Congratulations to the 2014-2015 champions...
Apr 5, 2015 23:13:27 GMT -5
Tampa Bay Bull Sharks, Kots (Colorado GM), and 1 more like this
Post by Miege22 on Apr 5, 2015 23:13:27 GMT -5
The Tampa Bay Bull Sharks!
After winning the championship in 2012, the Bull Sharks began what they thought would be a slow rebuild after the 2013 season. Before the season began, they swung a trade for Westbrook and Aldridge, but Westbrook's knee injury ended any hopes of a playoff run. Instead, they went into the lottery a league-worst 0-16. The Bull Sharks fell to number 2, but managed to strike gold with Andrew Wiggins. They took Zach LaVine and Adreian Payne with their other two picks, and both of those rookies came up huge in the postseason. Ty Lawson, whom they traded Chris Paul for, returned to form down the stretch. The Bull Sharks bounced back from 0-16 to go 10-6 and win their division.
They entered the playoffs against a first-time playoff participant, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were banged up, but hung tough. The Bull Sharks were able to wear them down in the second week to set up a conference finals match-up with the two-time defending champions, the Brooklyn Nets. After losing to the Nets by just one point in the regular season, the Bull Sharks led for a majority of the series. As they reached the final day, the Nets had improbably come back to take a one steal lead with just 12 minutes to play. Al Farouq-Aminu, a key late signing for the Bull Sharks, came through with the biggest steal of his career, sending Tampa Bay back to the finals.
In those finals, they faced off against the Las Vegas Gamblers. The Gamblers had become the first Western Conference finalist not named the Utah Jazz since 2011. The Bull Sharks jumped on the Gamblers right out of the gate led by the rookie wolf pack of LaVine, Wiggins, and Payne. They gave the Bull Sharks a lead they would never relinquish. No matter what Las Vegas did, it seemed as though Tampa Bay had an answer every time. The Bull Sharks were led by surefire Finals MVP Russell Westbrook. He averaged an absurd 29 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds for the finals. On the final day, he put up 40 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, slamming the door on any potential miracle comeback. For the 2nd time in 4 years, and with a completely different team, the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks are champions.
This time last year, I posted this:
It was a great season. This league has some great owners, and I really think next year is going to be the best season this league has ever had. Much respect to Utah. Its unfortunate that injuries kind of derailed this finals, as it really was setting up to be a heavyweight fight.
Now that the season is over, we are about to enter the most exciting part of our year: the off-season. We're in store for some exciting changes, and it should make this league the best it's ever been. In the coming weeks we will have our awards votes, so we are going to need everyone to stick around and determine the winners. After those are done, it will probably slow down a bit. If everyone could check in 1-2 times a week, it would be much appreciated.
Great season everyone. I really appreciate all your time and effort. Thank you!
I had no idea how prophetic that would be. This was, by far, the best season this league has seen. We had tight playoff races going down to the final day, a first-time playoff participant, and a first-time finalist. The teams in the lower half of the league all have promising young rosters, and we could be looking at a lot of turnover in playoff teams this time next year. Hats off to everyone this year. It was a great season!
After winning the championship in 2012, the Bull Sharks began what they thought would be a slow rebuild after the 2013 season. Before the season began, they swung a trade for Westbrook and Aldridge, but Westbrook's knee injury ended any hopes of a playoff run. Instead, they went into the lottery a league-worst 0-16. The Bull Sharks fell to number 2, but managed to strike gold with Andrew Wiggins. They took Zach LaVine and Adreian Payne with their other two picks, and both of those rookies came up huge in the postseason. Ty Lawson, whom they traded Chris Paul for, returned to form down the stretch. The Bull Sharks bounced back from 0-16 to go 10-6 and win their division.
They entered the playoffs against a first-time playoff participant, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were banged up, but hung tough. The Bull Sharks were able to wear them down in the second week to set up a conference finals match-up with the two-time defending champions, the Brooklyn Nets. After losing to the Nets by just one point in the regular season, the Bull Sharks led for a majority of the series. As they reached the final day, the Nets had improbably come back to take a one steal lead with just 12 minutes to play. Al Farouq-Aminu, a key late signing for the Bull Sharks, came through with the biggest steal of his career, sending Tampa Bay back to the finals.
In those finals, they faced off against the Las Vegas Gamblers. The Gamblers had become the first Western Conference finalist not named the Utah Jazz since 2011. The Bull Sharks jumped on the Gamblers right out of the gate led by the rookie wolf pack of LaVine, Wiggins, and Payne. They gave the Bull Sharks a lead they would never relinquish. No matter what Las Vegas did, it seemed as though Tampa Bay had an answer every time. The Bull Sharks were led by surefire Finals MVP Russell Westbrook. He averaged an absurd 29 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds for the finals. On the final day, he put up 40 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, slamming the door on any potential miracle comeback. For the 2nd time in 4 years, and with a completely different team, the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks are champions.
This time last year, I posted this:
Thanks, Rich.
It was a great season. This league has some great owners, and I really think next year is going to be the best season this league has ever had. Much respect to Utah. Its unfortunate that injuries kind of derailed this finals, as it really was setting up to be a heavyweight fight.
Now that the season is over, we are about to enter the most exciting part of our year: the off-season. We're in store for some exciting changes, and it should make this league the best it's ever been. In the coming weeks we will have our awards votes, so we are going to need everyone to stick around and determine the winners. After those are done, it will probably slow down a bit. If everyone could check in 1-2 times a week, it would be much appreciated.
Great season everyone. I really appreciate all your time and effort. Thank you!
I had no idea how prophetic that would be. This was, by far, the best season this league has seen. We had tight playoff races going down to the final day, a first-time playoff participant, and a first-time finalist. The teams in the lower half of the league all have promising young rosters, and we could be looking at a lot of turnover in playoff teams this time next year. Hats off to everyone this year. It was a great season!