[Hov's Cats]

[Valor]

man, this R2MVP recap is AWESOME
Wish i knew how to do stuff like this...i wanted to make my R2MVP like the NBA.com's version, but i dunno how so
Anyways, Keep it up!

ask hova to make it for u =]

ahh yes, good idea
Hova, i am counting on you to teach me how to do it/send me the template for making this --->

[Fresh8]

If you send him the template, send it to me too. Although I prob would never use it LOL

[|)e8*]

Oh man,Bron is always Raiding the MVP spot.
Especially in 2K10.

Yes. In the first season, 90 % of the time the MVP will be Bron and ROY will be Evans and MIP will be Diener.
Anyways the recaps are real sweet and Deron Williams for All Star baby!

[Valor]

If you send him the template, send it to me too. Although I prob would never use it LOL

You don't need graphics cause your writing alone blows everything else away

[The X]

Might have to keep more up-to-date with this one. It's always good to see a Bobcats' dynasty with lots of quality (& losses to boot). Keep up the good work

[hova-]

TheDee, Well, he does in real life, and with the Cavs winning games I find it realistic.

Mark., I wonder that there are not many moaning about Wade being only 6th. Howard's problem is his limitation on offense. His numbers are stellar though.

Lamrock, thank you, man!

Sit, haha, thx. Actually I did not have that much time lately, that's why I did not update the last few days before the stats. But with University going into X-mas holidays as I write these line, I will have some more time. But don't count on me in January with maaaany tests coming ahead.

TomCat, well, Roy's problem is that he is not that efficient so far shooting about .43% from the field ... But I think the Blazers are so far underachieving and if their record rises, just look at Joe Johnson ...

Valor, hmmm ... I don't have a problem sending you the template if you want, still I think that every story should be a bit different. I would not like it if everybody had the same graphics/writing/ideas. As I said if you want it at all costs, I will send it to you. But I appeall to your creativity

De8, LeBron just gets the MVP award because he will do so in real life for the next years to come if you ask me. I don't find it too unrealistic.
About Evans, check out my Rookie Rankings following. And about Diener, I am 100% sure he won't get it

The X, thanks man. Glad you like it & follow. Right now I am having much fun with it.

[hova-]

Monthly Recap: November Part III
I divided the monthly recap into five parts: Team Standing & Statistics, Race 2 the MVP, Rookie Rankings, Player Focus and Team Focus (shut outs to Sit!)

Rookie Rankings


Brandon Jennings had a good start in his first NBA season after one year in Europe.

I had a talk to Al Thornton recently and asked him some things about Blake Griffin. Is he really that good? And is he just too good to be treated like a Rookie? "Yes, he's really as good as everybody is saying. And no, you cannot be good enough to not be treated like a Rookie", Thornton answered. So Blake Griffin is also buying donuts for his teammates and has to wear silly things (remember the last Clippers Rooks? Click Me). Still Griffin is putting up very good numbers and at least on the court you cannot treat him like a Rookie as he will destroy you like he destroyed DJ Mbenga in preseason. With all the hype around Mr. Griffin, everybody forgot how good the Point Guards in this draft class were. There was more moaning about their weaknesses than any hype for their potential. Honestly, how could that happen?
Brandon Jennings and Stephen Curry have striked back. They are leading the way in my Rookie Rankings which is simply because the numbers do not allow anything else. I don't have to justify my choice, because there are no other Rookies who are better than the Bucks' ex-Italian and the Warriors' kid. Both have been scoring very well and were also able to distribute. And both can shoot like they have been in this league for years.
You should also watch out for Jonny Flynn and Tyreke Evans. This draft class is packed with great Point Guards and not only one Blake Griffin. But in the end they all have to buy donuts for their teammates, at least for this year.











Close, but no cigar: Rodrigue Beaubois, Ty Lawson.

[|)e8*]

Its nice to see Budinger doin so well

[Valor]

Valor, hmmm ... I don't have a problem sending you the template if you want, still I think that every story should be a bit different. I would not like it if everybody had the same graphics/writing/ideas. As I said if you want it at all costs, I will send it to you. But I appeall to your creativity

true, i guess i will stick to my already-established style then, maybe i could 'discover' how to use photoshop and make it look better with the passing of time
Cheers Hova

[Mark.]

Good to see Budinger in there. Haha he will always be decent on the boards, have you seen that kids hops?! I remember watching him back in the McDonalds All American Dunk Contest, he was sick!

[TomCat]

Rockets with 2 in the top 10, not a bad effort. Good to see an Aussie in there

[Lamrock]

Another great update. Budinger is doing far better here than in mine.

[TomCat]

Hey man I'm changing the way I do my game recaps on my association and I want to make them sort of similar to yours (not exactly the same of course, more just the same layout-ish). Just thought I'd ask your permission before i do it

[Fresh8]

Great recap.

[kibaxx7]

Ah, couldn't check before. Tests are killing me Loving the 4-part monthly recap, like Sit, I might do that too... it's just really convenient. Batman: 4 steals per game!

