We recently contacted Simleague Basketball standout mxw6 to discuss drafting strategy, Bill Russell, photography, Barry Sanders, rookie call-ups, chess, minutes and Jim Fregosi.
WIS
Who is mxw6?
mxw6
I'm a 36-year old Pennsylvania State employee, living in the Harrisburg area. My work involves statistical analysis, something that comes in handy when playing WIS.
WIS
How did you learn about WhatIfSports.com?
mxw6
I first began playing ESPN's Classic Fantasy Baseball several years ago. At that time they charged $50 to play a 162-game season. The price was a bit steep, so I searched online for cheaper sites with similar features. After finding WhatIfSports, I was hooked.
WIS
Who are some of your favorite coaches, players and teams of all-time?
mxw6
I was born November 1969 in Pittsburgh, PA. It's no coincidence that I'm a Steelers fan.
Coaches: Larry Brown, Chuck Noll, Jim Fregosi
Players: Dr. J, Barry Sanders, Lou Gehrig
Teams: Sixers, Steelers, Phillies
WIS
Did you play much basketball (or other sports) growing up?
mxw6
Nothing organized. Just pickup games of football and basketball.
WIS
What players did you admire most growing up?
mxw6
Barry Sanders. He was incredibly talented, but I also admired his humble demeanor.
WIS
What is your favorite sports moment?
mxw6
I wish I could say the most recent Steelers Super Bowl victory, but for some reason that didn't excite me. I'd have to say that was an ugly win for them. Most recently, Game 1 of the 2001 NBA finals, when the Sixers upset the Lakers in OT. This, after the Lakers went undefeated in the playoffs up to that point, and were huge favorites to win at home. The streets of Philly went wild.
WIS
Besides simulation sports websites, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
mxw6
All board games (especially chess). Playing basketball and football. Photography.
WIS
What is your favorite WIS moment?
mxw6
Naming a team after my girlfriend, and seeing that team win the World Series in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 6, after trailing by a run.
WIS
Which of our games do you prefer and why?
mxw6
Baseball and basketball. Baseball is my favorite, so I almost exclusively played that. However, when WIS offered a free basketball team a few months back, I hopped on board and was hooked.
WIS
As a fan of basketball, what are your thoughts on the current state of the game?
mxw6
As with all sports, I think the athletes are overpaid, underperforming, selfish, injury prone babies. I rarely watch an NBA regular season basketball game. College basketball is much more entertaining and competitive
WIS
Build your all-time dream basketball team:
mxw6
C- Wilt Chamberlain
PF- Bill Russell
SF- Dr. J.
SG- Michael Jordan
PG- Magic Johnson
Come to think of it, that's exactly the team I like to put together in higher cap leagues.
WIS
What is the top sports related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
mxw6
Attend a World Series game 7, with the Phillies winning on a HR in the bottom of the ninth inning, while their pitcher hurls a perfect game.
WIS
With the new SimLeague basketball engine, what is your general strategy for building teams?
mxw6
Don't overpay for one superstar. It also helps to have a high total in each major statistical category: points, rebounds, assists. I try to draft a balanced team. I also like to draft guys that I personally like. That way, if the team sucks, I can't hate them.
WIS
What is the most important thing to keep in mind while drafting?
mxw6
Minutes minutes, minutes. Did I mention minutes?
WIS
Are there any players in specific that you feel consistently under or overachieve?
mxw6
I was recently disappointed with Bill Russell. But that's because he missed a shot at the end of regulation, knocking me out of the playoffs.
WIS
How do you go about setting your depth chart and allocating minutes?
mxw6
I try to stay close to their average minutes per game. I don't like my starters to get fatigued. I let my backups get moderately fatigued.
WIS
Do your game plans for offense and defense differ based on the team you have? What do you normally do with these settings?
mxw6
I pretty much just play it straight up - half court offense and defense. If the team plays poorly, I might analyze some boxscores to see what went wrong, and adjust my settings.
WIS
How much emphasis do you put on scouting future opponents and double-teaming?
mxw6
Only during the playoffs. I like to draft players with good defense, so I rarely double-team, unless my opponent (in a $42 million open league) has Wilt Chamberlain, in which case he probably doesn't have much money left over for other quality scorers.
WIS
Do you make transactions (call-ups/demotions, waiver wire, etc.) during the season? Why or why not?
mxw6
I use call-ups all the time. Seems I'm switching my active roster after almost every game.
I only use the waiver wire when fatigue is a major issue. Even then, I will only dump backups. I like to keep my starting 5 intact throughout the whole season.
WIS
What is your favorite aspect of SimLeague basketball?
mxw6
Winning.
WIS
What is your least favorite aspect of SimLeague basketball?
mxw6
Losing.
WIS
If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, how much would you be worth?
mxw6
A wide receiver in football, at the minimum wage. That way, I could never underachieve.
WIS
Thanks for taking the time out to meet with us.