Daily Archives: April 23, 2011
Power Rankings| Week 3
#1 Do Work
Do Work vs Dynasty in week 3 definitely lived up to its hype. There was no secret this was the game of the week on everyone’s schedule. A tied game at the end of regulation and Do Work did not have the game in hand until Kenneth Ubom put the game out of reach with clutch 3 point baskets. Do Work fought hard to overcome deficits throughout the game. Do Work was missing a key player (Donte Smith) in week 3 and still pulled out a W, behind the scoring of Kenneth Ubom.
#2 Dynasty
Dynasty was short-handed this week with the absence of Derrick Pickett, but teammate Dewayne O’Neal stepped up this week for his team. Dewayne finished the game with 16 points and 18 rebounds but failed to lead this team to a 3 – 0 record. He earned POTW honors for the second time this season and is having his best individual season yet.
#3 Dictators
Dictators is officially the hottest team since Week 1. In their last three games, they outscored their opponents by a total of 42 points. Pure dominance on offense and defense is what’s driving this team.
#4 Knicee
Knicee had a lot of mistakes in week 3, but defense was not one of them. They limited Season 3’s leading scorer – Troy Allen to a 6/15 shooting day and out rebounded Primetime (39 to 31). So what happened? POOR SHOOTING! (1/20 from the 3 point line) . Better communication is what this team needs to work on, they don’t seem to have any offensive chemistry.
#5 STAT
Some would argue that STAT should be ranked higher on this list. They have the #1 defense in the league (fewest points allowed) and is only ranked 5? C’mon Man! Knicee has a slight edge over STAT in terms of strength of schedule and they won their Week 2 matchup. STAT’s season record is a reflection of facing teams with a combine record of 1 – 4 (Knicee 4 – 5).
#6 Fly Society
Fly Society finally got their first win this weekend. The defeated the limited roster of the A-Team, this team is showing a lot of promise. If they can muster up a few ones in the up coming weeks they will remain in the Top 6. It will not be easy though.
#7A-Team
Learn to keep your composure! When things aren’t going your way don’t take it out on the refs. Costly technical fouls late in the game caused the game to slip away.
#8 Blu Dream
The Blu Dream is a sleeper team. They have a big 3 in Tyshawn Walker, Praise Odo-Boms, and Delonzo Board but most of the time its 2 of them, they rarely ever have the 3 of them together, this past Sunday they did and kept things close with the Dictators but could not get defensive stops down the stretch.
#9 Primetime
When Primetime has their full roster they are nearly unbeatable and it showed this past Sunday when they defeated Knicee with a balanced team effort to record their first W of the season.
#10 Speed Kills
Speed Kills continues to fight and they continue to lose. They did not have any transition defense when they played STAT and that was their down fall. Players like Di’mon and Alan are slowly finding their rhythm. Di’Mon had an early season high of 20 points accompanied by Alan’s season high of 16 points. This team is slowly improving, but other teams are circling their matchup against Speed Kills as a win on their calendars. Although its early in the season, this team has only a slim chance of making the playoffs with an 1 – 2 record. The spoiler role is now in their hands.
#11 Hard in da Paint
BYE WEEK
#1 California Raisins
Cali Raisins vs Double Dribble in week 3 definitely lived up to its hype. There was no secret the Raisins were out looking for something to prove in that game. They lost 1 of their big men before the game due to the height limit but that did not affect their game plan. They played strong and came out with a W. In Week 4, they will be presumably be facing the hottest team in the division besides them since Week 1 (Beyond The Arch). Will the Raisins keep ‘Raisin Hell’ or will Beyond the Arch kill them from “Beyond The Arch”.
#2 Wonton Soup
The defending champs are ranked #2 after a week 3 victory over the Bulls. They are 2-1 with their only loss coming to the #1 ranked Cali Raisins. This team has missed several of its key players the past few weeks but at full strength they’re a handful offensively & defensively.
#3 Beyond The Arch
I know what you’re thinking BTA is 3-0 but they are #3 in the rankings behind a team that is 2-1. Well the reason for that is Beyond the Arch has racked up wins over teams with a combined record of (3-5) basically the lower ranked teams. Although they are blowing teams out the quality of the wins is not there.
#4 Double Dribble
Double Dribble dropped a few spot in this weeks rankings due to their Week 3 loss to Cali Raisins, I thought D.D. was going to run the table again this season until the Championship but that wasn’t the case, something is missing this season with these guys.
