We're Supposed to Be a Team
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We're Supposed to Be a Team

· By Mikey G

Meta Prompt
[Level 1.5] The answer to the meta is NBA team #5.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • oldjudge solved 2024-02-03T18:04:08.409Z
  • Hector solved 2024-02-03T18:06:04.995Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2024-02-03T18:18:34.355Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2024-02-03T18:19:48.009Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2024-02-03T18:24:00.365Z
  • boharr solved 2024-02-03T18:35:13.567Z
  • woozy solved 2024-02-03T18:39:19.838Z
  • Joe solved 2024-02-03T18:45:55.117Z
  • Jerry Miccolis solved 2024-02-03T19:02:06.071Z
  • Bird Lives solved 2024-02-03T19:08:51.394Z
  • Matt A solved 2024-02-03T19:15:20.525Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2024-02-03T19:28:33.119Z
  • dannyvee solved 2024-02-03T19:32:03.644Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2024-02-03T19:33:11.802Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-02-03T19:34:23.081Z
  • damefox solved 2024-02-03T19:56:51.842Z
  • DCBilly solved 2024-02-03T19:57:22.763Z
  • Capn Rick solved 2024-02-03T20:11:52.258Z
  • Carolyn solved 2024-02-03T20:30:25.573Z
  • hoover solved 2024-02-03T20:33:24.628Z
  • DJB solved 2024-02-03T21:06:08.117Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2024-02-03T21:12:17.504Z
  • MatthewL solved 2024-02-03T21:12:30.587Z
  • Meg solved 2024-02-03T21:22:04.580Z
  • KayW solved 2024-02-03T21:23:46.751Z
  • Danny K Bernstein solved 2024-02-03T21:24:13.465Z
  • Berto solved 2024-02-03T21:43:21.226Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2024-02-03T22:13:02.931Z
  • Philip Chow solved 2024-02-03T22:13:54.979Z
  • rfj solved 2024-02-03T22:44:54.962Z
  • Abide solved 2024-02-04T00:03:43.945Z
  • benchen71 solved 2024-02-04T00:18:46.159Z
  • Laura M solved 2024-02-04T00:37:18.609Z
  • Gutman solved 2024-02-04T00:37:43.639Z
  • markhr solved 2024-02-04T00:50:15.105Z
  • andeux solved 2024-02-04T00:56:33.755Z
  • whimsy solved 2024-02-04T00:58:25.047Z
  • lbray53 solved 2024-02-04T00:59:32.765Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2024-02-04T01:34:20.186Z
  • SJMcK solved 2024-02-04T02:06:25.658Z
  • SamKat9 solved 2024-02-04T02:08:20.549Z
  • DrTom solved 2024-02-04T02:42:08.399Z
  • JM solved 2024-02-04T03:03:35.358Z
  • Darth solved 2024-02-04T03:10:13.339Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2024-02-04T04:19:08.628Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2024-02-04T13:05:04.689Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2024-02-04T13:55:49.163Z
  • atsiricajr111191 solved 2024-02-04T14:18:54.965Z
  • SJ solved 2024-02-04T15:05:36.686Z
  • JR solved 2024-02-04T15:39:48.956Z
  • JHSeeman solved 2024-02-04T15:42:37.518Z
  • Wilson Hubbell solved 2024-02-04T16:38:14.598Z
  • Bbaack solved 2024-02-04T17:12:35.983Z
  • DebbieC solved 2024-02-04T20:52:17.055Z
  • Schmeel solved 2024-02-04T22:11:03.522Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2024-02-04T23:29:42.008Z
  • Jeremy Smith solved 2024-02-05T00:46:00.484Z
  • Darrell solved 2024-02-05T01:06:42.947Z
  • Bob J solved 2024-02-05T14:17:19.884Z
  • AxelPlays solved 2024-02-05T14:30:14.614Z
  • Steve M solved 2024-02-05T17:04:19.444Z
  • edestlin solved 2024-02-05T20:00:54.234Z
  • kurtalert solved 2024-02-05T20:07:07.969Z
  • Jeffrey Harris solved 2024-02-05T22:14:21.379Z
  • DIS solved 2024-02-06T16:43:52.961Z
  • Alex Sisti solved 2024-02-06T21:16:22.696Z
  • rickybillingsgate solved 2024-02-07T04:00:43.842Z
  • Dow Jones solved 2024-02-07T06:16:42.880Z
  • heidi solved 2024-02-07T22:53:09.541Z
  • syoustra solved 2024-02-08T02:44:43.029Z
  • rjy solved 2024-02-10T15:44:16.566Z

Comments

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  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-02-03T18:00:46.456Z
    Answer: MILWAUKEE BUCKS
    Explanation: Each of the four themers allude to an NBA team: MARKETOPTIMISTS (Bulls), PEDDLESWARES (Hawks), ADECKHASFOUR (Kings), THEYGOINTOORBIT (Rockets). Per 46-Down, each of these teams is named by a city: Chicago, Atlanta, Sacramento, and Houston, respectively. Their initial letters spell CASH, and the meta prompt implies there will be an NBA team #5 as well. Like the four themers, CASH alludes to BUCKS, with the MILWAUKEE BUCKS answering the meta.
