November 11, 2011
Sim Season
The Road

by Bradford Doolittle

After two days of expectantly following the updates from Lockout Hotel in New York, resolution feels close. Either they will, or they won't. Either we'll have games starting on Dec. 15, or we won't have any. Not for a long time. It almost certainly won't work out so simply, but that's how things feel this morning. Let's hope common sense prevails. In any event, it's hard to muster much enthusiasm for the whole process.

In Sim Season, it was business as usual on Thursday. While some of the familiar faces from TNT's squad--Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Chris Webber--were somberly discussing possible lockout outcomes on NBA TV, fans were missing the clash between Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose in Chicago. But they did in fact meet in our virtual world, as did the Spurs and Trail Blazers. Scroll down for those results. In the meantime, without comment, I present the some early-season game highs, the best of what we've seen so far.

NAME             MINUTES                 NAME             POINTS
M.ELLIS, GSW     46 DET  11⁄9           L.ALDRIDGE, POR  43 DEN  11⁄3
A.IGUODALA, PHI  46 HOU  11⁄9  (1 OT)   D.GRANGER, IND   42 HOU  11⁄8
D.WRIGHT, GSW    45 DET  11⁄9           D.NOWITZKI, DAL  42 @NJN 11⁄9
R.GAY, MEM       44 @LAC 11⁄2           D.ROSE, CHI      41 @DAL 11⁄1
R.ALLEN, BOS     44 @ATL 11⁄4           L.JAMES, MIA     40 ORL  11⁄3
M.ELLIS, GSW     44 SAS  11⁄7           K.BRYANT, LAL    40 SAS  11⁄9
L.DENG, CHI      43 ATL  11⁄5           D.NOWITZKI, DAL  39 @SAS 11⁄4
R.GAY, MEM       43 PHX  11⁄8           L.JAMES, MIA     39 WAS  11⁄6
A.AFFLALO, DEN   43 POR  11⁄9           L.ALDRIDGE, POR  39 SAS  11⁄10
K.DURANT, OKC    42 @LAL 11⁄1           B.GRIFFIN, LAC   38 @CHI 11⁄8

NAME            REBOUNDS                 NAME            ASSISTS
B.GRIFFIN, LAC   18 @TOR 11⁄9           J.KIDD, DAL      20 @NJN 11⁄9
K.HUMPHRIES, NJN 17 DET  11⁄5           S.NASH, PHX      17 @MIN 11⁄9
A.JEFFERSON, UTA 16 HOU  11⁄1           R.RONDO, BOS     15 @ATL 11⁄4
K.LOVE, MIN      16 ATL  11⁄2           S.NASH, PHX      15 @MEM 11⁄8
T.DUNCAN, SAS    16 MIL  11⁄2           S.NASH, PHX      14 LAL  11⁄4
K.HUMPHRIES, NJN 16 @WAS 11⁄2           S.NASH, PHX      14 POR  11⁄6
L.ALDRIDGE, POR  16 SAS  11⁄10          D.WILLIAMS, NJN  14 DAL  11⁄9
L.SCOLA, HOU     15 @UTA 11⁄1           J.CALDERON, TOR  13 DAL  11⁄7
K.GARNETT, BOS   15 CLE  11⁄2           T.EVANS, SAC     13 LAL  11⁄7
K.GARNETT, BOS   15 @ATL 11⁄4           R.WESTBROOK, OKC 12 @LAL 11⁄1

