. Say hello Bret

Bret: Hello Bret

Hunt:
For those of y'all groaning and holding your heads in your hand just be happy we didn't do who's on first. Okay down to business. All-Star Break is over, Warriors start the final half of the regular season with a trip to Zubr Bialystok to take on the Bison. What do the Warriors have to look forward to on this road trip?

Bret:
Starts on the defensive end, they can't let the Bison get off to a good start. These guys are on top of the Great 8 for a reason. The Bison while releasing some players in the name of cap and utility still have some ballers, the main danger being His Positionless, Heradas Sapiras whose ability to play multiple positions makes planning for this team problematic. Riggins is a potential inside threat on both ends of the court. I know the Warriors have been on the good end of most encounters with the Bialystok but right now if you're Coach Stephenson you're throwing that all out the window and focusing on what is in front of you and that is the top position holder in the Great 8.

Hunt:
Speaking of standings, let's talk about the Big 8, huge logjam with four teams sitting at 10-3, another dangerous team prowling just outside the playoff front door at 9-4. Right now the tiniest mistake can have you being picked up from the warm place by the fire and tossed out into the cold liked Jazzy Jeff in an Fresh Prince episode

Bret:
Look at Hunt bringing up the culture trivia. But yeah right now the Big 8 is a mine trap. One wrong step could kablam your entire season. Now I know some of you might think I'm sensationalizing but that is just how deep this Big 8 is and really this is nothing new for any of us who has been watching this division for some time. Five of these teams are long, long time rivals. You take any of those five teams and start making pairing and you're find long term rivalries. Doesn't matter who you match up, Warriors & Dribble, Rebels & Dribble, Rebels & Warriors. Hell it doesn't even matter which Rebels you use you still come up with the same thing, deep rivalry. Now while this is great if you're a fan, it can hell if you're a coach because as Pio Reina said earlier this season: a team deserving a playoff spot in the Big 8 is going to end up without one.

Hunt:
Now we have a picture of how important this matchup is and the difficulties the Dubs face. How do you as Coach Stephenson prep for this game?

Bret:
Good thing for the Dubs is that in many ways the Bison are like the Warriors. Take out Granja or Baiao and substitute Sapiras and McNutt, you still end up with the same dangers from an opposing stand point. Riggins is like Begin, a walking double double. Neutralizing their offensive flow is number 1. Good thing is the Dubs have the tool and the talent to do so. But ...

Hunt:
Don't say it. Don't

Bret:
Not having your best overall defender in this game especially given this a defender you have coming with your second unit. Big loss for this game not having Tercero

Hunt:
(sighing) While we're on that. Do you think we see more Maid Vrana or Marquez in the second unit.

Bret:
I'm not sure on that one. Vrana being out there gives the possibility of the Warriors having a better threat against Sapiras if he's playing the three being that both him and East have the wingspan to counter him. El Charro is better overall and gives the Dubs the ability to attack the inside. That's a good question because the answer to that determines which mode of attack the Warriors are going to use. Me pesonally I'd put Vrana at the backup 2 spot and bring East into the three.



Last edited by Coach Stephenson at 7/8/2023 5:10:52 PM

Hunt:
Me I'm putting El Charro in. Trust the experience. He's had big games when the Warriors have needed him to. Of the two El Charro is the most like Tercero at least in my opinion. But the most important opinion is Coach and maybe Gordo Long so we'll see. We'll be back after this commercial break.

*we join Pio Reina in the GM office mid conversation*

Pio Reina: “We don’t generate enough steals and we turn the ball over entirely too much. We don’t shoot well inside the arc, but we’re pretty deadly behind it. We’re decent at the free throw line. We can’t play with pace on offense or defense. We rebound well…”

GM: “We’re better at stealing the ball than you realize.”

PR: (looks at report) “I’ll grant you that, but we’re awful at protecting it.”

GM: “If by that you mean we give it away too much, I can see that, but the numbers say we cause more turnovers than you give credit for.”

PR: “I can’t give credit for causing turnovers if we’re just giving it right back. We have too many turnovers and give up too many steals. You can’t play with pace like that. We need ball hawks and we need ball handlers to do that.”

GM: “OK; enough of that. Pio, we’re gonna have to develop what we have to get what we want. I know what you want. We’ll get there. It will be rough, but we’ll get there. Let’s talk about what we have. What did you see in that last BBM game?

PR: “The better team won that game, but we are closer than it would appear. Knowles and Guyton did work against a a tough defense. Mann showed up. Hearn was the best player on the court but Perez did a number on him. We gotta figure out how to get Sokmen back on track. The problem is the bench. You’d think putting Garcaa on the 2nd unit with Tovar and Petriukstis would have been beneficial but Hatfield and Reynolds did not hold up their end of the deal either.”

GM: “ Why no Pemweiser?”

PR: “Because I knew he would get big minutes in the scrimmage I don’t want to run these guys down.”

GM: “Fair enough. Let’s talk scrimmage. What did we get out of that?”

PR: “We got the possible return of Shooter. After a bad game, Reynolds came back nice even though he still has plenty work to put in. Hatfield bounced back nicely. Mantas was steady off the bench. Nguyen needs to improve rapidly. Mann played like he was gassed. Pemweiser showed some versatility and showed he wasn’t quite ready. We needed to see Nguyen go. Th kid still needs plenty of work.”

GM: “What about against BKDogs? And where does McCain fit in this week?”

PR: “We need to improve the shooting from our bigs. Training wise, that’s going to be the focus. Game plan wise, you know what I’ve been preaching all season long. They’ve been working hard at it, and you‘ve got numbers that back their work. I thought I’d be nice and throw them a bone. I think the matchup suits this game plan for us. I think you’ll like it. We have depth. They don’t. We’ll come at them in waves and see if we can run them out of the gym. The guys have wanted to run all season, and every time I’ve tried to let them, they lay an egg. If they want to run again this season, they know what is expected. As for the kid, he’ll be playing up front Thursday the whole scrimmage.”

GM: “I’ll like it, huh? You know I like backwards week a lot!”

PR: “And you know I’d tell you if this was happening because no way could the players keep that to themselves. but you have to know backwards week ain't happening. Not yet. Gonna make 'em earn it.”

Halftime…

Pio Reina: “I thought ya’ll wanted to run. This is Linndale!!! We do things when we run. We take care of the basketball! We defend! We rebound! 59 points in the first half?!? All season long I hear ‘Coach, let us run.’ THIS IS WHY I DON’T LET YOU RUN!!!! WHERE’S MY DEFENSE? WHERE’S MY REBOUNDING? WHERE’S MY SMALL FORWARD? WHY IS MANTAS THE ONLY THREAT OFF THE BENCH? YA’LL GOT WHAT YOU WANTED, AND YOU HAVEN’T DONE A THING RIGHT! DON’T ASK ME ABOUT RUNNING ANYMORE! WHERE’S MY GM?!? THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE, RIGHT?!? I TOLD YOU THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF TEAM YET!!! SOMEBODY IN THIS LOCKER ROOM BETTER START LISTENING TO ME AND ACT ACCORDINGLY!!!”

Pio stormed out of the room. His team and GM hadn’t seen him like this before. This was not the normal, grump coach they knew. This was bad. Very bad...