Division 1
#1 Do Work
The Champs have opened the season the same way they ended last season atop the rankings. Do Work seems to have the proverbial POW every single week in Donte Smith with his sharp shooting and large scoring output, k. They’re third in points scored and tenth (second to last) in points allowed in the Division. Thats an odd recipe for a championship team….but it seems to be getting the job done. This team has lost their defensive edge that got them their IBL Championship last season and if they don’t find that edge they should be ready to face defeat this season as a couple of teams will find a way to stop their scoring and out score them.
#2 Dynasty
It’s not everyday that Dynasty (formerly known as Morningwood) is undefeated and ranked lower than #1. This season the team has come back with a vengeance and purposed looking to avenge their championship after a stagnant play in the previous season. After opening week 1 with a come from behind blowout win over Primetime, the team seemed to be coming along nicely in week 2 as they gave A-Team all they could handle and more to come out with a win. They’ve gained back what they seem to lacked in Season 3 and that was consistent play. No team can really match-up with these guys and it shows every week.
#3 A-Team
The A-Team is the only 1-1 team in the top 4. Why? Well they played a double-header in week 2 because of their week 1 bye and came up short to the undefeated Dynasty but managed to put a hurting on Speed Kills in their second game. This team has scorers all around and seem to be balanced at every position. This is one of the teams I see making noise come playoff time and could very well be fighting for the #1 or #2 seed in the division. They’re already #1 in points scored with 142, this team is the real deal.
#4 Knicee
Knicee is currently flying under the radar with their 2-0 record. Their one-two punch (John Dang and Odell Howard) could very well help Knicee jump off to a 3 – 0 start. The addition of Marcus Angeles and Trayvonn Booker seemed to be of great assistance in their week 2 win over a young STAT team. Knicee should be ranked higher on this list, but their two wins come from teams with a combined 1 – 3 record so based on quality of their wins the get the 4th spot.
#5 Blu Dream
Blu Dream suffered a heartbreaking loss in Week 1 to Speed Kills (43-42), but in Week 2, the team immediately bounced back. They outscored Primetimeby 12 points. The team has its two star players (DeLonzo Board and Praise Odo-Boms) playing their best basketball and the season just started. Also DeLonzo Board was recently named POW for Week 2 for his 31 point effort so things are really good in the Blu Dream huddle. The Week 3 matchup for Blu Dream features them in a matchup with the Dictators. I really feel this is the game of the week; both teams have size in the middle and one star player to go to down the stretch, lets see how this pans out.
#6 Dictators
The Dictators kept it close in their week one game against the Do Work but failed to come out with a W. They met Hard in da Paint in Week 2 and left them with 41 reasons as to why they were the better team. The Dictators have a proverbial ace at every starting position but lack strong bench play.
#7 STAT
Standing Tall and Talented suits this team well, although they are talented they lack a primary scoring option. Their team’s offense will probably be the biggest question mark this season. Their defense seems to be their strong suit this season as they’ve only given up 73 points which is a league best. If this team seems to find some type of offense they can really shake things up but if they can’t look for them to fall deeper and deeper in the rankings.
#8 Fly Society
Fly Society faced two top 4 teams in their first two weeks. They definitely kept things close in both games, but were unable to pull away with a W in either game. The team really needs to work on their defense, they’ve already given up more points than they’ve scored in the first two games (120-130). If they want to record a W anytime soon they should work on stopping teams and stop trying to outscore teams. More specifically they should lock in on the opposing teams best player a disrupt him, they’ve allowed the opposing teams best player to get the best of their defense in their two games. John Dang in Week 1 and Donte Smith in Week 2. Look for a shootout in this week’s game against the A-Team.
#9 Speed Kills
If Speed Kills…what does slowness do?. They snuck out of week 1 with a 1 point win over Blu Dream but in week 2 they got crushed by the sharpshooting of the A-Team. If this team wants to get anywhere they should have all their players show up to the games . Personnel seems to be an issue as the team doesn’t really have a go to player. Their week 3 match-up with STAT should make or break their season.
