From what I'm seeing, make sure you manage your players' minutes. I can't stress how much it makes an impact on ones team, game-shape is essential to winning games. Your starting lineup and backups need to be above respectable, don't worry about the bench (also make a 12 man roster). It seems that your team suffered because of some of the Cup Games. A proficient 10k player is probably as good as a respectable 15k player... the gap widens as the pay raise goes, i.e. a 100K player with bad game-shape up to a 75K with good game-shape, 75K player will probably do better.
So letting the coach decide and leaving a blank sheet isn't a bad idea, the game is good at making matchups. On the other hand, you risk giving one player too many minutes, and another player without too little. So getting that 20k player is a good idea.. but he is a waste of money with bad game-shape.
You're are behind, but the thing is you need to fight relegation. Manage the game-shape and you should win a few games. Getting 5th is ideal in your situation... maybe even in 6th. However, you are semi-rebuilding. I say focus on surviving this season, then focus on going to the playoffs the next season.
If you absolutely have to... train game-shape sometimes. Train game-shape during the relegation or playoffs. It seems that you are training guards, so buy veteran PF/C... they will be old, but cheap. It's ok to buy a 30 year old, heck you can get a 35k Center for less than $150,000 if you are patient.
Last edited by czobo001 at 9/7/2012 6:30:56 AM