NBA Showdown: Gameplay

Back with another (hopefully) weekly NBA Showdown blog post giving the ins and outs of the game, maybe some new players or teams even, this week I am going to discuss some of the games I played this weekend, which was 12 total games, bu this series will highlight a three game series between two distinctive neighboring teams. Now I have my original post on the NBA section for the rues of the game. They have been slightly altered as I no longer use the 6th man rule, but if you would like super high scores, go ahead and keep using it. I have been doing tons of play testing recently and the games have been a lot of fun, with a wide spread of scores. Biggest win was by 19 points, and one game resulted in a tie, I was hopeful to have a buzzer beater, but the offensive didn't get their offense score + dice roll over a 20, so the game went to over time and ended by 2 point differential. All the other games basically fell between those two ranges.

Now for the series of three games that I played between the 2019-2020 Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the match up that many expect to see in when the NBA restarts in the Western Conference Finals. These two teams have quite the match-up, Lakers may have the best player on the floor in Showdown form, the Clippers depth after their two star players gives them plenty of rolling opportunities to take advantage of the Lakers weak bench players. I pre-made rotations for all 30 teams when I made the set so I used those rotations in these games, so no coaching adjustments, just to see how that plays out.

Game 1:

The Clippers come out swinging in game one, jumping out to a 34-24 lead after the first quarter. Kawhi and PG lead the way but also get solid production from the rest of the squad, while LeBron and AD didn't get much help from their teammates. A better second quarter with Kuzma getting one of those high rolls to get his maximum range on his scoring roll to lead the Lakers in scoring. Lakers win the quarter and cut the deficit to 3. Clips take a 7 point lead into the 4 th quarter, and that is when they explode on the offensive end of the quart, Kawhi scores 11, Lou Williams and Paul George each add in 9, and the Clippers score 40 points in the quarter to close out the first game, 123-110.

Player of the game was Kawhi for sure with his stat line of 33-8-9. Anthony Davis was a close second putting up 36 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, but you have to win when the lines are that close to get player of the game. 

Game 2: 

The Clippers took it to the Lakers again in this game, winning again by 13 points, 133-120. The scoring is surging as the Clippers had 7 guys score in double figures. Paul George led the way for them this game rolling the 20 to get hot on offense en route to a 30 point 5 assists 6 rebound game. Kawhi sill scored 25 and grabbed 7 boards in the victory, but this game belonged to Paul George. Lou Williams scored 15 points and added 8 assists and Pat Beverly recorded a double double. The Lakers still scored 120 points, nothing to take away from them,but they couldn't stop the Clippers from scoring at all. Davis had another double double with 33 and 12, and LeBron had another 24-8-7 game. Player of the game goes to Paul George and the Clippers are showing why the media is favoring them as a Western Conference favorite. 

Game 3: 

Game 3 played out real close all the way until the end, and this time the Lakers were able to secure a 116-108 victory. They picked up their defense and while still allowing 7 Clippers to score double figures, only one scored over 20 points. Anthony Davis led the Lakers in scoring again, scoring 30 points and snatching 11 rebounds. LeBron James flirted with a triple double again scoring 24 points dishing out 11 assists and grabbing 8 rebounds. Lakers also got 32 points off the bench in this game helping them score when LeBron or Davis was off the floor. Game 3 player of the game is LeBron James for his near triple double, setting up AD on his rolls with the assists. 

The three game set was a fun time to play out, and I will likely continue the series to see what happens as more games are played out. Time to look at the players averages:

Small sample size for sure, but the stats look good, and for ever one that is right or close to right I am sure plenty are wrong, buttttt Kawhi Leonard for the 19-20 season is averaging 26.9 PPG 5.0 APG and 7.3 RPG. just saying lol. 

If you follow me on twitter I have started posting a random card every Thursday is my goal, and then at David Bush's request I also made another card today, so I will post those here for those that do not follow me:

IT was an MVP candidate this season, and was looking to be molding into a great scorer, but a nasty hip injury would slow his career down sadly, and now keeps bouncing from team to team around the league looking for a scoring guard. Teams know they will not get much defense out of him as well.

Reggie Miller was a great shooting guard, and lethal in the scoring department. His Pacers teams were just never good enough to get over the hump, running into the Bulls and Jordan, the Lakers with Kobe and Shaq in the Finals, or Tayshaun Prince and a spectacular block propelling the Pistons to the NBA finals.(It is also linked above so if you haven't seen it watch it in all its standard 2004 definition glory!!!!)

That is all for now, I hope my games will inspire some of your own ,and if you do play tell me all about it in the comments, and let me know if you institute any house rules, always like the inclusion of others house rules.