#10 Primetime
Primetime has a great offense, but their defense couldn’t stop key players on the opposing team in the first two games. In both their matchups the opposing teams has had a player named POW coincidence? I think not. Their leading scorer was absent in week 2 but they still managed to put up the same amount of points they had in week 1. Theyre poised for a mid-season surge, look for Primetime to rebound in Week 3.
#11 Hard in da Paint
Hard in da Paint had the game in hand in Week 1……well for the first half at least, they allowed STAT to outscore them 32-16 in the second half and conceded the game late in the 4th quarter. In Week 2 they faced a tougher opponent in the Dictators, trailed the entire game and lost by 41 points. Hard in da Paint has been outscored by a league worst 55 points in two games. This team definitely needs to seek a trade or sign a free agent to put in work for Week 3 or they’ll likely miss the playoffs for the 3rd straight season with an 0 – 3 start.
Division 2
#1 California Raisins
The Cali Raisins have returned to IBL play with one thing on their mind, and that is a Division 2 Championship. They’ve already captured victories over the reigning champs (Wonton Soup) and a promising young Thunder team. The addition of Jordan Ramos (Juice) and Dylan Rice (Balls) have helped the Raisins open the season atop the Power Rankings.
#2 Double Dribble
Double Dribble is up to their same antics which I seen a season, they are 2-0 and on pace to run the table up to the playoffs, the addition of Geo V. has solidified their back court. They play so well together and I don’t think any team can beat them. Teams may come close but I really don’t see Double Dribble falling anytime soon.
#3 Southstars
The Southstars are 2-0 after out hustling the Regulators in Week 1 and in Week 2 they managed to dodge a bullet when the Smash Bros. missed a game tying 3 pointer to send the game into an extra session. The Southstars are young, very athletic and can light up the scoreboard, they’re led by Trayvonn Booker who is a walking double double.
#4 Hoop Dreams
Solin Bit has put together a strong team. Hoop Dreams are now 2-0 and the only way to go for them is up. They defeated the Warriors in Week 2 with their strong defense and potent offense. Week 3 will dictate how successful their season will be.
#5 Wonton Soup
The defending champs have had the most intriguing season so far. They suffered a week 1 loss to the team atop the rankings (California Raisins) and in the process lost on of their key players to a suspension for the second game. In week 2 without Josh Johnson and the teams leading scorer Aaron Sanchez they blew Soak City out of the water to move to 1-1.
#6 Beyond The Arch
Although this team has a 2-0 record, I still do not see them in the conversation of “Elite” teams in the division, Justin Benson leads the team with 31.5 PPG through 2 games. Both of their victories have come to teams that are a combined 0-4. J. Benson can keep his team in a game as well as shoot them out of a game as I’ve seen in the past, if this team can snatch up a quality win in the upcoming weeks they can move to a higher spot in the rankings.
#7 Quiksilver
Quiksilver was at full strength this week. They had all their key players in their line up. They had 4 players in double figures but that wasn’t enough to get by Double Dribble, Quiksilver can is potentially the 4th best team in this division behind the Raisins, Double Dribble, Southstars and Hoop Dreams. Their GM has put together all the right pieces for them to move back atop the IBL rankings or at least in the top 5.
#8 Thunder
The Thunder own the IBL record in Point scored in a game with (111) but since then they’ve lost to the California Raisins. The Thunder are a young team they go if their leading scorer Anthony Cockrell goes, in their Week 2 loss he was injured early in the game and that damaged the entire game plan for them. Lets see how they respond in Week 3.
#9 Regulators
The Regulators was the first team to take the court in Week 1 and failed to come out with a victory over the #3 Southstars, that was their first and only loss so far. In week 2 they dominated the 5 guys 1 cup team and now stand at 1-1 along with other teams in the division. Their week 3 matchup with the Thunder will dictate how well their season will be. A lot of bragging rights will be riding on that game.
#10 Warriors
The Warriors are definitely one of those teams that’s on the bubble of the “Elite” title. They had a solid playoff run in the previous season, came out in Week 1 and dominated but slipped up in week 2 to Hoop Dreams. Their offense quickly improved from Week 1 to Week 2, but their defense couldn’t stop key players on the opposing team in Week 2. Matt D. of Hoop Dreams was POW for Week 2 so that says a lot about the Warriors defense. Lets see what Week 3 has in store for them.