    I have no connection to the Milwaukee Bucks (though I like Antetokounmpo!), but the meta-nism just eventually pointed that way. I would have loved to make MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES the final answer, the only team sharing my initials, but the meta-nism just couldn't bear it LOLOL
    • Pair O Ducks 🤓10:25 · 2024-02-03T18:20:19.365Z
      Can't name a single bball team without looking them up, but still managed to solve! This was fun!
      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-02-04T19:22:42.633Z
        I think I could pull that off but divisions and such, no way - unless it's MLB!!
      • oldjudge 3s · 2024-02-03T18:04:49.644Z
        That puzzle was money!
        • Mikey G constructor · 2024-02-04T19:23:07.387Z
          You can bank on it!
        • Joe 🤓9:44 · 2024-02-03T18:47:01.495Z
          Had to look up a list of teams, but I got there! Unlike last week. When I was 0 for 3x3.
          • boharr 4s · 2024-02-03T18:36:16.477Z
            I knew I could be on the money eventually. Thanks, Mikey.
            • Bird Lives 2s · 2024-02-03T19:13:35.575Z
              I wanted it to be what scalpers outside the TD Garden do (sell tix), but certainly not what the heavy beer drinkers in the Little Caesars Arena do.
              • Berto 1s · 2024-02-03T21:46:36.135Z
                LOL!!! Once Detroit break the seal…
              • Jerry Miccolis 🤓17:33 · 2024-02-03T19:20:24.499Z
                You’re a wizard, Mikey. No bull. Keep bringing the thunder.
                • Capn Rick 🤓10:25 · 2024-02-03T20:14:52.303Z
                  Nice one, Mikey! I almost went with "Nuggets", but then I came to my cents-es.
                  • Philip Chow 9:34 · 2024-02-03T22:26:25.055Z
                    same here! i needed to google since i hardly know any basketball teams and when i saw nuggets i got excited and thought this kind of works! gold nuggets are like money... and something you can put in the bank... i extracted the 1st letter of bulls, 2nd letter of hawks, 3rd letter of kings, 4th letter of rockets to spell BANK... so i thought bank had a possibility of being relevant in addition to the CASH that i spotted immediately from the cities... i googled players named BANK... players named CASH... and players that have been traded multiple times to see if anyone has played for all four of those teams mentioned... also tried connecting the dots of the four cities on a map to see if that drew anything (it made a giant slanted N reminiscent of a thunderbolt... so Oklahoma City Thunder maybe?!)... overcomplicating things as always... then went back to the list of teams and saw the one i missed and face-palmed myself for wasting so much time
                    • Mikey G constructor · 2024-02-04T19:23:51.491Z
                      I was definitely worried that there would be another one out there that could work with CASH. Didn't think of Nuggets. That's gold!
                    • hoover 3s · 2024-02-03T20:36:16.210Z
                      I concur with the 1.5 rating. I got BULLS, KINGS (WNBA has ACES), and ROCKETS, and wrote down the cities beside them out of habit. Saw C-SH and quickly backsolved from Atlanta to HAWKS.
                      • Carolyn 2s · 2024-02-03T20:31:10.824Z
                        Fun!
                        • MatthewL 🤓14:34 · 2024-02-03T21:14:10.666Z
                          Fun one Mikey! And did not need to resort to Google (although I did have to ponder CASH for a minute before arriving at the right answer). Thanks for the puzzle!
                          • KayW 🤓10:03 · 2024-02-03T21:28:00.727Z
                            Haha. NEVER would get this one without google - I was lucky to recognize team #1. An alphabetic list of all the NBA teams saved my bacon. Very clever and enjoyable metanism, and as always puntastic clues. Thanks!
                            • Mikey G constructor · 2024-02-04T19:24:05.234Z
                              Glad to get the Bulls in there!