[hova-]

De8, Lamrock, thanks, guys. Well I have to admit I tweaked the roster here and there and also improved his rating and especially his shot tendency. When T-Mac comes back (which will be soon in my association, I'm looking forward to how the Rockets will do then), his numbers could drop.

Valor, if you have photoshop, you should definitely give it a try. I'ts not hard to use anyway.

TomCat, hey for sure, it's not like this is my idea or anything, you know I also read many dynasties here and put together my kind of D.

Sit, Ayo, thx Already had a shot at Blueprint III ?

Thierry., sry for you. But that's how it is, my tests will start in February, still I have to learn for them now. University is a big difference from school, I just noticed that.

Thanks for your comments guys, I appreciate it and it makes this D so much fun.
Further I'm glad that this section is alive again. Props

[hova-]

Monthly Recap: November Part IV
I divided the monthly recap into five parts: Team Standing & Statistics, Race 2 the MVP,Rookie Rankings, Player Focus and Team Focus (shut outs to Sit!)

Player Focus


In his sophomore year, Beasley is finally contributing.

For the first Player Focus of the year, I thought we should go with a little "Ups & Downs". I did not want to focus on only one player but rather have a look at who has really stepped up compared to last year and who has regressed a bit, at least for now.

My first choice was Michael Beasley of the Heat. This kid is putting up great numbers and has helped lifting the Heat to a solid 10-6 record. His three point shooting is great so far and at times he is the Heat's first scoring option, since he is posing so many matchup problems. Actually it's his fault that Dwyane Wade is not part of early MVP talks. He has Beasley on his squad. After a tough last season where he came off the bench most of the time and a very bad offseason including "twittergate" and a visit to a rehab center, Beasley is finally where everybody thought he would be ... after his Rookie season.

My second choice was Stephen Jackson. The guy, formerly known as "Captain Jack" does not need to navigate the ship anymore. That allows him to concentrate on something, he does best. Scoring. Despite playing as a Point Forward under Don "Where's my booze" Nelson, Jackson's biggest talent has always been making baskets. From downtown, from mid-range or driving. With Coach Hov giving him an almost free shot selection, and with Gerald Wallace being the leader and Raymond Felton the navigator, Jackson has finally been able to show his touch. 25.0 points per game speak their language. He also toned down his turnovers and is shooting more effectively.

My last choice for the Ups in this season was Joakim Noah. Noah has fullfilled the transition from "team cancer" to "team energizer". He is almost averaging a double-double right now and is fighting for every rebound and every looseball. He will contest every shot and foul you hard if needed. Noah could be a newer version of Dennis Rodman, but he has almost 5 inches more. It seems like he is finally out of trouble and thus posting a big season so far.






Close, but no cigar: Leon Powe (9.0PPG/7.1RPG), Marco Belinelli (13.8PPG/.573%3PT), Trevor Ariza (21.9PPG/2.45SPG)
.

On the other hand, there have also been guys disappointing so far. As I checked the stats I took out three guys, an Ex-All Star, a go-to-guy out of shape, and an energizer who just got outplayed.

Number one on the list is the Ex-All Star. Elton Brand. Since leaving the LA Clippers after a season of only 5 games before he had to sit out with a tore achilles tendon, Elton Brand has not managed to come back to All-Star or even All-NBA level. After sitting out most of last season with a shoulder injury, the Sixers played better and went to the Playoffs. With him back in the starting five, they once again struggle. His averages look role-player like and his motivation on the court is really lackluster. Still, his conract is the one of a superstar. It will be interesting to see, how long the Sixers will stay put on him and how EB's career that started off so well, will continue.

My second man, is the go-to-guy out of shape. Chris Paul is the best Point Guard in the league. If I had said that the last two years, no one would have doubted. Right now, he has about four guys over him. Paul has been playing poorly in the first quarter of the season averaging career lows everywhere. The Hornets are just not clicking with the addition of Emeka Okafor. CP3 is missing Tyson Chandler to throw down his alleys for the oops and to set decent screens without rolling and demanding the ball. The Hornets are going nowhere and their big star is not carrying them out. Paul is clearifying that he is content with the team, but not with his performance. He won't leave New Orleans, but if they want to have success, they have to pray that he will find his A game soon.

The last guy, is the energizer, who just got outplayed. Anderson Varejao had played very well last season. And he got a decent contract for that. Leon Powe though, had a freaking injury on his leg and was picked up by the Cavs for the minimum after the Celtics did not pull their option on him. Now Varejao is sitting on the bench for more than 30 minutes per game averaging almost career lows, whilst Leon Powe has fought back and outplayed him, averaging career highs in almost every category. Tough for the Brasilian, who is well known for his fighting spirit. His basketball skills are just not good enough, and fighting spirit is not everything. Still, we should not count Anderson out. He might be back sooner or later when the King needs him.





Close, but no cigar: Glen Davis (1.9 PPG/7.3MPG), Nicolas Batum (1.7PPG/6.5MPG), Hedo Turkoglu (13.4 PPG/4.0APG) .