#11 Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers are 1-1 with a week 1 loss to Quiksilver and a Week 2 win over lights out, they could easily be 2-0 if they had a closer towards the end of the Quiksilver game where they were just dominated down the latter stretches of the game by John Dang. Their week 3 matchup with the Southstars will be a real test.
#12 Smash Bros
After a heartbreaking defeat the Smash Bros. are 0-1, I have a feeling that these guys will rebound in Week 3 to push their record to 1-1 I don’t see this well coached team ever being 0-2 their personnel is just too good to be 0-2. If your matched up with the Smash Bros. in week 3 look out they have shooters that will get hot quickly.
#13 H.A.M
H.A.M debut to the chagrin of many on lookers this past weekend. They failed to impress me and had a lot of complaining to do after the game. Nevertheless this team really has potential. Led by Jaybron and Harry Yoo the sky is the limit for team H.A.M.
#14 Bulls
The Bulls are 1-0 after defeating H.A.M in their Week 2 début. They now see the champs Wonton Soup in week 3, who defeated the Bulls in last season playoffs, the Bulls seemed very focus and it should be a very interesting week 3 game.
#15 Lights Out
Jimmy Nguyen seems to have everything under control with the lights out squad, their 1-1 and his young teammates are only getting better. Their week 3 match up with the Prospectz should be an intriguing one filled with many jumpshots as both teams love to shoot the 3 ball.
#16 3 Point Layups
Joe Dizon has this 3 point lay up team back to its winning ways, after a week 1 loss they rebounded and went on an incredible run in the second half of their game with Cashing Fat Bowls to come out with a Week 2 win. If they can stay hot shooting the ball, they can definitely record more wins.
#17 Soak City
Soak City seems to get the short end of the stick when it comes to scheduling, their week 1 matchup didn’t go as planned and in Week 2 they were dominated by the defending champs, Can Junior Muntu lead these guys to a victory in week 3?
#18 Prospectz
The Prospectz are 1-1 they defeated the MLK Riders in week 1 but were outplayed in Week 2 when they took the court to play the Tropics, this is a young team who loves to shoot the basketball, if they attack the basket more they’ll have a chance to shoot free throws and most likely score more points.
#19 MLK Riders
The MLK Riders are 1-1 they’ve added new players to the team that help them drastically, these guys have love for the game and it shows, week in and week out, if they can start playing some defense they may be able to get at least another win.
#20 Cashing Fat Bowls
This is their first season without their go to player D.Longmire, who had to be cut due to the height rule. Their learning more and more that as a group they can win games, although they had a horrible second half and that caused them to drop the game against 3 point layups this team can rebound and have the ability to muster up a couple of wins.
#21 Tropics
The Tropics really took a beating in week 1 by the Thunder losing by 76 (111-35) . They’re still last in point differential with a 70 point gap, but they’ve eased their pain with a week 2 victory over the Prospectz, these guys go out there a hustle hard weekly, if they have a favorable schedule down the stretch they maybe can sneak in the playoffs. However 5 weeks is still left in the regular season, so week 3 will decide whether these guys will be 2-1 or 1-2.
#22 5 Guys 1 Cup
If these 5 guys could ever stop the other team from putting the ball in their “cup” they may have a decent shot of climbing in the rankings, they’re a 3 point oriented type of team who live and die by the 3 point shot.
#23 Nothin But Nets
Nothin But Nets and their football sized team have failed to record a win in their first two games they were dominated by the Warriors in Week 1 and in Week 2 scored 27 points on a MLK Riders team who isn’t the greatest defensive team. Nothin But Nets needs to make a personnel move before the deadline or else they’ll probably end up 0-8.
#24 Uptown Fades
Uptown Fades seem to run into a difficult opponent every week, in Week 1 they had the high-powered offense of Double Dribble and in Week 2 they had to guard the Divisions leading scorer Justin Benson, these guys have their faith and trust in Spencer Stueve and he did not let them down in Week 1 with his 38 point out burst. If the Fades can get a favorable matchup they may record a win.
Nathan Apolonio
IBL Associate
IBL Full Court Press 