#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
IBL Full Court Press 