2K11 Assosication: A Story

[Chicagolove]

So what I'll be doing is creating two dominant superstars, Dominic Crawford and Rakeem Bolton. They will be dominating the game and statline from the very beginning. Dom will be playing for the Mavericks as a undrafted rookie, to the surprise of many people, While Rakeem will get drafted to the Toronto Raptors. I'm hoping that I can build these two teams to be perennial Finals contenders, which is likely.
I'll be making fake ESPN, SI, etc. stories that pretty much glorify these guys when they do amazing(including interviews, quotes, quotes from other players, etc.) and I'll have some analysts criticize them for when they are bad(Skip Bayless). I'll also put in a few segments for their personal life, such as the girls they'll be dating, their homes, their endorsements, their cars, bla bla bla...

So, Lemme begin. It is July 2nd, 2010. College(Army) superstar Dominic Crawford has gone undrafted, due to injury concerns, an apparent nasty attitude, and a "lack of respect for his coaches".

Dominic Crawford:
Position: Center
Height: 7'0
Weight: 350 lbs
College: Army
#: 7
Age: 19
Birthday: January 1st, 1991
Hometown: Dallas, Texas.

ESPN: hometown Dominic Crawford signed by Dallas Mavericks
By: Henry Abbott

Army's freshman superstar Dominic Crawford has been signed as an undrafted rookie free agent to his hometown Mavericks.
The Mavericks were hesitant at first to sign him due to his very bad reputation, but were pushed after they had seen the Miami Heat place a deal.

Crawford averaged 34/12.5/8 on 57% FG shooting and 49% 3-point shooting.
Him going undrafted caused a stir in the basketball world, however, many saw his stats as inflated as he played only 7 games due to injury and played in a very weak conference in college.

[Chicagolove]

(Oh yeah, felt like adding this in, but Dominic Crawford is white. Just so you know)
July 3rd, 2010
Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport
Dom steps off an American Airlines 747, retrieves his luggage, and is about to exit the airport.

*phone: ring, ring*
Dom: Hello?
Agent: Sup Dom, it's your agent. I've coordinated a taxi for you to take you to your apartment. Have you seen it yet?
Dom: Only online. *laughs* It looks sweet. Is it furnished?
Agent: For the most part, yes. You have necessary furnitures, but you'll have to buy other luxurious items yourself.
Dom: Gotcha. Look, before I go because the taxi is here, I wanna thank you for everything you've done.
Agent: No problem, that's what I'm here for, eh? *laughs*
Dom: *laughs* Well, I'll call you later. see ya.

Dom puts away his Blackberry Bold as a taxi pulls up. He loads his luggage, gets in, and the taxi takes him to his apartment.

Dom: Thanks, sir! *pulls out 15 dollars*
Driver: That's not necessary, your agent already paid for the fare.
Dom: Oh... Well, take $5 as a tip. Have a great day!

Dom unloads his luggage and walks to his apartment. He opens the door, and is stunned at what he sees.



Dom: ...Damn.

[Chicagolove]

4th of July, 2010
10:43 am
In Dom's apartment

*phone: ring, ring*
Dom hasn't woken up yet, so it takes him a while to answer.

Dom: Hello?...
???: What's up Dom? Happy 4th of July!
Dom: Eh, thanks.. Uh, who is this?
Dirk: It's Dirk, your new teammate! Look, since we haven't met yet, why don't we meet up at The Pearl Cup coffee bar? I want to get to know you, discuss events, etc. No player should say this, but I totally believe your hype.
Dom: Well, then... Sure thing... Just curious, how did you get my cell phone number?
Dirk: Cuban sent me a cell phone directory. Anyways, if your going to Pearl Cup, meet me there in about 20 minutes.
Dom: Aight. See you there. *hangs up the phone*
He put on a large Ed Hardy shirt, XXX-Large cargo shorts, Blue and Grey Nike sneakers, and a backwards Dallas Mavericks new era cap(Just so you guys know his style).




Since The Pearl Cup was nearby, it only took Dom 15 minutes to get there. He was very surprised how many people recognized him and asked for pictures. He had no idea he was already well-known in the area! When he got there, he already saw Dirk, and he reserved a seat for both of them
Dirk: Dominic Crawford! The man, Hahaha. I've been wanting to see you in person since you got here.
Dom: Hey, Dirk. It's not everyday you get to shake hands with a legend.
Dirk: Well, now that you're here, I want to discuss some things...

The two talk about themselves, the NBA, and a few other things.