NAME              BLOCKS                 NAME             STEALS
D.MILICIC, MIN    6 @PHI 11⁄4           M.WILLIAMS, ATL   6 @CHI 11⁄5
S.IBAKA, OKC      6 @DAL 11⁄5           R.WESTBROOK, OKC  6 @NYK 11⁄8
M.GORTAT, PHX     6 @MIN 11⁄9           L.JAMES, MIA      5 WAS  11⁄6
J.McGEE, WAS      5 NJN  11⁄2           J.RICHARDSO, ORL  4 CHA  11⁄2
L.ALDRIDGE, POR   5 DEN  11⁄3           R.RONDO, BOS      4 CLE  11⁄2
M.GORTAT, PHX     5 LAL  11⁄4           T.ALLEN, MEM      4 @LAC 11⁄2
E.BRAND, PHI      5 @ORL 11⁄6           K.FARIED, DEN     4 @POR 11⁄3
T.DUNCAN, SAS     5 @GSW 11⁄7           A.IGUODALA, PHI   4 MIN  11⁄4
S.IBAKA, OKC      4 @LAL 11⁄1           J.NOAH, CHI       4 ATL  11⁄5
L.JAMES, MIA      4 @NYK 11⁄2           T.ALLEN, MEM      4 CHA  11⁄5

Through last night, we've played the 70 games the NBA hasn't as part of Sim Season, our Strat-O-Matic simulation of the locked out 2011-12 season. We'll be doing this every day, so check back tomorrow for the results of tonight's action. You can follow me on Twitter for periodic updates on the action. Watch for the #simseason hashtag.

REMINDER: Strat-O-Matic veterans already know this, but the newest version of SOM's Computer Basketball Game (Version 9.0) was recently released. As it happens, our favorite gaming company is offering a discount for all you lockout-weary fans who want to run your own simulations. Or maybe you just want to match wits with a fellow hoops fan, no matter where in the world he/she may reside. All you have to do is go to this page to place an order. When you check out, just enter the discount code LOCKOUT to get 15% knocked off the listed price.

NOTE: The offer has been extended and now expires at 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 20. Enjoy!

THUNDER 97, BULLS 94: Two of last season's emergent teams clashed at the United Center. The Thunder had lost four of five entering the game, all the losses on the road and against the league's third-toughest schedule. The Bulls had won three of four, the only loss a one-pointer at New Orleans. OKC led by one at the half after a strong second period from Kevin Durant, who battled foul trouble in the opening quarter. Derrick Rose's three-pointer and fastbreak dunk led a 7-0 Chicago run in the third that broke open a tie game. The Thunder rallied and after Durant's three opened scoring in the fourth, OKC had reeled off eight straight and led by six. The Thunder pushed the lead to 12 before another seven-point Chicago run--none of the points coming from Rose. That turned out to be as close as the Bulls could get as the Thunder escaped with a much-needed win. Rose scored 34 points on 11-of-17 shooting to lead all scorers. Durant's 21 led OKC but was well short of his 33-points-per-game average, which leads the league. He got an unexpected boost from rookie Reggie Jackson, who scored eight points in five minutes during the Thunder's second-quarter burst. The Thunder finished with a 22-4 edge in fastbreak points.

