There have been many great teams that "should" have won a title yet didn't take the final step.  This is a league where we'll take 24 of those teams and try to get them over the hump.  Here's how we're gonna do it:

Pick a team that LOST in the NBA Finals.  You can twist any and all players that played for that team.  If you are unfamiliar with the terminology of theme leagues, twist means you can use any season of a player.  For example, if you chose the 10-11 Miami Heat, you don't have to use the 10-11 versions of Lebron, Wade, House, etc...



No... this is the guy I want:



...you can use any season you want!

In addition to this, you may help shore up the teams' weaknesses by adding any one player from any season to the roster.  So, again, if I have the 10-11 Heat, I can decide to add 63-64 Bill Russell to the squad (if you can make the finances work!).




So, use 11 players from a team that lost in the finals, twist 'em into any combination you feel is best, add one player that didn't play for the team, and see if you can lead the twisted team into the promised land.

Rules:

cap:  $52M
WW:  no
rookies:  hell no
clones:  no


Team choice will be first come, first serve.

I'm going to be lame and go ahead and pick my team (92-93 Suns), but that's just because it's my all-time favorite team, not because I think it has a particularly strong chance at this.

Please name your team to suggest the squad you're basing (since all players will be twisted, it'll make this less painful to check rosters).  For example, I'm going to call mine the '93 Phoenix Suns.  I request that everyone else do the same with their squads.

I don't care what arena you use - I'm going to try and use a Phx one (America West Arena, baby) - but hey.


League Number is NBA38388


If, at the end of the season, enough people want to try and redeem another team, we'll do it again.  I'm thinking of retiring the champion and drafting for teams after the initial season, but let's take care of the first one!

Team / Owner List:

1.  ashamael - 92-93 Phoenix Suns
2.  logain - 10-11 Miami Heat
3.  malone9975 - 86-87 Boston Celtics
4.  mikee1 - 03-04 LA Lakers (tentative)
5.  dh555 - 94-95 Orlando Magic
6.  felonius - 04-05 Detroit Pistons
7.  eleibowitz - 83-84 LA Lakers
8.  bdaniels21 - 69-70 LA Lakers
9.  xxevilivexx - 74-75 Washington Bullets
10. deathproof - 09-10 Boston Celtics
11. ncih - 82-83 LA Lakers
12. sawtech7 - 88-89 LA Lakers
13. jayharvill - 93-94 NY Knicks
14. tricky24 - 91-92 Portland Trailblazers
15. sappy - 87-88 Detroit Pistons
16. bluenote75 - 05-06 Dallas Mavericks
17. dh555 (2) - 95-96 Seattle Supersonics
18. alopez - 73-74 Milwaukee Bucks
19. logain (2) - 06-07 Cleveland Cavs
20. bmbigdog44 - 71-72 NY Knicks
21. rmarsh915 - 96-97 Utah Jazz
22. dman340 - 84-85 Boston Celtics
23. poppapump - 70-71 Baltimore Bullets
24. jcred5 - 81-82 Philadelphia 76ers

Waitlist:
coolmay_one
mcheech

The Gallery of Finals remembered...

In.. will take 10-11 heat

in 86-87 Celtics

IN...03-04 Lakers

Posted by mikee1 on 6/12/2011 11:50:00 PM (view original):
IN...03-04 Lakers

I thought about that team long and hard, but the usage is going to be a killer with them

Posted by malone9975 on 6/13/2011 12:04:00 AM (view original):

Posted by mikee1 on 6/12/2011 11:50:00 PM (view original):
IN...03-04 Lakers

I thought about that team long and hard, but the usage is going to be a killer with them

i'm already reconsidering.....put the team together loosely and it's waaaay too high even with the obvious SF choice

Yeah, there's some really great teams with too much usage - and some with not enough.  There are some old teams that would suck unless you give them someone who can give them some threes and several teams that are light in one key area or not.  With $52M I think you can put together good, fun squads and with the extra twisted player make some extremely balanced teams!

in with orlando 94-95

in - team to come

In 83-84 Lakers

Ill do it 70 Lakers. 

awesome, welcome guys!