Great news as the number one ABA seed Utah Stars were able to shake off a sluggish start to overcome the mighty Oaks of Oakland. Definitely a heck of a fight put up by Oakland with the series at 2-1 they had us with our backs to the ropes, but the strategy change and utilisation of our depth helped us through.
The bad news is Dr J's injury. We always knew this was a possibility but coming at the end of the first round could spell disaster. Fortunately Chet Walker has played well all year and is a 6th man of the year candidate. With his stellar play and some hot shooting from Kelly Tripucka we hopefully have enough to overcome the Qs or Kentucky.
On that one I have to favour the team of the Qs but the experience of the Colonels. Either way expect a really tough series next round minus the good doctor. Who would we rather face? I'm not sure, Kareem is always a tough out, but I'm no fan of playing against the Bryant led Qs either - although it's actually Elgin Baylor who we fear the most - especially without Dr J to try and stifle him.
Gonna be a good series - hopefully we can get it done!
Monday, November 17, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Game 5 Update!
Hot off the press and moments after we published the predicted game 5 result...
( 2- 3) Oakland Oaks 29 32 30 16 - 107 (Kevin McHale 18)
( 3- 2) Utah Stars 40 31 28 33 - 132 (Magic Johnson 27)
The start of 4 more ABA series begins here. Utah rides a smoking hot 4th quarter on the back or Triple Double specialist Magic Johnson. Utah's bench premiered plenty of PPM Stars!
ABAR1 -- Game 5
( 2- 3) Oakland Oaks 29 32 30 16 - 107 (Kevin McHale 18)
( 3- 2) Utah Stars 40 31 28 33 - 132 (Magic Johnson 27)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oakland Oaks FG FT 3P REB
MIN M-A M-A M-A O-T A PF BLK TO STL PTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Pressey 28 3- 9 2- 2 0- 3 0- 1 7 6 0 4 0 8
Kevin McHale 23 9-11 0- 0 0- 0 1- 7 0 3 1 2 1 18
Caron Butler 25 6-14 3- 5 0- 0 1- 3 2 4 0 0 2 15
Reggie Miller 34 3-14 6- 6 0- 1 1- 2 3 1 1 0 0 12
Dwight Howard 17 5- 9 0- 1 0- 0 1- 5 1 6 1 0 1 10
John Lucas 11 1- 3 0- 0 0- 1 0- 2 3 0 0 0 0 2
Stan Miasek 4 0- 0 0- 0 0- 0 0- 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
Paul Silas 33 6- 9 0- 0 0- 0 1- 5 3 4 1 0 0 12
Kevin Gamble 5 1- 3 0- 0 0- 0 0- 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
Al Horford 31 7-13 0- 0 0- 0 3- 7 4 1 3 5 2 14
Andrew Toney 15 4- 9 2- 4 2- 3 0- 0 4 4 0 2 1 12
Tyler Hansbrough 12 0- 2 2- 2 0- 0 1- 2 0 1 0 1 2 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 240 45- 96 15-20 2- 8 9-36 27 32 7 14 9 107
46.9% 75.0% 25.0%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coached by: TONY MORRIS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utah Stars FG FT 3P REB
MIN M-A M-A M-A O-T A PF BLK TO STL PTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chet Walker 32 4-11 4- 4 0- 2 2- 6 6 2 0 0 1 12
Kelly Tripucka 16 3- 6 4- 4 1- 1 0- 1 1 2 0 2 0 11
Magic Johnson 32 7- 9 10-11 3- 4 0-12 11 2 0 6 1 27
Oscar Robertson 28 5-11 2- 2 1- 2 3- 5 6 1 2 1 0 13
Andre Miller 8 4- 4 0- 0 0- 0 0- 1 1 0 0 1 1 8
Julius Erving 29 6-13 1- 2 0- 2 2- 7 1 0 1 1 1 13
Andres Nocioni 14 5- 7 3- 4 1- 1 1- 4 1 0 0 1 0 14
Steven Adams 11 0- 2 3- 4 0- 0 3- 5 0 3 0 2 0 3
Bob Houbregs 15 1- 3 2- 2 0- 0 0- 2 0 2 0 1 0 4
Rod Strickland 7 2- 2 1- 2 0- 0 0- 0 0 2 0 0 0 5
Tim Duncan 19 3- 6 1- 2 0- 0 0- 2 2 4 1 0 1 7
Derrick Coleman 29 5-10 4- 4 1- 1 3- 6 2 3 0 1 0 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 240 45- 84 35-41 7-13 14-51 31 21 4 16 5 132
53.6% 85.4% 53.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coached by: NIGE YOUNG
Technical Fouls: Julius Erving 1
Lead Changes: 1 Ties: 1 (2-2)
Go-Ahead Shot: Magic Johnson (5-4)
Largest Leads: Oakland Oaks -- 2 (2-0)
Utah Stars -- 25 (130-105)
( 2- 3) Oakland Oaks 29 32 30 16 - 107 (Kevin McHale 18)
( 3- 2) Utah Stars 40 31 28 33 - 132 (Magic Johnson 27)
The start of 4 more ABA series begins here. Utah rides a smoking hot 4th quarter on the back or Triple Double specialist Magic Johnson. Utah's bench premiered plenty of PPM Stars!
