Charlotte Flight: A 2K5 NBA Expansion Franchise

In this new Franchise Fanatics series, we travel to the 2005 NBA Season and attempt to build the NBA's newest expansion team, The Charlotte Flight. The Flight are owned by Michael Jordan, and after being spurned by Washington and Chicago ownership, you can be sure MJ is going to take his first chance to truly run an NBA Franchise his way PERSONAL.

The Charlotte "Flight" are going to try and take a completely different course than the real life "Bobcats" did, immediately bringing in a marquee player; Vince Carter. Salary Cap restrictions have meant they can't surround him with much, so its an eclectic cast of rookies and past their prime veterans, coached by none other than Duke's Mike Krzyzewski. The Flight did manage to nab former Duke Blue Devil Grant Hill, and Hill will attempt to resurrect his career now that he appears injury free.

Charlotte Flight Roster:

C - Keon Clark
PF - Christian Laettner
SF - Grant Hill
SG - Vince Carter
PG - Gary Payton

Bench:

Chris Anderson
Earl Boykins
Jason Kapono
Melvin Ely
Walter Herrman
Shawn Kemp

Last edited by Culture Games on Thu Dec 02, 2021 2:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

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The controversy of MJ hiring UNC's biggest rival Coach K to lead his franchise! Looking forward to following.

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After predictably losing to the Dallas Mavericks on Opening Night, the Flight face another perennial playoff team, the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers will not have Reggie Miller who starts the season with an injury. The Flight leaned heavily on Vince Carter once again to try and carry the team to its first ever victory.

A magical moment occurred at the end of the 3rd. After being questioned for Kemp’s DNP in the season opener, it appeared Coach K had something in mind after all. Here, once the Flight had a comfortable lead, he subbed in Payton and Kemp together. Kemp made a nice showing for himself, scoring off some pick and rolls, and grabbing rebounds. Kemp and Payton showed good chemistry throughout, as Kemp’s success continued when he was subbed in during the 4th. The duo briefly turned back the clock and delighted old school NBA fans.

Payton earned player of the game honors, not only putting up numbers but playing with a playoff intensity and leading the team throughout.

Christian Laettner had a night to forget, shooting 1-11 from the field, missing open attempt after open attempt, which is supposed to be his bread and butter at this point in his career. The Flight will have to think long and hard about his viability as a starter if he cannot be counted on to make open shots. They already have a player in Keon Clark who can’t do that, but Clark gives them speed athleticism, and rim protection, which Laettner does not.

A first win that came earlier in the season then we were expecting.

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With a few baskets at the end of the game we could have won this one, but our shooter simply didn't make shots, even ones that were open looks. Jason Kapono 1-8.

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With a few baskets at the end of the game we could have won this one, but our shooter simply didn't make shots, even ones that were open looks. Jason Kapono 1-8.

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With a few baskets at the end of the game we could have won this one, but our shooter simply didn't make shots, even ones that were open looks. Jason Kapono 1-8.

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With a few baskets at the end of the game we could have won this one, but our shooter simply didn't make shots, even ones that were open looks. Jason Kapono 1-8.

The controversy of MJ hiring UNC's biggest rival Coach K to lead his franchise! Looking forward to following.

Yes I'm glad someone noticed that dynamic. The theme of this is doing whatever it takes to win. Hiring his friends and former coaches just wasn't going to get the job done. They did end with the the UNC color scheme and Vince Carter though.

Maybe MJ comes out of retirement again if things get bad?

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Orlando wishes Grant Hill played this well when he was with them...

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Vince Carter returns to Toronto for the first time as an opposing player, after leaving the city amid controversial circumstances. It is a high pressure game for Vince Carter, but also young Chris Bosh who has to try and fill Carter’s shoes. Bosh and Carter will oppose each other In this marquee matchup.

Indeed both coaches warned their teams before the game not to get too “up” for this one, it was after all just one in an 82 game regular season. But players are only human, and this was an emotional one for sure. Playoff intensity in the first month of the season!

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Last edited by Culture Games on Thu Dec 30, 2021 1:04 am, edited 2 times in total.

*SPOILERS*

Raptors game was really emotional so a bit of a let down that we came up short. Both coaches warned their teams a before the game not to get too “up” for this one, it was after all just one in an 82 game regular season. But players are only human, and this was an emotional one for sure.

Vince Carter tried to do too much early and forced things a bit. But it wasn't all bad. Vince had an up and down game, starting off cold, then heating up, then failing to come through to close the game out. After the game he said it was glad it was over with, but looked forward to the next meeting between the teams. This could be a good rivalry brewing between these two. The first meeting produced one of the best games of the early season.

In the 4th, Gary Payton got a look in his eye like we haven’t seen in years as he grinded offensively and defensively to get his team back in the game. In the 4th the Flight seemed to have it where they wanted it, just needed a few conversions in their final possessions. But the offense stalled as Jason Kapono could not free himself to get the jump shot they were trying to find for him. Carter, after a strong 2nd half, missed his last few shots as the Raptors pulled away in the final seconds for the win.

Next game is against the Utah Jazz

Interested to see if Vince and Grant can have a better end to their careers here! This was Grants first fully healthy season in a while. VC finally home in North Carolina too is good to see!