Post by greeme on Apr 27, 2012 1:30:48 GMT -5
Skillz is one of the veteran gms in BBS. He is know for trading and trading and trading. The main criticism against him is overtrading. We caught up with him for some Q & A.
You are currently 34-14 and 3rd in the East. Is this where you saw yourself before the season? Do you think that you will move up or down by the end or the year?
It's pretty much where I saw myself at the start of the season. I wasn't completely content with my team when I had Bing/Marin (I thought we were really good, but not good enough to win a title), and I still pretty much feel that way now. I knew I assembled a team that can do some good things and win a lot of games but in no way do I think we are elite. I see us staying where we are at...we have a lot of home games coming up, but I have yet to put the title team together that I hope to by the deadline.
You are the 5th worst team in tos per game. What are you doing to change that? Can you get deep in the playoffs without lowering your tos?
I don't think it's a big problem. If you look at the team stats, there isn't a ton separating us from being in the top half of turnovers. Murphy's turnovers are a bit annoying, but this AC might change that if I choose to focus on his handling, and with Irvine/Beard starting at the 2/3 and Eakins gone, I actually think this could be a strength of ours.
Your team is 5th in ofg% but 25th in o3ptfg%. How do you explain that with Murphy and Beard on the perimeter?
I can't. Maybe Pig was right when he said Murphy got torched a lot, but haven't noticed anything really. Beard was the anchor to our awesome defensive team last year, so I know it's not him. It's probably just an aberration.
You just traded away 3/5 of your starting lineup. How hard is it to do that when you have the 3rd best record in the league?
It wasn't hard at all. I've done it a thousand times and I'm going to make the trade if I think it will give us a better chance to win a title at some point. This team wasn't elite by any means, so I have no nostalgia.
Louie Nelson has very solid ratings and in the predraft questions was touted as having the highest per defense. Any thoughts on giving him some minutes to see what he can do?
He looks solid. Maybe if I had the minutes, I would, but there are so many shooting guards who can score from the outside I'm not overly excited about him. Someone give me a 1st!
Looking forward to the playoffs – Which East team worries you the most? Which lower seed team do you not want to face because of bad matchups?
The Magic are the best team in the East, so they definitely worry me the most. It's always difficult to matchup with Repole's teams---I'd have to pull off a little DC Magic (pun intended) there. I also hate playing the Raptors....team has no value on it but DJ has got some good rebounds from 3-5 and guys that play well together. None of the lower seeds really worry me too much because I think we have a versatile team that can matchup with anyone but I guess the Heat if I had to pick. They've got the talent.
Are you done trading for the year? If not, what are you looking to accomplish?
Hopefully not. I'm hoping to package Williamson and the picks you sent me for an upgrade somewhere. Or deal one of my starters and a few of those picks for an upgrade. Basically looking to turn assets into wins.
How do you respond to criticism that you usually make one trade too many?
I'd say it used to be much more true than it is now. I generally have a plan of some sort (my general rule is I trade for value until i feel like I have a chance at a title, then value goes out the window and I trade for wins). I'd respond by saying that there are times when I've made one trade too many, but more often than not, trade activity has gotten positive results and gotten me out of shitty situations.
Worst trade you ever made?
Trading Larry Bird in the first season of this BBS while we were 25-3 for a bunch of assets that couldn't play. Trading Lucas for Bingo was pretty bad too (though I really traded Chubin for Lucas so it didn't look so bad). I'm sure there are a ton more, just none that come to the top of my head.
Name a trade that you made that was criticized at the time but turned out well.
In the last version of BBS I traded Derrick Rose for Devereux St. Cloud, Allyn Camby , and 3 1sts and was killed on the boards for making "one of the worst trades of all-time." It almost got veto'ed. St. Cloud would end up becoming a top 10 player in the league, and I won 2 straight titles.
Most important position in FBB? Why?
Point guard. It's a position easy to inflate, but I've had mediocre teams with superstar point guards that really over-achieve. You can also be an elite team without a star big (just need shot-blocking), which is something you can rarely say about a PG. The only exception I can think of is a star-loaded inside team, and in which case, your PG still has to be efficient and can't turn it over.
top 5 players currently in fbb?
Bingo Smith, Nate Thurmond, Rick Barry, Dave Bing, Walt Frazier
Favorite 5 players in fbb?
Jim Washington, Bobby Jones, Bingo Smith, Eldridge Webb, Willie Somrset
Would you want to win a championship if the price was that you would be cyd?
Sure. The title is the ultimate goal, so that's a pretty easy answer. With that said, sustainable success I think is a more impressive achievement. I've never faced a CY in any version of BBS.
If you could implement or change one rule what would it be?
There should be a championship HC. I also think drafts could be more unpredictable, though that's not really a rule change.
What is your favorite part of the season?
Training Camp.. I still love it, I don't even know why. Even when i have an old team, i get excited. Nothing like waking up to a TC.
give yourself 1-10 ratings on the following: 1)draft 2) fa 3)dc 4)trading.
Draft: 6
FA: 8
DC: 9
Trades: 9
There are so many good and bad things I could point to for each of these since we've been going on for so long. Drafting used to be my favorite thing but I rarely make picks anymore. Trades have obviously always been my strength.
Most overrated gm in the league?
DBW. I think he's good but I couldn't really think of anyone who has been judged/rated unfairly. I think he's done a relatively unimpressive and lethargic job with Boston.
Most underrated gm in the league?
DJ. I think he's a pain and I don't think he adds much to the league, but he does a decent job building teams. I can respect sustainable success.