Dirk: So, where do you think LeBron's going"
Dom: Chicago. To me, it's been inevitable since he got knocked out by the Celtics. Why wouldn't he want to join a young and powerful supporting cast of Rose and Noah?
Dirk: That's a good question. I've also been thinking he'll join the Bulls.

The two continue to talk, until Dirk says it's been nice getting to know you.

Dirk: Well, Dom, it's been nice getting to know you.
Dom: It was an hour to have a long conversation with a legend; I look forward to being your teammate. I gotta go, see you soon!
Dirk: Goodbye, Dom.

Dirk watches Dom leave. Once he does, he pulls out his phone and calls Shawn Marion.

Shawn: Hello? Dirk?
Dirk: Shawn?
Shawn: Dirk, what up!!! How'd the meeting with the rook go?
Dirk: Hahaha... You aren't going to believe this guy. He's a tool, a complete tool. Wait till I tell you about him.

Dirk leaves the coffee place while talking on the phone. Many people are staring at him.

[Chicagolove]

I'll be going up to the preseason today, more tomorrow.

July 8th, 2010
"The Decision"

Dom watches on his LCD TV as LeBron is about to make his decision.

LeBron: In this fall... Oh man, this is very tough. In this fall, I'm going to take my talents to South Beach, and join the Miami Heat.

Dom: What a dumbass... What. A. Dumbass. *chuckles*

Dom laughs now at LeBron ruining his legacy, but deep down, he fears the brand new trio in Miami.

[bobferg]

This is cool.... I just don't think a 19 year old would be allowed to leave the Army academy.

Otherwise....... it is nice.

[Chicagolove]

*THIS IS A REAL ARTICLE, JUST A TAD MODIFIED*

LAS VEGAS -- In a twisted sort of way, Team USA is better off with what it has than with what it doesn't have.

Or to put it another way, the focus this week and for the rest of this summer heading into the FIBA World Championship in Turkey is not going to be on the players who turned the NBA on its head in early July, the same three Redeem Teamers who helped right the basketball universe two years ago by winning the gold medal in Beijing.

None of them is here, although some probably will be back two years from now to prepare for the 2012 Olympics.

[+] Enlarge
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
After earning gold in Beijing, the Heat's new power trio passed on this go-round with Team USA.
And that, at least for now, is a distinct benefit for the players who are here for the opening of Team USA's minicamp Tuesday and who will not have to deal with the tangential issues that have kept LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh at the forefront of the discussion in the basketball universe for the past -- what has it been, 60 days? 90?

Out of sight, out of mind.

And out of the conversation -- at least until this team gets tested or even loses a game between now and the gold-medal match in Istanbul on Sept. 12.

What is important now is not what happened in the past month but what is about to happen in the next two months: The United States will be attempting to win the world championship for the first time since 1994, when Kevin Durant was all of 5 years old.

"It's a cultural evolution," coach Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN.com on Monday.

"There's always some new challenges, and we're always trying to get better," said team director Jerry Colangelo. "And if you have the right people in place with that kind of an attitude, we'll never be an organization that rests on its laurels. It just won't happen as long as you have people here that think that way."

"Continuity" has been the buzzword for the U.S. basketball federation the past five years, but much of the roster continuity Team USA thought it would have has dissipated now that all 12 of the players from the 2008 gold-medal team withdrawn from this year's team.

The continuity that has endured begins with the team hierarchy, starting with Colangelo, reaching down to a coaching staff whose members have all signed on to continue in their roles through the 2012 Olympics and now also including special adviser Jason Kidd, who won't play but "was more important to that 2008 Beijing team than people will ever realize," as Krzyzewski put it.

Who Will Make The Cut?
LAS VEGAS -- In five weeks, Team USA's roster will be set.

The 22 players who reported for the start of minicamp Tuesday will have been cut down to 12, and the Americans will begin their quest to win the FIBA World Championship for the first time since 1994.

Plenty can happen between now and then, and it's a 99.9 percent certainty that LeBron James or any of his Beijing brethren will not be walking through that door between now and mid-August.

So as we begin what will be a nearly two-month sojourn from Las Vegas to New York to Springfield, Mass., to Madrid to Athens to Istanbul, it is both worthwhile and fun to take an educated guess at who will be on the 12-man roster when Team USA opens pool play against Croatia on Aug. 28.

Here is my best guess at the composition of the squad (and although it is an early guess, it is an educated one based partly on conversations with various NBA and USA Basketball officials, partly on my own experience having covered Team USA at every major international basketball competition since 1996):

GUARDS
Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry.