STRAT-O-MATIC BOX SCORE
OKLAHOMA CITY               24 25 22 26   97
CHICAGO                     28 20 20 26   94

                 ----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT---       REBOUNDS
NAME        MIN  MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT +/-  OF DF  T AS PF ST TO BK PTS
K.DURANT     33   6 13  46  4  6  67  5  5 100   3   0  7  7  2  5  0  1  0  21
R.WESTBROOK  30   4 13  31  0  0     11 11 100  -3   0  1  1  9  5  3  6  0  19
S.IBAKA      37   8 10  80  0  0      2  2 100  -5   3  4  7  2  4  2  2  1  18
T.SEFOLOSHA  21   1  3  33  0  0      0  0      -7   2  2  4  3  2  1  1  1   2
K.PERKINS    19   1  4  25  0  0      0  0      -8   1  5  6  0  4  0  2  1   2
J.HARDEN     25   5  9  56  2  5  40  1  2  50  -5   0  2  2  2  3  0  1  0  13
N.COLLISON   20   1  2  50  0  0      1  2  50  15   0  1  1  0  2  0  1  1   3
N.MOHAMMED   18   1  6  17  0  0      0  0       8   0  5  5  0  3  2  0  3   2
E.MAYNOR     14   2  4  50  1  2  50  0  0       5   0  0  0  1  0  0  0  1   5
D.COOK       16   2  3  67  0  0      0  1   0  11   0  1  1  1  2  0  0  0   4
C.ALDRICH     2   0  1   0  0  0      0  0      -4   2  0  2  0  0  0  0  0   0
R.JACKSON     5   3  4  75  1  1 100  1  1 100   5   0  1  1  1  0  0  0  0   8
OKLAHOMA CI  48  34 72  47  8 14  57 21 24  88       8 29 37 21 30  8 14  8  97
                 ----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT---       REBOUNDS
NAME        MIN  MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT +/-  OF DF  T AS PF ST TO BK PTS
L.DENG       41   6 11  55  0  1   0  2  2 100   5   3  5  8  5  5  1  2  0  14
D.ROSE       34  11 17  65  3  3 100  9  9 100   5   0  1  1  7  4  0  4  1  34
C.BOOZER     31   4  9  44  0  0      4  6  67   4   0  5  5  3  3  1  2  0  12
R.BREWER     28   0  3   0  0  0      2  2 100   8   0  2  2  1  2  3  2  0   2
J.NOAH       32   6  7  86  0  0      5  9  56   8   3  4  7  0  1  0  1  0  17
T.GIBSON     18   0  6   0  0  0      2  4  50  -3   2  0  2  0  2  0  0  1   2
K.KORVER     10   0  0      0  0      0  0      -1   0  0  0  1  2  0  0  0   0
K.BOGANS     12   1  2  50  0  1   0  0  0     -13   0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0   2
O.ASIK       14   0  1   0  0  0      1  2  50 -15   2  4  6  0  0  1  0  0   1
C.WATSON     14   2 12  17  0  1   0  4  4 100  -8   0  2  2  0  1  1  0  0   8
J.BUTLER      6   1  2  50  0  1   0  0  0      -5   1  3  4  0  0  0  0  1   2
CHICAGO      48  31 70  44  3  7  43 29 38  76      11 26 37 18 20  7 11  3  94

OKLAHOMA CITY               CHICAGO
     Fast Break Pts  22          Fast Break Pts   4
  Second Chance Pts   2       Second Chance Pts  10
Points in the Paint  16     Points In the Paint  20
       Biggest Lead  12            Biggest Lead   7

BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS BOX SCORE 
OKC (2-4)...........PLY%  USG   PCP  +/-   GR  CHI (3-2)...........PLY%  USG   PCP  +/-   GR
durant,kevin.........69%  24%  1.38  + 3 23.9  rose,derrick.........71%  37%  1.38  + 5 38.3
westbrook,russell....63%  41%  0.89  - 3 21.2  deng,luol............85%  15%  1.29  + 5 19.1
ibaka,serge..........77%  17%  1.47  - 5 20.0  noah,joakim..........67%  17%  1.41  + 8 18.2
harden,james.........52%  21%  1.25  - 5 14.6  boozer,carlos........65%  21%  0.98  + 4 12.7
jackson,reggie.......10%  46%  1.84  + 5  8.8  watson,c.j...........29%  50%  0.50  - 8  7.6
sefolosha,thabo......44%   8%  1.46  - 7  6.3  brewer,ronnie........58%   8%  0.68  + 8  3.9
maynor,eric..........29%  13%  1.56  + 5  6.3  asik,omer............29%   4%  2.27  -15  3.5
cook,daequan.........33%   9%  1.20  +11  4.3  butler,jimmy.........13%  15%  1.68  - 5  3.4
mohammed,nazr........38%  16%  0.62  + 8  3.9  bogans,keith.........25%   6%  1.54  -13  2.6
collison,nick........42%   8%  0.68  +15  2.7  gibson,taj...........38%  20%  0.26  - 3  2.3
perkins,kendrick.....40%  15%  0.43  - 8  2.5  korver,kyle..........21%   5%  0.12  - 1  0.1
aldrich,cole......... 4%  25%  0.74  - 4  0.8  scalabrine,brian.....(DNP)  
PACE: 84.1          ORTG eFG%  oRB%  TO% FTA%  PACE: 84.1          ORTG eFG%  oRB%  TO% FTA%
THUNDER..........  115.3 .528  .235 .166 .126  BULLS............  111.7 .464  .275 .131 .199