                            • Cindy Heisler 2s · 2024-02-03T22:15:49.529Z
                              I needed Google for a list of teams since I'm not really into basketball. But it was a great mechanism and a fun solve. Thanks, Mikey!
                              • Laura M 🤓10:49 · 2024-02-04T00:38:43.212Z
                                I know nothing about sports teams, but this was doable and fun! Thanks!
                                • lbray53 2s · 2024-02-04T01:00:56.383Z
                                  Feeling like a dope! I am a BUCKS fan and tried NUGGETS first! DOH!! Or rather DOUGH!!!
                                  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-02-04T19:25:05.607Z
                                    Bucks have been solid lately! Never mind seeing them go far - but it was nice to see the Nuggets prevail last year, especially having lived in Denver through a very dry spell when everyone basically rooted for Jordan's Bulls!
                                  • whimsy 20:21 · 2024-02-04T01:05:38.152Z
                                    Good one, Mikey! Nothin' but net! Thanks!
                                    • SamKat9 20:01 · 2024-02-04T02:11:05.987Z
                                      Thanks for such a fun puzzle! When I was writing my notes something told me to include the cities, and I'm glad I did. Maybe it was 46-DOWN germinating in my subconscious because I definitely didn't pick up on the hint :) The punning was top-tier as always.
                                      • Darth 🤓5:25 · 2024-02-04T03:16:49.656Z
                                        I solved the meta by inventing team names based on the clues and then using Google to see if they were actual teams. All I know is a team called the Chicago Bulls.... Why would I need to know more?? lol Anyway, a fun solve. Thanks, Mikey.
                                        • Tyrpmom 1s · 2024-02-04T04:23:12.325Z
                                          Really good stuff. Thanks.
                                          • HeadinHome 🤓1:39 · 2024-02-04T13:09:32.671Z
                                            Thanks for 46D … saved some time! Yeah… NBA ball is a sore spot for this Charlottean (the local boys just… can’t), but fun clever puzzle anyway!
                                            • JHSeeman 5s · 2024-02-04T15:43:06.651Z
                                              Fun one.... finally one that's in my wheelhouse. Thanks
                                              • DrTom 🤓23:20 · 2024-02-04T03:03:17.074Z
                                                Had a terrible time because I tried making the SUNS orbit and hoping there was a team from Wyoming (maybe the Ghosts/Casper). Saw my error and stopped (and started) bucking the system. A fun and easier Mikey; how does it tie to #82? On reflection you could have gotten to the JAZZ with spelling out SCAT...but I guess you might have gotten Denver for an answer😁
                                                • Darrell 12:55 · 2024-02-05T01:09:06.401Z
                                                  There are 82 games in an NBA season.
                                                • kurtalert 🤓9:30 · 2024-02-05T20:12:30.337Z
                                                  As a Chicagoan, I'm embarrassed to say that my initial thought for MARKET OPTIMISTS was the Phoenix Suns... optimism = sunny and whatnot. Totally ignored the market part. Fortunately, I was stumped on PEDDLES WARES, and while writing out a list of all the team nicknames to figure that one out, something pushed me to rethink all of them, just in case, and then I got it. Fun one, thanks Mikey!
                                                  • syoustra 17:06 · 2024-02-08T02:49:24.322Z
                                                    I also started off with the Nuggets. But that was after a looooooong time of misreading the first team's clue and trying to figure out what "Market-top Mists" might be referencing (and why there was an extra "i" in there), and especially why that team was so much harder to identify than the other three. sigh
                                                    1A
                                                    Evanesce
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                                                    68
                                                    Across
                                                    1. 1A
                                                      Evanesce
                                                    2. 5A
                                                      She gave Lamb Chop life
                                                    3. 10A
                                                      Baseball playoffs mo. (I can't wait!)
                                                    4. 13A
                                                      "What's that one lotion called?" "___ vera" "___ to you too!"
                                                    5. 14A
                                                      Vocally-Twained country artist
                                                    6. 15A
                                                      Last syllable of chocolate drink first manufactured in New Jersey in 1928
                                                    7. 16A
                                                      Clue to NBA team #1
                                                    8. 19A
                                                      UK record label
                                                    9. 20A
                                                      "I just made vichyssoise!" "___-er job!" (Yes, I had to look up how to spell that one)
                                                    10. 21A
                                                      Website to go to if you want to see if your favorite urban legend is true (spoiler alert: it's not)
                                                    11. 22A
                                                      "Do you know the difference between 'sedimentary' and 'metamorphic'?" "Yep, my knowledge is ___!" "Gneiss!"