ABAR1 -- Game 5
( 2- 3) Oakland Oaks 29 32 30 16 - 107 (Kevin McHale 18)
( 3- 2) Utah Stars 40 31 28 33 - 132 (Magic Johnson 27)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oakland Oaks FG FT 3P REB
MIN M-A M-A M-A O-T A PF BLK TO STL PTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Pressey 28 3- 9 2- 2 0- 3 0- 1 7 6 0 4 0 8
Kevin McHale 23 9-11 0- 0 0- 0 1- 7 0 3 1 2 1 18
Caron Butler 25 6-14 3- 5 0- 0 1- 3 2 4 0 0 2 15
Reggie Miller 34 3-14 6- 6 0- 1 1- 2 3 1 1 0 0 12
Dwight Howard 17 5- 9 0- 1 0- 0 1- 5 1 6 1 0 1 10
John Lucas 11 1- 3 0- 0 0- 1 0- 2 3 0 0 0 0 2
Stan Miasek 4 0- 0 0- 0 0- 0 0- 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
Paul Silas 33 6- 9 0- 0 0- 0 1- 5 3 4 1 0 0 12
Kevin Gamble 5 1- 3 0- 0 0- 0 0- 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
Al Horford 31 7-13 0- 0 0- 0 3- 7 4 1 3 5 2 14
Andrew Toney 15 4- 9 2- 4 2- 3 0- 0 4 4 0 2 1 12
Tyler Hansbrough 12 0- 2 2- 2 0- 0 1- 2 0 1 0 1 2 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 240 45- 96 15-20 2- 8 9-36 27 32 7 14 9 107
46.9% 75.0% 25.0%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coached by: TONY MORRIS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utah Stars FG FT 3P REB
MIN M-A M-A M-A O-T A PF BLK TO STL PTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chet Walker 32 4-11 4- 4 0- 2 2- 6 6 2 0 0 1 12
Kelly Tripucka 16 3- 6 4- 4 1- 1 0- 1 1 2 0 2 0 11
Magic Johnson 32 7- 9 10-11 3- 4 0-12 11 2 0 6 1 27
Oscar Robertson 28 5-11 2- 2 1- 2 3- 5 6 1 2 1 0 13
Andre Miller 8 4- 4 0- 0 0- 0 0- 1 1 0 0 1 1 8
Julius Erving 29 6-13 1- 2 0- 2 2- 7 1 0 1 1 1 13
Andres Nocioni 14 5- 7 3- 4 1- 1 1- 4 1 0 0 1 0 14
Steven Adams 11 0- 2 3- 4 0- 0 3- 5 0 3 0 2 0 3
Bob Houbregs 15 1- 3 2- 2 0- 0 0- 2 0 2 0 1 0 4
Rod Strickland 7 2- 2 1- 2 0- 0 0- 0 0 2 0 0 0 5
Tim Duncan 19 3- 6 1- 2 0- 0 0- 2 2 4 1 0 1 7
Derrick Coleman 29 5-10 4- 4 1- 1 3- 6 2 3 0 1 0 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 240 45- 84 35-41 7-13 14-51 31 21 4 16 5 132
53.6% 85.4% 53.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coached by: NIGE YOUNG
Technical Fouls: Julius Erving 1
Lead Changes: 1 Ties: 1 (2-2)
Go-Ahead Shot: Magic Johnson (5-4)
Largest Leads: Oakland Oaks -- 2 (2-0)
Utah Stars -- 25 (130-105)
UBAL Playoffs first round
Wow, I really wanted to do one of these each day but man, the playoffs go fast.
Currently we're engaged in a battle that we're the only ones that saw coming. The Oakland Oaks are a fairly average team (below .500 even) but they always play us to a near enough standstill so I new this would be close all the way.
Game 1 was the killer. I'd run the sims and didn't bother changing as my current lineup had us winning at about a 4-1 rate over Oakland and almost never dropping one at home. That was a mistake as it turned out with Oakland stealing the first behind Reggie Miller.
