@ Astra:
Belgium has an SF that is only a little bitt better than 13/13 in OD/ID. i use him in GS 9 as a starter because i know he'll be able to lock down my opposing SF. The only players he has trouble with are when you put true shooters against him (we're talking about JS 19+ and JR 13+, but then i got an advantage on rebounding and inside scoring) or when he faces a big ( and then we're talking about IS 17+, which isn't very common on SF's unless you use a PF there, but then my SF will butcher the opposing player on outside)
So it's a pretty good guide. I'll admit that it your SF is that exact minimum in all skills that he won't be great, but add another 10 skills onto the proposed set and you've got a guy who can hold his own surprizingly well.
@ Eminence:
Very interesting game. should proof to be a good thing to get some data from. It's encouraging that the bigs of both teams shots below 33% of all the shots. And the type of guards that stepped up to put in points is interesting too. I'm still slightely surprized about the showndown between the Vottem Players (it's Marshall vs Mees/Backaert, all Vottem mind you ;) and the fact that the SF's, despite both being bigs, went on a scoring rampage despite the 2-3 zone.
Considering we played on equal GS and that both sides didn't have there top players in prime shape ( Belgium was lacking in the guards departement due to recent injuries, meaning the guy's who usually are back-ups or reserivists got a bitt more time) with a smaller rotaiton than that we usually see for the Belgiums, where as Englands inside wasn't in prime shape, limiting your rotation on the bigs end.
Never the less, this game has shown that England can now compete with the subtop teams and that all the only things you need to make it to the european championship, is a bitt of luck with GS ( or being underestimated by it's opponents). England has made huge progress as of late, and i think everyone knows who has helped England take that big step forward.
The games will now be decided upon details ( such as GS of players and opponents, experience on players in money time and OT, skillset of the secundairy teams etc). That is what seperates the good teams from the Great Nt teams. Getting those details right takes a long time, but i think that it's safe to say that England can truely compete with any European NT except for the top 6 european nations. (i'm not claiming that you'll beat the teams. i'm merely stating that you got a shot at winning those games under the right circumstances, something which wasn't the case 4 seasons ago).
R~