A Decade in Review: The Eastern Conference of the 3020s (425 views)

[Odin]

1. Brooklyn Nets

Record: 572-248, .698
Division Titles: 7
Playoffs: 10
Conference Finals: 5
TMBSL Finals: 4
Championships: 1
All-League 1st Team: 12
MVP: 0
Trades: 24

By far the class of the East during this decade. Heebs has managed to put together many excellent teams throughout the years and this only proves it. A perfect 10 playoff appearances, 4 finals appearances, and one of the conference's two championships. Not only that but he has had great success making his best players reach their potential. Players like Kevin Garnett, Tobi Oyedeji, Georges Niang, and Matthew Lockhart have lead this charge that has done nothing but destroy the East for an entire decade. It will be interesting to see how much longer he can keep this up.



2. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 463-357, .565
Division Titles: 2
Playoffs: 7
Conference Finals: 3
TMBSL Finals: 2
Championships: 1
All-League 1st Team: 0
MVP: 0
Trades: 32

Another easy choice due to being 3rd in wins and winning the only other championship the East had during the 20s. The decade started pretty hot for the Sixers but immediately cooled down as they decided to tank from 21-23. Since then they have won 50 games every year including a high of 59. There were no 1st Team players to be found but that doesn't mean the likes of Jimmy Chitwood, Tyus Edney, and Shareef Abdur-Raheem are players to be forgotten. As of now the Sixers have once again torn down everything and will be tanking, which is fine by me because it puts one of the few elite East GMs outside of the playoffs.



3. Memphis Bobcats

Record: 445-375, .543
Division Titles: 3
Playoffs: 7
Conference Finals: 4
TMBSL Finals: 3
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 0
Trades: 58

For the Bobcats the decade started out with severe incompetence. During the 3022 season I received a trade offer for Rolando Blackman (Pacers sent two picks that would end up being the top 2 picks in the next draft) that would change the course of the decade, for this team at least. Unfortunately, those two picks were immediately traded to the Kings to bring Myles Turner back home. It's a shame really, Larry Johnson and whoever I would have taken with the 2nd pick would have looked great in whatever my colors are. This team was basically Myles Turner and friends for the better part of the decade, until the '28 season when Tobi Oyedeji, Ty Lawson, Jermaine O'Neal, and Kristaps Porzingis came along. The Bobcats were the only other team with multiple finals appearances and actually tied for the most finals losses for the decade. The most shocking development of all, however, is that I made the more trades than any other GM. Trof is already ahead of me for the 30s so I've got to pick it up soon.



4. New York Knicks

Record: 465-355, .567
Division Titles: 0
Playoffs: 8
Conference Finals: 2
TMBSL Finals: 1
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 0
Trades: 22

The Knicks have an argument for #3 but i gave the nod to the 'Cats due to Finals appearances and a natural bias BUT I do not mean to diminish what Eric has done. At some point during these ten years Eric learned what it means to be a good DM. What he should be praised most for is winning with players none of us have ever fucking heard of. Doug Overton who? Honestly though, I've learned a lot from Eric's excessive analysis of the software and some of his interesting approaches to GMing.



5. Toronto Raptors

Record: 438-382, .534
Division Titles: 3
Playoffs: 7
Conference Finals: 2
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 0
Trades: 22

The Raptors had an up and down decade which spiked in the middle. This is the last team with multiple Conference Finals appearances, which clearly points towards a very top heavy Conference. Highlights of the decade include drafting Brandon Roy, being the highest bidder for Nicklaus Templeton, and resurrecting Walter McCarty. Now, in 3030, the Raptors appear to be nearing the end of their tank after a few seasons of incredible lotto luck. Tobias Harris looks like a true star but the rest of the roster is either a joke or very young. The future looks good for the Raptors.



6. Washington Bullets

Record: 387-433
Division Titles: 1
Playoffs: 6
Conference Finals: 0
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 0
Trades: 31

This is probably the most controversial ranking (if you ask canes) but I can tell you why they're sitting here despite being under .500 on the decade: Kyrie Irving. The beginning of the decade saw the end of the Eric Bledsoe era in Washington. Following that there was a 3 year tank that ultimately gave them Kyrie. After key trades for Willie Naulls and Dejuan Blair, this team truly became a force. Not only did they manage to land those guys but they scored Jesus Shuttlesworth when a Hawks pick they owned landed at 1.1. Lucky bastards.



7. Miami Heat

Record: 416-404, .507
Division Titles: 0
Playoffs: 7
Conference Finals: 0
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 7
MVP: 0
Trades: 10

Six 50 win season and zero Conference Finals appearances. #canes

The only saving grace here is Frank Selvy's dominance.



8. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 412-408, .502
Division Titles: 1
Playoffs: 5
Conference Finals: 1
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 0
MVP: 0
Trades: 38

Since we don't have GM history threads anymore I'm not exactly sure how long Shaun was in the league prior to 3020. The biggest tragedy for the Cavs was the early departure of future superstar C Kevin Garnett. Despite that, Shaun managed to put together several teams that were very much in my way during the second half of the decade. Tristan Thompson, Damon Stoudamire, Benji Wilson, and Jahlil Okafor make a very nice Big 4 but apparently not nice enough to outclass Myles Turner and friends. Nevertheless, Shaun grew substantially as a GM and I look forward to what he can bring to the table in the future. Even if he is a fucking OSU fan.



9. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 403-417, .491
Division Titles: 1
Playoffs: 4
Conference Finals: 1
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 0
Trades: 52

Those of you who are relatively new to the league have no idea how truly shocking this ranking is. Trof has long been one of the best GMs in the league however he had some very unfortunate draft luck this decade. Despite that he managed to win 50 games twice and make a Conference Finals. He lands firmly in 2nd in trades made, which is about as surprising as me being in 1st. At some point the sim gods have to give him a break but only time will tell when that is.



10. Indiana Pacers

Record: 404-416, -493
Division Titles: 0
Playoffs: 5
Conference Finals: 0
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 1
Trades: 17

Bob Cousy is the only MVP the East had this decade (thanks, super twin). It's just unfortunate JW traded for Rolando Blackman. Larry Johnson and Matthew Lockhart would have been amazing in the same back court as Cousy. If I could describe the Pacers decade in one word it would be the same I would use for the Heat: waste.



11. Chicago Bulls

Record: 354-466, .432
Division Titles: 1
Playoffs: 4
Conference Finals: 0
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 0
MVP: 0
Trades: 38

One 50 win season and four playoff appearances. There's really no reason Bruns should be sitting here rather than in 13th. Perhaps it was because expectations were rather low going in. The bright spot was certainly managing to snag the best tanking PG in league history. Kerr Hans, Teddy Ethan, and that other guy don't have shit on Matthew Jacobson and his 6 TOPG.



12. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 358-462
Division Titles: 0
Playoffs: 4
Conference Finals: 1
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 0
Trades: 17

Ew. 3 GMs of which RW was the most successful. Ew.



13. Charlotte Hornets

Record: 308-512, .376
Division Titles: 1
Playoffs: 2
Conference Finals: 1
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 1
MVP: 0
Trades: 10

I think we've all forgotten have great and disappointing the late 10s Hornets were and that carried over into the 20s for exactly one year. Since then there has only been disappointment. But hey, at least Julius Randle is a fucking stud (on an expiring contract).



14. Orlando Magic

Record: 345-475, .421
Division Titles: 0
Playoffs: 3
Conference Finals: 0
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 0
MVP: 0
Trades: 39

The 20s saw the departure of long time Magic GM and former 2.0 commish MJ and the return of now four time GM JHB. Very few good things happened here, including drafting Kevin Brooks only to trade him away for nothing. Luckily, the same wasn't done to Brook Lopez. After acquiring players like Steph Curry, Rodney Carney, and Jerry Stackhouse the Magic were able to make a nice run during the last two years. I firmly believe they will be much higher next time around.



15. Boston Celtics

Record: 310-510, .378
Division Titles: 0
Playoffs: 1
Conference Finals: 0
TMBSL Finals: 0
Championships: 0
All-League 1st Team: 0
MVP: 0
Trades: 23

Come on dump, we all know you're better than this. You know you're better than this.

[Trofie]

It was a rough decade

[Lazy Pete]

Our conference has been BRUTAL

[Face-in]

Great article, conference needs less apathy this decade.

[Heebs]

Great article idea and great execution. Well done.

[Lazy Pete]

Zero trades from the Hornets in 10 sim years

[Face-in]

Mar 22, 2016 7:08:22 GMT -6 Lazy Pete said:

Zero trades from the Hornets in 10 sim years

[Odin]

Mar 22, 2016 7:08:22 GMT -6 Lazy Pete said:

Zero trades from the Hornets in 10 sim years

That should actually say 10 which isnt really better.

[gbgalla24]

Nice article Odin. voted

[eric]

great article

no argument from me, knicks are solidly #4 imo

[Deleted]

Sounds right

[Bruns]

been rough is an understatement but damn I'm good at getting shitty point guards.

[SugarShaun]

Really good article.

Also since you mentioned in the article not knowing how long I was in the league before 2020 I actually started in 2021. If I could start over I wouldn't have been a middle of the road team the first 2 years even though I didn't have my pick and would've just tried to trade anything useful for future picks while people were offering more for Fazekas and AI instead of holding on to be a .400 team then taking less later on

[Citizen Cane]

feels bad man

[[Account Deleted]]

"Traded Kevin Brooks for nothing, thankfully he didn't do the same to Brook Lopez"

Ignores Kevin Brooks trade return was pick that became Brook Lopez

[Odin]

Mar 22, 2016 17:58:55 GMT -6 [Account Deleted] said:

"Traded Kevin Brooks for nothing, thankfully he didn't do the same to Brook Lopez"

Ignores Kevin Brooks trade return was pick that became Brook Lopez

My mistake. I didnt read through every trade thread.

[kn88]

Very good article.

[Bankz]

Come on dump, we all know you're better than this. You know you're better than this.

No he isn't... he's where he should be

[SPL]

loved the article, great job Odin