04-10-2024, 02:53 PM
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#22
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Cupcake Coach
OVR: 16
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Boston
Posts: 5,639
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Re: [NBA2k24 Expansion] Aloha! A Hawaii Honu Story
Honu Hunker Down for First Win in Franchise History!
It may have taken longer than the Hawaii fans would have liked but welcoming Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers yielded the team’s first win in franchise history! The Honu were able to jump out to a big lead behind a well-rounded team effort on both sides of the ball, only to cling on to dear life towards the end. Turnovers, shot clock violations and seven missed free throws in the 4th gave the 76ers every opportunity to steal this game on the Island, but the Honu did just enough to seal the deal.
The 6th overall pick of the draft, rookie Alex Sarr (11 pts, 5 reb, 1 stl) faced his greatest challenge yet in Joel Embiid (30 pts, 16 reb, 2 ast, 4 blk). A much more even fight in size compared to Victor Wembanyama a couple games ago, Sarr was able to “slow” Embiid down to just 30 points on 8-18 shooting, baiting the Philly big man into attempting five three-pointers, none of which he knocked down.
Some would say this team will go as John Collins (12 pts, 7 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk) goes, and as the defacto best player on the roster that would make sense. After a few stellar performances, Collins had a down game that ended in a Honu win. Playing with foul trouble kept him under wraps for most of the game, though rookie Tyler Smith (18 pts, 9 reb, 1 blk) found out what it is like to be put in the spin cycle as Duncan Robinson (21 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast) celebrated the dunk on the bench.
Getting involved on the offensive end, Ben Simmons (12 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast, 1 stl) pulled Drew Eubanks (5 reb, 1 stl, 1 blk) out on the perimeter and blew past him for a rare finish in the paint. Typically, teams have elected to just hack Simmons if he gets near the rim but Eubanks just didn’t have the foot speed to catch up.
What is becoming his go-to move on the block, Tyler Smith gets fooled as he was defending against the bully ball he got victimized on earlier in the game. Instead, Collins showcased great footwork and athleticism as he drains this turn-around jumper over the 6’11” rookie.
Learning to be the focus of the defense, John Collins again makes a huge play down the stretch, this time with the pass. As Killian Hayes (2 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl) digs down off of Dalano Banton (13 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk), Collins kicks it out to his jumbo guard who quickly relays it to the corner for Duncan Robinson to bury his sixth triple of the game, effectively putting the 76ers out of the misery!
Honu Stats:
D. Robinson - 21 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast, 6-10 3PT
Z. Collins - 14 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk
D. Banton - 13 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk
B. Simmons - 12 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast, 1 stl
J. Collins - 12 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk
A. Sarr - 11 pts, 5 reb, 1 stl
Current Record: 1-8
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