Game 2 we won as we should and I felt more comfortable. DC was ripping it inside, Duncan supporting the team as ever and too much Magic and Oscar was the recipe.
Didn't change the lineup thinking again we were going to win game 3 on the road. Game 3 and another Oaks win forced me in to action. Decided to go with a much 'flatter' lineup. I know that lots of you use a shortened roster and come playoffs shorten it even further. That can work for sure, but in a league of stars, even the minor guys can play really well. If you force you roster too short it puts a huge reliance on the starters - if one of those plays a stinker (like Magic in game 1) you're done for. So I've gone for a more balanced roster, lots of players in lots of positions, running and changing often - after all when your roster is 10 or 12 deep there's no harm in doing that.
Big win in game 4 for the Stars puts the series down to a three gamer from here. I'm keeping the lineup going into game 5 and predicting a Stars win. Game 6 I think is 50/50 so ideally we'll wrap up the series and move on. Otherwise we're in one of those game 7s and honestly anyone's game. We've got the edge obviously, but that means nothing in these games!
Go Stars!
Currently we're engaged in a battle that we're the only ones that saw coming. The Oakland Oaks are a fairly average team (below .500 even) but they always play us to a near enough standstill so I new this would be close all the way.
Game 1 was the killer. I'd run the sims and didn't bother changing as my current lineup had us winning at about a 4-1 rate over Oakland and almost never dropping one at home. That was a mistake as it turned out with Oakland stealing the first behind Reggie Miller.
Game 2 we won as we should and I felt more comfortable. DC was ripping it inside, Duncan supporting the team as ever and too much Magic and Oscar was the recipe.
Didn't change the lineup thinking again we were going to win game 3 on the road. Game 3 and another Oaks win forced me in to action. Decided to go with a much 'flatter' lineup. I know that lots of you use a shortened roster and come playoffs shorten it even further. That can work for sure, but in a league of stars, even the minor guys can play really well. If you force you roster too short it puts a huge reliance on the starters - if one of those plays a stinker (like Magic in game 1) you're done for. So I've gone for a more balanced roster, lots of players in lots of positions, running and changing often - after all when your roster is 10 or 12 deep there's no harm in doing that.
Big win in game 4 for the Stars puts the series down to a three gamer from here. I'm keeping the lineup going into game 5 and predicting a Stars win. Game 6 I think is 50/50 so ideally we'll wrap up the series and move on. Otherwise we're in one of those game 7s and honestly anyone's game. We've got the edge obviously, but that means nothing in these games!
Go Stars!
Sunday, November 9, 2014
ABA: Utah are Number One!
For the second consecutive year the Utah Stars have the honour of being the number one seed in the ABA conference! By beating the Portland Trailblazers on day 156 of the season by 32 points they became the first team hailing from Utah to top the 60 win barrier and also the first time long-time GM and coach Nige Young has achieved this feat despite involvement with the New York Knicks in the UBAS where they won the crown in season 2.
National reporter Dan Kik reported on the game:
(60-22) Utah Stars 35 38 37 31 - 141 (Oscar Robertson 26)
(19-61) Portland Trailb 20 29 34 26 - 109 (Jim Barnett 13)
I came close to calling the final 7 games for the Stars. I said they'd win all 7 but they stumbled against the Suns at home. Either way they still finish with the best record in the ABA and hit the 60 win mark on the season. Oscar has played wonderfully since joining the Stars as his 3rd and final team this season. Struggled to be a star in the 2 teams prior but is loving being the 5th guy for the Stars.
Dan hits it on the head - a few stumbles here and there but they've been one of the top 5 in the league pretty much all year and finish the top-rated team in the ABA edging out the Baltimore Claws and Virginia Squires. Oscar Robertson has indeed been playing great basketball for the Stars and has really enjoyed playing alongside Magic Johnson.
The playoffs begin now. Despite league success over the last couple of years, the Stars have been somewhat disappointing in the pointy end of the season; last year they took their eye of the ball and lost to a surprising Dallas outfit in the conference semis just when it looked like their path had been clear to go to the finals. Hopefully this year the playoffs will be a different stage.
The first round opponent still isn't quite set between Annaheim and Oakland. Given the choice we'd probably take Annaheim as we've cruised over them relatively easy this year whereas Oakland always give us a hard battle - probably due to my old team mate Tony Morris getting up for games against us even when his team is struggling. Only a few years ago Tony's Oaks went all the way to the Finals with an 8th seeded team so they sure are dangerous.
That said when you're starting 5 has Magic, Oscar, Dr J and Duncan in it there can be no excuses. We have to go out there and perform to back up a stellar season.
Go Stars!
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