---

SPURS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 98: Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge ranked fifth in the league coming into the game with a 29.0 scoring average and poured in 13 points early. With the game tied last in the first, the Spurs' Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson keyed a quarter-ending 11-point run. The Spurs led by 12 midway through the second with Aldridge scored on three consecutive trips to start an eight-point Blazer run. The Spurs went ahead 11 in the third before Aldridge answered the call again, scoring three ties during an 11-0 burst that cut the San Antonio lead to one. Aldridge had 38 points through the first three quarters. Unfortunately for Blazers fans, the Spurs effectively removed Aldridge from the equation down the stretch, going on a 16-2 run at one point to put the game away. Aldridge scored only one point in the fourth, finishing with 39. Parker and Manu Ginobili scored 25 each for San Antonio, which shot 55 percent from the field and hit 11-of-21 from deep.

STRAT-O-MATIC BOX SCORE
SAN ANTONIO                 35 27 26 27  115
PORTLAND                    24 30 29 15   98

                 ----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT---       REBOUNDS
NAME        MIN  MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT +/-  OF DF  T AS PF ST TO BK PTS
T.PARKER     36  10 20  50  1  1 100  4  8  50  13   0  3  3  6  3  0  0  0  25
R.JEFFERSON  28   7 14  50  2  5  40  0  0       9   0  4  4  1  1  0  1  0  16
M.GINOBILI   30   8 15  53  4  8  50  5  6  83  22   0  2  2  9  1  0  1  0  25
T.DUNCAN     25   3  5  60  0  0      0  0      13   2  5  7  4  4  0  1  1   6
T.SPLITTER   22   3  5  60  0  0      0  0     -14   3  3  6  1  3  1  1  2   6
D.BLAIR      19   4  6  67  0  0      2  2 100  26   4  0  4  1  2  1  1  0  10
G.NEAL       23   3  4  75  1  2  50  0  0      -4   0  4  4  3  1  0  0  0   7
M.BONNER     22   2  4  50  0  2   0  1  2  50   5   1  4  5  4  2  1  1  2   5
A.McDYESS    13   1  1 100  0  0      0  0       3   0  3  3  1  2  0  3  0   2
C.JOSEPH      7   3  4  75  3  3 100  0  0       3   0  1  1  0  1  0  0  0   9
K.LEONARD    15   2  5  40  0  0      0  0       9   0  0  0  2  2  0  2  0   4
SAN ANTONIO  48  46 83  55 11 21  52 12 18  67      10 29 39 32 22  3 11  5 115
                 ----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT---       REBOUNDS
NAME        MIN  MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT +/-  OF DF  T AS PF ST TO BK PTS
L.ALDRIDGE   40  16 27  59  0  0      7 11  64  -8   7  9 16  1  3  0  2  0  39
W.MATTHEWS   35   2 10  20  1  6  17  7  7 100 -13   0  2  2  1  4  0  1  0  12
N.BATUM      40   4 15  27  1  8  12  2  2 100 -15   2  5  7  0  2  0  0  0  11
M.CAMBY      26   1  2  50  0  0      0  0     -25   3  2  5  2  1  0  2  1   2
R.FELTON     29   3 11  27  1  3  33  1  2  50  -3   0  1  1  5  3  1  1  0   8
G.WALLACE    24   3  5  60  0  2   0  2  2 100   7   2  5  7  1  0  1  0  0   8
B.ROY        14   3  6  50  0  1   0  2  2 100  -4   0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0   8
C.JOHNSON     1   0  1   0  0  0      0  0      -6   1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0   0
L.BABBITT     6   1  1 100  0  0      0  0       1   0  1  1  0  1  0  0  0   2
G.ODEN        8   1  1 100  0  0      0  0      -9   1  0  1  1  3  0  0  0   2
N.SMITH      17   1  6  17  0  1   0  4  4 100 -10   1  1  2  2  1  1  1  0   6
PORTLAND     48  35 85  41  3 21  14 25 30  83      17 26 43 13 18  3  8  1  98