[Valor]

damn, CP3 really is struggling....only 7.3apg?

and yeah, i do have photoshop, just need to learn it

[The X]

The X, thanks man. Glad you like it & follow. Right now I am having much fun with it.

And that's the main thing. If you having fun, it's going to shine through to what you present. You've got the rolling ball going so this should keep evolving as it goes along. Any chance of getting PER's on the MVP, Rookie Rankings, Player Focus etc templates?

Good to see Budinger in there. Haha he will always be decent on the boards, have you seen that kids hops?! I remember watching him back in the McDonalds All American Dunk Contest, he was sick!

You're not the only one. That's the first time I ever saw him & I've been a big fan ever since. Definitely a ginger ninja if ever there was one

[hova-]

Valor, well, it seems like the Hornets just did a bad trade with Okafor and they don't play very well as a whole team. CP3's stats are on the rise though.

The X, PERs should be no problem. I did not have them on it because they aren't there on NBA.com. But that's a good idea. I will add them next time I use the templates.

[|)e8*]

Cp3 needs to step up or the Hornets are screwed(not that i really care xD)!! Anyways it's nice that Ariza is Avging 20 ppg

[Martti.]

Jennings and Beasley doing great, that's awesome. Damn, CP3's really struggling.

[kibaxx7]

Amazing stuff man. Also nice detail, that you didn't use NBA.com player pics and took them from the game.

[hova-]

Monthly Recap: November
I divided the monthly recap into five parts: Team Standing & Statistics, Race 2 the MVP,Rookie Rankings, Player Focus and Team Focus (shut outs to Sit!)

Team Focus


Williams and Boozer led the Jazz to a great start.

Just like I did it on my player focus, I decided to have a look at the best three Up&Down teams of the season so far rather than checking out one team.

I definitely had to start with the Jazz who are leading the Western Conference with a surprising 13-4 record. Deron Williams is having a MVP-season so far. Carlos Boozer is in a contract year and showing some nice scoring. His stats may be down, but that's because Jerry Sloan already gives a lot of playing time to Paul Millsap, the future of this Jazz team. Andrei Kirilenko has found back to his old skills, at least on defense and the Jazz are also having some nice fire power in Ronnie Brewer and Memo Okur. So far they have really played great defense and did a nice job sharing the ball. Looking at the stats, it's not all to surprising to see the Jazz leading.

The second team must be the New Jersey Nets. After giving away their last star of the big three in Vince Carter, the Nets have a decent, young squad which is already delivering. Devin Harris is again playing on All-Star level and Brook Lopez is also an early candidate for an All-Star spot in the East. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Rookie Terrence Williams have been playing great recently and given the Nets a nice boost. Another interesting guy is Rafer Alston who seems to finally come along with playing for a rebuilding team and does a very good job off the bench. The Nets are running a great offense and were able to overcome their problems on defense where they lack of any real stopper.

The last Up are the OKC Thunder. It seems to be the first year where not only Kevin Durant is contributing, but the others are also having their share. The Thunder are only allowing their opponents a league's best 90.5 points per game. Coach Brooks seems to have found the right words for the former defense prone youngsters. He also managed to tone down turnovers which is making the Thunder a quite effective team on offense. First Playoff year in Oklahoma City?

Close, but no cigar: Hawks, Knicks, Rockets





On the other hand there are some teams struggling so far. Actually we have many teams struggling, but I decided to write about these three:
The Philadelphia 76ers are the worst team in the league right now despite having two guys on their roster who have been All-Stars and one who is definitely an outstanding player in this league. Unfortunately, the All-Star days are over for Allen Iverson and Elton Brand. Still, they are blocking the minutes for young guys like Thad Young or Louis Williams. The Sixers are one of the worst teams on offense and except Andre Igoudala no one has really proven himself in scoring. They are also the worst three point team. GM Ed Stefanski has made some big mistakes and the Sixers are now paying for.

The Dallas Mavericks are also having problems this season. Being 9-9 so far they would not make the playoffs right now. With the new guys Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden, Dallas has not yet found the right rotation. Erick Dampier is playing very inconsistent and Dirk Nowitzki has not scored lower since his sophomore season. Still everything is possible for the Mavs as they have a very talented team. Things need to click for them to be successfull, especially on defense were they are struggling at the moment. The only positive surprise is Rookie Rodrigues Beaubois who is averaging 7 points per game.

The San Antonio Spurs have problems closing out games. You cannot argue with their stats. You won't find them on the bottom of any stats category, but their record does not reflect that. One thing the stats are showing is, that the Spurs are weaker than last year. Almost every stat is down from last year, some only slightly. With the new additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess the underrated duo of Roger Mason and Matt Bonner is getting less playing time. Whilst the first two should be a clear upgrade, the numbers don't speak for them. Maybe the Spurs should again focus more on team play and defense rather than trying to justify their signings.





Close, but no cigar: Raptors, Pistons, Celtics

[kibaxx7]

Wow, Utah overachieving... Spurs underachieving.... that sucks