Write random flattery about Spencer so he will sim 20 days today -
We are in 2045 and the league is still fun. We love you Spence. Now sim again.
You are currently 34-14 and 3rd in the East. Is this where you saw yourself before the season? Do you think that you will move up or down by the end or the year?
It's pretty much where I saw myself at the start of the season. I wasn't completely content with my team when I had Bing/Marin (I thought we were really good, but not good enough to win a title), and I still pretty much feel that way now. I knew I assembled a team that can do some good things and win a lot of games but in no way do I think we are elite. I see us staying where we are at...we have a lot of home games coming up, but I have yet to put the title team together that I hope to by the deadline.
You are the 5th worst team in tos per game. What are you doing to change that? Can you get deep in the playoffs without lowering your tos?
I don't think it's a big problem. If you look at the team stats, there isn't a ton separating us from being in the top half of turnovers. Murphy's turnovers are a bit annoying, but this AC might change that if I choose to focus on his handling, and with Irvine/Beard starting at the 2/3 and Eakins gone, I actually think this could be a strength of ours.
Your team is 5th in ofg% but 25th in o3ptfg%. How do you explain that with Murphy and Beard on the perimeter?
I can't. Maybe Pig was right when he said Murphy got torched a lot, but haven't noticed anything really. Beard was the anchor to our awesome defensive team last year, so I know it's not him. It's probably just an aberration.
You just traded away 3/5 of your starting lineup. How hard is it to do that when you have the 3rd best record in the league?
It wasn't hard at all. I've done it a thousand times and I'm going to make the trade if I think it will give us a better chance to win a title at some point. This team wasn't elite by any means, so I have no nostalgia.
Louie Nelson has very solid ratings and in the predraft questions was touted as having the highest per defense. Any thoughts on giving him some minutes to see what he can do?
He looks solid. Maybe if I had the minutes, I would, but there are so many shooting guards who can score from the outside I'm not overly excited about him. Someone give me a 1st!
Looking forward to the playoffs – Which East team worries you the most? Which lower seed team do you not want to face because of bad matchups?
The Magic are the best team in the East, so they definitely worry me the most. It's always difficult to matchup with Repole's teams---I'd have to pull off a little DC Magic (pun intended) there. I also hate playing the Raptors....team has no value on it but DJ has got some good rebounds from 3-5 and guys that play well together. None of the lower seeds really worry me too much because I think we have a versatile team that can matchup with anyone but I guess the Heat if I had to pick. They've got the talent.
Are you done trading for the year? If not, what are you looking to accomplish?
Hopefully not. I'm hoping to package Williamson and the picks you sent me for an upgrade somewhere. Or deal one of my starters and a few of those picks for an upgrade. Basically looking to turn assets into wins.
How do you respond to criticism that you usually make one trade too many?
I'd say it used to be much more true than it is now. I generally have a plan of some sort (my general rule is I trade for value until i feel like I have a chance at a title, then value goes out the window and I trade for wins). I'd respond by saying that there are times when I've made one trade too many, but more often than not, trade activity has gotten positive results and gotten me out of shitty situations.
Worst trade you ever made?
Trading Larry Bird in the first season of this BBS while we were 25-3 for a bunch of assets that couldn't play. Trading Lucas for Bingo was pretty bad too (though I really traded Chubin for Lucas so it didn't look so bad). I'm sure there are a ton more, just none that come to the top of my head.
Name a trade that you made that was criticized at the time but turned out well.
In the last version of BBS I traded Derrick Rose for Devereux St. Cloud, Allyn Camby , and 3 1sts and was killed on the boards for making "one of the worst trades of all-time." It almost got veto'ed. St. Cloud would end up becoming a top 10 player in the league, and I won 2 straight titles.
Most important position in FBB? Why?
Point guard. It's a position easy to inflate, but I've had mediocre teams with superstar point guards that really over-achieve. You can also be an elite team without a star big (just need shot-blocking), which is something you can rarely say about a PG. The only exception I can think of is a star-loaded inside team, and in which case, your PG still has to be efficient and can't turn it over.
top 5 players currently in fbb?
Bingo Smith, Nate Thurmond, Rick Barry, Dave Bing, Walt Frazier
Favorite 5 players in fbb?
Jim Washington, Bobby Jones, Bingo Smith, Eldridge Webb, Willie Somrset
Would you want to win a championship if the price was that you would be cyd?
Sure. The title is the ultimate goal, so that's a pretty easy answer. With that said, sustainable success I think is a more impressive achievement. I've never faced a CY in any version of BBS.
If you could implement or change one rule what would it be?
There should be a championship HC. I also think drafts could be more unpredictable, though that's not really a rule change.
What is your favorite part of the season?
Training Camp.. I still love it, I don't even know why. Even when i have an old team, i get excited. Nothing like waking up to a TC.
give yourself 1-10 ratings on the following: 1)draft 2) fa 3)dc 4)trading.
Draft: 6
FA: 8
DC: 9
Trades: 9
There are so many good and bad things I could point to for each of these since we've been going on for so long. Drafting used to be my favorite thing but I rarely make picks anymore. Trades have obviously always been my strength.
Most overrated gm in the league?
DBW. I think he's good but I couldn't really think of anyone who has been judged/rated unfairly. I think he's done a relatively unimpressive and lethargic job with Boston.
Most underrated gm in the league?
DJ. I think he's a pain and I don't think he adds much to the league, but he does a decent job building teams. I can respect sustainable success.
Write random flattery about Spencer so he will sim 20 days today -
We are in 2045 and the league is still fun. We love you Spence. Now sim again.