SAN ANTONIO                 PORTLAND
     Fast Break Pts  24          Fast Break Pts   4
  Second Chance Pts   8       Second Chance Pts  24
Points in the Paint  26     Points In the Paint  48
       Biggest Lead  17            Biggest Lead   4

BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS BOX SCORE
SAS (4-1)...........PLY%  USG   PCP  +/-   GR  POR (1-4)...........PLY%  USG   PCP  +/-   GR
ginobili,manu........63%  30%  1.65  +22 32.3  aldridge,lamarcus....83%  41%  1.09  - 8 42.3
parker,tony..........75%  31%  1.10  +13 26.0  batum,nicolas........83%  17%  0.79  -15 12.5
jefferson,richard....58%  25%  1.11  + 9 16.5  felton,raymond.......60%  20%  0.91  - 3 12.1
blair,dejuan.........40%  19%  1.35  +26  9.4  matthews,wesley......73%  17%  0.83  -13 11.2
duncan,tim...........52%  10%  1.73  +13  9.1  wallace,gerald.......50%   9%  2.14  + 7 10.1
neal,gary............48%   6%  2.97  - 4  9.0  roy,brandon..........29%  26%  0.87  - 4  7.5
joseph,cory..........15%  27%  2.47  + 3  8.7  smith,nolan..........35%  23%  0.84  -10  7.1
bonner,matt..........46%  11%  1.66  + 5  8.0  camby,marcus.........54%   4%  2.00  -25  5.7
splitter,tiago.......46%  12%  1.40  -14  6.7  oden,greg............17%   2%  3.92  - 9  2.1
leonard,kawhi........31%  22%  0.62  + 9  3.9  babbitt,luke.........13%   5%  2.61  + 1  1.7
mcdyess,antonio......27%  13%  0.72  + 3  2.6  johnson,chris........ 2%  50%  0.36  - 6  0.4
green,danny..........(DNP)                     mills,patrick........(DNP)  
PACE: 86.9          ORTG eFG%  oRB%  TO% FTA%  PACE: 86.9          ORTG eFG%  oRB%  TO% FTA%
SPURS............  132.3 .620  .278 .127 .091  TRAILBLAZERS.....  112.7 .429  .370 .092 .152

