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OK, I'm up for a go! (Texas, you can go for the hat trick!)

Can you take a look at my team's situation? (22891) {Oppponent: (29478)}

Here's some information that may be helpful:

Negatives:
--First game (46157865) we lost by 4 despite being at Home and playing CT to his Normal. (Enthusiasm was presumably equal since we'd both always played Normal previously)
--My players are old and a couple have started to feel the effects of age.

Positives:
**Opponent always has played Normal & therefore presumably has Enthusiasm 5 whereas my team should be about 8 or 9 for Game 1.
**Opponent has not played any scrimmages (although somehow has maintained decent GS) and presumably hasn't trained aggressively. Although my guys are old, they have ok skills and my one youngster, an 18yo sub, has now become much less of a liability when he rotates in due to his training.
**We have obtained three significant additions since the first game: (6710265), (4233831), & (3050815) who, despite their age, are significantly better than the $3000-$4000 salary players they replaced.

To me, it's basically whether the increased Enthusiasm and new players can compensate for the loss of HCA and a 4 point deficit despite my playing at higher intensity. I think I have an outside chance at pulling an upset, but that may just be wishful thinking. Jersey is 22-0 and really dominated their playoff games so far.

If you guys think I have a chance, any advice on how to handle Enthusiasm/tactics?

Thanks!


Last edited by Knightman at 8/12/2012 2:29:07 PM

I know I only have a small chance. I've known that for a while. But I'm also a big fan of upsets... so I'm going for it. The team I'm about to play just beat another team that's a little bit worse than me by 25 points at home. The team he beat doesn't manage enthusiasm. Considering that, I have a chance.

It looks like you're in a real tough situation as well. And it's really hard to guide you to a victory when it looks like your opponent has an almost impeccable game plan. I can tell he's training big men and he's doing a decent job. He has a very balanced attack which is extremely hard stop unless you have lockdown defense.

I'm consistently seeing his PF/C's scoring the most. So you should put your best defenders there. His PF was the best scorer against you in your last match-up. Man to Man is the best defense to run against PtB (Only run it if it doesn't hurt you). As always, run your best offense possible. Don't try and play an offense you can't run but you know is good against your opponents defense.

As for enthusiasm, you can play it safe for the first game and build up more enthusiasm (PON) in case you lose. Then POCT him when you have HCA. Then POCT him again in the tiebreaker (Best option in my opinion). Or you can just straight up POCT him in both games but I wouldn't advise this.

I'd advise you though to stay in D.V for one more season at least and expand your arena some more. Seeing as you started playing a ways into this season, it'd be a lot smarter and better for you to soak in more experience. It's also the best time to expand your arena since the higher divisions you get, the more cutthroat and competitive it gets. You need a large arena to have a higher salaried team on the court.

Edit: Also you should consider slowly trimming the vets on your team that are 32+. Especially the ones that start for you. You should also get some more trainees if you only have 1 or 2. 3 is the best number to train in single position.

Last edited by Texas at 8/12/2012 9:12:24 PM

Thanks man! I appreciate the honest assessment. That's why I asked.

Although please don't feel offended if I still try to win these games (and therefore promote). It just goes against the grain for me to get this far and just fold up the tent. I'm also worried that since I have all these older guys (which is admittedly my own fault), that I may well have to gut my team to reshape it after this season (bad newbie planning!). In that case, this may be my only opportunity for a number of seasons to try to promote.

Everything else sounds like really sound advice, and I especially appreciate the specific recommendations on Enthusiasm.

Thanks again!

Last edited by Knightman at 8/12/2012 10:26:53 PM

No problem and I hope you do promote, it's just if you do, then there's a higher chance of you getting automatically relegated (with the old vets/trying to restructure in D.IV). Shoot me a BB-Mail if you have any questions.

This concerns me about your back-up PF ---> 7/5/2012 C 33 0-1

He only took 1 shot and pulled 9 boards in 33 minutes of PT.

Also since they'll be playing Center (I'm assuming) then the question you should be asking yourself is this: Who should be guarding the 50K monster that consistently takes around 9 shots a game/12K Center that has a high FG%?

Edit: Ask whatever other questions you have.

Last edited by Texas at 8/13/2012 12:30:03 AM

As long as defense is the main priority on his bigs and you're managing GS, then there isn't much else you can do.

Good luck in the Finals and let us know how you do.

It would've been better if you'd won with a PON, but regardless, nice job. I noticed he has a scrimmage set so maybe he's planning on fixing the 50K Centers GS before he brings him out on the court against you.

That's all I can think of.