Cuts: Rajon Rondo (free throw inaccuracy), Eric Gordon (loses designated shooter role to Curry), O.J. Mayo (superfluous).

FORWARDS
Rudy Gay, Gerald Wallace, Lamar Odom, David Lee, Kevin Love.

Cuts: Danny Granger (not as good a defender as Wallace), Jeff Green (out-burlymanned by Lee), Andre Iguodala (superfluous with Wallace), Amare Stoudemire (contract insurance difficulties).

CENTERS
Dominic Crawford.

Cuts: Tyson Chandler (conditioning, free throw inaccuracy), JaVale McGee (victim of numbers game, but a sleeper to make final 12), Robin Lopez (a project for 2014 and beyond), Brook Lopez (severe case of mono)


But it trickles down to the current roster, too, because among the 12 players who will represent the United States this summer are a preponderance of youngsters who have been in the national program, albeit not always on the senior national roster, for the past several summers as members of the USA Men's Select Team, which competed against the national team in practices.
"Look at Kevin Durant, for example," Krzyzewski said. "This is his fifth straight summer with us. Or Dominic Crawford. Sure, many people believe that he doesn't belong here as he is 'unproven'. But since he dominated in college, he is the best available fit for the World Championship.'"

Dominic Crawford has been extremely excited to be a part of the Team USA World Championship experience, and believes that it will do wonders for his preparation to the NBA. "It's an immortalizing opportunity to potentially help win gold for your country before even playing a single NBA game, and I feel that this will help me become a powerful player down the stretch."

Crawford went undrafted in this year's draft to the surprise of many people, and was picked up by his hometown Mavericks.

Team USA will leave for Europe soon, where they will prepare against teams before the tournament officially starts.

--Chris Sheridan

[CODE_BLUE56]

i like it but i do have a couple of issues

how could someone that average dominic's insane numbers go undrafted..and as mentioned i would've picked a place that is not in the armed forces and non con like maybe montana...

and if that person was undrafted..how could they get into the FIBA team?

well it is a fictional story...i guess

other than that its good

[Chicagolove]

Originally Posted by CODE_BLUE56

i like it but i do have a couple of issues

how could someone that average dominic's insane numbers go undrafted..and as mentioned i would've picked a place that is not in the armed forces and non con like maybe montana...

and if that person was undrafted..how could they get into the FIBA team?

well it is a fictional story...i guess

other than that its good

He played only 7 games due to a severe ankle sprain and put up crazy numbers at Army... Coach K needed someone at the C position that was available, so he nabbed him

[Chicagolove]

September 12th, 2010
FIBA WC Finals

USA: 102
Turkey: 66
(Real score was 81-64)
Dom averages 29.7/12.6/8.2 in the tournament, Placing him 3rd in the top cumulative scorers in FIBA WC history, and gets the Tournament MVP.

ESPN Reporter: Well Dom, this has been quite the experience for you. What's it like winning this without even playing an NBA game yet?
Dom: It just feels so... Surreal. I didn't think my college ways would carry over to the tournament.
ESPN Reporter: You're generating a lot of hype. What do you think of that?
Dom: I know I put up eye-popping stats here, but that means nothing until I actually play in the NBA.
ESPN Reporter: How are you going to prepare until the NBA season officially begins?
Dom: Just continue doing what I've been doing. Watch my diet, work out, work on my moves... I'll just intensify that.
ESPN Reporter: Dom, we look forward to your career. Good luck.
Dom: Thank you.

[Chicagolove]

Now, the sim officially begins. I'll sim through the Preseason...

... And they go undefeated.

ESPN: Mavericks flawless in preseason
Chris Sheridan

The Dallas Mavericks have defeated each of their opponents in the preseason, and their rookie sensation Dominic Crawford has been the reason why.

He has averaged a whopping 30.7 PPG, 12.1 RPG, and 8.1 APG on 56% in this preseason. Yes, you have read that correctly. Many people are expecting those numbers to carry over into the regular season, including myself.

When asked on potentially replacing Dirk as the team leader, he said "I'm not ready to be anyone's leader. I'm not experienced yet. However, Dirk is. If I want to be this team's leader, I need to show why."

If those stats carry over, There will be no doubt that Dominic will be this Maverick's team undisputed leader.


** INJURY REPORT**
Caron Butler, final game of preseason, fractured his hand in a fall. Will be replaced by Shawn Marion until his return.