#5 Regulators
The Regulators are now 2-1 after their Week 3 match-up with the Thunder where they managed to hold of the young team and come out with another win. This team is filled with athleticism and it revealed itself this past sunday. When they won the rebounding battle (24-21) over an equally athletic Thunder team, this team is going to try to contend with the other top 5 teams in the upcoming weeks.
#6 Lights Out
Jimmy Nguyen had a mere 30 points and a few assist this past week as Lights Out ran over the Prospectz, a few new additions to Lights Out has given the squad an inside presence especially on the boards. This team has a legitimate chance of making the playoffs this season if their play keeps up.
#7 Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams let a close game clip away to H.A.M this past week, they could easily be 3-0 if their players were aware of the clock and score down the stretch. Nevertheless Hoop Dreams should rebound in the coming weeks.
#8 3 Point Layups
Joe Dizon has led his team to a 2-1 record through 3 games and this team is on track for another playoff berth. They’re opponents haven’t been the toughest but these guys are getting the job done.
#9 Benchwarmers
Benchwarmers get the job done! Enough said! It may not be pretty but these guys play until the final horn and leave it all on the court. They recently held the Southstars to 29 points in a terrific defensive performance but horrible offensive performance recording only 34 points. Nevertheless they got the W.
#10 Southstars
After two weeks of excellent play, the Southstars failed to amaze me in Week 3. They allowed the Benchwarmers to hold them to a mere 29 points. EMBARRASSING to say the least. The previous week they scored 66 and recorded a win over the Smash Bros. Get it together Southstars!
#11 Thunder
Big man Mikal Abdullah is a beast and it doesn’t look like anyone can stop him in this division……….that was before the height rule was strictly enforced and the Thunder team lost him for the rest of the season. They still have the scoring of Anthony Cockrell to rely on but lack post presence.
#12 Smash Bros.
The Smash Bros. rebounded after a Week 2 loss and gave it to the Warriors in Week 3. The contest wasn’t even close. When the Smash Bros. are at full strength they can compete with any of the Top 5 teams.
#13 Tropics
At 2-1 the Tropics are looking to make an early push in the standings to position themselves for the playoffs. They are led by Rogelio Clemente who was recently named an All-Star and they have a ton of confidence.
#14 H.A.M.
Is their anything this team can’t do? Oh yeah I know…PLAY SOME DEFENSE! This team lights up the scoreboard weekly their teams leading scorer had a league high 42 points in their narrow victory over Hoop Dreams. Although they put up a lot of points they’ve given up a huge amount too. If this team can buckle down on the defensive end sky is the limit.
#15 Bulls
The Bulls are coming off a week 3 loss to the reigning champs Wonton Soup, they hung around the majority of the game but a few controversial calls down the latter stretches of the game cost them the game. The Bulls have what a few teams in the division have and that’s TOUGHNESS.
#16 Soak City
Soak City recorded their first IBL win this past week pulling out a close one over Quiksilver. Their best offensive player fouled out early in the second half but the team managed to keep their composure and got some help from the other teams missed free throws and the rest is in the stat books.
#17 Quiksilver
4/19 from the free throw line. When the game is on the line, you have to be clutch! This team looks promising Week to Week but they need to put in free throw work when they head to 24.
#18 Warriors
The Warriors have some of the rowdiest fans in the division. But they’ve gone 0-2 since opening the season with a huge victory. Will they be able to get back to their winning ways?
#19 Prospectz
This team may not be good but they have a good time, but they have a good time playing with each other, if they would attack the basket just a little more games would be closer.
#20 MLK Riders
MLK is coming off a tough 10 point loss to 3 Point Layups, this team seems to lack the ability to score the basketball. However if they can get it together on the defensive end..they may be able to outscore teams with the same offensive skill set.
#21 Uptown Fades
Spencer Stueve is killin em! The opposition that is, he leads the team in scoring with 23.0 PPG and is the main reason Uptown Fades has a W under their belt.
#22 5 Guys 1 Cup
5 Guys 1 Cup is one of the few winless teams left in the division, they shoot the 3 ball with confidence and sometimes they rely on that just a little too much.
#23 Cashing Fat Bowls
Offense is nonexistent for this team, if they could find a way to score the basketball games would be some what close, their defense isn’t the best but they a small and quick and can keep up with the perimeter players, it’s the post play that kills these guys.
#24 Nothin’ But Nets
If their was a trophy for the ability to not score Nothin but Nets would take that award in a heartbeat. Their teams leading scorer is averaging 7.7 ppg. through 3 games, if this team doesn’t pick it up their names will be cemented in this #24 spot for the rest of the season.
Nathan Apolonio
IBL Writer
Power Rankings| Week 2
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
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