                                                    12. 25A
                                                      Three-match link
                                                    13. 26A
                                                      Clue to NBA team #2
                                                    14. 30A
                                                      Henry : Fonzie :: ___ : Potsie
                                                    15. 33A
                                                      Crossword regular Sumac
                                                    16. 34A
                                                      Preposition I've likely clued as "before, before" before
                                                    17. 35A
                                                      Some like them hot
                                                    18. 38A
                                                      1994 song subtitled "Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop"
                                                    19. 41A
                                                      Choler
                                                    20. 42A
                                                      Wong of "Beef"
                                                    21. 44A
                                                      What a 47-Down might embark on
                                                    22. 45A
                                                      Clue to NBA team #3
                                                    23. 50A
                                                      "Do you partake in cacophonous uproar anymore?" "Nah, ___ there, done that"
                                                    24. 51A
                                                      Stick for a Stradivarius
                                                    25. 55A
                                                      First female "Weekend Update" anchor on "SNL"
                                                    26. 58A
                                                      Choo-choo in Chihuahua
                                                    27. 59A
                                                      "Selma" director DuVernay
                                                    28. 60A
                                                      Clue to NBA team #4
                                                    29. 63A
                                                      Molecule in which thymine is replaced with uracil ("I'm a serious scientist, but uracilly one!")
                                                    30. 64A
                                                      Circles overhead?
                                                    31. 65A
                                                      When bankers fall in love, things get ___-imental
                                                    32. 66A
                                                      "I thought I already planted this turf." "___, isn't it?"
                                                    33. 67A
                                                      "___ all, folks!" (Or if you're a cobbler, "___ awl, folks!")
                                                    34. 68A
                                                      Ginger ___ (once again, sadly, not CATS...but it should be!)
                                                    Down
                                                    1. 1D
                                                      Hall-of-___
                                                    2. 2D
                                                      Remember it!
                                                    3. 3D
                                                      Type of column (I column like I see 'em)
                                                    4. 4D
                                                      "Ahhh! A Level 5 meta!"
                                                    5. 5D
                                                      First word of "Auld Lang Syne"
                                                    6. 6D
                                                      Antepenultimate word of many fairy tales
                                                    7. 7D
                                                      Social worker?
                                                    8. 8D
                                                      "How the Other Half Lives" author Jacob
                                                    9. 9D
                                                      Disgruntled response to "Hey! Are you awake??"
                                                    10. 10D
                                                      "Want to see my slideshow on the history of bowling?" "___"
                                                    11. 11D
                                                      Dove home
                                                    12. 12D
                                                      Pitch
                                                    13. 14D
                                                      Rose
                                                    14. 17D
                                                      Ancient ascetic
                                                    15. 18D
                                                      New Rochelle college whose alumni might say, "___ diploma from there!"
                                                    16. 23D
                                                      BTS genre
                                                    17. 24D
                                                      FDR and JFK, for two
                                                    18. 27D
                                                      Type of fly that could get someone home
                                                    19. 28D
                                                      "The ___ Tour" (music event that Swiftly sold out)
                                                    20. 29D
                                                      Homophone of 65-Across
                                                    21. 30D
                                                      World capital that's all vowels except for one "P"
                                                    22. 31D
                                                      "Be nice to ____s. You may end up working for them" (Charles Sykes quote)
                                                    23. 32D
                                                      Devour rapidly, in a way
                                                    24. 36D
                                                      "Go team! Solve that meta!"
                                                    25. 37D
                                                      Pole, e.g.
                                                    26. 39D
                                                      "Time"'s 1986 Person of the Year
                                                    27. 40D
                                                      Game night was going so well, but then things took a ___ ("I'm so board")
                                                    28. 43D
                                                      "...am I wrong?"
                                                    29. 46D
                                                      Many teams have one in their name
                                                    30. 47D
                                                      See 44-Across
                                                    31. 48D
                                                      Strong suits
                                                    32. 49D
                                                      Spreads (I'll get butter at cluing this)
                                                    33. 52D
                                                      Confusing site
                                                    34. 53D
                                                      I feel sheepish about this adjective (I'm not sure ewe'll find that funny)
                                                    35. 54D
                                                      Said one electrician to another, "___ up?"
                                                    36. 55D
                                                      HQs
                                                    37. 56D
                                                      "Yeah, don't think so"
                                                    38. 57D
                                                      Need an ark built? I ___ guy!
                                                    39. 61D
                                                      Dockworkers' org. that's 42-Across in reverse
                                                    40. 62D
                                                      Zenith competitor
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