---

STANDINGS      SCORING AVERAGE     REBOUNDS⁄GAME       FIELD GOAL PCT
TEAM WON LOST  ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
NJN    3   1   K.DURANT  OKC 31.2  K.LOVE    MIN 13.0  J.VESELY  WAS .733 
BOS    3   1   L.ALDRIDG POR 31.0  K.HUMPHRI NJN 12.5  N.HILARIO DEN .727 
NYK    3   2   M.ELLIS   GSW 30.6  A.BOGUT   MIL 11.8  T.CHANDLE DAL .639 
PHI    2   2   D.GALLINA DEN 30.0  A.VAREJAO CLE 11.6  J.BAREA   DAL .625 
TOR    1   4   D.NOWITZK DAL 29.2  L.ALDRIDG POR 11.2  M.BROOKS  NJN .621 
TEAM WON LOST
IND    3   2   FREE THROW PCT      THREE POINT PCT     ASSISTS⁄GAME
CHI    3   2   ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
DET    2   2   A.AFFLALO DEN1.000  A.AMINU   LAC .667  S.NASH    PHX 14.4 
MIL    2   3   C.BOSH    MIA1.000  E.ILYASOV MIL .667  R.RONDO   BOS 11.5 
CLE    2   3   C.PAUL    NOH1.000  K.DURANT  OKC .649  C.PAUL    NOH 10.8 
TEAM WON LOST  D.WRIGHT  GSW1.000  M.DUNLEAV IND .625  A.IGUODAL PHI 10.5 
MIA    4   1   E.BLEDSOE LAC1.000  S.BLAKE   LAL .625  J.KIDD    DAL 10.4 
ORL    3   2
CHA    2   2   STEALS⁄GAME         TURNOVERS⁄GAME      BLOCKS⁄GAME
ATL    1   3   ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
WAS    0   3   T.ALLEN   MEM  3.2  S.NASH    PHX  4.4  A.STOUDEM NYK  3.0 
TEAM WON LOST  R.WESTBRO OKC  2.7  J.WALL    WAS  4.3  T.DUNCAN  SAS  3.0 
SAS    4   1   L.JAMES   MIA  2.6  R.RONDO   BOS  4.2  M.GORTAT  PHX  2.8 
DAL    3   2   J.VESELY  WAS  2.3  D.ROSE    CHI  4.2  K.GARNETT BOS  2.8 
NOH    2   2   A.IGUODAL PHI  2.2  J.JOHNSON ATL  4.0  J.McGEE   WAS  2.7 
MEM    2   2
HOU    2   3
TEAM WON LOST
DEN    4   0
MIN    2   2
OKC    2   4
UTA    1   4
POR    1   4
TEAM WON LOST
PHX    4   1
LAL    4   2
LAC    2   3
GSW    2   3
SAC    1   4

DATE  YESTERDAY'S SCORES        HIGH POINTS      HIGH REBOUNDS   HIGH ASSISTS
----  ------------------------  ---------------  --------------  ------------
11⁄10 OKC  97  @ CHI  94        D.ROSE 34        L.DENG 8        R.WESTBROOK 9
11⁄10 SAS 115  @ POR  98        L.ALDRIDGE 39    L.ALDRIDGE 16   M.GINOBILI 9

TODAY'S SCHEDULED GAMES
-----------------------
DENVER (4-0) at LOS ANGELES L (4-2)
GOLDEN STATE (2-3) at NEW ORLEANS (2-2)
LOS ANGELES C (2-3) at BOSTON (3-1)
MEMPHIS (2-2) at DALLAS (3-2)
MILWAUKEE (2-3) at PHILADELPHIA (2-2)
NEW JERSEY (3-1) at MIAMI (4-1)
PHOENIX (4-1) at INDIANA (3-2)
SACRAMENTO (1-4) at MINNESOTA (2-2)
UTAH (1-4) at ATLANTA (1-3)
WASHINGTON (0-3) at ORLANDO (3-2)

GLOSSARY
+/- (Plus-Minus) Raw data is from official box scores from NBA.com.
GR (Game Rating) Reflects a player's Points Created total, or the portion of his team's offense for which he gets credit based on his box score line. This number is then adjusted for estimated defensive performance based on box score counterpart productivity. GR is pace-adjusted so you can compare players from game to game.
PCP (Points Created Per Possession Used) An estimate of each player's points created per possession used, a measure of offensive efficiency. The stat accounts for a player's entire box score line, not just the scoring categories.
PLY% (Play percentage) An estimate of the percentage of a team's possessions on which the player was on the court.
USG An estimate of how many of those plays a player used by shooting, going to the line or committing a turnover, with a portion the team's offensive rebound total subtracted.
TEAM STATS
PACE: Estimated possessions in the game.
ORTG: A team's points per 100 possessions.
eFG%: Team's shooting percentage with an extra half-point added for each made three-point field goal.
oRB%: Percentage of a team's misses that they retrieved off the offensive glass.
TO%: Percentage of a team's possessions resulting in a turnover.
FTA%: Percentage of a team's possessions resulting in a trip to the foul line.

Bradford Doolittle is an author of Basketball Prospectus. You can contact Bradford by clicking here or click here to see Bradford's other articles.